Shooting landscapes: the good, bad and ugly

Landscape shooting can be somewhat difficult, but the trick is in setting up the right composition. Some of the best moments on camera take a lot of time and patience, but the payoff is really great.

First ask yourself these questions:

 

What am I shooting? Whether it’s a large mountain range, animals, or a river bed, knowing what you are shooting will help you map out the composition. Look for a focal point and put that focal point on one of the lines that intersect if you divide the view finder into thirds.

 

Changing perspectives: Sometimes changing the position where you are shooting can help in making for a better composition. Shooting up makes a subject look larger, and shooting down makes a subject look smaller.

 

Looking at the clouds: Adding another element into the scene, like the sky,  can create atmospheric perspective, adding a moody effect to your image.

 

What to consider when shooting landscapes:

If you have a wide focal length, zoom lens tend to have a wide viewing angle; 20–50mm is optimal for landscapes.

For maximizing depth of field, opening the depth of field to the highest range possible enables a finer detail in long range shots. So set your f-stop to a lower setting.

In order to ensure a steady hand, use a tripod to steady the shot.

Photo caption:

Adding more sky to a landscape can create a sense of moodiness.