Creativity is one of the essential elements to great nature photography. Brenda Tharp's new book, Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography is a perfect teaching tool for those wishing to tap into their own creative energy.

It is apparent from the beginning of the book that Brenda's goal is to make the photographer think as well as provide new ways of looking at the subject. Brenda has created her own special niche in nature photography due to her special gift of creativity.

Chapter one, Learning to See, shows the reader how visual impact is important to the photographer. This chapter makes the reader think about how the visual process impacts the image and how to break out of your creative shell to embrace all the possibilities that are available.

Light: The Essential Element covers the basics of how to use light in a more creative fashion. Brenda shares her knowledge of the impact that different lighting situations have on the viewer and how to maximize the emotional impact to the viewer. From Natural light to use of filters to fill flash, this chapter leaves a lasting impression on the importance and use of light.

Visual Design and the Dynamic Image show case Brenda's expertise in these areas. The chapter on design drives home the importance of lines, shapes, and patterns. Brenda discusses the importance of using lines and shapes appropriately depending on whether they are vertical lines, horizontal lines, and how the shapes impact the image. The Dynamic image covers composition. Brenda brings home to the reader how light and design aren't the only things to consider on your quest to create the perfect image. Topics such as perspective, depth of field, point of view, and selecting the appropriate image for the job are covered thoroughly in this chapter.

Color is one of the most effective tools to use in your image to capture the viewers' attention. The next chapter covers this fact and the importance of it. Brenda goes on to talk about colors, how specific colors impact the viewer thus giving the photographer more knowledge to create the desired effect.

Chapter 7, Expressive Techniques, covers expression moods and capturing the moment on film. This chapter talks about how to freeze the action on film, and also how to let the action flow on film. Brenda also elaborates on the effects that both techniques have on the viewer.

Panning on still images is one of the most pleasing and creative, yet least used techniques I have seen. Brenda is a master of this technique. Her images are stunning, and this chapter is worth the price of the book alone. The detailed information of how she creates these stunning images will make anyone competent with just a little practice.

The rest of the book covers other very diverse and rewarding effects such as sandwiching images, shooting through other subjects to create a dream like effect and exercising your vision.

My only disappointment with this book is that I would have loved to see more pages with Brenda's enticing and inspirational images. Each chapter shares her vast knowledge of the topic and will provide a stepping stone for the more advanced photographer and a clear basic understanding for those just beginning to use their creativity. This book will make an excellent reference book for any photographer for years after their initial reading!

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