Midwest Nature Photographers

Welcome!

Welcome to Midwest Nature Photographers (MWNP). We are a regional group of the Nature Photographers Network (NPN), a worldwide internet-based group of nature photographers.

Midwest Nature Photographers welcomes nature photographers from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky (photographers from western Pennsylvania and southern Ontario are also welcome to feel at home).

From the lakes of Minnesota to Hocking Hills in Ohio, our interest is in sharing the beauty of a part of the country that is often overlooked. We are blessed with four distinct seasons, abundant wildlife, uncrowded woodlands, lakes and prairies—and the most spectacular fall colors in the country!

Anyone interested in nature photography is welcome to join our discussion and attend events, all of which are free of charge. The forum on this site features members' photos and associated critiques. While anyone may view this material, only registered members may post photos or critiques. NPN members may post an image every 24 hours. Non-NPN members may post an image every 72 hours. MWNP encourages you to join NPN for many other benefits!

This site is undergoing an update and will be evolving as it develops. Our intent is to offer a variety of services to our members. As you browse this site, be sure to visit our pages for current and past events, member information, useful links, and area photo locations. If you would like to contribute information to any of these pages, please contact your webmaster.

Each season we update the MWNP banner with images reflecting that time of year. Keep an eye on the forum for quarterly calls for images.

Rough-legged Hawk

Spiderwort

Midwest Focus: Wayne Nelson

Each month we feature the photography of one of our members; we advance to the next member alphabetically.

This month's focus is on Wayne Nelson from Racine, Wisconsin.

My photographic life began with commercial and sports editorial photography in 1972. Architecture and product photography were my commercial specialties while auto racing, horse shows and rodeos were the mainstay of my editorial work.

I went back to assorted day jobs in 1980 but began Earth Images stock nature photography in the mid 1980s. I turned to full time photography once again in 2005. My business is divided into about 40% stock photography, 40% providing in the field workshops with the rest devoted to fine art prints sold from my website.

I am not represented in any galleries, but my stock career is doing fine. I am represented on AGPix for stock purposes. A few credits over the years include, Smithsonian, National Geographic Books, Outdoor Photographer and Wisconsin Trails.

As a nature photographer I am pretty much equal parts landscapes, wildlife (including birds, mammals, herps etc.) and macro work of insects and flowers. I have always believed whether photography is a business or a much loved hobby, the main purpose is to create imagery that displays your own personal vision. It is what I teach in workshops and what I live by. I will admit that after many years of slide and black and white photography the Photoshop end of digital photography can still perplex me at times. Any help from this forum will be greatly appreciated.

I began with Canon 35mm gear, and went on to use Horseman 4x5, Mamiya and Pentax 645 and 6x7 equipment, Nikon 35mm equipment and finally Nikon digital. I have my lenses trimmed down to 18-70mm, 75-300mm, 105 micro, 300mm f4 macro and a Nikon 500mm f4 lens.

I have been monitoring this forum for some time now and to say the least it is an honor just to be a part of the group. I am sure I can learn much. I definitely look forward to the time when I can meet some of you in person.

You can learn about Wayne and view more of his images here.