COMMUNITY JOURNALISM: Keep eyes - and lens - open while in nature

Editor's note: Rick Hollis, 64, of rural North Liberty, has been watching birds since his childhood. He's past president and newsletter editor for the Iowa City Bird Club.

By Rick Hollis, community contributor

Recently I had the opportunity to take my camera in the field with Bob and Linda Scarth, two well-known nature photographers from Cedar Rapids.

We had gone to Ciha Fen to photograph some Fringed Puccoon that had earlier been located by Johnson County Conservation Board personnel. Fringed Puccoon is a plant rare this far east. Ciha Fen is an amazing new property acquired by the Johnson County Conservation Board.

I used this opportunity to chat about their interests in nature and their photography.

Linda grew up in Wisconsin and Bob was born in Ohio and grew up in Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. Professionally they are retired academicians.

After working in Australia for seven years, they moved to Cedar Rapids to be near family and for Linda to pursue a degree in Library Science.

I asked them about their self described “intense interest in the natural world.” Both grew up in the country where nature always was on display. They always had cameras around and became more and more interested in photography.

Both feel the beauty of nature is a way to interest people and influence environmental issues. They find peace and fulfillment being out in nature.

Their worst days are when a specific subject is not in good condition or when they are disappointed with their results. Too much wind or rain also can ruin a day.

On their best days, they come home on a creative high.

“It is all about making compositions that human eyes and brains enjoy,” the Scarths said in reply to an email question. “Perhaps they will stop to think about what may be being lost.”

They consider their work art and science,

The Scarths had some hints for those interested in photographing our natural world.

First and foremost, look - at what is ahead, behind, beside, underneath and above. You cannot photograph what you have not first seen and you can't see if you first do not look.

Once you are looking through your camera, keep looking. While photographing a Hoary Puccoon, Linda noticed a tiny jumping spider on the flower and zoomed in and got the delightful photo. Finding a bug or drop on a flower can really make the image snap.

Bob and Linda also emphasized the importance of knowing your camera. An important first step is reading your manual.

Here are things to think about when you are composing a picture:

- Get up close and personal. Looking your subject in the eye (even if it does not have eyes) is a wonderful perspective.

- Show the setting so people can get a sense of place.

- Lines, whether diagonals or s-curves, can lead viewers through your picture.

- Repetition, alternation, progressions of forms or colors adds interest to photos.

- The old “rule of thirds” still is good to think about, as is balance. A picture where the horizon is off level will stand out in a bad way.

- Managing light is important. Too bright or too dark can ruin a well-composed photo.

To see examples of the Scarths' work go to their blog at http://scarthphoto.com/wp/