10 Landscape Photography Tips for Beginners (Part 2)
This is the second half of a series of tips to help beggining photographers improve their landscape photos. If you missed part 1, you can read it here. We've been talking about ways to make your landscape photos more than snapshots. Without further ado, let's look at 5 more ways to draw your viewers into your photos and give them a sense of what you felt when you viewed the landscape.
6. Try something other than the eye-level view.
One of the beginner habits that should be broken early is the tendency to get out of the car, put the camera on the tripod and shoot. Learn to look at a shot from several different heights. Squat down. Lie on your stomach. Climb up on the roof of the car. You'll be amazed at how a change in the height if your point of view can add a whole new dimension to a landscape. Show your audience a view they haven't seen before and you'll have their attention.
7. Add some motion.
Obviously, I'm not talking about camera motion here. Your camera needs to be as stable as possible for any landscape shot, and that goes double for what I'm about to suggest.
You can add a dynamic quality to a landscape shot by lengthening the exposure time, to allow motion in parts of the image to blur. From the movement of flowers in a slight breeze to the surrealistic look of moving clouds or water, adding just a touch of motion can give your viewers that sense of "being there".
You can achieve these effects in daylight shots with the addition of a neutral density filter. Consider adding one to your arsenal of landscape photography tools.
(Succcess Tip #1: Learn photography with a new challenge for every week of the year.)
8. Bad weather can be your friend.
Some of the most interesting skies, lighting and shadows come when storms approach. Obviously, the last thing you want to do is put yourself in danger, and you don't want to get you and your equipment drenched, but with a little bit of preparation, you can be shooting the landscape in ways everyone else misses out on.
(Landscape Photography Success Tip: Batteries die...Always be prepared in the field. We use and highly recommend the Wolverine Colossal USB Travel Battery Charger )
Carry a lightweight poncho or tarp to shield yourself and your gear, and a bag and rubber band or other "raincoat" for your camera. You don't necessarily need to wait for rain, but be ready for it. Grab some shots in that dramatic lighting that comes with spring and summer storms, but be wary of lightning.
Remember that the landscape changes dramatically in the winter, too. Bundle up, grab your snowshoes and get out there when the crowds are gone. Let me reiterate here that safety should come first. Photographing in inclement weather doesn't mean challenging the weather. Use some common sense.
9. Watch your horizons.
The most common mistake I see made by beginners is a tilted horizon. I've also heard many "experts" say it doesn't matter. I can assure you, no magazine publisher, art buyer or competition judge will look twice at a landscape with a horizon that isn't straight. It's unsettling and breaks the connection between the viewer and the scene. You've taken the time to create a beautiful landscape shot. Take a few more seconds to level it. Use yor camera's display grid to be sure.
I touched on the other horizon problem to overcome in the previous article: centering the horizon. This splits the image, kills the sense of depth and creates a block for the viewer's eyes. Align your horizons to allow the sky or land to be dominant. Using the Rule of Thirds is a good idea, but not mandatory.
10. Wait for the right light - even if it means no light.
You've heard about The Golden Hours - those hours before and after dawn or sunset. Don't underestimate the value of those times. The light has a different quality, it strikes things at more interesting angles and unique shadows and textures appear. These are wonderful times to create awesome landscape photos.
These aren't, however, the only times that natural light can help enhance your landscape photos. An overhead sun can create captivating patterns of light on a path in the forest. A flat cliff face can come to life if you wait an hour for the angle of the light to change. Last, but certainly not least, don't forget about moonlight and night landscapes. Yes, shooting in the dark is challenging. It can also reward you with some amazing landscape shots and give you the opportunity to try your hand at painting the landscape with light.
(Success Tip #2: How to earn more from your photos with less effort)
That wraps up our talk for today, campers! These are far from the only things you'll need to learn to become a great landscape photographer, and none of them will guarantee it will happen. On the other hand, by focusing on these 10 simple tips, you should see a marked improvement in your landscape photos.
Get out there and start shooting. Enjoy!
