FUN PHOTOGRAPHY

There are endless beautiful landscapes. Take a short trip to a local or national park- you don’t even have to leave the Unites States! The following tips will help you take great landscape photos. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or professional because these are simple tips that anyone can follow.

1. Take into account light quality. Is the light soft or harsh? Are you photographing at sunrise or sunset, or during the bright afternoon? Are there clouds, is it overcast? The best light will be before 10 a.m. and after 2 p.m.

2. Look for interesting lighting. Back-lighting and side-lighting are great for mountains. Side-lighting can be created by turning 90 away from the sun. Back-lighting is very dramatic and creates silhouettes.

3. Think about composition. Symmetry often works with landscapes. Also, simple is beautiful. How do you want to place the trees, lakes, streams, and mountains? What kinds of shapes are in the frame?

4. Try to include bridges, paths, and roads. Use their shapes to draw the viewer in and lead them around the photo. If you photograph them at an angle, you are able to create that effect. Place the start of a road or path in the corner of the photo.

5. Try using infrared film for your landscape photography. Infrared film is more sensitive to infrared light. This means that your photographs will have darks skies and light/ bright leaves and vegetation. It’s awesome!

6. Make sure you are using a large depth of field (small number, large aperture) so that your entire photo is in focus. Longer exposure time also increases depth of field.

If you have water in your landscape (waterfalls, ocean, lakes), experiment with short and long exposures. Have fun with landscape photography and don’t forget to take a tripod along with you!