As a photographic artist, one of the things that might appeal to you is shooting stunning shots of some of nature’s wonderful scenes and animals. But, depending upon your location and ability to do some traveling, this may or may not be something that you can easily do. 

In cases in which you can’t get out to the wide open spaces in the American Western states, take a trip to Australia or the Arctic, or even check out the hot, dry African wilderness, there are still some “cheats” you can do  order to get some incredible shots of majestic beasts and landscapes.

1. Head to the nearest zoo  

If you hit these facilities at the right time, you can get some great shots on animals and the man-made scenes that are set up for them to stay. Sure, you might have to deal with crowds and fences but there are sections that you can work around such problematic elements. You might also come across some aqua exhibits that you can explore through glass.

Here are a few samples of my own  wildlife and nature photography at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

2. Find a local park or hiking tail

Some of these will feature beautiful vegetation and waterways and you might occasionally get a photo of anything from a small animal to something as large as a deer or bear. Of course, in these cases you have to be a little more careful as that there is nothing to come between you and the animal if it decided to get a little daring.

These are a few of the pictures I have taken on trails.