Land grabs: 26 essential landscape photography tips you need to know

Date:
Thu, 19 Aug 2021 12:13:55 +0000

Description:
Struggling for landscape snapping inspiration? These 26 ideas and techniques will give your landscape photography a leg-up to the next level.

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The wind in your hair, acamera slung over yourshoulder and a great location
in mind: nothing beats getting out into the great outdoors to shoot landscape photography.

With the right conditions to hand, asuccessful outdoors shoot can be anexhilarating experience. But whentime is of the essence, you needto learn how to work quickly and methodically to guarantee great shots on every
outing.

It doesnt matter where you live: youre rarely ever far from a great location or two. And even if you have to travel, its all part of the adventure.
Whether youre shooting at home or abroad, location research has never been easier and the planet certainly feels like asmaller place, with even
far-flung destinations feeling within reach.

The great thing about landscape photography technique is that it doesnt
matter when or where youre shooting: all ofthe tricks and techniques are the same. Perfect your technique and youll be ready to take on the world and
enjoy the landscape more than ever before.

When David Hockney said, Enjoyment of the landscape is a thrill, he hit the rusty, weathered nail on the head. By the time youve digested these landscape photography tips, the only thing youll have to worry about is the weather How to take epic landscape photos on iPhone or Android phones Getting started 1. Plan like a pro (Image credit: Future)

Checking the weather before you head out is a given but how about finding
out exactly what time sunrise or sunset will take place at your chosen location, or exactly which direction the sun will rise orfall in relation to your desired shooting position? The good news isthat you can do all this and more with super-helpful tools like Photopills and ThePhotographers Ephemeris
.

Both of these apps cost the same ($9.99 / 8.99) will show you all the info
you need when planning a landscape shoot. The web/browser-based version of
The Photographer's Ephemeris is free to use, but the smartphone app is an excellent ally to have when out on a shoot. 2. Use a wide-angle lens

Landscape photography is a subject where you can use a huge range of lenses, from the classic wide-angles all the wayup to telephotos. While the location and subject will always dictate the best focal length and technique to use, every landscape photographer certainly needs an ultra-wide-angle lens in
their kit bag.

For an APS-C camera, consider alens with a focal range of 10-20mm; for full-frame cameras, roughly 15-30mm will provide a dramatic, wide field of view. Dont leave home without one! Gear guide: The best wide-angle lenses for Canon and Nikon DSLRs 3. Pack with care

With the prospect of walking several miles to get to a location, its imperative that you only pack what youll need. Anything could happen, but if you know youll only need one or two lenses, only pack these. Dont forget your filters, spare batteries, lens-cleaning accessories and, of course, clothing to suit all the possible weather conditions for the time of year. Gear guide: The 10 best camera bags to protect your camera gear 4. Revisit locations

When you shoot an amazing landscape location and the planets align to give
you the best conditions possible, it can feel like youve won the lottery and that you never need to visit that particular place again. But you should definitely revisit that location, possibly even multiple times in different seasons, weather conditions and at different times of the day.

This is the perfect way to develop an intimate knowledge of a place while
also capturing it in as many ways as possible. Dont forget to also try multiple viewpoints, different focal lengths and techniques to see what works best. The two shots of the same tree below show the variations you can find
in the same scene. Shooting tips 5. Set up your camera

The camera settings you need for landscapes are pretty simple. Shoot inAperture Priority mode so you can control the depth of field while the camera sets the appropriate shutter speed for you. With the aperture set tof/16 for a large depth of field, set the ISO to 100 for the best image quality. With the metering mode set toEvaluative/Matrix, the camera will read light from all areas of the scene to calculate a correct exposure. If required, use exposure compensation to lighten or darken the exposure as necessary.

With settings like these plus the possibility of filters being attached to
the lens, theres a high possibility that the shutter speed will be slow. If you find it drops below 1/125 sec, attach your camera to a tripod and use a remote release to fire the shutter without touching the camera. This combination will help to avoid camera shake a type of blur inyour photos created by tiny camera movements when shooting at slow shutter speeds. Learn more: Depth of field explained 6. Maximise sharpness

Maximising the overall image sharpness and depth of field relies on using
both a narrow aperture and the correct focusing technique. Even with a narrow aperture such as f/16, if you focus on the wrong part of the scene, the foreground or background could still be out of focus.

The best way to focus for landscapes is to switch the camera and lens to manual focus, and rotate the lens focusing ring to focus on the right part of the frame. You need to identify the position in the scene thats one third of the distance towards the horizon, and focus roughly at this point. This piece of advice is sometimes confused with focusing one third of the way up the frame, which is incorrect: make sure youre looking at the depth ofthe scene.

