77 tips for better landscapes
Get to grips with the basics of landscape photography with these easy, jargon-free tips – you’ll be taking better shots in no time…
1
Map out locations
You should never head out on landscape shoots in new locations without a good map; we like the Ordnance Survey Landranger series. Before you leave home, use your map to do a recce of the area you are planning to photograph.
Ordnance Survey and similar maps are invaluable, because they enable you to plan your route in advance, working out elevations and exactly where the mountain peaks, lakes and scenic spots are, which road or trail you’ll need to reach them, and the best positions to photograph them from. This means that once you get to your location, the only thing you really need to think about is taking brilliant pictures.
2
Get in position
Think about the scenes you want to capture, then find out where you should shoot from to make the most of them – and when. Working out where the sun will rise and set, and the sun’s position in relation to you and your landscape, will ensure that you’re in the right place at the right time.
“Before you start taking landscapes, stop and survey the lie of the land”
3 Read the landscape
Before you start taking landscapes, stop and survey the lie of the land. Make sure you’re in the best spot in relation to the position of the sun. Also, look for an ‘anchor’ – a focal point that leads the eye into the image, whether it’s a farmhouse, a line of trees or foreground interest.
4 Don’t be lazy!
When newcomers to photography shoot landscapes, they often pull up at a viewpoint car park, get out of the car and take a few handheld snaps of the scene, before driving off again. To improve your shots, use your feet and walk around.
Get down to the lakeside or the base of the mountain, or walk up to a higher viewpoint, so you’re involved in the scene rather than just a passing viewer. Even just doing this will really improve your compositions.
5 The golden hours
Sunrise (and the hour or so afterwards) and sunset (and the hour or so just before) are the best times of day for capturing beautiful landscape shots with spectacularly colourful skies. Watch the weather forecast beforehand and try to avoid overcast or cloudy days – clear skies with only a smattering of clouds usually create the most colourful skylines.
Whether you set an early alarm or plan to stay out late, you’ll be on location ready to capture moody, vibrant skies just as the sun rises or sets.