Landscape Photography | Everything You Need to Know

Landscape photography is one area that isn’t limited to perspectives or styles. Panoramas and wide-angle lenses let you see large areas of the environment. Aerial shots from drones or helicopters give you the ability you to add more interest from unfamiliar perspectives.

This is a photographic genre that adapts easily to black and white, colour or even infrared. You can use any of these different styles to show off your scene in the best possible way.

Likewise, any number of photography techniques help to make a scene more attractive or interesting. For instance, Time-lapses can strengthen the movement found in a scene. HDR imaging can help with balancing out extreme lighting conditions.

In landscape photography, one location can offer multiple compositions. You can increase the number of images you take home by using different techniques. Seasons, weather conditions, focal lengths, lenses and times of the day will change the scene, giving you many possibilities. 

Landscape photography can be challenging but also rewarding. We're here to help you hone your skills and improve your shots.

We have the techniques you can use, information about the gear that can help and even some locations to get you started. Come back as much as you need to. Start with ‘how to capture landscape images’ and end with using what you’ve learned to sell your images. 

We are relatively new to capturing the landscape. Photo by: 'Adam Welch'.

What is Landscape Photography? 

There are many types of photography but Landscape photography is one that you can do completely alone. You will rarely have creative directors or clients instructing your every move. If you enjoy solace and prefer to take photos at your own pace, then landscape photography might be for you.

There are lots of different ideas about what constitutes landscape photography. It encompasses all types of environments, including seascapes, forests and rock formations. Read here for more information on the history, styles and perspectives that make up this category of nature photography.

Landscape photography is a far more complex genre than you think it is. Photo by: 'Adam Welch'.

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Gear

Cameras: Mirrorless or DSLR

If you are looking for your first camera or to update your equipment, then it's important to know the differences between a DSLR or Mirrorless camera. One or the other might fit you and your style a little bit better.

DSLRs have been the industry standard for a long time as they possess powerful resolution and image quality.  However, Mirrorless cameras tend to be smaller and lighter, making them easier for longer hauls.

We have all the information you need about both camera types. Find out which is better for your style of nature photography. 

A mirrorless camera shows you an electronic representation of the scene. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

The Top Cameras for Landscape Photography in 2020

Digital cameras are constantly being rethought and updated. Each new camera has settings and features that previous models don't possess. So how do you choose the perfect camera for landscape photography?

Are you looking for the best resolution? Or the possibility for it to work with specific lenses? We have collected the top cameras for landscape images, looking at all the important aspects you need to consider. Read all the information here. 

Sony A7RIII. Photo by: 'Albert Dros'.

Which Camera Lens to Use? An Introduction to Focal Lengths

If the camera body is the brain, then the lens is the eye. Each lens is different in many ways; focal lengths, apertures, sizes, weights and even levels of distortion.

Knowing how you want to capture a particular scene will help you to decide which lens you’ll need. For example, a subject further away will require a longer focal length. This will help if you want to emphasise its importance in the frame. 

Go through our article on which lens will benefit you in each environment. You might need multiple lenses to ensure all your focal length bases are covered.

Wide angle lenses are great for capturing large, expansive scenes. Photo by: 'Adam Welch'.

The Best Lenses for Landscape Photography

All lenses come in two forms; either fixed (prime lens) or variable (zoom lens) lengths. Within these, there are three main types of lenses; wide-angle, standard and telephoto lenses.

Which lens is best for landscape photography – a wide-angle, prime lens or telephoto zoom lens? There is no straight answer, as each landscape scene is different. What you want to capture from each scene will also be different. Knowing how each lens works will help you to understand what you need. 

Telephoto lenses produce a narrow field of view. Photo by: 'Adam Welch'.

The Best Landscape Photography Lenses for Sony E-Mount Cameras

If you have an E-mount Sony camera such as the NEX or α7 range, then this article is for you.

The best Sony lenses for landscape photography give you the truest representation of your scene. Lenses are adaptive but you’ll need the right lens for each situation.

Better lenses tend to be more expensive, yet you can expect less distortion and aberrations in lenses that cost more. This isn’t to say that cheaper lenses won't capture great results. 

The Sony 16-35mm f/4 lens has a very distinctive sunstar. Photo by: 'Albert Dros'.

The Best Camera Bags for 2020

Unless you are a smartphone photographer, a camera bag is a necessity. Not only do they keep your equipment dry from adverse weather but they protect your gear from knocks and scrapes.

There is a camera bag available for all types of landscape photographers. Whether you prefer sling bags for a minimal amount of gear or backpacks that allow for hiking in between shots, we have a suggestion for you.

A good camera bag will last a long time, suiting to your needs. Photo by: 'Jonny Caspari'.

Condensation in Camera | How to Defog Your Lens

As a landscape photographer, adverse weather conditions are all part of your day to day shooting. You might think it’s best to keep your camera warm before taking it out and using it in the cold but that's not always the case.

Moving quickly between extreme temperatures can lead to the build up of condensation in your camera and lenses. If this occurs, we have the help you need to carry on shooting your landscape images. 

Take steps to protect your camera when shooting in winter in Iceland. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

What to Do if Your Camera Gets Water Damaged 

Photographing waterfalls or in areas where there is a large amount of moisture can be harmful to your equipment. Heaven forbid you accidentally drop your camera in the water. 

What can you do if your camera gets wet? Firstly, read our article here so you can help save your gear from the get-go. Secondly, make sure you get good camera straps and carrying systems to minimise the chance of water damage happening in the first place. 

Check inside your camera for moisture. Photo by: 'Pxhere'.

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• See also:  4 Day Autumn Photo Workshop in Iceland

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Drone

An Introduction to Drones

A drone is a great way to capture landscapes, whether you’re looking for a top-down view of the coast or an angled shot of mountainous regions. As long as you have enough battery power, you can take amazing pictures. 

