10 handy tips for landscape photography

Photographing a landscape may seem easy, but the difference between a nice, a good and an outstanding landscape photo is huge. In this article you’ll find ten handy tips on preparation, composition, conditions and gear, among other things, to help you on your way to better landscape photos.

Watch the weather

For a landscape photographer, the weather is hugely important. Professional landscape photographer Bas Meelker even says he sometimes feels more like a weatherman than a photographer. In short, it pays to keep a close eye on the forecast. Do you have a particular shot in mind, such as a landscape at sunset or during a storm or thunderstorm? Then handy apps can help. With Sat24, for example, you can track cloud cover, and with TPE you can see exactly where and when the sun rises and sets.

Scout the location in advance

In most cases, a great landscape photo is the result of quite a bit of preparation. The weather is checked, the location mapped out and the gear packed. An important tip is to check out the location beforehand, provided you have enough time. That way you get to know the area better and can already work out some strong compositions. Then, when you head out to shoot, you can make the most of the short window when conditions are just right.

Pay close attention to composition

In landscape photography, composition is perhaps even more important than the subject. By choosing the right composition, you can turn a somewhat dull landscape into a striking image. You can use compositional rules such as the rule of thirds or the golden ratio, but of course you can also deviate from them and choose your own composition, for example by using symmetry and looking for lines or patterns.

Make the most of the available light

One of the most important elements in a landscape photo is light. Light creates atmosphere in your photo, and beautiful light can make a simple landscape look far more impressive. Good light doesn’t always mean sunlight. Direct sunlight is often harsh and can cause distracting shadows. A slightly cloudy sky is ideal for many landscape photos. You can also take advantage of the golden hour and blue hour, which produce stunning photos.

Use a tripod

A tripod can be very useful for landscape photography. With a tripod you can, for example, use slower shutter speeds, and to take sharp photos with long exposures a tripod is indispensable. Another advantage is that a tripod forces you to think about your composition, because you can’t change position in a flash. Using a tripod makes you a lot more deliberate about your photography.

Use filters

Besides a tripod, it’s also a good idea to use filters, such as an ND filter. This type of filter lets you give water a silky-smooth look. Big difference in brightness between the sky and the landscape? Then use a graduated ND filter. It lets you compensate for the difference between the bright sky and the darker landscape, for a natural-looking result.

Focus manually using Live View

If your camera has Live View, that’s a big advantage. With Live View you can assess the composition of the image properly, especially if your camera’s viewfinder doesn’t show the full frame. Pay attention to the edges of the frame and make sure every element is shown to its best advantage.

Place an object in the foreground

Want to create more depth in your photo? You can do this by placing an object in the foreground, such as a plant, a tree or a person. This makes the image more dynamic and, in most cases, a lot more interesting to look at.

Change your perspective

Spending a whole day at one particular location? Then make sure you don’t stay in the same spot the whole time. This often happens without you noticing, because many photographers want to wait until they’re completely happy with the light. If you have a specific shot in mind, that may be the right approach. If not, we recommend that you keep moving, so you don’t miss out on great photos.

Shoot in RAW

When photographing a landscape, it’s best to shoot in RAW (if your camera supports it). RAW files are three times the size of a high-resolution JPEG. The extra data in RAW files holds valuable information about the landscape you’ve photographed, so colours can be brought out more and detail in the highlights and shadows is better preserved.