When you're learning photography and how to take better photos, you have the benefit of having a wealth of beginner photography tips at your disposal.
You can use things like the rule of thirds and leading lines to create better compositions.
You can upgrade your lens to something that's got better optics or offers improved low-light performance.
You can also get into the habit of shooting at the right times of day to capitalize on the best lighting.
Each of these tips are surefire ways to improve your photos. Below are a few more that will get you headed in the right direction!
Use Light Like a Leading Line
The benefit of using a leading line in a photo is that it helps connect the foreground to the background.
But leading lines also help lead the eyes of the viewer to the primary subject. You can do the same with light, too.
In the image above, your eye is immediately drawn to the mountain peak in part because of its imposing size in the frame, but also in part to the fact that it's softly illuminated by the setting sun.
Timing your photo shoots just right to take advantage of lighting like this is an excellent way to capture scenes that have more visual appeal.
Not only that, but light is a great way to draw attention to something - our eyes naturally gravitate towards bright things.
So, by using light as a "leading line," you have an easy and effective way of improving your photos.
Learn More:
Use Lens Filters for Better Results
Speaking of lighting...
When you photograph landscapes, you're often presented with problems like glare off of bodies of water or atmospheric haze that reduces the clarity of the images you take.
These lighting issues are easy to resolve, though, with a lens filter.
A circular polarizing filter is a must-have for any photographer because it helps reduce glare. Not only that, but good circular polarizers like those from Formatt-Hitech (shown below) offer features that go above and beyond the call of duty.
When shopping for a circular polarizer, you want one that is made of high-grade optical glass, like Schott Superwite glass.
Doing so means that the filter will give you the sharpest, clearest results while also doing its job of reducing glare, deepening the blue of the sky, and minimizing atmospheric haze.
What's more, some circular polarizers have multicoating technology that allows them to be resistant to water and scratches, making them durable for the long-term, too.
Circular polarizers are incredibly easy to use, too.
Just purchase the right size for your lens and screw it onto the end of the lens. After that, you're ready to shoot!
The best results from a polarizing filter are had when the sun is at a 45-degree angle (or close to it), so keep that in mind when you're out shooting, and you'll love the better results you get!
Learn More:
- 3 Common Landscape Photography Mistakes and What You Can Do to Fix Them
- Get a Well-Exposed Landscape Photo Every Time With This One Simple Trick
Shoot a Lot - But Not Everything
As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect, and shooting a lot of photos is a good way to perfect your approach.
However, you need to balance that with some measure of selectivity as well.
By that, I mean that you need to actually think about what you're photographing and why.
Doing so helps you create a shot, rather than simply taking a shot.
That might sound cheesy, but taking a little time to be sure that your camera settings are right, that your composition is spot on, that your subject is in focus, and so forth can make more difference in the quality of your photos than anything else!
Learn More:
- How to Add Drama to Your Landscape Photos
- Get Started in Long Exposure Photography With These Quick Tips