How to Take Better Landscape Photos

Just like any other type of photography, landscape photography has its own set of unique opportunities and challenges. Of course, it is a good idea to be familiar with your camera and equipment. Always experiment with the techniques you plan to use before you get to the actual situation where the skills will be necessary.

Here are a few hints about how you can improve your landscape photography success.

Tip 1: Mount Your Camera on a Good Tripod

Tripods are like a good insurance plan. Always bring a tripod if you plan on shooting landscapes. This is especially important if you are shooting in low light, such as early morning, late evening, or in the fog. But even if the day is sunny, you are always assured of a better result with a tripod. The tripod eliminates any camera shake. Tripods come in many styles and weights. Do your research before buying one, making sure the one you choose is good for you camera and your situation. For instance, don’t get a heavy tripod if you are planning to backpack into the wilderness.

Tip 2: Shoot at the Right Time

For most outdoor photography, especially when shooting landscapes, the best time is early or late in the day. The light at dawn and dusk is extraordinary for photographing landscapes. Definitely avoid times between 10:00 and 3:00. During mid-day the lighting is much too bright, tending to cause harsh shadows and bright highlights. The exception to this rule is during stormy situations. Storms tend to develop some very unique lighting and help you to get some very dramatic results.

Tip 3: Choose the right Lens

When shooting landscapes, a wide angle lens is usually indicated. A wide angle lens will cover a lot of area. A wide angle lens would be in the range from 12mm to 24mm, however, you can use other focal lengths to get different creative shots. So, it is a good idea to have a variety of lenses in your gear bag.

Tip 4: Timer or Cable Release

In addition to using a tripod, consider using the on-camera timer. Coupled with a tripod this will give you the optimum chance for a successful landscape photo. When you press the shutter release button, there is always a chance for camera shake, even when using a tripod. Another choice is to carry a cable release. With a cable release, you can trigger the shutter at precisely the right timing. Timing is not always an issue in landscape photography, but a cable release is an excellent tool to have in your camera bag.

Tip 6: Compose your picture

One of the biggest mistakes made by beginning (and even some pro) photographers is to forget about composition rules when taking landscape pictures. Try to avoid putting the main object of the image in the center of the composition. Remember the rule of thirds. Also pay attention to distracting artifacts like people and other movable objects. It is quite depressing when you upload your images to your computer to find that you did not notice something like a wind blown newspaper or a pedestrian entering the picture.

Bottom Line

Landscape photography is a wonderful way to use your digital camera as an artistic tool of expression. Think about these helpful tips the next time you plan an excursion to take landscape photos, and you will be much happier with the results. My recommendation for help in this category is Digital Photography Success. Amy Renfry is an accomplished photographer and an excellent teacher.