Once youve identified this point, either look through the viewfinder or use Live View on your rear display while slowly rotating the focus ring. When the image looks sharp at the right point, stop and take a shot. Zoom into the image on the LCD screen and check that its sharp from the front, all the way to theback of the shot. If its sharp in the foreground but not in the background, youll need to set the focus further back, and vice versa. Dont be afraid to keep adjusting the focus until you achievesharpness throughout the scene. Learn more: The A to Z of Photography: Aperture 7. Polarize the light Image 1 of 2 Without polarising filter Image 2 of 2 With polarising filter

Polarizing filters are one of the most versatile accessories in the photographers arsenal. Not only do they help to deepen blue skies, remove a degree of glare, reduce reflections and increase color saturation, but they can also be used as a limited neutral-density filter because they reduce
light entering the lens by one or two stops. Gear guide: Best circular polarizer: 5 top models tested and rated 8. Extend time with NDs

Neutral-density filters are designed to reduce the amount of light that can enter the lens, which means you can use slower shutter speeds than you would normally. This makes creative blurring of water and clouds possible. NDs are often available in 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-, 10- and even 15-stop light-blocking densities. Gear guide: Best ND filters: 6 top models tested 9. Capture sky detail Image 1 of 2 Without neutral density graduated filter Image 2 of 2
With neutral density graduated filter

Neutral-density graduated filters known as ND grads for short are essential landscape filters that allow you to reduce the amount of light that enters at the top of the frame.

They thengraduate to no effect at all at the bottom, leaving this area completely unaffected. This means that you can achieve the otherwise tricky job of capturing a perfectly exposed bright skyand dark foreground in a
single shot. Gear guide: Best ND grad filters: 6 top models tested 10. Focus on the details (Image credit: Future)

Like genres of music, photographic subjects are made up of multiple sub-genres, and while grand vistas are the archetypal landscape image, there are many more approaches that can be taken to capture eye-catching results.

Details in the landscape, whether manmade or natural, can provide incredibly interesting images that tell as much of a story as a classic wide-angle composition, sometimes more. The image of dried mud above is one of a series taken just before sunset while capturing more traditional seascapes, but its these detail shots that provided the most interesting images from the day.
11. Wait for the blue hour

The sun has gone down and its getting dark, so time to head home, right? Absolutely not. Twilight brings with it a number of opportunities, but one
you may want to hang around for is known asthe blue hour.

Its a period of time (not necessarily an hour), aftersunset and the better-known golden hour period have passed,where predominantly blue and violet wavelengths of light are reaching the Earth. While the sky may still contain flashes of redor orange, the ground will be bathed in soft blue light
and theresultis very cool. 12. Inject a touch of drama

An overcast day may not provide a colourful sunrise or sunset, but what it
can do is give you a full day of shooting. As long as the sky isnt an endless expanse of grey and detail is present in the clouds, you can shoot incredibly moody images. And, of course, if the sun does happen to break through for a moment, it will look amazing. Learn more: How to take dramatic landscape photos Composition tips 13. Create a visual balance

Alongside great light, the right weather conditions and a perfect exposure, composition is one of the most important aspects of landscape photography. Composition is simply a term to describe how elements of the scene are arranged within the image frame. There are a number of tricks or devices you can use to give your shots visual balance and draw the viewer into them.

The rule of thirds is the most basic, and also one of the most reliable compositional devices. It can be used in conjunction with the other devices well be looking at, so consider it to be the foundation of your shots. By following this rule, your landscapes willhave a true sense of balance thats pleasing to the eye.

With the rule of thirds, you have to imagine that the frame is split into
nine equal sections by two horizontal and two vertical lines.

The idea is that you position the main focal point of the image on one of the four points where these lines intersect. When youre using foreground
interest, positioning that area as well as the focal point according to the rule of thirds will result in a much more pleasing image. Equally, the
horizon line could be positioned on either the top or bottom horizontal line when shooting in both portrait and landscape format.

Some cameras offer a rule-of-thirds grid in the viewfinder, or on the LCD screen when you shoot using Live View, so if you find it hardto imagine the grid, this is a great way to actually see it. The viewfinder setting will
most likely be found within your cameras custom function menu; with Live
View, the Display button will toggle through the available display modes. 14. Step into images

Foreground interest is a powerful compositional device that has the ability
to make the foreground and background areas of images work in perfect
harmony. By positioning an object such as a rock, water or anything that relates to the scene as a whole, you create a visual stepping stone a starting point for the viewers eye to enter the image.

Dont include a random object as foreground interest for the sake of it. It needs to have relevance to the scene, and ultimately complement it. And by composing the object using to the rule of thirds, youll keep balance and visual harmony. 15. Direct the viewer's eye

If you want to create dynamic landscape images that draw the viewer into and through your images,lead-in lines are an amazing compositional device to employ.

Youll need a strong linear element in the scene, such as a wall, a road,
rocks or a bridge. By positioning this element so it begins in the bottom third of the frame, ideally right at the bottom, you can compose the shot sothe lines aim towards the focal point in the image. In some situations, lead-in lines can also actas foreground interest. 16. Capture a wider view (Image credit: Future)

One of the best ways to extend the field of view of a lens is to shoot a series of overlapping exposures with the camera in portrait orientation to create panoramic images. This method provides the greatest resolution possible, but sometimes this approach is unnecessary if you simply want to increase the field of view slightly.