These little machines are a great addition to any landscape photography kit. After a little practice, you’ll be the professional ‘eye in the sky’. We have all the information here that you need on drones to take great nature photos. 

Flying a drone can be easy but you'll need to practice. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

The Ultimate Guide to Drone Travel Gear

Landscape photography isn’t just something that you can do from eye-level. A higher perspective can give your landscape shots a unique advantage. This is one viewpoint that people rarely see from. 

A top-down view gives you an interesting, unique take on previously captured environments. Here, we have every bit of information you need on drone travel gear to get started with aerial photography.

Take a portable drone to Iceland. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

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• See also:  10 Day Northern Lights and Ice Caves Photo Workshop in Iceland

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Filters

Must-Have Filters for Landscape Photography

Filters are little pieces of circular or square cut glass that attach to the front of your camera lens. They can help your photography in all sorts all sorts of situations. Some of these filters are even necessary when shooting scenes on photographic film. 

You can use filters to help add detail to light skies. There are also filters that can help to remove unwanted reflections from glass and water. For example, a neutral density filter can give you the opportunity to capture long exposures even on the brightest of days.

Read here for all the information you need about filters for landscape photography.  

Some filters are more useful for landscape photography than others. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

A Guide to Using Neutral Density Filters for Landscape Photography

A neutral density filter is an essential part of any landscape photographer’s kit bag. It gives you the option to experiment with your shutter speed and can help to keep your exposure balanced.

There are two types of neutral density filters; solid or graduated. The solid version allows you to darken the entire frame, whereas the graduated version is often used to darken a specific area.

Our guide here will let you know how these filters can help you with your landscape photography. 

Blurring the background with a wider aperture in broad daylight. Photo by: 'Albert Dros'.

Hard vs Soft Graduated Neutral Density Filters for Landscape Photography

Graduated neutral density filters come in two common strengths; either soft or hard. The harshness of light that you encounter in your landscape scene, as well as which lens you use will determine what strength you need.

In this article, we look at both types and when you should use each graduated neutral density filter. It could be the answer that you need to reduce the overblown areas of your landscape images.

It's a good thing to have more resolution for landscape photography. Photo by: 'Pixabay'.

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• See also:  5 Day Autumn Photo Workshop in Iceland

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Camera Settings

Landscape Photography Settings | How to Set the Focus

The most important aspect of any great landscape photograph is to ensure a correct focus. Without a sharp focal area, the image is unusable. You won't be able to upload it to stock photography websites or sell it as landscape wall art.

Not being able to achieve sharp focus is a common problem. Many photographers still make this common mistake, only becoming aware of it during the editing stage.

To ensure a sharp focus, we recommend that you adjust your camera settings so you can capture the scene with a narrower aperture. F/11 or f/16 will help you to place more of your scene in focus than a wider aperture, such as f/4 or f/5.6. In this article, we have a few other tips that will help you to focus your lens correctly.  

Choosing a focal point is as easy as placing it on your subject in Iceland. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

Recommended Camera Settings for Landscape Photography

Landscape photography can be a challenging genre. There are a lot of amazing images circulating on the Internet that can add pressure to photographers who are just starting out.

You’ll quickly understand that pointing your camera at a natural scene with automatic settings isn’t going to give you the best results. These settings need to be tweaked to capture the best possible range of tones from each scene.

You will take your best photos when you understand what each of the camera settings does. Learn how to choose the best settings for your landscape photography here. 

ISO 320 f16 1/80 second. Photo by: 'Brian Rueb'.

How to Pick the Perfect Shutter Speed for Landscape Photography

Does landscape photography have a perfect shutter speed? Not really. The shutter speed depends entirely upon what kind of landscape image that you want to achieve.

Depending on what shutter speed you choose, you can freeze or add motion to your landscape pictures. These effects can make the difference between a good landscape image and an amazing one. 

A faster shutter speed can freeze water mid-flow, whereas a longer shutter speed can make it appear softer like cotton wool.

A fast shutter speed can freeze the movement of a waterfall. Photo by: 'Sean Ensch'.

Understanding Focal Lengths in Landscape Photography

Focal length is one of those numbers you’ll find on your lens. It helps to categorise your lens into one of the three main lens types; wide-angle, standard or telephoto. 

Each of these lens types see the scene in very different ways – even when you compare shots taken from the same spot and the same perspective. 

You will need to understand focal lengths to know which lenses will benefit you the most in photography. That’s where we come in. We’ll show you what you can expect from each lens type so that you can choose which is the best focal length to use.

Dandelion puffs captured with a wide-angle lens at 17mm. Photo by: 'Sean Ensch'.

Understanding Histograms in Landscape Photography

The histogram is a very important part of photography and post-processing. It displays the tonal range of the scene.

This tool is important, as it gives you a visual representation of the exposure values in the entire scene by looking at five areas of available light. By referring to a histogram, you should be able to tell if a scene has too much light or not enough. 

Read here to discover the elements that make up a histogram, as well as how to use them to your advantage.

When shooting landscape pictures, balanced exposure is the main aim. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

Best Aspect Ratios for Landscape Photography in Iceland

Aspect ratios are important for printing and sharing your images online. Most digital sensors will give you an aspect ratio of 3:2. Others have a lesser common ratio of 4:3.

Instagram uses a square format of 1:1, while pre-made frames also use a different aspect ratio. All of these force you to think about how you capture landscape pictures. After all, you don’t want to crop an image later on and find that you are missing vital elements of your scene. 

The 3:2 format is great for capturing leading lines inside an ice cave. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

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• See also:  12 Day Midnight Sun Photography Workshop around Iceland

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Capturing Landscapes

How to Plan for a Successful Landscape Photography Shoot

Many people believe that amazing photography just happens out of thin air; that as long as you have a camera and lens, you’re ready to go and can capture stunning landscape pictures at the drop of a hat. 

While a camera and lens are essential gear items, how you use them is very important. Research, planning, scouting, smartphone apps and practice also play very important roles in whether you'll achieve successful landscape photography. 

Before you head out for your shoot, you need good weather and a lot of luck in addition to everything else. You’ll find all the information that you need to plan successful landscape photography session here. 

Pre-visualise what you want to shoot before you head out. Photo by: 'Albert Dros'.

Ultimate Guide to Black and White Photography

Some of the most beautiful landscape pictures are not in colour. Instead, they are black and white. Look at the stunning work by Ansel Adams, Michael Kenna or Sebastião Salgado. Their images wouldn’t be as without these two shades. 

This ultimate guide to black and white photography will help you in your search to capture stunning landscape images. You might find that black and white landscape scenes look much better than they do in colour.

Black and white photographs are not just images where colour has been removed. Photo by: 'Adam Welch'.

How to Use Complementary Colours in Photography

If you are set on capturing landscape photos in colour, then you need to use these hues, tones, and shades to their advantage. 

Complementary colours make scenes more attractive and pleasing for your viewers. This gives you an advantage if you want sell your images as wall art or ensure that they get noticed on stock photography websites. 

With a little understanding of how complementary colours work, you will be able to use them in the landscape scenes that you visit and shoot. 

Colour temperature affects the colour tone in your image. Photo by: 'Adam Welch'.

5 Common Landscape Photography Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Landscape photography is not without its challenges. Weather, temperature and the time of day that you shoot can all affect the success of your photographs. However, the common reason why most landscape photography mistakes occur is human error. 

For example, choosing the wrong settings can easily reduce the quality of your landscape scenes. Photographers with less experience are more likely to encounter these challenges, making more mistakes as they shoot. 

For successful nature pictures, you should know what settings to use and when is best to use them. This will help you keep mistakes to a minimum so that you can continue shooting in a diverse range of conditions. 

Getting your focus right can be difficult, particularly at night. Photo by: 'Iceland Photo Tours'.

How to Become a Professional Landscape Photographer

You might wonder when a landscape photographer becomes a professional. Aside from making the majority of your money from photography, it involves other aspects such as participating in an exhibition.

Knowing everything you can about what you do is part of the transition from beginner to professional. Our article has all the help and information you need to know to become a professional landscape photographer. 

It's important to understand how your camera gear works so that you can make the most of it. Photo by: 'David Johnston'.

A Fundamental Guide to Sharp Focus in Handheld Landscape Photography

The quickest way to ruin a great landscape scene is to capture it out of focus. A tripod is one of the best ways to ensure a sharp focus but sometimes, they just get in the way. Either they are too big and heavy or they are not practical to take on a long hike. 

There are some easy techniques that you can use to ensure a sharp focus. One of these is to use the image stabilisation feature of your lens or camera. We have more techniques for you in this article, so that you can make sure you won't miss any great landscape images due to a problem that is easy to solve. 

It's possible to shoot a wide range of landscapes in Iceland without a tripod. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

How to Take Sharp Landscape Photos in Windy Conditions

Windy conditions are the bane of many landscape photographers. Not only do they make a location colder but they can also make it difficult to capture sharp images when shooting a scene handheld. Even when you have your camera mounted to a tripod, a strong gust of wind can still make your images turn out blurry. 

Iceland is a very windy place. You can expect wind speeds between 19 and 26 kph. One of the ways to keep your images blur-free is to use image stabilisation. This feature is common with telephoto lenses and can really help if a tripod isn't available.  

For more tips and techniques, go through our article here. 

Lower the tripod so that it doesn't shake in the wind. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

The Power of Foreground in Landscape Photography of Iceland

There are countless ways to capture landscape images. Where you choose to place yourself and your camera are both instrumental when it comes to arranging the elements in your scene.

By placing your camera closer to the ground, you will be able to capture more of the foreground. Your foreground subject could be jagged rocks by the sea or even a field of lupines at the bottom of an Icelandic waterfall. 

The foreground is a powerful element in landscape photography. When used correctly, it can create a refreshing new perspective at an over-photographed location. 

A person in the foreground can give your photos a sense of scale in vast places such as Landmannalaugar. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

10 Tips to Master Wide-Angle Landscape Photography

Wide-angle lenses are the go-to lenses for landscape photography. They give you the widest field of view and can place the entire scene in focus. If you are thinking about getting into landscape photography, having at least one wide-angle lens in your bag is a must. 

However, these lenses do take some practice to get right. You need to get a good feel for how they work, as they really force you to get much closer to your subject.  If you’re used to shooting with standard lenses, then having such a wide field of view can be tricky to get used to. We have all the tips you need right here to get started with using a wide-angle lens.

The distortion created by wide-angle lenses can lead to interesting effects. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

How and Why You Should Shoot Vertical Landscape Photos

Landscape photographs are often captured in landscape orientation. This means that you hold the camera and take the image in a horizontal position.

However, shooting a landscape scene in a vertical position can make your scene more interesting. You will need to ‘choose your battles’ and be picky when it comes to using the vertical position. Check out this article to understand what you need to look for in a vertical landscape scene. 

Leading lines are accentuated with the distortion of a wide-angle lens to create a more dynamic image when shot vertically. Photo by: 'Kaspars Dzenis'.

Ultimate Guide to Sunrise Photography

There are many magical times to photograph landscapes. Some landscape photographers go out of their way to capture scenes just as the sun passes over the horizon.

Sunrise provides a stunning element that you can add to any landscape images. The best thing about the early morning is that there will often be fewer people around. More people are around for the sunset, so there are definite benefits to waking up early. 

There are differences between sunrise and sunset that will have implications for your photography. Photo by: 'Pxhere'.

Ultimate Guide to Sunset Photography

The sun setting over a landscape makes it much more beautiful and interesting. It helps to add emotion to your landscape scene. This extra element can also breathe new life into a location that you have already captured. 

The setting light hits the atmosphere in such a way it imparts a feeling of warmth. However, taking photographs at sunset can be tricky, as the light will affect your sky and landscape differently. This is where shooting in HDR or taking multiple exposures can be beneficial.

Whether you choose to photograph sunrises or sunsets is up to what you hope to achieve. Photo by: 'Pxhere'.

Bright Ideas for Shooting in Daylight

Daylight is a landscape photographer’s best friend. After all, there isn’t much you can capture without it. Even when you do have an abundance of light, it can be tricky to capture a landscape scene the way that you want.  

Bright, harsh sunlight can quickly overexpose the scene. It can also lead to lens flares, which can easily ruin an image or distract viewers from the subject in your frame. In this article, we give you a few ideas that you can try when it comes to photographing landscapes in strong sunlight. 

Ignore your camera's default metering when shooting in direct sunlight. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

Ultimate Guide to Blue Hour Photography

If you feel like waking up earlier than the average sunset landscape photographer, then blue hour photography is for you. This is an extraordinary time to shoot, as the sky is often bathed in different hues of blue.

Cooler tones can contribute to the atmosphere of landscape images. However, the blue hour is something you need to arrive early for. If you do make it out this early, then you'll have a chance to capture the sunrise and golden hour too. 

The Blue Hour at the Lofoten Islands in Norway. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

Ultimate Guide to Golden Hour Photography

The golden hour occurs twice a day in most locations. Depending on where you are, it can last for an hour or even longer. As the sun rises above the horizon, you can expect warm colours to blanket the landscape. The same effect will occur when the sun falls below the horizon, just before nightfall.

These warm orange, yellow and red tones help to invite your viewers into your images. The light during the golden hour is also much softer, making it much easier to handle when shooting. You'll have less overblown areas in your landscape images, resulting in fewer headaches when it comes to editing. 

How do you figure out the golden hour times? Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

Ultimate Guide to Seascape Photography

Seascape photography is an area of landscape photography that concentrates solely on photographing the coast. Here, the sea is the main subject, though it can also include the sky as well as some forms of land, such as cliffs, rocks or sand. 

Coastlines are the perfect place to use a long exposure. This technique allows you to capture motion much better than a straightforward image shot with a faster shutter speed. Blurring the water and the sky can also add a layer of interest to the scene.

A lens hood is great for helping to reduce glare. Photo by: 'Pxhere'.

25 Tips for Creative Beach Photography

Just like any other nature photography environment, the beach is very transformable. It changes during the blue hour, sunrise, the golden hour, with harsh daylight, as well as all through the night. A single beach location has the capacity to provide you with many different images.

In this article, you can learn how to create unique images at the beach. Try including the Milky Way to ensure that your image differs from the many other beach images online. Capturing the stars at the beach will require research and planning but these extra steps can get you closer to impressing your audience.

Use faster shutter speeds to freeze the motion of your subjects. Photo by: 'Pxhere'.

Ultimate Guide to Forest Photography

No two forests are the same. The way that the natural light hits the trees will differ between locations. If you’re looking to capture some woodland areas, then there are a few things that you will need to consider. 

To get the most out of the location in the time you have, we recommend researching the light. Where it lands throughout the day will have different effects upon how the forest appears in your images.

Some forest areas will shine during the sunrise, while others might look their best when the sun is much higher in the sky. Researching the area and type of light that occurs will help you to achieve the shots you are looking for. 

A photo of a tree lane taken in autumn. Photo by: 'Albert Dros'.

Ultimate Guide to Photography in Patagonia

Patagonia is a topic for discussion for two reasons; strangely enough, a small part of it is a Welsh colony, while it’s also a beautiful place to photograph the landscape. This South American region lies between Chile and Argentina at the bottom tip of the continent. 

Pointing towards the Antarctic region, it harbours a variety of animal and plant life that captivate the few landscape photographers who choose to venture out this far. If you plan to visit Patagonia, then we recommend that you research the location as much as possible. This way, you won't miss out on any important locations during your landscape photography trip. 

Patagonia is beautiful throughout the seasons. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

How to Take Great Photos in Bad Lighting Conditions

The day has finally come when you get to visit and photograph Kirkjufell in all of its glory. You've been researching and planning your shoot for the last few months.

Once you arrive, your jaw drops. The arrowhead mountain that featured so strongly in Game of Thrones has been hidden in fog. Not only does the fog restrict the light across the whole scene but the adverse weather has removed the subject of most importance from your frame.

What can you do in a circumstance like this? All is not wasted. While you might not be able to photograph the scene you had pre-visualised, you can still capture something. Read here to learn our tips for taking great photos in bad lighting conditions. 

Waterfalls are a great subject when it's overcast outside. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

How to Take Great Photos in Bad Weather

Bad weather is the number one thorn in the side of landscape photographers everywhere. Rain and other adverse weather conditions can ruin any nature shoot.

The key to taking great photos in bad weather is good preparation. If you prepare before you head out, then you might still be able to continue shooting even when the weather takes a downturn for the worse. For example, buying a weatherproof camera will make sure your gear still works in the case of a little drizzle. You can’t control the weather but you can make sure you are ready for it. 

Gloomy day at Reynisfjara. Photo by: 'Albert Dros'.

5 Good Reasons to Add People into Your Landscape Photography

More often than not, landscape photography images are completely devoid of people. Empty scenes of waterfalls, mountains and beaches fill the Internet. The problem here is that you can easily lose a sense of scale. 

No one has a real idea of how big a natural element is just by looking at a photo. When you add people into your scene, you help to give these components a reference to their size.  

Adding people into your images help to turn a still image into a story scene. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

How to Use a Telephoto Lens for Landscape Photography

A telephoto lens isn’t the first lens that most landscape photographers go for. They are expensive and don't help you to capture the entire scene. However, they can offer you a chance to photograph elements that are a long distance away.

Telephoto lenses allow you to focus in on details rather than the entire environment. They also offer features such as image stabilisation, which can help with handheld shots in windy or low light conditions.

