Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is, simply put, photography of wide vistas. Typically we think of landscape photography as a nature-lover's dream view, but it can also include urban landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, and more. The trick to getting successful landscape photos is to create a sense of depth in your image (foreground, midground, and background) while giving the eye something to focus on - perhaps a waterfall or lake, or even a splash of colour in an otherwise dreary landscape.

Creating Depth

Depth within a photo requires that the foreground, midground, and background all be in sharp focus at the same time, and that each zone has something worth your eye's focus. This large depth of field requires you use a small aperture (large f/number) and corresponding shutter speed for a proper exposure.

Composition can get tricky when you try to put something in the foreground and background of interest, and then try to have something in the midground, too. Consider placing your camera on the ground to allow rocks or leaves nearby to come into focus, or frame the image with blades of grass.

Evoking a Mood

When you see a landscape scene that makes you stop and take a photo, try to figure out what made you want to capture that shot. What is the essence of the scene, and how would you describe it? Is it a lush forest, or a barren dessert? Or perhaps it's a deserted prairie highway, or a stifling, crowded cityscape. The words you use to describe it should be the mood you try to capture on film.

Whatever your description, try to focus on one thing that evokes that mood, and compose your image to emphasize that thing - consider using different lenses, different lighting (sunset vs harsh mid-day sun vs moonlight), and different compositions to accentuate your chosen mood. For example, to highlight a barren desert, consider shooting mid-day with a polarizing filter where the shadows are the most dramatic. If you capture a lone camel trotting along into a seemingly infinite desert, that might accomplish hopelessness. Conversely, shooting a lush, distant waterfall with moss-covered rocks in the foreground and colourful wildflowers in the midground would convey a mood of paradise.

Whatever the scene, experiment with your shot to evoke the mood that made you take notice. Try changing your camera angle (get yourself up high looking down, or put your camera on the ground and shoot up). Try moving to a slightly different location. Come back later for different weather conditions.

Tips for Great Landscape Photos

1) Be aware of the position of the sun, if shooting landscape scenes during the day. On a sunny day, try to avoid shooting towards the sun unless you're going for high-contrasty scenes where details in the bright and dark areas gets swallowed up by your camera sensor. To achieve a blue sky and vibrant foregrounds, place the sun out of the frame - to the side or behind you.

2) Use a polarizing filter. When you use one, your sky will be bluer, your haze will be diminished, and it will reduce, if not remove completely, any glare off non-metallic surfaces (e.g. leaves, foliage, roads). Note: DSLR users should only buy the circular polarizer since the linear one will play tricks on your camera's sensor. To use a circular polarizer, attach it to your lens, and then rotate the filter slowly until your sky is an appropriate blue - rotate all around to see what it's capable of.