TOP TIPS FOR LANDSCAPE PHOTOS
After months of amazing entries, the votes are now being counted in our Outdoor Photo of the Year competition. In the meantime, we asked expert photographer Chris Upton to reveal his favourite places, techniques and kit…
Why choose landscapes?
In my youth I spent a lot of time walking in the Peak District and Lake District. They’re beautiful parts of the world and I guess I wanted to try and record those wonderful experiences. One particular occasion comes to mind when I was at Watendlath in the Lake District. It was a cold autumn day and I was shooting the farmhouse from across the tarn. The fells rose dramatically behind the farm as wisps of wood smoke appeared from the chimney. My black & white print captured not only what I’d seen but also what I was feeling and I realised then that this was the key to landscape photography.
What are the key ingredients to a stunning landscape?
The most important ingredient is light. The best light is usually around sunrise and sunset and shooting at these times can make a massive difference to your images without it costing you a penny. Interesting weather can also provide perfect conditions for capturing stunning images. So, the next time you see a forecast for mist, fog, snow or even rain, get out there with your camera – just make sure you protect it from the elements! Carefully crafted composition is also key. Be clear on what you’re trying to communicate – where do you want the viewer to look? Is there a focal point? Ensure that your shot has depth with a foreground, midground and background. Decide on the proportion of sky to land (or sea) depending on the conditions. Simplify your landscapes by excluding anything that detracts from the main message and crop your images in post-processing to add impact. Give movement to a landscape with water, clouds, trees or grasses blowing in the wind. And don’t limit yourself to only using a wideangle lens – a 70-200mm focal length is a superb tool for isolating detail and compressing perspective. Finally, don’t forget your tripod. They’re critical in ensuring shake-free images but also help in slowing you down, enabling the fine-tuning of your composition.
Where are your favourite places to shoot in the UK?
We’re blessed with so many beautiful locations in this country, but my favourite has to be the Lake District. It has everything from dramatic mountains to wooded valleys and beautiful tarns, all in a relatively small, easily accessible area. While Scotland has all the majesty, drama and incredible
beauty I’d also have to say the Peak District because it’s local to me. I initially found it harder to shoot here because images don’t always present themselves and you have to search more for compositions. But whether it be the harsh gritstone in the north or the gentle rolling limestone dales in the south it’s a great place to shoot. It’s easy to be seduced by the magnificent landscapes in our National Parks but don’t forget your local area. It’s really important to know of good locations that you can visit quickly when the conditions are right, be that your local park, canal, river or countryside.
Do you have a favourite shot of your own?
One of my favourite images was shot in the Peak District just a few weeks ago. The forecast looked promising for a great sunrise and, full of optimism, I drove into Derbyshire only to find myself in thick fog. I arrived in the dark and climbed up the hill. I waited and waited, it got lighter, the sun rose (apparently), but still there was very little visibility. But then the mist started to clear slightly and I was presented with an inversion in the valley with the peak of Parkhouse Hill poking through the mist. It was a glorious sight that made getting up at 4.30am well worthwhile.
What’s the best landscape advice you’ve been given?
Photography is all about emotion, and the trick is to try and capture that emotion in your image through composition, exposure and movement. The saying, ‘Shoot what you feel, not what you see’ is so important in landscape photography.