Taking good landscape photos may seem easy when you have a breathtaking view in front of you, but there’s more to it than clicking the shutter. Stunning landscape photos don’t just happen. They require skill, several techniques, and a lot of patience. Here’s our quick guide to landscape photography.
Table of Contents
Good Location, Perfect Lighting
For a landscape photo to be as close to perfect as possible, it has to have these two things: a great location and ideal lighting.
You can use all of your Photoshop skills to modify a photo, but if you want to get an excellent, raw landscape photo that requires minimal editing, you need to have sharp eyes to find the perfect scene.
Remember—your photos will not turn out as well as they could if the lighting is terrible and you’re in a poor location. Whether you’re shooting landscape or portrait, you need to understand your surroundings!
The “Depth” Of All Good Things
When it comes to landscape photography, the depth of field is crucial. This means everything should be sharp. That said, the aperture is a priority in your exposures. Chances are that you’ll find yourself defaulting to f/11 and f/16, but you can go all the way up to f/22 for slower shutter speed.
The How-To
- Set your camera up on a tripod.
- Frame the shot that you want to capture.
- Set your camera in manual mode and set the aperture that you want to use.
- Set ISO to 100.
- Use the shutter button, a remote, or a self-timer to take the shot.
- Take as many shots as you can from different angles.
Nuggets of Wisdom
Now that you know the technical side of landscape photography, it’s time to learn some nuggets of wisdom from expert landscape photographers.
Take the Road Less Travelled
If you want to take outstanding landscape photos, you have to go to places that will give you a view. It is possible to get an incredible shot at a less-than-ideal location, but starting with something beautiful is always easier!
It could be tempting to go to famous landmarks because these are the perfect places that can give you fantastic landscape shots. However, even if you take a stunning landscape photo, it will easily be overlooked because famous landmarks are already over-photographed. Even unique angles may not stand out as much as you’d like them to.
Instead of visiting places where you’ll be vying for tripod space, take the road less travelled. This is even more satisfying as you take in new sights, and you photograph unexplored places. It’s a surefire way to get your photos recognized!
Experiment With Lens Size
Another thing to note is that although your wide lens is probably what you default to for taking landscape photos, don’t limit yourself. Go and experiment with other lens sizes; you never know what you may come up with!
Take Numerous Test Shots Until You Get It Right
When you are on location, take a lot of test shots. You don’t have to get it right the first time. This will help you see what type of shots you don’t like and what works for you.
Be There at the Right Times
If you’re chasing the golden and blue hours of the day, make sure that you get to your destination at least two hours before or two hours after dawn and dusk.
Play Around With Shutter Speeds
The final pro tip is don’t be afraid to play around with longer shutter speeds. When you manipulate shutter speed right, you can come up with some magnificent landscape photos that will blow your mind!
Landscape photography is difficult to master, but anyone can get started. With our tips, you’ll find it much easier to start capturing beautiful shots. Simply find the right location, be there at the right time, and never be afraid to experiment until you get it right!
So there it is. Our quick guide to landscape photography. Remember that with practice and experience you will become better. So get out there and start capturing those amazing landscapes around you.
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Jordan Banks is a travel photographer with almost 20 years of experience shooting assignments and campaigns for some of the worlds leading brands and companies.
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