LANDSCAPES

Landscapes constantly changes depending on the weather conditions and different time of the day, they can reflect distinct attributes and mood. In landscape photography taking care of the composition is very vital to avert dull shots. Learning to observe and then capture the right scene on film is the most challenging aspect of landscape photography.

Compositional control

The surroundings should be properly explored for the accurate viewpoint, before you take a picture. An image can be improved drastically by the inclusion of a subject in foreground or by playing with different lighting effects. The vertical, horizontal positions of a viewpoint must be taken care of. You should also be decisive of the height from which to shoot. Foreground gets stressed by squatting down, while obtaining further height allows expelling the unwanted foreground detail.

Light factor

In the landscape photography, you can neither change the position of your subject, nor can you change the light. You have to work with the prevailing light but it does not mean that the appearance of subject in a photograph cannot be influenced. For instance, a pool resting at the bottom of a ravine might look black and lifeless from one angle, but when seen from the other angle, the water might appear as a mirror confining flawless reflection of clouds and the blue sky.

Lenses for landscapes

To cover the wider views or panoramas, a wide-angle lens is idealistic. A long focus lens can be used when the sky appears flat and dull. This will help in restricting the focus on those components of the scene having maximum impact. While taking pictures of landscapes, it is advisable to use a cable release and tripod to abstain from camera shake. A landscape can look most spectacular towards dusk and dawn or in the dark stormy light, whereby making the usage of long exposures essential.

Left and below:

although these two shots were taken very close to each other, one is far better composition than the other. In the upright picture, the road and three balance each other drawing the eye to the center. The tree is a bold dominant feature; the way the narrow road converges added the sense of curiosity for what lies beyond? In the horizontal picture the tree appears to lose its dominance and the expanse of fields on either side diminishes the power of the converging sides of the road. It is clear that the smaller adjustment can make a considerable difference to an overall composition.