The Trials and Tribulations of a Landscape Photographer

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It seems to me that a lot of people that haven’t dabbled in landscape photography just aren’t familiar with how difficult it can be.

After all, the final result - hopefully, a gorgeous shot that looks effortless - is often the result of hours and hours and hours of planning, preparation, and patience.

All that behind-the-scenes stuff can be daunting, for sure, but if the image turns out like the one above, I’d say it’s worth it!

But just consider a few things landscape photographers have to do to get shots like those in this article…

Early Mornings

Sure, there’s some landscapes that you can literally hop out of the car right before sunrise and capture an epic shot.

Those situations are few and far between, though.

Most landscapes require very early mornings (or late nights) in which you have to fumble around in the dark to find the best vantage point, get your gear setup, and prepare to get the shot once light falls across the landscape.

The bummer is that after all that work, you still might not be able to get the shot you want.

Why? Weather.

Weather Challenges

Rain, fog, cloud cover, lighting...you name it, landscape photographers have to deal with it.

In some instances, weather can help the shot, as seen in the image above.

But while it looks beautiful there, what you don’t see is the rain-soaked photographer that had to huddle in their car for two hours while the rain poured down.

You also don’t see all the gear that has to be protected from the elements, which is a job in and of itself.

Throw in being wet, hungry, and tired, and you have the makings for a miserable day…

Until you see the final results of your hard work, that is!

Cold Temperatures

Even if you live in a warm climate, the early mornings and late evenings can be on the chilly side.

For landscape photographers, that means dealing with the cold, both for themselves and for their gear.

It also means dealing with cold fingers as you try to manipulate your camera settings.

I don’t know about you, but trying to operate my camera when my fingers are frozen isn’t the easiest task in the world!

Even More Trials and Tribulations

Thomas Heaton is a well-known landscape photographer who has experienced all the maladies above, and more.

In the video below, follow along as he recounts the ugly side of landscape photography. But remember, all the struggles are worth it if you can snag a few stunning photos!

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