| landscape_photo_project_handout.docx |
What is Due?
20 Landscape Photos shot in at least two different locations and two different times of the day
Objective:
To better understand how lighting changes the scenery around us, and to experience being a landscape photographer
20 Landscape Photos shot in at least two different locations and two different times of the day
Objective:
To better understand how lighting changes the scenery around us, and to experience being a landscape photographer
Amazing Landscape Photographers
Tips for Taking Landscape Photos
1. Maximize your Depth of Field
the normal approach is to ensure that as much of your scene is in focus as possible. The simplest way to do this is to choose a small Aperture setting
(a large number) as the smaller your aperture the greater the depth of field in your shots.
2. Use a Tripod
You may need to use a longer shutter speed. A tripod will help ensure your image is not blurry.
3. Look for a focal point
Focal points can take many forms in landscapes and could range from a building or structure, a striking tree, a boulder or rock formation, a silhouette etc.
4. Think foregrounds
One element that can set apart your landscape shots is to think carefully about the foreground of your shots and by placing points of interest in them
5. Consider the sky
If you have a bland, boring sky – don’t let it dominate your shot and place the horizon in the upper third of your shot (however you’ll want to make sure your
foreground is interesting). However if the sky is filled with drama and interesting cloud formations and colors – let it shine by placing the horizon lower.
6. Lines
One of the questions to ask yourself as you take Landscape shots is ‘how am I leading the eye of those viewing this shot’? There are a number of ways of doing this (foregrounds is one) but one of the best ways into a shot is to provide viewers with lines that lead them into an image.
7. Capture movement
Capturing this movement generally means you need to look at a longer shutter speed (sometimes quite a few seconds). Of course this means more light hitting your sensor which will mean you need to either go for a small Aperture, use some sort of a filter or even shoot at the start or end of the day when there is less light.
8. Work with the weather
Many beginner photographers see a sunny day and think that it’s the best time to go out with their camera – however an overcast day that is threatening to rain might present you with a much better opportunity to create an image with real mood and ominous overtones. Look for storms, wind, mist, dramatic clouds, sun shining through dark skies, rainbows, sunsets and sunrises etc and work with these variations in the weather rather than just waiting for the next sunny blue sky day.
9. Work the Golden hours
I chatted with one photographer recently who told me that he never shoots during the day – his only shooting times are around dawn and dusk because that’s when the light is best and he find that landscapes come alive.
10. Think about horizons
It's an old tip but a good one – before you take a landscape shot always consider the horizon on two fronts.
Is it straight? - while you can always straighten images later in post production it's easier if you get it right in camera
Where is it compositionally? - a compositionally natural spot for a horizon is in one of the thirds lines in an image rather than completely in the middle.
Rule of Thirds works great here!!!
11. Change your Point of View
Take a little more time with your shots – particularly in finding a more interesting point of view to shoot from. This might start with finding a different spot to shoot from than the scenic look out (wander down paths, look for new angles etc), could mean getting down onto the ground to shot from down low or finding a higher up vantage point to shoot from.
Explore the environment and experiment with different view points and you could find something truly unique.