In situations where you cant quite get everything into the composition with the wide-angle lens youre shooting with when the camera is in landscape orientation, take a two-shot panoramic image by rotating the tripod head slightly to get more of the scene in. These can be merged in seconds using Lightroom, and the result can be as dramatic as capturing a scene with a 12mm field of view with a 16mm lens, for instance. For portrait format images that require a wider field of view, shoot a vertical pano with the camera in landscape orientation. 17. Break the rules

Weve looked at some of the rules and devices that can be used to make your landscape scenes look fantastic. But arent all rules made tobebroken?

Once you learn how to use the rule of thirds, it often becomes second nature, but there are times when completely ignoring it and composing with the main subject or the horizon line in the centre of the frame produces the most eye-catching image possible.

Youll discover that the best types of scenes to compose centrally are those where theres an obvious element of natural symmetry, such as a pier, lavender fields or lone trees. 18. Discover minimalism

Minimal landscapes can look amazing. They can be just as compelling as a classic landscape scene bursting with detail and light. In photography and
art theres a compositional idea called the rule of threes: the premise behind it is simply that three objects are more visually pleasing than two or four.

So when youre shooting minimalist landscapes, if you dont have a lone tree or a single derelict groyne on a beach, try to find three. Give it a try were sure youll agreethat the rule of threes reallyisawinning formula. Learn more: The 10 rules of photo composition 19. Use framing (Image credit: Future)

Framing is a technique where you can use manmade or natural elements to frame a subject within the wider scene by composing so the element occupies the
area around the subject. The overall effect of this is that it emphasizes the focal point in the scene and draws the viewers eye to it, and can also be
used to tidy up messy elements around the focal point.

Framing is a technique that relies on the existence of elements such as
trees, a ruin or a window, like in our example here, so you cant apply it in all situations. But when available it can be a powerful and visually striking compositional device. Try something different 20. Get creative with camera movements

Landscape photography is usually all about capturing sharp images. When
motion blur is included, its often to blur moving elements, such as water. To capture the whole landscape as a dynamic blur, you have to turn the way you shoot on its head. Set the camera to Shutter Priority at 1/8 sec with ISO at100; these settings will work perfectly for both techniques below.

Panning landscapes is where you move the camera across or vertically during the exposure. A vertical pan works best for trees; forcoastal shots, try a horizontal pan.

A zoom burst is where you zoom the lens into the subject youre photographing and focus. Youthen begin to smoothly zoom out while releasingthe shutter. Experimentwith the zoomspeed for the best results. 21. Create starbursts

When you shoot at sunrise or sunset, the sun will be extremely bright when
its just above the horizon. The light will still be soft and colourful, but the bright sun can make shooting difficult. One way to overcome the problem, andto apply a stunning effect, is to create a starburst. To do this, either position yourself sothe sun is partially obscured by something, orshoot when the sun is just peeking over the horizon line. Now with the aperture set to either f/16 or f/22, the bright light will be captured as astar. It really is that simple no filters required. 22. Look for symmetry

Reflections can be a hugely creative addition to all types of photography,
but with landscapes they can provide mirror-perfect symmetry. For this type
of shot, position the far bank of a lake or the horizonline across the centre of the frame to split the scene and the reflectioninto twoequal parts. 23. Go out and shoot on misty mornings

Waking up to mist may not seem like the best conditions for shooting, but the mysterious look of the landscape is an opportunity not to be missed. The best mist for photographers is radiation fog, which forms during clear, still nights when the ground loses heat via radiation. This type of mist will often remain close to the ground, forming a thin, white layer.

You may need to use exposure compensation to avoid under-exposure. You should try positioning yourself so the sun is in front of youfor more dramatic results. 24. Include a human element (Image credit: Future)

Using a figure in the landscape to add a focal point or a sense of scale is
an old technique despite its overuse in images shared on Instagram. But while the technique is ubiquitous, dont let that put you off employing it having a figure in the scene can provide a point of interest that it would otherwise lack.

The easiest way to do this is to ask a friend to stand in the desired part of the scene, but if shooting alone you can either use the self-timer and run into position yourself or use a shutter remote to release the shutter once youve walked into position.

If your camera can link to a smartphone app that shows a Live View from the camera, this can help massively when working alone because you can see
exactly what the camera sees while standing in position in front of it. Plus, you can use the self-timer so that the phone can be put away while you strike your pose. 25. Explore abstract details

Just because the weather isnt ideal doesnt mean you have to pack up all your photography kit and head home: there are plenty of other opportunities to
keep you busy. Why not explore different locations and look for interesting details such as patterns in rocks or reflections in pools of water, and focus on these?

A kit lens or a telephoto will allow you to zoom in and exclude the surrounding area, and dont forget to experiment using filters too. You need
to remember that polarising filters can reduce glare and saturate colours, while ND filters allow you to shootat slower shutter speeds, so you could
even try blurring water to achieve a dynamic abstract effect. 26. Find new viewpoints

Simply setting up your camera and tripod to capture whats infront of you can quickly come to dictate how you approach and shootlandscapes. So dont forget to explore locations when you arrive to find the best viewpoint and if that means laying on the ground to lookup, go for it! Learn more: The 10 laws of landscape photography



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