5 Landscape Photography Tips

One of the most common questions that I get asked by newbie photographers is if I can give them any landscape photography tips? Landscape photography is a popular genre of photography and one that most people will dabble in at some point. But being able to capture a great landscape shot isn’t straightforward or always possible. Often your success or failure will come down to the conditions. But there are ways to increase your chances of a great landscape shot by learning a few techniques. So to help you on your way, here are 5 quick and easy bits of advice on landscape photography.

Take the viewer on a journey

When it comes to a great landscape photo, your composition is one of the most important elements. It is also something that often beginners don’t spend as much time thinking about as they should when on location. It is easy to carried away when you first see that amazing scene and begin to just snap away. But if you allow yourself a bit of time to really think about your composition your photos will turn out much better.

Start by thinking about your main point of interest. It might be a lighthouse or a mountain range in the distance. Then try you build your composition around it from the foreground all the way to the distance. This might mean looking for leading lines to take the viewer into the distance or various elements like rocks to help their eyes navigate around the image. So take your time and experiment with different composition and never settle for your first location. You will almost always find that your second or third locations will yield better results.

Try to find your style

One of the best things about landscape photography is that it allows so much variety that you can easily find your own style. Think of it as your calling card that people will instantly recognise. Your style doesn’t have to conform to the norm. For example, you may love stormy conditions and muted colours whereas another photographer might prefer bold or striking colours.

So try to come to a style that you feel represents you best and aim to get your photos to look like they are part of that set. Not only will your portfolio look more in sync but possibly also make you stand out from the crowd.

Tripod and filters are a must

There are very few landscape shots that I would take where I don’t use a tripod and filters. There really isn’t a valid reason for not using a tripod when it comes to landscape photography other than being lazy. A landscape photo will almost always require a long depth of field which will mean a small aperture and so less light entering the camera. So straightway you are looking at slower shutter speeds. If you then factor in that most landscape photos will be taken early in the morning or late afternoon (to take advantage of the best light), a tripod becomes an absolute must to avoid having to raise your ISO to be able to handhold a camera.

Filters are the other essential accessory when it comes to landscape photography. The reason that filters are so important in landscape photography is that you very rarely encounter conditions that just allow you to shoot without manipulating the scene somehow. Often this will have to do with light. For example, you may find that you need to balance the bright light in the sky with the darker foreground using a graduated neutral density filter. Or it might be that you need to reduce bright reflections on surfaces like water with a polarizer. Learning to use filters effectively is one of the best ways in ensuring your landscape images look great.

Use a telephoto lens

If you look through all your landscape photos, the vast majority would have been taken with a wide-angle lens. That is natural as most of the time you will want to capture the depth and vastness of the epic landscape in front of you. But a really great way to make your images of landscapes unique is to use a telephoto lens. Not only does a telephoto lens help to narrow in on a small part of the image, but it can also compress distances between things to create a really nice effect in landscape photography. So if you have a telephoto lens try it out for your next landscape photoshoot and you may just be really surprised by the results.

Invest in a drone

Drones have become a great addition to a lot of landscape photographer’s set of equipment. A drone allows you to capture shots and angles that were never possible before. You are able to not only capture aerial shots of locations but also for example from over a cliff edge. These shots allow for far more creativity than standard viewing spots. Even though drones don’t have the same quality as DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, what they offer makes them invaluable to landscape photographers. So, if you don’t own a drone it might be worth seriously considering investing in one for your landscape photography. Just be aware of where you are allowed to fly drones (for example they are banned in US National Parks) to avoid getting into trouble.

So, there you have it. These 5 bits of photography advice might not seem revolutionary but they will certainly make a huge difference to your photography. Try them out and next time you are heading out on a landscape shoot and you will notice an improvement in your landscape photos.

Photo credits: Kav Dadfar – All rights reserved. No usage without permission.