11 Landscape Mistakes we've all made and How to Avoid Them
Whatever it is you want to learn in life, mistakes are part of
the learning process. Landscape photography is no exception, its
actually something you get good at by making a lot of mistakes.
Here are eleven of the most common and how to fix them.No. 1 -
Photographing in dull lightSerious and professional landscape
photographers will often wait for hours or even days at a location
for the perfect light. Beginners and non-pro shooters most often
dont have that luxury. They get to a place and photograph it in
whatever light is available. Of course a lot of times, the
available light is dull or flat.Solution: Boring light is the enemy
of good landscape photos. Remove the color from your photos and add
a little more contrast. Also, consider changing the skies or adding
some clouds for extra drama.No. 2 Tilted horizonsThis is one of the
most common mistakes. It is the result of lack of experience and
often lack of patience.
(Does this horizon look a tad off? LOL)Solution: Turn on the
guidelines options in your camera menu and use them when framing
through the viewfinder or LCD to get a perfectly straight
horizon.No. 3 Bad compositionThis is one of the worst, yet most
common mistakes. Composition is crucial in landscape photography
because you have to create balance between foreground, middle
ground and background, not to mention making all the elements work
together in the frame.Solution: There is no way around this: study
composition thoroughly. Read books, study, keep shooting and might
I strongly suggest a set of photography specific cards to help you
master composition. Its one of the simplest ways to master this
important skill.No. 4 Over exposed skiesYou've probably taken shots
in the past where the ground is well exposed but the sky is
completely blown. This is a natural limitation for all cameras and
it rarely has to do with bad settings.Solution: Purchase a Neutral
Density (ND filter). Its simply the best option to deal with this
issue.No. 5 Obvious use of ND filtersND filters are indeed very
useful, but when wrongly used, they leave an ugly, very noticeable
difference in light between ground and sky.Solution: Consider
fixing this problem with a bit of post processing or switch to a
filter with less stops.
No. 6 - Less sharp foreground or backgroundLandscape photography
is one of the few genres that demand everything to be in focus. A
huge depth of field is therefore necessary and beginners often have
a difference in sharpness between foreground and
backgroundSolution: Close down the aperture as much as possible.
Optimum values xt influence image sharpness and ignoring just one
of them will lead to a blurred or soft image.No. 7 - BlurredThere
are a number of factors that influence image sharpness and ignoring
just one of them will lead to a blurred image.Solution: Make sure
you check everything. Shoot with the camera mounted on a tripod and
use a remote to click the shutter. Use a lower ISO value and f-
stop range between 8 and eleven. Make sure to shoot RAW.No. 8 Hard
ShadowsThey are often the result of poor exposure or improper
lighting conditions.Solution: The ideal solution is to stop
shooting in harsh daylight. But if you can't avoid that, use Adobe
Lightroom or Camera Raw to soften the shadows, but make sure not to
overdo it and end up with a kitschy HDR shot.
No. 9 - No foregroundThe foreground is a part of the image that
will simply make it more interesting to view. Without it, the
picture will most likely look empty or like its missing something.
Solution: Start adding a foreground to your landscapes. It can be
anything from flowers to rocks.No. 10 - Over
saturationPhotographers will often try to compensate for taking a
less interesting shot by increasing saturation. Generally, this
isn't a bad thing, but its very easy to go overboard and end up
with a picture that looks like it was taken at Disney.Solution: Be
moderate when playing with saturation. Dont overdo it when you want
to turn it up a notch.No. 11 - Photographing classic scenesWhenever
you're in an interesting location, particularly one with a popular
name, you have to take in mind that other photographers have been
there before you. Amateurs often forget this and shoot from the
exact same perspective you can find on postcards.Solution: Walk
around and find a better angle, a perspective that is harder to get
to and is less likely to have been photographed by an entire army
of camera owners and photographers.
11 Fail-Safe Tips for Landscape Photographers
Going out in nature and taking pictures of what you see is one
of the most enjoyable things you can do with a camera. Some people
make a living from it, but most take up landscape photography
because it is very pleasurable and rewarding. We have eleven tips
for them that will guarantee amazing shots and more enjoyable
experiences the next time they go shooting out into the
wild.1.Spectacular skiesOne of the most important elements in any
landscape photo is the sky. You want something that people will
look at. Try to avoid white, dull skies and include clouds as often
as you can. Consider enhancing beautiful skies in post-production
and use a polarizing filter for those blue, summer skies to make
the color and contrast stand out. 2.MotionLandscape photography is
usually all about still scenes, but you can give your images some
extra weight with motion. Set your camera for long exposures and
capture moving waves or flowing rivers. Even clouds can create
motion in the sky if you keep your shutter open long
enough.(Success Tip: Master landscape photography with a simple
deck of cards here)3.Shoot in the golden hourI know this is a tip
you hear and see everywhere, but it is that important. You'll most
likely have very little time on your hands to capture a scene, so
its best to schedule everything properly. Use apps to learn when
the sun is in the correct position in the location you want to
photograph and make sure you're there on time.
