Take courses and attend lectures. Always keep learning about your craft. Whether it’s learning about new lenses or new exotic locations, keep ideas and technical skills fresh. You may take courses online if you don’t have the time to sit in a physical class or download tutorials online. Nature photography greatly relies on the sun, which can be your worst enemy or best friend. Learn how to make the most out of your lighting conditions no matter what your location and time of year. You may also learn how to specialize with certain lighting techniques. Depending on the equipment you invest in, your close ups can put your right in the action. With the right perspective and lense you can capture amazing textures and views. Research the functionality of your equipment and experiment with perspective to get you the macro shots that you are looking for. While sunsets are beautiful, there is much more to nature photography. Learn to develop your eye and create stunning perspective that makes you unique. Experiment with your location and lenses when capturing your photographs. Learn how to capture the full scope of a landscape. Lenses and software have developed so much in smartphones that you can capture quality images without bulky equipment. If you are in a pinch for time or at a precarious position, don’t be afraid to use your smartphone. In fact, you could use your smartphone to create a specialized set of photographs for your portfolio. Make sure you go to your smartphone’s camera settings menu and learn the full functionality. You’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish.
Keep learning. Know your lighting. Go macro. Gain perspective. Use your smartphone.