Landscape picture12/24/2023 ![]() It’s also important to plan around the moon phases if you are trying to take night sky images. Additionally, clouds are a double-edged sword: you want them during sunset, but not at night. When shooting at night, keep in mind a simple rule of thumb that: “the darker the sky, the better.” For instance, it’s essential to avoid the light pollution from city lights. On the other hand, if you are shooting color, you want nice, soft warm light coming in. For example, if you are shooting black and white, you need stronger contrast within your light. Understanding the way light works in the environment, and what looks good in landscape photographs will help you find your final image. However, in cases when I don’t have the sky or light that I want, I also have several back-up options: one for perfect light, one for night sky, and one for small details. My first option, which I like to call my “bucket-list unicorn shot,” is when there is color and texture in the sky. Use these not-so-good times to scout and formulate a few different options for what you would like to shoot within the given scene. There are good times in the day to shoot landscapes and obviously not-so-good times. Another time I used a 500mm to capture a mountain in Patagonia that is only visible a few times a year when the clouds part. During one assignment when I was shooting wildfires, using the 70-200mm enabled me to capture a surreal shot of smoke and light moving together through the nooks in the trees. There have been numerous occasions in my career when I’ve been thankful to have my longer lens on-hand to capture one-of-a-kind moments. For example, if you have a clear, but rather boring, bluebird sky, a 70-200mm will allow you to home in on small intricate details that may give you really cool patterns, textures, or lines. When I travel, I carry either a 70-200mm f/2.8 or 200-500mm f/5.6 lens because using a longer lens allows me to capture all the hidden details that exist within the landscape. Obviously, wide-angles are a “go-to” lens for landscape photography, but you should also consider bringing along a mid-zoom or telephoto lens. #2 Don’t Get Stuck in a Wide-Angle Mindset Instead, later in the afternoon is optimal, because you might have clouds building up on the tops of peaks, creating more dramatic looks to the sky. Avoid shooting at mid-day when there is poor light, and you lose early morning fog that floats through the mountain range. For instance, generally speaking, timing is crucial when capturing mountains. Landscapes tend to create their own weather environments and atmospheres, so if you scout a location before a shoot, you’ll understand more about how the weather works there. Take the light and the time of the day into account when you scout. Take the time to scout the environment and the landscape and get a feel for the scene you’re working with there’s no doubt you’re going to notice some of the smaller details that make up your composition and make an image more powerful. If you just go up and simply start taking photos, chances are you’re going to miss those details and you’re not going to capture the best photo you can get. However, there are so many intricate details within the landscape in front of the mountain to discover, such as leading lines, repeating patterns, and contrasting colors. Anybody can walk up to a mountain and take a photograph. Scouting is one of the most essential aspects to successful landscape photography, and if you take the time, it will pay off. However, before getting started, please remember that your safety and respect for the outdoors always need to be the top consideration when venturing out to shoot.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |