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Landscape Photography Tips
When I'm out with other photographers, it's remarkable that even after all these years, I usually come back with another idea, or a tip, or inspiration to try something new. My brain is brimming with information and there's every chance I'll start to forget some of it!
So... I decided to start posting Tips on social media. I hope that they can help aspiring new landscape photographers and maybe even give some experienced folk the odd idea, but if nothing else, they will help me remember what I have learned. This page is a hub for these.
As I post them, I'll periodically collate them here under headers and I hope they help you. This page will grow so keep checking in. Please though, if you disagree with any, find any particularly useful or have additional ones to add, get in touch via my contact form or on social media.
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NOTE: all advice here is taken at you're own risk, you are responsible for you and for your equipment - these are just the things that I do myself.
01
Tripods
Compose first, Tripod Second: Once I've set my tripod, I've hampered physical movement and also my creative scope for making changes. So when a subject catches my eye, I lay down my tripod and my bag and start trying out compositions hand held, I might even take a few images - digital film is free! Only once I know what i'm going to shoot do I set up the tripod, fine tune the composition and use the tripod to crate a steady shot.
Getting High: When using my tripod, I adjust height through the legs first. The centre column introduces instability and is only used if I need extra height. I extend the thickest parts of the legs first for extra stability
Those feet! : There are all sorts of feet available, each with a specialised use - rubber boots, claws, spikes etc. But swapping them around is an impractical pain. I use spikes 100% of the time. They are excellent on all sorts of rock surfaces, catching the tiniest of cracks, and counter intuitively, superb on sand.
How High? : I only raise my tripod by the least amount possible, keep it stable. One long leg at a low angle and two shorter legs at higher angle is the most stable formation. Like a snipers rifle
How Low? : Most tripods have a central column that gets in the way when shooting close to the ground. Options are to dig a hole for it (OK at the beach but not really anywhere else) or… buy a tripod with an interchangeable short column. If on a budget, a beanbag may be the answer to your prayers.
02
Pouring Down!
03
Flat light or Sunshine
Rain Spots 1: Rain on the lens is a pain! But it doesn't stop me - there are a few way rounds it. Positioning myself with the rain at my back will get the camera wet but not the front element. A lens hood will cut down the spots that hit the glass. Wipe and shoot, wipe and shoot.
Rain Spots 2: Use a golf umbrella. Simples eh? BUT carry it, do NOT attach it to the tripod unless you want a Mary poppins view of that waterfall (a drone would be cheaper), and watch out for the wind whacking the brolly into the tripod.
Rain Spots 3: So you couldn't avoid a few spots. That's OK, so long as you wiped and shot and wiped and shot. You can layer the images in post and clone out rain drops if they are not overlapping in the different frames.
Rain Spots 4: So guess what? There is a setting on your camera that ignores rain spots. Really? Well kind of - it's your aperture control. The shallower the depth of field, and the further away the subject, the less obtrusive rain spots are, you can literally shoot through them.
Rainy Downpours: The best advice I have in rain is to drape an absorbent cloth over as much of the camera as possible, it doesn't keep the camera dry but it stops the rain "pooling" in joints, and reduces the chances of ingress, particularly between lens and body. Use a dry towel to dry the camera up ASAP between shots.
Flat Light 1: Ugh, the light's awful! Rubbish, get out there! The BEST light for waterfalls and woodlands in my opinion is flat light. No annoying dappled contrasty light. No specular highlights in unwanted places. Details in the shadows are visible! Just choose the subjects that fit the light and you can get out in any conditions.
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Check back as I add more Tips!
04
Cold weather
05
Lenses and Filters
Carry Around Lens : If you only took one lens what would it be? There is no right answer but for your best chance to know, look at your photo catalogue and see what focal length you take most of your shots at. A great fun exercise is to go for the least used one push yourself to creativity.
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06
Staying Safe
07
Image Quality
08
Subjects
Waterfall Shutter Speeds : The speed of the shot entirely depends on what I'm trying to portray - the energy of wild water crashing (high speed 1/400s to 1/250s), soft and dreamy (over 1s), or motion without distracting detail (which is my favourite and I typically about 1/4s). Above all, experiment, it's free, and just see what works best.
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