Check out our top tips for photography using a telephoto lens to make the most out of your landscape photography. Photo by: 'Albert Dros'.

Using Scale To Improve Your Landscape Photography in Iceland

Scale is an important compositional tool in landscape photography which can be used to add interest to your images. When you photograph subjects without giving them a reference, your audience won't have any idea how big or small these elements actually are.

People understand how big or small things are by looking for things that they are familiar with. For instance, you can demonstrate scale by including an object such as a car in the frame. Alternatively, you can leave out references to make certain elements appear larger than life.

Standing in front of Skogafoss waterfall in south Iceland. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

11 Tips to Help You Capture Stunning Landscape Photographs

Landscape photography might look easy. You simply wander off into the wilderness, point your camera and shoot, right?

Making your pictures as strong as the images you see in portfolios belonging to other photographers takes more than just motivation and a willingness to venture outside. 

Here we have 11 tips which will help you to capture better nature pictures. Some might seem somewhat obvious but we are sure there are at least a few that you haven't yet considered. Following those could turn a simple picture of a mountain range into a best-selling print.

Plan your shoots by doing some research beforehand. Photo by: 'Clint Burkinshaw'.

25 Useful Tips to Quickly Improve Your Landscape Photography

After capturing a few landscapes, you’ll no doubt see a difference between your natural images and those all over Instagram. It can take a lot of practice, post-production editing skills as well as a lot of hard work to dress your images up.

However, you won't need all of the above to improve your landscape photography. In this article, we share 25 of our top tips to make sure you'll get the most out of your landscape images. 

Aperture priority mode is very useful in nature photography. Photo by: 'Albert Dros'.

8 Tips to Improve Your Landscape Photographs

There are tips we can provide to help you improve your photography quickly, while others take a bit longer to implement. These aren’t things you can do overnight but if you start thinking about them today, then they will lead to improvements very soon.

We recommend that you fully utilise the natural space you are in. You might have noticed one perfect composition at the top of a mountain peak but have you looked behind you? Is there something else worth capturing? It's better to think about it now rather than when you get home.

These ribs of hardened sand provide strong leading lines in this photograph of White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Photo by: 'Sarah Marino'.

Understanding Image Noise in Your Landscape Photography of Iceland

Landscape photography in daylight gives you the opportunity to shoot with a low ISO. However, sunset photography means less light to work with, which can result in you having to raise your ISO to compensate for a balanced exposure; unless you don't mind using a slower shutter speed. 

Raising the ISO of your camera will increase image noise. This ‘grain’ reduces the resolution and quality of your images and there isn’t much that you can do to fix it. Or is there? With more understanding of how image noise affects your photography, you can take steps to minimise it substantially. 

Noise can appear when you're shooting in very low light, such as at night when the Aurora is in the sky. Photo by: 'Edwin' Martinez'.

Ultimate Guide to Photographing the Desert

Deserts aren’t just subtropical; they are also coastal, cold winter and polar versions too. They are all constantly changing environments with very particular ecosystems. You’ll find location-specific wildlife and a wide range of interesting flora and fauna.

The biggest tip we can offer you here is to ensure your camera, lenses, and gear are all well protected. These harsh environments can damage your equipment, cutting short any nature photography session and forcing you to pay for costly repairs. 

The desert is a changing landscape - well worth a visit. Photo by: 'Sean Ensch'.

How to Photograph the Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse is when the Moon aligns with the Earth and the Sun, resulting in a lack of natural light for a few minutes. It is a moment in time that can feel very special and magical. Also, it doesn't happen very often.

To include a phenomenal event such as this into your landscape photography, you need to research and perhaps travel. If you do not live close-by to the path of totality where complete darkness occurs, then you’ll see a partial rather than a total solar eclipse.

Read our article on how to plan and shoot a solar eclipse here. 

The 2019 Solar Eclipse in South America. Photo by: 'Albert Dros'.

Ultimate Guide to Winter Photography

Winter is a great time for landscape photography. The environments that you may have captured in the spring and summer will be blanketed with frost, snow, fog or even a combination of all three.

During winter, the flora and fauna can be hidden while other interesting elements burst forth from the scene. The hues and colours all around you will change; where yellows and oranges once took precedence, you'll now see blues and whites instead.

Here we have the ultimate guide for shooting during the winter season so that you can capture the best possible images. 

Knowing what you need will help you to be prepared for winter photography. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

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• See also:  9 Day Photo Workshop Capturing Autumn in Iceland

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Smartphone Landscape Photography

How to Start Taking Landscape Photos with a Smartphone

You might not regard yourself as a landscape photographer because you shoot with your smartphone. It doesn’t matter what you use to photograph a landscape scene though; it only matters that you capture it.

Nowadays, smartphones possess powerful resolutions and house handy features whilst still managing to fit in your pocket (just about). If this is a subcategory of landscape photography that appeals to you, then check out this article. It takes a look at the best choices of smartphones to get the job done and which settings to use.

Having the newest smartphone technology can mean higher quality landscape photos. Photo by: 'Roberto Pavic'.

8 Awesome Tips for Landscape Photography Using a Smartphone

Smartphones have far surpassed their original purpose. Can you remember when they used to only make phone calls? Nowadays, you can order pizza, watch films and check facts, all at the same time.

For landscape photography, a smartphone is a bit like a Swiss army tool. It will let you research the light in your scene, navigate your location and even behave like a second monitor screen to help you ensure that your focus is sharp. Don’t leave home without your smartphone and make sure it is fully charged.  

Play with the exposure settings on your smartphone. Photo by: 'Good Free Photos'.

How to Use Smartphone Camera Modes for Amazing Landscape Photography

Luckily, cameras have modes that allow us photographers to capture scenes much easier and faster than constantly having to change each setting independently. By switching a dial, your camera will adapt and change its settings to match with the new scene. 

