Landscape photography tutorial

May 30th, 2007

Although I like to vary my topics I photograph, landscape photography is something that always gets me going so I thought I would share some thoughts and ideas and techniques to shooting great landscapes.
 

 
Rules
Like with all photography, there is no hard and fast rule to Landscape photography some people work by set rules that are proven to work, while others see the rules as something that can be broken. Truth be told usually the ones that break the rules will find that their image will be the one that has the wow factor. Thus while all the things I will mention in this tutorial are very helpful in creating a great landscape shot, they don’t have to be followed to create a great shot.
 
Composition
We’ll start with the most important thing in any photograph…. composition. The rule of thirds is generally the best way to produce a great landscape shot. That is not to say though that centering a subject in shot won’t work, quite the contrary. Also take time to look around. You might find an interesting angle that didn’t cross your mind earlier. Some of the greatest shots are from a different angle from the norm.
 
Framing
Make sure that you line up your image and frame it properly. Although this can be done post production on the computer with digital photography, you’ll end up cropping your image a lot. Instead, take the time to frame it properly and you’ll find that a lot more will fit into your shot.
Subject
Making sure when framing, that there is plenty of interesting things to see… sounds simple enough, but a shot with boring blue sky taking up 75% of the shot might not work as well when right at your feet there maybe some cool boulders or vice versa, storm clouds above and a boring nothingness in front of you. Make sure the subject fills the frame nicely. Rule of thirds works well with horizons.
Man made objects are always a nice addition to landscapes as well. Dilapidated cottages in the mountains, forgotten boats at the waters edge, rotten wood piers stretching out into an unvisited lake al make topics of photography…. Like wise rusted out cars in deserts,  etc, etc, the list goes on.
Lighting
For all photography the one essential thing is lighting. It’s pretty simple really…. No light, no photograph. There are a bunch of rules governing what most people will think is the way a photo should be light. Generally backlighting for landscapes works best and gives you the most detail. But don’t forget those dramatic sunrise and sunset shots… they have to be front light. Also you’ll find all sorts of interesting ways of lighting objects. If it’s getting a little dark, take a flashlight. You might find with long exposure shots that “painting” an object with light from the flashlight will make it stand out from the rest of the shot. Fill in flash can also be used in some circumstances (generally an off camera flash would be idea for that). Don’t be afraid to experiment with light and have some fun being creative…. and break the rules… you know you want to.
Also while on the subject of light, most photographers will talk of the golden light or the golden hour of photography. This is Dusk and Dawn. The light is usually really great for photography, not as strong as the harsh light of a clear mid day, It really depends on the effect you want to achieve as to what time of the day you’ll want to take the shot in.
Weather
Well this will depend on personal tastes, but some of the best landscape shots are taken on stormy days. Large ominous clouds always look great on sweeping landscapes and adds plenty to look at. If you are going to take shots in stormy weather, go prepared, take plenty in warm clothes, a thermal mug with hot coffee or coco (trust me you’ll tank me when your soaked to the bone), and probably a tarp or small tent even if you’ll be sitting out to wait for that perfect shot….. plus it will shield your camera from the weather too….  On the flip side, nice and sunny landscapes in tropical locations are your thing, then probably carrying as little as possible is a good idea….
 
Aperture
Smallest aperture(largest number) is usually the way to go with landscapes. It will give you the most detail. Some shots may benefit from larger aperture settings but majority of the time it’s better to have a small aperture for most depth of field (in most in focus).
The down side to a small aperture is that you’ll have to increase the exposure length which will in turn necessitate the use of a tripod.
Another way to combat the this is by raising the ISO settings, but I wouldn’t recommend that at all. I almost never take my camera out of 100 ISO settings for maximum clarity and to reduce the likely hood of graining caused by high ISO settings.
RAW
With digital SLR cameras, if you have the option to shoot in RAW format, then use it. It is the digital equivalent of shooting with film. In laymen’s terms you will have less to worry about when taking the photo and you can adjust the options such as white balancing  and
Equipment
There isn’t really any specific requirements for landscape photography, but some equipment can be really beneficial if the result if you wish to achieve certain results. For Digital SLR users the single most important component for landscape photography is a tripod. This will ensure that you can keep that aperture as small as possible and leave the shutter open as long as needed. The tripod is only half of it. You still need to keep the camera still when you hit the shutter button, as minute vibration can easily occur, ruining all that effort. This is where a remote release cable or remote control can come in handy. Oh and don’t forget that mirror lock up (well if your camera allows for it that is).
Another useful thing that doesn’t really get mentioned too much are filters. Polarizer’s are great for getting a strong colour out of the sky and surroundings but also protect your precious lenses. ND filters on the other hand are fantastic for waterscape shots like waterfalls etc, where you would like to keep the shutter open a little longer. The ND (or Neutral density) acts like sunglasses for your lens, allowing you to prolong the shutter speed in lighter conditions.
Well I hope all of the above made sense, I could go on for hours about all the above topics but for a brief over view I think it should cover it sufficiently. The one thing I can’t stress enough is that although a lot of the things mentioned about are considered standard “rules” to landscape photography, all rules are meant to be broken and I encourage you to do so…. experiment and have some fun.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 

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