Multiple Exposures and Nature
There are multiple ways of capturing nature with all its beauty. One method is multiple exposures. If your camera allows it, taking two or more shots and having the camera "blend" them automatically can really add some creative perspective to your photography.
In this photo, I was careful to plan out the scene so that it wasn't just a random sampling of the forest. First, I pointed the camera straight up into the trees on a sunny autumn day. The plan was to capture some of the blue sky with touches of high canopy leaves. The second shot was of a small tree with beautiful golden leaves that caught my eye for its clarity and leaf shape, and the third was of the forest floor, which was much darker but had great texture.
The order in which you take multiple exposures can be important, even though the camera will do its best to blend them all the same (with the same opacity). If you want the overall scene to have a shape or dimension, start with a dark background or object that is easily recognized. Rock formations, fence lines or other strong shapes work well for this. Next, think about what you want in the center of your frame. Focus on that and even think about getting a close up of some kind. This will add detail and interest to your photo. Next you could concentrate on texture, such as leaves, water, grass or another richly textured area.
Another method to using multiple exposures is to change your horizontal or vertical positioning of the camera. If you take three exposures, with the first being in a vertical orientation, the remaining two horizontal shots will be "formed" or fitted into the vertical shot. If your first shot is horizontal, the remaining photos will also be fit into this format. This can be useful if you have contrasting shapes or angles that you want to blend, and you can always rotate the photo to give the effect you wanted.
When the camera blends these photos together, you'll be surprised at the amazing transformations that just took place. Truly a technical marvel modern cameras are! Make sure you read your manual so you can easily change back and forth while out shooting. Have fun and get that creative mojo out there using these techniques!