Landscape Photography is quite famous in this era. Because of its popularity, however, it became a cliche for most. Excellent photographs, undeniably still, will always be a standout and will rise above mediocrity and claim its glory. Skills, Subject, and Setting are three core preparations that will make your photographs come to life. These three are classified into 11 secrets that will make your photo a memory.

Innovating your skills will change your vantage point in the way you perceive things. It will change your look into stare and your stare into a vision.

1. Rules. Educating yourself of the basic guidelines of photography will make your life easy especially for novice photographers. Work with the founation and you will never be sidetracked. The Rule of Thirds will create your composition harmoniously by placing your focal point off-center. However, sometimes, setting aside the conventional rules will open the door for experiments thereby creating original masterpieces.

2. Risks. Average photos are most of the time taken from common places. To capture a exceptional scenery, it is logical that you have to go places nobody has ever been before. Never be afraid to try and take risks. Explore the most wild locations and go out during crazy weathers to capture extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime images.

3. Timing. Most people call this, “the eye” of an artist, which all of us have. This is the perfect moment being in the right place at the right time. The only trick is- anticipation, imagining of what could possibly happen in your subject and wait for it to happen. It could be a lightning in the grey clouds or the golden reflection of sunset, the bottom of it all is to wait for your moment.

Photgraphers’ philosophy believes that you should not just take shots, but you have to create them. It is essential that you know what you want and how you want it, thus it is consequential that you always have to pay respect to the ideal light, the centerpiece, the foreground and the sky.

4. Golden Hour. The ideal light for capturing majestic landscapes is during sunrise and sunset. Aside from the golden rays it lavish, it also produces fascinating textures, dimensions, and patterns. Hence, always make sure that you are an hour early before the dawn breaks or the dusk to bust. Note that camera’s flash must always be turned off for capturing landscape, unless you do it purposively to brighten the foreground for special effects.

5. Focal Point. Although you are capturing landscape images, it is necessary to have a centerpiece, otherwise the photograph will appear empty and themeless. This , most of the time, is the common error of landscape images, leaving the viewers wondering what they are really looking for. Thus, always look for interesting focal points which most of the time are bizarre structures or ordinary objects in strange locations.

6. Depth of Field. To achieve a dramtic effect in your landscape shots, make sure that your foreground compliments the middle ground and background objects. This will create a disctiction producing depth and a three-dimensional effect framing your landscape image. Note that odd elements in your foreground such as your shadow, cans, wires and others should be removed from your frame.

7. Sky. Predominance of the sky or the foreground is one basic aspect you have to bear in mind. You have to avoid a balance fraction of the sky and the foreground, otherwise it will make your shot monotonous. Meanwhile, a monochromatic sky should not dominate your shot, provided that you have an enchanting foreground. But if the clouds are filled with emotions, figures and colors, place your horizon in the lower third and let it radiate its beauty. Note that a polarizing filter is a handy in enhancing the color and contrast.

Finally, you need to have all the necessary euipment that you will need for your landscape shots. Moreover, you must apply the most appropriate settings to achieve high quality images. It is a prerequisite to have both the basic equipment and the right settings.

8. Tripod. The sharpness of your shots depends on the stability of your camera- your tripod is the solution to that. Since you will use a a longer shutter-speed to balance the small aperture, most especially in low-light environments, your tripod will be your secret weapon to keep the camera still.

9. Lens. It is common sense to bring wide-angle lens, ranging from 10mm to 20mm, in capturing your landscape images. Don’t be a victim of this faux pas, using zoom lens for landscape photography. Also, your average 18-55mm f/4-5.6 kit lens can be an alternative.

10. Exposure. To simplify, it is the amount of light your lens is absorbing. Therefore, if the ambient light is so bright, you need to under-expose your setting from -1 to -3 depending on the quality of light you want to achieve. Conversely, if the ambient light is too low, you need to over-expose from +1 to +3 until you attain the desired light quality. If the light is normal, set it to 0. Playing with the lights around you will dramtically enhance the effect of your shots.

11. Aperture. Simplifying the term, it means the focus of your lens. Ensure the use of high aperture setting ranging from f10 to f22 so you are certain that all details are sharp and not blurry. Always remember that every detail counts in landscape photographs.

Overall, you need to remind yourself that photography is an art. It is a medium of self expression, thus make sure that every photo you create must convey a message to the viewer. If this message is received, you are confident that your goal is achieved and that your photo is effective. So by mastering the 11 secrets of the three core preparations skills, subjects, and settings you are now prepared to create your magnum opus.

Article by James Lloyd Calmita

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