In this lesson: Learn how to capture the essence of a landscape

Landscape photography is a special animal because it requires the timing, patience, and skill that any other type of photo needs, but it’s also necessary to be physically fit and capable of carrying your gear relatively long distances.

Though professional landscape photographers make it look easy, it’s actually one of the more difficult genres of photography to master. There are, of course, the usual considerations about lighting, composition, and so forth, such that you create an eye-catching image. But with landscapes, you also must consider things that are not under your control – the weather, the lighting, and even if you can reach your desired subject in the time frame you’ve allowed.

With that said, there are a few strategies you can use to ensure that your landscape images are more compelling and visually stimulating. Let’s explore a few.

Look for Lines

Leading lines serve several purposes in landscape photos:

• They provide structure to the landscape.
• They propel the eye into the shot.
• They add visual interest to landscapes that might otherwise be lacking it.

The sample image of the rice terraces is an ideal example of how lines can improve a landscape image. In this case, the curvature of the lines in addition to the repeated nature of the terraces give the image the structure mentioned above, while also pumping up the visual interest in the foreground. Imagine this photo without these lines – the foreground would be relatively uninteresting, and the photo would not be nearly as successful.

Try Isolating the Subject

As with any type of photo, it’s important to have a strong subject that grabs and holds the viewer’s attention. Something you can do to enhance the visual power of a subject is to isolate it in the frame, as was done in the image of the sailboat.

Note how there is nothing competing with the sailboat for your attention. This is certainly due in part to the relative blankness of the scene, but it’s also due to the manner in which the sailboat was isolated in the frame. As a result, the boat has a lot of visual power, and the viewer has a better understanding of just how isolated the boat is with regard to its surroundings.

A note of caution, however: isolating a subject in a landscape is typically difficult to do, simply because landscapes generally have a lot going on. There are lots of colors, textures, shapes, and even subjects in a single landscape, so you will have to work hard and get creative to find ways to isolate your subject in most landscape situations.

Use Different Perspectives

One thing that sets professional landscape photos apart from amateur landscape photos is the perspective used to take the shot. More often than not, amateurs photograph landscapes from their eye-level and from points of view that are popular with other photographers – the “postcard shot,” if you will.

However, by spending some time exploring the area, you might well find a shoot location that offers an even better view. What’s more, by altering your perspective and shooting from down low or up high, for example, you can often create a much more compelling image.

Look at the image of the mother and daughter looking down on the landscape. Note how from this perspective, the viewer has a full view of the scene, allowing them to better understand its scope and scale. And, with the addition of a familiar subject – the people – we’re also better able to understand how far away the island and the town in the background actually are.

This image also speaks to the physical aspect of landscape photography. Not every scene will be accessible by car. Be prepared to do some walking or hiking, and be outfitted with the appropriate gear (i.e. jacket, backpack, food, water, etc.) that’s needed for a long trek.

Challenge Activity

Put your learning to the test by using the compositional tips outlined in this lesson to create more dramatic landscape photos.

Step 1: Scout a location where you’d like to take your photos. Bear in mind how far it is from your home and how long it will take you to get there so you can time your arrival just right. Remember from previous lessons that Golden Hour lighting is often the most pleasing for outdoor photos.

Step 2: Pack the appropriate gear. In addition to your camera, lens, tripod, and other photography essentials, be sure to bring appropriate clothing, food, water, maps or GPS, and so on.

Step 3: Once you’re at your desired shoot location, explore the area a bit to find varying perspectives on the subject. Remember, try to compose images in which you vary the shooting angle, like from a very low or a very high perspective.

Step 4: Look for opportunities to incorporate leading lines. These might take the form of a roadway or path, a fence, a river, or even a row of trees.

Step 5: Strive to compose a few shots in which you isolate the subject. This might require more walking or hiking around to find the best point of view. You can also use the shooting angle to help you isolate the subject. For example, taking a very low shooting position, you might be able to isolate a tall subject against the sky by composing the image with a sharp, upward angle of view.