Landscapes are by far the most inspired subjects among photographers. They are natural and often astonishing and its this beauty that attracts photographers from all over the planet to step outside and photograph it. Many photographers find their real passion further down the line but nearly all of them began by taking pictures of landscapes. It allows you to understand how your camera reacts to light and also trains your eye to see composition. Landscapes are a great playground for our imaginations to run wild amongst it. What is so special about photographing the outdoors is the mood and the colour which change as morning becomes evening and when summer ultimately becomes winter. The combinations are endless and the subjects are in abundance all we need to do is go in search of them. Landscape photography can be done in many ways however I tend to use the lay of the land to create an emotion, the same emotion that the landscape ahead of me is portraying to me. When people view the finished photo they too pick up the same emotions that struck me.
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Composition
It does not matter how stunning the landscape and its subjects are, if the composition within your image is wrong then unfortunately there would be nothing else that could save it. Composition is vital and the great thing is once you understand it you can apply it to all your images from then on.
When I am out and about I tend to look for anchor points, these are subjects that would initially strike the eye first. From the anchor point you need a lead, this is draws the eye away from the anchor point into the picture. Here I have an example of an anchor, which is the tree on the right. Our eyes hit that first and then subtly lead away to the left. Notice there is a log at the bottom right pointing in the direction the eye will follow.
 | Even Painters plan the composition of a picture before they paint it. They often add things or remove them in order to create an aesthetically pleasing image. Photographers do have this advantage too but we may need to use editing software to manage this effectively. Ideally when you have found your spot before setting your tripod up take a moment to walk around our subject and look for it best angle. Landscapes have a good side and a not so photogenic side just like some people do. when your out look for the best angle, the best shades of light, look at the shadows and importantly look for your anchor. Now that most cameras are digital you don't have to worry about using up all your film trying to find the best angle through trial and error. I always have a large memory card approximately 2GB in my camera at any one time. This gives me the freedom to snap as much as I like, knowing that when I get back home at least one will be spot on. Once you see it you will know, it will strike you above all the others, simply because its pleasing to your eye. Once you notice a well composited photo amongst your collection you will then start apply it to all your photos without really thinking about it. |
 | Rule Of Thirds To help ensure that your get you composition right every time is to split your scene in to thirds. Next time your looking down your view finder imagine the yellow guides opposite (some cameras have this option built in and it can be viewed on the LCD screen on the rear of the camera). Your subjects (anchor points) need to be within the left or the right thirds and your horizon line needs to be in line with the first line. Having subjects in the bottom right or left third tends to lead the eye nicely into the centre. Ideally the centre third needs to be appealing and not busied up by anything. |
Focal Points
Every image needs a focal point, somewhere for the eye to settle on once it has been led into the image. Otherwise the eye will be lead astray which is often out of frame and on to another image. Focal points can be anything and are strong subjects that really captivate what that shot is all about. Below are two images with strong focal points see if you can guess where they are.
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Images can have lines that direct the eye to the focal point, the roof of the house in image one leads the eye to the centre of the two hills as does the out house on the right. It is here that the eye descends and will settle. The image on the right tends to lead the eye up the slope of the roof to finally settle on the church heading gently up to the tips of the four spires.
Time or season A landscape is often changing, the tides retrieve and the morning mist looms. Many photographers tend to take their cameras out at dawn or dusk to capture more colour and indeed enhance the mood of the landscape. If you have a favourite spot that you know is inspiring anytime of the day why not venture out at different times to shoot it. Get an early morning shot just as the sun is peaking over the brow of the horizon. Then possibly a mid day shot and finally an evening shot possibly a sunset. This can be applied to the changing of seasons, this also brings many different colours and moods to every landscape. Not only do we have the times of day but the climate too. Frost especially is a very exciting element |  |
Location, Location, Location Everybody is inspired by different things and it is important that you find the subjects that are dear to your heart. Landscapes are much better when you go in search of them, this may mean exploring off the beaten path. Remember to plan your trips and ensure that your safety is paramount. Trespassing is not encouraged, trespassing can be dangerous and you may be arrested. Should you ever trespass in the name of photography then think of your own safety. Old buildings, asylums, power stations etc. are all buildings that are out of bounds but can be very appealing to a photographer. |  |
Panoramic Shooting panoramic shots is very rewarding and relatively easy to do. To find out how to take panoramic shots click the link below.  |  |
Wide Angle Lens This maybe something you would like to try, wide angle lenses do two things. 1. They are wide so they allow you to fit more in to your composition. 2. They stretch perspective which means the lens gives the impression that the distance between objects that are closer to the lens (foreground) and the objects in the background are further apart then they actually are. Wide angle lenses also make objects closer to the lens appear bigger than they actually are adding to the effect of increased perspective. |  |
Filters There are many different types of filter available for digital and film cameras. They are used to help enhance colour and control light. To learn more click here
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When shooting outdoors try to switch yourself into composition mode, keep looking for the right image. Make mental notes and if possible try to imagine the scene in monochrome or perhaps sepia. Landscapes do not always look their best to start off with. Your the artists its up to you to inject your creativity in to it. Only you know what your capable of in an image editor program such as Photoshop. Can you make your landscape come to life? If the answer is yes then take the picture, its worth trying rather than walking on past it. When I took this picture opposite the sky was white, although the day was very nice the sky was too blown out (over exposed). Also the path on the right was also white (the path was indeed white chipping's) which clashed with the sky. I opened Photoshop and stole a sky from another image and put it into this one. I then coloured the path using the Burn tool with some added colour. I knew I could do this so I took the picture, otherwise I would have left it. Once you know your capabilities it will open up a whole new area of flexibility and your images will improve. Some photographers are against such heavy editing but you can either choose to do it or not I am merely giving you the option. |  |
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