Ruling on taking pictures of natural scenes and those that include animate beings
Question

                What is the ruling on taking pictures of the natural views using a digital camera in order to save them on the computer? What is the ruling if the scene I want to take a picture of includes birds or animals?.
Praise be to Allah.
    Firstly: 

    Taking pictures of natural scenes, such as trees, oceans and 
    mountains, is permissible even if they are drawn by hand. No difference of 
    opinion is known among the scholars concerning the permissibility of that, 
    apart from what was narrated from Mujaahid ibn Jabr concerning the 
    prohibition on making pictures of fruit bearing trees, but not non-fruit 
    bearing trees. Al-Qaadi Ayaad said: No one said this except for Mujaahid. 

    The majority quoted a number of things as evidence for this 
    permissibility, including the following: 

    (a)

    It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet (blessings 
    and peace of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever makes an image in this world 
    will be commanded to breathe the soul into it on the Day of Resurrection, 
    and he will not be able to do that.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5618) and 
    Muslim (2110). 

    (b)

    It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with 
    him) that a man came to him and said: O Ibn ‘Abbaas, I am a man who earns a 
    living from what my hands make, and I make these images. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: I 
    will not tell you anything except that which I heard from the Messenger of 
    Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him). I heard him say: 
    “Whoever makes an image in this world, Allaah will punish him until he 
    breathes the soul into it, and he will never be able to do that.” The man 
    was very afraid and his face turned yellow. He [Ibn ‘Abbaas] said: Woe to 
    you! If you must do that, then (make images of) these trees and everything 
    that has no soul. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2225) and Muslim (2110). 

    (c)

    It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with 
    him) that Jibreel (peace be upon him) said to the Prophet (blessings and 
    peace of Allaah be upon him): “Tell someone to cut off the head of the 
    statue so that it will be like a tree.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2806), Abu 
    Dawood (4158); classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh 
    al-Targheeb (3060). 

    This indicates that it is permissible to make an image of a 
    tree. 

    If this permissibility has to do with drawing by hand, then 
    it is more likely that that which is transferred onto paper or onto a 
    computer by means of a camera is also permissible. 

    With regard to taking pictures with a digital camera of 
    animate beings in order to keep them on the computer, we have discussed that 
    in the answer to question number
    95322. 

    And Allaah knows best.