Landscape Photography

While many amateur photographers clamber to break into wedding photography or portrait photography, a few opt to take the road less travelled, becoming landscape photographers.

Not just another form of commercial photography, landscape photography is a fine art, argue photography aficionados. There’s something quite powerful about capturing the beauty, grace and strength of nature ? a raging river, windswept beach or parched desert. Capturing these images requires, not just technical skill, but an artist’s imagination.

Of course, many landscape photographers are able to make money from landscape photography ? their work being featured in nature and wildlife magazines, in books, even on calendars. If you want to learn how to create a photography landscape which will earn cash or win awards, read these landscape photography tips from digital-photography-ebooks.com?

Level your Horizon for Landscape Photography

There’s nothing worse than taking a photograph of an extraordinary landscape, only to find the horizon isn’t level! While non-level horizons can be rectified to a certain extent in image manipulation software, like Photoshop, the challenge of being a true photographer is to get as near to perfect a shot with your camera, using such software in extreme cases only. Use the level on top of your camera tripod to ensure that your camera is level. Don’t have a tripod? Read on?

Always Use your Tripod for Landscape Photography

All serious landscape photographers carry their photography tripods with them at all time. Tripods are a necessary accessory, so spend as much money as you can afford to buy a really solid, sturdy one. On windy days, it can be impossible not to use a tripod and they’re a must for shooting landscapes at dawn or dusk. If there’s no wind, and no chance for camera shake, you can switch off your image stabilizer, but if there’s even the slightest hint of a gust, then keep it switched on.

ISO Settings for Outdoor Photography

If you are using a tripod, there’s no need to set an increased ISO. To ensure the highest quality photos, rather set ISO as low as possible ? something like ISO 100, or even ISO 50 for high-end professional cameras like the Canon 1DX.

Using Lines in Photography

To get stunning landscape photographs, make use of the landscape’s natural lines, formed by mountain ranges, rivers, rock formations, roads, fences and pathways, to lead the eye. Compose your photo so that the viewers’ eyes lead from the foreground towards the background. Diagonal lines do the trick beautifully but curves are even better. Refrain from flat featureless foregrounds, it will spoil your pictutre.

Emphasising the Sky in Landscape Photography

If you want beautiful blue skies in your landscape photographs, here’s a great tip: use the Light Blue Gradient Filter. Zoom in on the foreground and set your exposure to Manual mode. Attach the Light Blue Gradiant Filter, zoom out and recompose. Line up the filter with the skyline, ensuring that the blue doesn’t intrude into your foreground. Don’t worry too much if your light meter indicates that you’ve moved a step or two ? the camera may think the scene is now too dark but your photos will actually be perfectly exposed.

Which Aperture to Use for Landscape Photography?

Understanding which aperture to use is crucial for shooting landscapes. Generally, you should use a wide aperture in low light and a narrow aperture in bright light. A narrow aperture also gives your photo an extended depth of field.