4. The holy tripodTheres a saying among old-school pros: theres
no lens like a tripod. Thats true for a number of reasons. You want
your camera to be completely stable for motionless images. You also
want to take your time with composition and the best way to do that
is to slow things down a little. A tripod will be of great help in
this regard.
5.Include a foregroundForegrounds will make your photos more
interesting and give them a sense of depth. There are a lot of
elements you can place in your foregrounds, but some of the most
used are rocks, trees and flowers.6.Leading linesUse leading lines
to guide your viewer into the frame and lead their attention to the
points of interest. Look for natural symmetry in nature in elements
like forest lines.7.Make bad weather your friendThe truth is nobody
really likes to photograph in harsh weather. It can be very
frustrating and exhausting, not to mention dangerous for both
photographer and camera gear.
But its also true that bad weather produces spectacular light
and makes scenes very dramatic. If I could choose between shooting
a scene at dusk and doing it just before a heavy storm, I would
always choose the second. 8.Straighten that horizon lineIts one of
least favorite things for landscape photographers to try and keep
their cameras straight enough to get a perfect horizon. You can
make it easier by using a tripod and relying on the guidelines in
the viewfinder or LCD screen. 9.The importance of perspectiveThe
most spectacular landscape photos are those taken from the hardest
places to get to. Remember that the next time you go shooting. It
takes a bit of sacrifice and stepping out of your comfort zone to
find an interesting, different perspective. Just make sure you stay
safe and use the proper gear and clothing.10.Points of interestIts
best to have a point of interest in your photos, something that
will draw attention. It can be a lodge in the distance, or even the
moon or a tree. The point of adding such an element is to increase
the visual appeal of the image. Instead of having an even, yet
mostly empty scene, put something in there that will grab the
attention of the viewers.11.Maximum depth of fieldYou want
everything in the frame to be completely in focus. Having a clear
foreground and a blurred background isn't really called landscape
photography .The best way to achieve this is to close down your
aperture as much as you can. However, keep in mind that this can
possibly result in underexposure, so boost the ISO a little, or
turn to your trusty tripod once more.
5 Steps for Awesome Shots with Less Gear
One thing I don't like about us photographers in general is that
we are vulnerable to certain threats. And one of the most serious
threats is coming from camera manufacturers, and to be more
specific, theyre marketing departments. For many years, they've
gotten photographers, beginners especially, to think that in order
to take awesome, professional looking photos, they have to buy the
latest, most expensive gear and to replace it every two years when
something better comes out. This is one of the worst propagandas we
are constantly being exposed to, and needless to say, its far from
the truth. A photographer is just like a musician: its the talent
and skills that count a lot more than the instrument. We have five
steps that will help you take amazing pictures with whatever gear
you're using and break this spell that camera companies have put on
you.1.Master exposureThe first step is something you must learn how
to do regardless of the camera you're using. It can be your iPhone
or a digital medium format camera, it doesn't matter. Getting the
exposure right is essential. It all comes with a little practice
and combining shutter speed, aperture and ISO. 2.Think outside the
boxThis sounds like an overused clich, but its a good expression
for the message I want to send. Everybody tends to photograph in
landscape mode from eye level, especially in the first few months.
Imagination is not just about choosing a cool subject, its also
about how you photograph it. Always look for a more interesting
perspective, no matter what you're shooting. Learn the rules well
enough to be comfortable to break them.3.Be selective with
lightHaving your camera with you all the time is a good idea, but
shooting non-stop isnt. In time, you will learn the difference
between good light and bad light. Keep in mind were talking about
the most essential component of any photograph. Once you learn to
be a little bit more selective about the time you go shooting and
how the lighting conditions are, you'll start getting more and more
good results and less failed attempts. No matter what camera you
use, if the light is dramatic or spectacular, it will show in your
photos. Thats what you want, not a $3,000 camera to shoot portraits
at noon.
4.Love whats in your bagI see a lot of photographers being
frustrated with their gear. Whether its an older camera or an
entry-level model, a lot of them don't even feel like shooting
anymore because they believe their cameras aren't good enough. I
would like to remind all those photographers that there are
currently photography exhibitions in museums around the world that
were created with iPhones. An old or cheap camera is no excuse for
not shooting, for not wanting to perfect your craft. Whatever it is
that you're using, love that camera and lens and show the world
that gear is not a real limitation.5.Work on timingTiming is one of
the most difficult parts of being a good photographer, especially
if you're into sports, street or documentary photography. Its all
about the decisive moment Bresson was telling us about. With todays
cameras its a lot easier because you get very high frame rates.
Still, its a game of anticipation to have your finger on the
shutter release at exactly the right time. It all comes with
practice and a trained eye can take months or years to develop.
Once you have a feel for the right moment, you'll start getting
those awesome results.
Now that you know what these five steps are, its time to put
them into practice. Before you do, always keep in mind the most
important lesson: its all about who is behind the camera. Good
luck!