Landscape Photography Tips

Landscape photography is an art form in itself. Some people have a natural knack for it while others improve through months/years of experience. If you are just starting out with landscape photography, or if you simply want to improve here are 6 tips to help you become a better landscape photographer.

Choose a point of interest:  For example if you see a beautiful mountain that you want to capture focus on that. Once you have chosen your point of interest then move around and decide what angle looks best for your photo. It is best to include it in the upper right hand corner, lower right hand corner, upper left hand corner, or lower left hand corner. Do not put your point of interest smack dab in the middle of your photo (There are some exceptions to this rule, you will find out what those are through experience.) If you want to get close it’s better to physically get close as opposed to relying on the zoom.

Size Matters: You may be taking a landscape photo to show the massive size of something, like a mountain range or a valley. When this is your goal make sure you include something that will clearly show people the massive size of your object. For example if you are taking a picture of a giant redwood tree, have someone stand at the base of it to show the size difference.

Use the Golden Hour:  The golden hour is the hour right after sunrise and the hour right before sunset. There is something magical about the lighting at that time of day that will make your photo extraordinary.

Use the Viewfinder: Make sure that you look at your photo through the viewfinder before you snap the photo. Look for anything that would distract from your subject. For example is there litter on the ground or wires blocking your view? If the answer is yes then think about what you can do to eliminate those distractions and get the picture you want.

Keep Viewers Interest: One common goal of photographer’s is to capture and keep the interest of the viewer. One way to do this in landscape photography is to use lines that naturally occur in the environment. Once you see those lines try to place them at a diagonal angle through your photos, this will cause the viewer to look at the photo longer.

Use a Tripod: The next step is to take the picture using a tri-pod. Using a tri-pod allows to steadily look around for the best angle. The use of the tri-pod when taking the actual photo will improve image stabilization and decrease/eliminate blurring.

If you utilize all these tips and really take your time thinking about what you want to achieve than you will quickly find yourself improving. Remember, landscape photography like any form of photography, takes practice and patience. Once you have learned what works for you the outcome will be worth all the time and effort you put into it.