Landscape Photography: How to Take the Best Shots

Landscape Photography offers the vastness of nature to explore and photograph. Taking the best shot requires the right tools and techniques. The challenge is knowing the best equipment and where to start with the camera settings.

Whether you are an experienced photographer or just beginning, the amazing landscape photography is always pleasing to the eye. Either way, you are reliant on your own ability and skill to see and compose an image, as well as nature itself. If you find beauty and awe in landscape photography yet are unsure of the right techniques to use, then you are in luck. We will provide a list of tips and camera lenses that will aid in your photographic journey. Read on to unravel the mystery and magic of landscape photography.

Use wide angle lens:

Wide-angle lenses are preferable for landscape photography as they reveal a broader view, and therefore give the sense of a wide open space. They also tend to give a greater depth of field and allow you to use faster shutter speeds because they permit more light. Taking an image at f/16 will make both the foreground and background sharp.

While capturing with wide angle, work your way around these settings.

• Shutter speed: 1/100
• Aperture: F/16
• ISO: 100
• Flash: not fired

The settings are not set in stone and depend on the current lighting conditions and weather – yet these are a good start. 

Use a tripod:

For some pictures, you will need to use longer shutter speed. An example, if you are capturing star trails or water motion then you need your shutter speed to be longer. In that case, you do not want to move your camera – for if you do, the end result is a blurry picture. Therefore, you may need to use a tripod stand to ensure the camera is absolutely still during exposure. In fact, even you are able to shoot at a fast shutter speed the practice of using a tripod will be beneficial. There is also an option for a wireless button to ensure maximum stillness. 

Rule of Third:

If you are a beginner photographer then using the rule of third can prove to be quite valuable. For instance, imagine four lines, two horizontal across the image and two vertical creating nine even squares. Some images will look best with the focal point in the centre square, however, if you place the subject off centre at one of the intersecting points of the imaginary lines, it will often create a more aesthetically composed photograph. 

Find the great blue up or down below:

Another element to consider while photographing landscapes is the sky and water bodies. You can use the blue of the sky or use bodies of water as a reflective mirror for your landscape. Most landscapes will either have a dominant foreground or sky – unless you have one or the other your shot can end up being fairly boring.

If you have a bland, boring sky – do not let it dominate your shot and place the horizon in the upper third of your shot. On the other hand, if the sky is dramatic and showcases interesting cloud formations and colours, then let it shine by placing the horizon lower. 

You may also consider enhancing skies either in post-production or with the use of filters.

Capture Movement:

For a more dynamic and exciting photograph – add motion. Be it stars, water, racing care, or lights.

If you are working with moving water you can create a stunning white water effect by selecting a long exposure. One way to do this is by using TV or S (Shutter-Priority) mode and choosing an exposure of 2 seconds or longer. You can also use AV (Aperture-Priority) mode and opt for a small aperture like f/32.

For bright daylight it is important to use a filter to reduce the amount of light hitting the camera, and this way, you will allow a longer shutter time. For such images, a the use of a tripod is handy so that the reset of your photograph remains sharp. 

Use light to your advantage:

Light consistently changes, especially during sunsets and sunrises. Look for details of how the light filters through clouds and look for objects that the light isolates. Mountain images portray this a lot, where clouds and light play around peaks and continue throughout the day. 

Make use of sun stars in your composition:

When shooting directly into the sun and closing down your aperture to f/16-f/22 you will see that your lens creates a sun star. This cannot be done with all types of lenses since different lenses have varying characteristics. To achieve a sun star, position the sun against an edge, like the horizon or an object in the frame. By positioning it slightly against an edge, the sun stars will look best. Try and experiment!

Adding Depth:

One of the most central components of landscape photography is getting the depth of field right. If we are to define depth of field, it is simply the area of an image that is in focus.

Typically, landscapes benefit from a very deep depth of field, that way everything in the scene from the foreground to the background is in sharp focus.

If you are using a wide range lens then, set a small aperture (i.e. f/11 or smaller), and set your focus point about one-third of the way into the image – the depth of field should be more than sufficient for sharpness of focus from front to back.

Recommended Lenses

 You can also check out the Landscape photos we create at the Big acrylic gallery section