Landscape Photography Tips for Beginners
There
are times when you find yourself in a middle of a beautiful landscape
scene and you want to capture that image to preserve it. So you take
your camera and start shooting. When you have the picture printed, you
find that what you shot didn't depict the beauty that you experienced.
Why is this so? It's because you and your camera see things differently;
your perspective is selective while your camera just takes in all that
it sees. Fortunately, there are ways to make your landscape photos
convey what you want, if you follow some photography tips for beginners.
First
of all, you have to determine what captures your eye the most. Look
around your surroundings and find the aspects you want to emphasize. It
could be the color of the sky, cloud formations, lush greenery, waves on
the shore, rock structures or any other element in the scene. If you
focus on what is most attractive, you are better able to simplify your
composition and take out the distractions.
The time of the day
matters when shooting landscapes. Sceneries look best early in the day
or when the sun is about to set. This is because the low sun casts
shadows that provide depth and texture to scenes. If possible, examine
postcards of landscapes and see how other photographers shoot their
images. This does not mean that you imitate their shots, but there are
lessons to be learned just by looking at the work of the professionals.
Skies
provide great backgrounds but if they are overcast, they can appear
dull in the captured image. If this is the case, eliminate the skies
from your picture and focus on the smaller elements and do close-ups.
Persons can be components for a landscape shot, especially if you want
to add movement or scale to your image; and want to emphasize how large a
structure is or how vast a scene can be. Avoid poses that appear
contrived, such as a person standing in front with a grin. Candid shots
are more endearing and memorable.
If your camera is equipped with
a zoom lens, use the wide-angle setting so that your picture can
capture as much of the landscape as possible. Being able to include more
elements means that there are more issues to consider. To avoid photos
that look flat, include interesting lines like a curving road or river
that will guide the viewer's eyes. Take note of the horizon. The rule of
thirds dictates that it can only occupy the upper third of the image
unless it is required that more space should be allotted to it.
landscape
photography - The most important photography tip for beginners in
shooting landscapes is to be patient. You cannot have great pictures of
sceneries just by clicking away indiscriminately. You have to take time
in observing your surroundings and in most cases, you have to wait for
the right time of day, when light and shadow are in perfect harmony. By
following these simple steps, you are not just merely recording a scene
but creating a work of art.