Shooting photographs of natural environments, known most commonly as landscape photography, is one of the most popular and fun ways to get started in art of taking pictures. Although it may seem simple to point your camera at a scenic landscape and snap a picture, there is more to it than just pointing and shooting. So to help make it easier, here are a few simple tips to help you take even better landscape pictures:
Get Maximum Depth of Field
One of the most important things about landscape photography is detail. The more detail you can get in your landscape pictures, the better your final limage will look. Close your F-stop as much as possible and use a slower-speed film with longer exposures to pull maximum depth of field from the image and ensure you capture every last tiny element.
Choose a Focal Point
What is it about certain photographs of mountains that make them appealing, when others look boring? The answer is often found in the focal point of the image. Regardless of the landscape you're photographing, you must always choose a specific part of the image that is the most important. Landscape photography provides plenty of focal points – look for trees, mountains, or rock formations and work from there.
Use a Filter
There are tons of filters available for cameras, each of which serves a specific type of photography. Polarizing filters will darken the sky in your image and help build contrast in the colors, which will lead to a more dynamic and interesting image when it's time to print. Anytime you're shooting landscapes, always think about the contrast before you start shooting. Images that are all one color or tone aren't interesting
Pick the Right Time of Day
Depending on what you're planning on shooting, different times of day are going to either hurt or help you. Since the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the overall appearance of a landscape can be dramatically different in the morning than it is at dusk, so plan ahead on catching the perfect angle. The two best times of the day for landscapes are usually morning and evening as the pitched shadows will add dimension to your images.
Always Have a Tripod
Sure, carrying a tripod everywhere you go could potentially be a burden, but if you're following the advice above and shooting with slow film and long exposures, you're going to need one. Using a tripod will prevent possible blur from your movements at slower shutter speeds (anything lower than 60 is usually too low for a person to guarantee clarity) and will allow you to take several shot of the same image with different exposures.
Landscape photography is one of the best ways to start as a photographer. You don't have to deal with impatient subjects, you have a reason to go outside and experience nature, and you get to visually tell the story of that day's journey. With a little thought and the right equipment, you'll soon be shooting beautiful landscapes that you'll be proud to display in a picture frame on your wall.
Get Maximum Depth of Field
One of the most important things about landscape photography is detail. The more detail you can get in your landscape pictures, the better your final limage will look. Close your F-stop as much as possible and use a slower-speed film with longer exposures to pull maximum depth of field from the image and ensure you capture every last tiny element.
Choose a Focal Point
What is it about certain photographs of mountains that make them appealing, when others look boring? The answer is often found in the focal point of the image. Regardless of the landscape you're photographing, you must always choose a specific part of the image that is the most important. Landscape photography provides plenty of focal points – look for trees, mountains, or rock formations and work from there.
Use a Filter
There are tons of filters available for cameras, each of which serves a specific type of photography. Polarizing filters will darken the sky in your image and help build contrast in the colors, which will lead to a more dynamic and interesting image when it's time to print. Anytime you're shooting landscapes, always think about the contrast before you start shooting. Images that are all one color or tone aren't interesting
Pick the Right Time of Day
Depending on what you're planning on shooting, different times of day are going to either hurt or help you. Since the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the overall appearance of a landscape can be dramatically different in the morning than it is at dusk, so plan ahead on catching the perfect angle. The two best times of the day for landscapes are usually morning and evening as the pitched shadows will add dimension to your images.
Always Have a Tripod
Sure, carrying a tripod everywhere you go could potentially be a burden, but if you're following the advice above and shooting with slow film and long exposures, you're going to need one. Using a tripod will prevent possible blur from your movements at slower shutter speeds (anything lower than 60 is usually too low for a person to guarantee clarity) and will allow you to take several shot of the same image with different exposures.
Landscape photography is one of the best ways to start as a photographer. You don't have to deal with impatient subjects, you have a reason to go outside and experience nature, and you get to visually tell the story of that day's journey. With a little thought and the right equipment, you'll soon be shooting beautiful landscapes that you'll be proud to display in a picture frame on your wall.
SHARE
