Improving Our Landscape Images.
Landscape photography can be a challenge, but with the right
composition and good natural light it can be made a bit easier.
All the world’s cameras, films and other photographic equipment
are no more than tools for making landscape pictures. Cameras
don’t think for themselves. Whether we use digital or film
camera, the same photographic principles apply.
We don’t have to stick to many rules to produce great landscape
images, but knowing what they are will make your pictures more
successful. There are two salient points in landscape
photography: how to compose your image, and how to use available
natural light in any given situation.
Lets start off with light: There are three basic qualities of
light: intensity, direction and colour.
Intensity: refers to the strength of light. If the sun is high
in the sky, light can be harsh and too strong. Cloudy days bring
soft and defused light.
Direction: this refers to light placement. There are three
categories of light placement: front, back and side-lighting.
Side lighting produces more texture between light and shade.
Colour: the colour of sunlight varies depending upon conditions
and time of day. If the sun shines at the beginning or the end
of the day, the colour of the light will be much warmer, and
will lead to a much more dramatic scene.
Understanding natural light will develop your ability to see.
You will start to see the beauty of light in a different and
exciting way.
In landscape photography it is very important to take care with
composition. A normal scene can be transformed by paying close
attention to detail. Composition is all about how you arrange
the elements in front of you.
Here are a few ideas in which you may find useful.
Lead with lines: To lead with lines into the main part of the
scene will draw your viewer into your image. These lines don’t
have to be straight. Lines, such as tracks, riverbanks or
fences, may work successfully.
Foreground interest: Simple foreground objects can give your
landscape a greater sense of depth. Use a small aperture (f/22)
to keep the entire scene in focus.
Natural frames: Frame your scene with the elements all around
you. This will focus attention on the main part of the picture.
Trees make great natural frames.
These are just a few essential guidelines, and combined with a
good eye, you have all you need to get the best out of
photography - especially landscape photography. These are just a
few rules to get you started, but like all rules, they are there
to be broken.
About the author:
TJ Tierney. Award winning Irish Landscape Photographer. If you
are looking for more tips visit: Photo
tips. To view some of his images visit his on-line gallery:
Pictures of
Ireland