20 July 2009
Perfectly capturing beautiful landscapes such as sweeping mountains or exciting skylines can be one of the biggest challenges for photographers. There are however, some simple rules to follow which should give you a head start when snapping those special wide angle scenes.
When we see a unique large building, pretty tree or tall monument, we tend to automatically want to snap it straight away. But remember that the excitement of the object can be lost if there is no comparative element. Try including a size reference in your shots by having people or animals in the picture. This gives a much more realistic impression of the main object as the viewer can compare it next to something recognisable.
Experiment with colour contrasts in your scenes. Landscapes which are just one colour, such as snowy mountains against a grey sky, can appear dull and lifeless. But adding a colour element can have great affects. Try including a pair of bright green Wellington boots in a shot with white snow and trees, or a blue bucket and spade on a yellow sandy beach.
Photographing large buildings can be difficult, but try to look for repetitive patterns in the architecture. If a building has several arches in a row, why not shoot down the building and include the arches appearing large in the foreground and gradually disappearing towards the right of the photo. This gives a much better shot than simply taking the photo head on from a distance.
Light is an important aspect to landscape photography. Great pictures can be taken in low light conditions, such as beautiful buildings at nigh time. Cameras and low light don't usually go well together, but try to capture what available light there is, and adjust your cameras ISO sensitivity settings. Your photos can become more grainy in dark conditions, but this can also be used to achieve artistic effects.
Basically you should look to experiment and get an eye for powerful images, it may take time but as with most things, practice makes perfect!
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