Your smartphone is no different. For instance, some will have settings that will aid you in nighttime photography. Others will allow you to play around with the depth of field. The panoramic mode is a typical smartphone setting that allows you to capture an entire scene without the need for specific tools.

The light painting mode is great for expressing your creativity with the landscape. Photo by: 'Roberto Pavic'.

Tips and Tricks for Shooting Better Landscapes with a Smartphone

If you have felt a little disappointed with how your smartphone images turned out, then you are in the right place. Photos that don’t fully capture the mood and emotion of the scene in front of you might just need a little help. 

The biggest tip we can give you is to think of your smartphone as a camera first. In doing so, you should consider using a tripod with a smartphone attachment. Check out this article for more tips that might come in handy when you are shooting landscapes with your smartphone.

Most smartphones enable you to shoot in wide-angle these days. Photo by: 'Roberto Pavic'.

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Techniques

Creating Starburst Effects in Your Landscape Photography

Have you seen cityscape photography where every light source appears to burst? Or landscape photography where the sun is shown with little rays sprouting from it? If you have, then you're probably already familiar with the starburst effect.

This is a photography technique that can help to make your nature images a little more interesting. It isn’t done with a special filter, nor is it added using post-production software. Rather, this effect is performed solely in-camera. It involves using a narrow aperture or large f-stop, which forces light sources to look like a star.

To capture the perfect sunstar, you’ll need help with the other settings too, so make sure to look at our article here. 

Sunburst images can be complicated to capture correctly. Photo by: 'Patrick Marson Ong'.

The Ultimate Guide to Drone Vacations

A drone vacation might sound like you are rewarding your aerial photography device with a week on the beach. As lovely as that may be, let's clarify something: it actually means that you plan your photography travels with your drone in tow.

This is important, as every country has different rules for drone photography. Some countries, such as Morocco, do not allow drones or aerial photography devices to even be brought into the country. Meanwhile, other countries may have very strict rules, such as requiring that you apply in writing months ahead of time for permission to fly. 

We have the information you need to ensure safe and easy drone usage on your vacations.

Try to avoid these mistakes when travelling with your drone. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

15 Tips for Monochrome Photography

Monochrome photography is the art of capturing a scene in one colour. Either the landscape presents tints of this colour naturally, or the image is edited with post-processing software, such as Adobe Photoshop, to produce the same effect.

This can be a very interesting way to capture landscapes. A black and white image can help to boost the scene’s texture or form, while a sepia tone can give it a vintage or retro feel. 

Converting or capturing your landscapes in a monochromatic way can make them more unique. An image that stands out from the crowd will always grab the attention of your audience.

If you feel like giving monochrome photography a go, then read our tips on how to put this photographic technique to practice.

A black and white conversion of the Lofoten Islands in Norway. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

Ultimate Guide to Long Exposure

Landscape photography is a playground for all sorts of photography techniques. This is a genre that is no stranger to panoramic shooting, HDR imagery or black and white image conversions.

If you’re looking for a different way to capture landscapes, why not try the long exposure technique? With this, you can experiment with shutter speeds of a few seconds, minutes or even hours. A longer exposure allows movement in your frame to flourish, adding jaw-dropping interest to an otherwise dull scene.

All photographs capture motion. Photo by: 'Adam Welch'.

Ultimate Guide to HDR Photography

HDR or High-Dynamic Range photography is a very helpful technique to use in landscape photography. This technique aims to balance the light across your scene, stopping an overexposed area from distracting your viewers.

By utilising this technique properly, you can pull detail out of skies that are too light whilst maintaining detail in the darkest portions of your scene. To master HDR photography, you'll need a computer and editing software. Check out this article to help you get started. 

Adjust the variables that don't need to change, such as the ISO and shutter speed if you want to have a particular aperture. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

Ultimate Guide to Panorama Photography

Panoramic photography has its roots set in the landscape photography genre. This technique is even now a feature of digital cameras and smartphones, allowing you to capture a scene in its entirety. 

More often than not, you will arrive at natural viewpoints to find that there is more than one great composition at the location. The beautiful landscape extends 360° all around. By using the panoramic technique, you won't have to pick and choose what to capture; you'll be able to capture it all. Give it a try and start photographing panoramic landscapes by reading our post here. 

A 360° panorama at Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Dolomites, Italy). Photo by: 'Alex Wides'.

Ultimate Guide to Time-Lapse Photography

Many photographers use time-lapse photography to show off their landscape scenes. This technique involves stitching a sequence of images together. The result is a video rather than a still image, as the series of images all flow in succession. Time-lapse is the perfect technique to use if you want to place an emphasis on the moving elements within a scene.

Some scenes can benefit from this technique immensely, such as clouds moving across a landscape or when the light changes from one moment to the next. You can also use time-lapses to demonstrate how people interact with a natural location through a series of shots. This is something that you can't do with a still image.

An intervalometer is faster to use than in-built camera functions. Photo by: 'Enrique Pacheco'.

The Orton Effect Explained

There are many techniques that landscape photographers can use to boost the scenes they capture. Before we look at the Orton effect, it is worth noting that this is a technique that will not save poorly composed or badly exposed images.

This technique aims to add a luminous effect to your images by ‘softening’ certain elements. It can help to add a dream-like feel and emotion to your landscape photography. Read here to find out how you can apply it to your own photography.

The Orton Effect is a very popular technique in nature photography. Photo by: 'Daniel Kordan'.

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Compositions

Ultimate Guide to Composition in Photography

Composition is of the utmost importance in photography. It is how you choose to arrange the elements in your scene in order to make it more pleasing to the eye.

Lines, triangles, and leading lines are just a few of the compositional techniques that you can use to make your scene more powerful. To find them in the environment, you'll need to stay on your toes.

If you're having difficulty composing your shots or even if you are looking for ways to refresh your techniques, this guide will teach you everything you need to know about this important tool in photography.

