Landscape photography has become an important statement, it ceases the moment in all its stillness and projects things the viewer might have missed. So while the picture stands still, it sends a thousand different thoughts running. A lot has been said and a lot has been done, and we’ve tried to compile some tips and technicalities that might help you get closer to the perfect picture.
1. You See The Blue? It’s Important
‘When you are shooting landscapes you don’t want the sky to be boring -that’s like a pizza without a topping. Clouds give character to your composition.’, says Farheen Fatima, a photographer.
Some of the most beautiful landscape photography has seen the magnificence of the sky being put to use.
You’re documenting nature, and there are some absolutely gorgeous things you can do with its rooftop.
2. The Time The Magic Happens
It’s incredible what the right amount of light can do to a picture. This is exactly why photographers glorify dawn and dusk, and tend to set their tripods right in these hours. But this also brings into play a very important factor, and you need to be extremely careful about the light since it changes character and intensity within minutes.
Image Courtesy of Farheen Fatima
3.The Story Of The Right Angles
Angles are important, and it cannot be stressed enough. Ever wondered how the same place manages to resemble a magic kingdom in one, but simply passes for Plain Jane in a second picture? Yes, it’s the angles at play.
Fatima seems to agree,
When shooting landscapes other than sunset and sunrise, spend time making your composition. Look through the viewfinder and find things that are pleasing to the eye.
Look for interesting angles of the same spot. Sometimes its all to easy to be enamoured by one point of view that you forget to try a different angle.
4. The Enchantment Weaved By The Reflections
For any photographer wishing to include a dreamlike component to the picture, reflections are an obvious choice. Experimentation can lead to some amazing possibilities, and photographers can take up different mediums- water, glass structures or anything shiny.
“From puddles to lakes, reflections of the surrounding environment in it can become the strongest element in your photographs…
Mornings are the best time to shoot such reflections in the water body.
… Remember to shoot with the sun behind you so that it doesn’t produce harsh tones in the photograph,” says Fatima.
5. Play With Possibilities & Take Advantage
There’s so much happening- there’s the sun setting and then rising up again, there are leaves moving to the sound of the wind, and sometimes, there’s even the rain prancing around to make up some beautiful opportunities for you. Shooting landscapes after certain phenomenon can be an absolutely charming sight. So keep track, and keep your tripods ready.
6.The Lens That Serves The Best
So much depends on the right lens, and that careful consideration while choosing it shall go a very long way.
“Whenever I do take shots, it’s just to replicate the exact feel of the real environment in a picture. Yeah, sure people have all those wide angle fancy lenses to cover their grounds, but a 50mm for me has worked fine when it comes to taking a picture of the best portion of a landscape,” says Bisma Rizwan, photographer.
But what remains the most important part in context of landscape photography is experimentation. Keep experimenting, and keep playing with your creativity. Nothing’s set in stone, and while the conventional ideas are great, it is only originality that seems to stand out.
‘There’s something about getting out in nature with the challenge of capturing some of the amazing beauty that you see. It is not easy to capture the perfect shot though. You have to wait for the beautiful sky to kick in, place your tripod accordingly, you gotta play along the weather. Maybe look for movement in the moment. And as they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Nature can never disappoint you,” says Akshay Kapoor, Photographer.
