Learning how to shoot amazing landscape images that give a dramatic sense of place is an essential skill.
Here are some simple tips to help you develop those skills.
1) Be Prepared:
Be prepared to do a lot of walking to find the perfect viewpoint. Try going out in good light, at dawn or dusk (the latter two are often referred to as the golden hours when the sun is low to the horizon producing warm colored light effects. Think in advance about where the light will be coming from and choose the right time of day to be there.
The Photographers Ephemeris (TPE) is a very useful app that I've been using to plan my landscape photography outings for some time now. Essentially TPE is a map-centric sun and moon calculator that shows you how the light will fall on the landscape at a specific location for any given date and time for almost anywhere in the world. TPE's map-based approach means you can search for any place name (eg. Esquimalt Lagoon) or position a map pin exactly where you want it on the planet. The app is available from the iTunes store and runs on iOS and Android mobile devices.
Here are two other clickable links for more information about the app:
2) Don't Forget the Tripod: Set your camera on a tripod so that it is nice and steady, to reduce any blur caused by camera movement/shake.
3) Be Creative: Play with your composition. Landscapes often work well with the horizon line positioned either in the top or bottom third of the image, rather than in the center.
1) Be Prepared:
Be prepared to do a lot of walking to find the perfect viewpoint. Try going out in good light, at dawn or dusk (the latter two are often referred to as the golden hours when the sun is low to the horizon producing warm colored light effects. Think in advance about where the light will be coming from and choose the right time of day to be there.
The Photographers Ephemeris (TPE) is a very useful app that I've been using to plan my landscape photography outings for some time now. Essentially TPE is a map-centric sun and moon calculator that shows you how the light will fall on the landscape at a specific location for any given date and time for almost anywhere in the world. TPE's map-based approach means you can search for any place name (eg. Esquimalt Lagoon) or position a map pin exactly where you want it on the planet. The app is available from the iTunes store and runs on iOS and Android mobile devices.
Here are two other clickable links for more information about the app:
2) Don't Forget the Tripod: Set your camera on a tripod so that it is nice and steady, to reduce any blur caused by camera movement/shake.
3) Be Creative: Play with your composition. Landscapes often work well with the horizon line positioned either in the top or bottom third of the image, rather than in the center.
4) Neutral Density Graduated Filters: Although I will be blogging on this subject next week, ND Graduated filters are essential for creating dramatic landscapes, because they help reduce the brightness of the sky thereby balancing the exposure to match the foreground. I employed this technique to capture this dramatic image of a prairie storm over Cochrane Alberta.
