Photographing Nature Beyond Your House: Landscapes

Landscape

Although there are a lot of possible subjects even just within your residence and your neighborhood, there are a lot more if you take the time to go the woods and the wilderness. Mountains, lakes, beaches, trees, shrubs, and wild flowers offer endless possibilities for extraordinary pictures.

It is not enough, however, to merely point and shoot your camera at a spectacular sight to create a spectacular picture. You will want to remember a few tips to capture a picture you can show your family and friends with pride.

When taking a picture of a beautiful landscape, you will want to include something a little bit more striking than the rest of the photograph. Without this, the viewer’s eyes will only wander around the scenery, thus, actually seeing nothing. The eyes will need to rest on something. And this could be a snow-capped mountain, a cluster of flowers with colors that contrasts with the background, a tree with gnarled branches, or anything that catches the eye of the viewer.

You may also want to include any interesting object in the foreground. Apart from adding depth to your picture, it also serves as the object where a viewer’s eye could rest. In a photo of a lake where the water is dark, for example, you can put a bright red boat in the foreground.

Keep the rule of thirds in mind. A landscape could get boring if the point-of-interest is positioned in the middle of the photo. Imagine two vertical and two horizontal lines dividing your frame into nine equal parts. Try to position your subject at those places where the vertical and horizontal lines intersect. The rule also holds true for the horizon in your picture. It should be positioned on either of your imaginary horizontal lines.

The height of a waterfall or the girth of trees may not be apparent in a picture without any reference. The easiest way to convey size is to include people in your photo. Sometimes it is the size of the main subject that impresses the viewer.

In landscape shots, sometimes lines formed by roads or fences can be used to direct attention to your point of interest. For example, in a photo of an old farmhouse in the distance, you can position the road leading to it in the foreground, allowing it to direct a viewer’s eye to the house.

The best time for landscape photography is from early morning until shortly after sunrise, and in the late afternoon. Lights are softer and the long shadows could be manipulated to produce dramatic effects.

Go out and explore the wilderness. And then come back with great pictures.