Wednesday 17 August 2016

Landscape photography - Part 2

Landscape photography - part 1 can be found on the below link


7) Include the Sky

Including the sky makes the photograph more interesting. Most landscapes images will have either a dominant foreground or sky. If you your image does not have one or the other, photograph can end up being boring. If the sky is bland, boring sky, overcast, do not include the sky in your image and place the horizon in the upper third of your shot. However your foreground has to interesting. On the other hand if the sky is filled lots of clouds and colours include it by placing the horizon lower third.


Clouds - horizon on lower third


Misty mountains


Blue water -  horizon on upper third

Blue water

8)     Leading Lines

You may have asked yourself this question, ‘how can lead the viewer’s eye of into the image’?
Here is the answer; there are a number of ways of doing this.
  • Include foreground
  •  Blur the image to create a sense of movement
  • Changing your view point
  • Colours in the landscape: i.e. a field of poppies against the blue sky
Leading lines are one of the best ways into an image which lead the viewers into the photograph. Lines give an image depth, scale and can be a point of interest and create patterns in your image.

Below: Photograph taken in Cornwall

Waves


Tyre tracks leading to the trees

Tyre tracks in snow


 9)     Capturing Movement


When most people think about landscapes they think of calm, peaceful and passive environments – however landscapes are rarely completely still and adding the movement creates the mood, drama, and create a point of interest.


Examples of movement in landscapes are:– moving trees, waves on a beach, water flowing over a waterfall, birds flying overhead, moving clouds, stars etc.


Capturing movement generally means a longer shutter speed, which means more light hitting your camera  sensor. For this reason you will need to use a small Aperture, use a Neutral Density or a Polarization filter or photograph your landscapes at the start or end of the day when there is less light.

Below: Zoomed while taking the photograph



Below: Waves, a faster shutter speed used to freeze the movement of the waves




Below: a close-up of a small waterfall by the road in Scotland. A slow shutter speed used to blur the movement of the water.


10)  Weather


A landscape can change dramatically depending on the weather conditions; choose the right time to photograph.



It’s great to get out on sunny days and photograph landscapes; however an overcast day that is threatening to rain may provide you with a much better opportunity to create an image with great atmosphere and mood.


Look out for storm clouds, mist, sun shining through dark skies, sunsets, sunrises etc. and work with the different elements rather than just waiting for the next clear blue sky day.

Sun set on a misty evening

Sunset

After the storm - photograph of the beach after it had stopped raining

After the storm
Foggy morning
Tress in the mist




I hope this brief insight into Landscape Photography assists you in taking better Landscape photographs.


Bhupinder Ghatahora