Balance within a frame helps. In this case, the dark trees balance well with the white of the waterfall. The fog was accentuated slightly in post-processing to help create unity. Photo by: 'Brian Rueb'.

Landscape Photography Composition Techniques | The S Curve

The S curve isn’t a design technique or a model pose, at least not in this photography genre. This compositional technique is an important tool in landscape photography that helps to sustain a natural feeling. 

Similar to leading lines, the S curve looks at elements in any landscape scene that represents the letter ‘S’. These could be turning paths, meandering rivers and even the shape of fleeting waves. You can add them to your scene by positioning yourself properly before you start shooting.

An S Curve formed by a path in the windswept grassy landscapes of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

5 Composition Techniques That Will Improve Your Landscape Photography

There are specific compositional rules for each photography genre and landscape photography is no different. Many of these may be used independently or in conjunction with one another. The best compositions are those that are subtle and feel natural.

One of the most significant things about landscape photography composition is the focal point or ‘focus’. You need to have an element in your frame that the viewer’s eye can fall upon. These areas can be large or small; they just need to be easily noticeable.

For example, if you want to take a picture of a solitary house in a harsh environment, then the structure needs to be clearly shown and in focus. 

These shards of ice are a great focal point at the base of Kirkjufell. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

Rule of Thirds Explained

Love it or hate it, the rule of thirds is a basic form of composition that can make your images more interesting. By placing a natural element away from the centre of the frame, you can add a little tension to the scene. The off-centre placement forces the viewer's eye to move around the frame.

This compositional technique can be difficult to use. Check out this article to learn how you can master the rule of thirds for better landscape photography.

The grid lines are great for helping you to level your shot. Photo by: 'Adam Welch'.

How to Use Leading Lines for Better Compositions in Landscape Photography

Leading lines are an important compositional tool that you can utilise to capture successful landscape images. These lines serve to guide the viewer's eye through the scene to the most important elements within the frame. They also help to create depth, turning 2D images into something a little more realistic. 

Railways, roads and paths are all examples of leading lines. When you place yourself in certain positions, you can use these lines to their maximum potential.

The shoreline of the black sand beach leads into the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

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Business

Ultimate Guide to Instagram for Landscape Photographers

Instagram isn’t just a place for food images and cat photographs. It can be a powerful social media tool; some photographers have even used it successfully to sell their images.

This handy app is a great way to gain notoriety within landscape photography community. To make sure people start following you and comment on your images, it is best to post every day and at appropriate times. We have more information in this article about how you can use Instagram to gain success with your photography.

It's a great idea for landscape photographers to make an account on Instagram. Photo by: 'Felix Inden'.

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• See also:  8 Day Summer Photography Workshop in Iceland

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Inspiration

Interview with Dany Eid | The Key to Successful Landscape Photography

Some individuals stand out from the rest when it comes to making a mark in the world of photography. Dany Eid is one such photographer who has managed to carve a name for himself across many genres.

In this interview, he goes through how he manages his photographic workflow and even shares some interesting locations, in addition to his thoughts on the future of photography. Read the interview here and follow him ASAP; you won't be disappointed.

Gattklettur. Photo by: 'Dany Eid'.

15 Places in the World That Every Landscape Photographer Has to Visit

There are many natural areas on the planet that seem to be made for landscape photography. When trawling the Internet for inspiration, you'll notice there are many recurring locations that landscape photographers like to capture. 

Some regions are seen as 'trendy', whereas other places are constantly sought after and captured, year after year. Patagonia is one of these places due to its beautiful landscapes and unusual wildlife. 

Here we have fourteen other places where you can kickstart your landscape photography portfolio and business. 

A village in a mountainous region is shown from an aerial perspective. Photo by: 'Iceland Photo Tours'.

17 Aerial Photos of Iceland's Glacial Rivers You Won't Believe Are Real

Aerial photography is a great way to capture a natural environment, as it provides an interesting perspective that is rarely seen by many people. Until recently, it was only possible to do by flying in a plane or helicopter.

Now that we have physical and financial access to drones, the number of aerial images online has increased significantly. We've collected the best aerial images of Iceland's glacial rivers which you can use for some inspiration.

Glaciers form strange shapes when visible from above. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

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• See also:  11 Day Iceland in Autumn Photography Workshop

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Specific Landscape Photography

10 Essential Tips for Landscape Photography in Iceland

Iceland is an amazing location for one-of-a-kind landscape photography. It has very specific flora and fauna, not to mention volcanoes, black sand beaches and thousands of waterfalls.

To make sure you get the most out of your trip, take a neutral density filter in your bag. This filter will help bring out detail from a lighter sky, balancing the difference in exposure. It can also help with long exposure shooting or time-lapse nature photography. Using these techniques will ensure that your landscape pictures are unique. 

Make sure you do your research before coming to Iceland! Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

The Ultimate Guide to Landscape Photography in Antarctica

Some of the most remote places on the planet make for the best landscape pictures, such as Antarctica. This continent is largely untouched by people, devoid of tourists and offers interesting environments that other photographers have not yet managed to capture.

When shooting in Antarctica, we recommend using a polarising filter. It will help to bring out the colours of the location and to balance the exposure in your photographs. 

Make sure you know your gear and settings inside out before you make a trek halfway around the world.

The Antarctic is an interesting place to visit, especially with a photographic tour. Photo by: 'Daniel Kordan'.

Ultimate Photography Guide to the Lofoten Islands of Norway

Norway is a Scandinavian country that provides many different opportunities for landscape photography. People often travel to Norway to capture wintery scenes, the Aurora Borealis, as well as an immeasurable amount of coast. 

The Lofoten Islands of Norway are located in the northern part of the country, within the Arctic Circle. These islands are home to some of the most picturesque landscapes that you could ever hope to capture.

This is where you’ll find the village of Reine. It has previously been voted as one of the most scenic villages in the world by National Geographic. Photographing the landscapes around this village will yield a number of magical images. 

