Learning the ins and outs of your camera is one thing, but if you want to take your landscape skills to the next level you need to get creative says Dylan Fox. In the first of a two-part series he shares five clever tips to help you take your photography to the next level.
The following suggestions are things I’ve learned over the years which have helped me improve my own images. Largely I’ve developed my skills through years of trial and error, whether that’s been shooting in the field or at home in post-production. No two photographs are handled the same way, but the ideas I discuss here are approaches I always think about. They help me to see and make photographs the way I do and they assist me in trying to improve every image I make.
01 CAPTIVATING COMPOSITIONS
In landscape photography a strong composition is paramount. You might have the most spectacular scenery, beautiful light or unique conditions, but a poor composition will prevent all the elements from coming together. Within landscape photography there a number of rules (or more correctly, guidelines) that can be very useful in helping create a perfectly balanced image.
The rule of thirds (a grid of noughts and crosses across your frame on which you place key subjects at the intersections of the lines), leading lines (running from the foreground to background) and compelling foreground and background elements are a few of them.
However, it’s also important to know when these so-called ‘rules’ can be broken. Maybe you want your lone tree to be positioned in the dead centre of your composition, or you are shooting with a long telephoto lens that flattens the scene and no longer allows for foreground elements.
Learning when to apply these techniques and when to avoid them takes practice. It’s important to experiment and not be afraid to fail. Study the work of your favourite photographers and really think about how they have composed their work. Look for the position of key elements, and reflect on why they have framed a scene they way they have. This will help create a mental catalogue of ideas in your mind which will help you compose your own photographs out in the field.
'To Be Free.' Stunning warm sunset light broke through the clouds on the left of this scene. The light completely changed this scene and really added some beautiful warmth to it. Sony A7R, Canon 16-35mm Mk II lens @ 27mm, 1/40s @ f/9, ISO 500. Focus stack.
02 LIGHT IT UP
Without light, there would be no photography. Beautiful lighting can transform a photo. If you shoot a scene during the middle of a clear sunny day when the lighting is harsh and lacking in direction, then capture the same composition under a beautiful sunset or sunrise, that scene is clearly transformed. In landscape photography we can’t manufacture beautiful light in the field or in post-production so it’s important that the best possible light is captured at any location you visit.
Every scene is different. One particular location might look best during a colourful sunrise, another may need soft diffused morning light created by fog, and other scenes can benefit from the drama of an electrical storm. You should have an idea of what you’re trying to convey about that particular place.
'Gracious.' I photographed this tree five months earlier in Kalbarri National Park, WA, but as I came across it this time the morning sun was just kissing the top making for a far more stunning scene. Sony A7R, Canon 16-35mm lens @ 32mm, 1/100s @ f/8, ISO 400.
03 WATCH THE WEATHER
If you’re a serious landscape shooter it’s extremely useful to know when great lighting might occur. By reading local weather maps, checking out weather websites, and simply watching the skies above you, you can start to predict, to some extent, when that evocative light might happen. Knowing when there’s a possibility of it occurring increases your chances of being in the right place at the right time. Often a clear sky isn’t ideal for shooting because there’s a lack of interesting subject matter there. It appears as a big empty space. Clouds bring unique elements and they are forever changing. Soft wispy clouds might produce a stunning red sunset across the whole sky, while darker rain clouds might just allow a single ray of light to break through, creating a much moodier and dramatic scene. Keeping track of events such as tides, predicted wind patterns, and moon phases can also be very useful. It’s important that all the elements come together at once if an image is to be really special. For a landscape photographer, watching and learning about the weather becomes fundamentally important.
04 LEAD IT IN
One of the composition guidelines I touched on earlier was leading lines. I often like to create images with wide angle lense, with elements in the scene both very far away and near to the lens. Using leading lines to tie these parts of the image together is an effective way to create strong landscapes. These lines provide a place for the viewers eye to start and will guide them to the key point of the image. Leading lines can be anything from a river to a fence or a jetty (an old favourite of many enthusiasts!). Sometimes these lines are obvious, but sometimes they’re subtle. Some are straight lines, while some zigzag their way through a frame. But ultimately they are there to lead the viewer’s eye through the scene. On this point, it’s important to note that the reverse also generally applies. You should avoid having lines in your images which lead your eye out of the frame.
05 LESS IS MORE
When I was first getting started in landscape photography this was one of the most important lessons I learned – clean, simple, uncluttered images work best! The most impressive images are free of distracting elements which don’t add anything substantial to the photograph. Focus on a smaller part of a scene to create something visually pleasing, rather than attempting to document the entire location in one shot. When composing out in the field, take a minute to evaluate your shot and consider what element could be distracting within that frame. Are there things that grab your attention and drag it away from what you’re trying to focus on? This could be anything from a tree branch to a clear patch in an otherwise cloudy sky. The more you look at the works of leading photographers, the more you’ll see their compositions are often quite simple. Not simple to find, see and create, but simple in terms of their structure. These images may still have a lot to look at within the frame on close inspection, but at first glance your eye will follow a path which the photographer intended. I like to compare this to another art form – music.
Some of the greatest songs of all time are just three chords. In a way, you're striving for a similar level of simplicity in landscape photography. Trying to find that simplicity in often cluttered and busy locations is easier said than done, but it’s something worth striving for.
'The Reward.' One of the most stunning scenes I have ever seen. With my tripod submerged there was a real chance my camera was going for a swim. I knew the light was going to be good but I was in awe when lightning began to light up the horizon in front of me.