5 Landscape Photography Tips To Improve Your Photos

29 August 2010

Taking pictures of your natural surroundings, also referred to as landscape photography, is one of the most fun and inspiring ways to start 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:

Slow it Down

One of the most important things about taking landscape pictures is paying close attention to detail. The more detail you can capture from an environment, the better your end result is going to turn out.  In order to get a maximum depth of field and be able to capture the smallest detail, close your F stop as much as possible and use a slower speed film or setting with a longer exposure.

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. No matter what subject you’re shooting, you need to decide on what is going to be the important part of that image and frame your shot accordingly. Landscape photography provides plenty of focal points – look for trees, mountains, or rock formations and work from there.

Try Using a Filter

There are tons of filters available for cameras, each of which serves a specific type of photography. Polarizing filters will help make your pictures more dynamic and interesting because they will turn the sky dark and will help build contrast in the colors.  Whenever you’re working with landscape photography, try to consider the contrast before you shoot.  Generally pictures that have all one color or tone won’t be interesting

Pick the Right Time of Day

Depending upon the type of landscape you’re shooting, different times of the day are either going to help you or hurt 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. We recommend morning and evening hours; the pitched shadows will add texture to your images.

Get 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 give you the opportunity to take the same picture with different exposures and will help to prevent image blur. Image blur can be a problem when you’re using a slow shutter speed (anything less than 60 is too low to guarantee clarity without a tripod).

Landscape photography is one of the best ways to start as a photographer. You never have to worry about difficult or impatient subjects and you get to go outside and appreciate the beauty of nature. With a little thought and the right equipment, you’ll soon be shooting beautiful landscape pictures that you’ll be proud to display in a picture frame on your wall.

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