The Lofoten Islands are beautiful any time of the year. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

Ultimate Photography Guide to the Lavender Fields of Provence

Provence is a delightful region located in southern France. This area is also home to Marseille, Nice, and the French Riviera. It is where you’ll find picturesque villages, rolling hills, and lavender fields.

The colours and textures of the lavender fields attract hundreds and thousands fo photographers each year. They are some of the most fascinating to be found in mainland Europe.

If you do plan on visiting, please make sure you show respect to the fields that you capture. Trampling on the lavender can annoy farmers, which may lead to a reduction in the possibilities for others to photograph the same beautiful scenes in the future. 

The last days of June are the best time to travel to France to photograph lavender fields. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

Guide to the Aurora Forecast in Iceland

Iceland is a magical place for all sorts of landscape photography. It has mountains, black sand beaches, waterfalls and coastal cliffs filled with puffins. No doubt you'll already have seen some of these images scattered across the Internet.

Apart from landscapes, Iceland is one of the best places to see and capture the Northern Lights. However, you'll need to do your research before you visit to ensure you'll be there when the aurora shows up.

This guide contains all the information you need to predict the aurora in Iceland.

The Northern Lights are an atmospheric phenomena. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

The Ultimate Guide to Climate and Weather in Antarctica

If your dream is to photograph the landscape in Antarctica, then here are many things you'll need to consider. First of all, do you like the cold? This continent only has two temperatures: cold and colder. 

As long as you are prepared, you will be ready for anything in Antarctica. Start by reading our thorough article here. Equip yourself with the knowledge to take some of the most wonderful landscape images that will stun viewers – guaranteed.

Antarctica is a great place for landscape photos, just make sure you are ready for the climate. Photo by: 'Daniel Kordan'.

How to Photograph the Waterfalls of Iceland

There are over 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland. However, not all are easily approachable or scenes that you’ll want to photograph. 

The key to successful waterfall photography is to examine the surrounding environment for interesting perspectives or elements that you can add to your photographs. No matter which waterfalls you decide to shoot, use a tripod to ensure sharp images. 

Wide-angle and telephoto lenses are the best for photographing waterfalls in Iceland. Photo by: 'Iurie Belegurschi'.

Ultimate Photography Guide to the Dolomites in Italy

The Dolomites are a jagged rock formation that makes up the eastern part of the Italian Alps.

There are many natural wonders surrounding these mountains that are great for landscape photography. Rivers, wildflowers and beautiful lakes await you at every turn. Scout the area before you visit and consider using a smartphone app to figure out how the sun will light the scene. 

Light camera equipment is the key to photography in the Dolomites. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

Ultimate Photography Guide to Tuscany

There aren’t many places on Earth that are as beautiful and relaxing as the nature that you'll find in Tuscany. This wine-making region in the heart of Italy is home to Florence, Pisa, and Siena.

For landscape photographers, you will find beautiful locations in this part of the world that are picturesque no matter when you visit. Spring will give you green fields and blooming flowers, while autumn is the best chance to photograph fog crawling over the landscape. 

This is one place you’ll be happy to take your time shooting.

When most people talk about Tuscany, they mean the Val d'Orcia. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

Ultimate Photography Guide to the Cinque Terre in Italy

Cinque Terre is a must-see place for landscape photographers who are looking to capture picturesque villages amongst nature. It is located in the Liguria region of Italy and offers stunning coastal views.

Each village within the Cinque Terre is just a short train hop away. The balance between man-made structures and natural rock is unlike any other European seaside destination. Each village has its own special charm, giving you the chance to try your hand at coastal photography.

Just be aware that the Cinque Terre are popular amongst tourists, so book your trip accordingly. 

Cinque Terre is very easy to visit. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

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Post-Processing

5 Simple Lightroom Post Processing Tips for Landscape Photography

There are many stunning landscape photography images all over social platforms such as Instagram and 500px. What you might not realise is they are rarely, if at all, SOOC (straight out of the camera). Most of these images have been manipulated and edited with post-processing software.

Lightroom, Photoshop and Capture One are all examples of editing software which allow photographers to adjust areas within each image independently. One aspect that you might find particularly helpful about these programs is the 'crop and straighten' tool, which ensures elements within your scene are kept straight and level.

Here we have five simple tips you can use in Lightroom to better edit your landscape images. 

The radial filter is great for making local edits. Photo by: 'Kaspars Dzenis'.

Understanding Lens Flare in Landscape Photography

Lens flare can be a challenge to overcome in landscape photography, unless you are trying to capture this iconic burst of light on purpose. 

This imperfection of photographs can happen easily, especially when you're facing the light source head on. The problem comes from the glass elements inside your lenses, where direct light bounces around, presenting two or three circles in your scene.

Read here to understand lens flare and how to harness or remove it from your landscape photography.

Lens flare can be the bane of your photography or enhance your landscape images. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

Understanding Metadata | EXIF for Landscape Photography

Metadata or EXIF is digital information that is recorded with each photo that you take. ISO, shutter speed and aperture are just a few of the details that are included in the EXIF. The information is stored in the image file, where special image software allows you to locate and edit the values. 

If you plan to use your images on social media sites or sell them through stock photography websites, then metadata becomes very important. Read this article to learn how to add, edit and remove metadata in your landscape photos. 

Metadata is important when it comes to protecting your images online. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

The Best Photo Editing Software and Apps for 2020

The best photo editing software is the one you most enjoy using. It might be because it fits your workflow. Perhaps it has only a few basic tools, keeping the time it takes to edit your images to a minimum.

There are many photo editing software options out there. Some are free, while others are more expensive. A few come with a monthly payment plan. We have the best recommendations here for editing software and apps in 2020. You will not be disappointed. 

Lightroom is great for simple edits. Photo by: 'Leonardo Papèra'.

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About the author:  Craig Hull is a freelance photographer and videographer based in Eastern Europe. You can find more of his work on his website or by following him on Facebook and Twitter.

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