Social media is big money, and dominating the latest trends and innovation is key to staying relevant.

The only problem is that is pretty expensive by itself, not to mention risky to boot, hence why we get so many services that mimic one another rather than iterate in an entirely new direction.

Sure, that happens, but, inevitably, they either get swallowed up or transform into an all-in-one app along the lines of Meta’s Instagram or Facebook. 

Long the crown jewel in the company’s corporate crown, Instagram’s intense competition with Chinese rival TikTok has radically changed the platform and what it offers in terms of features. And, like TikTok, Instagram is starting to really emphasize video above all else.

Reports indicate that this might become even more the case as Instagram is reportedly testing 10-minute-long Reels (its competitor with TikTok’s video format). If that sounds like a long time to you, you’re not the only one, but it seems to be the latest trend in social media video content, TechCrunch reports.

The website notes that TikTok extended its video length to ten minutes and, further, highlights that such a change on Instagram’s part would put it in direct competition with Google’s YouTube. But I wouldn’t worry about YouTube too much; TechCrunch reports that YouTube is also doubling down on its short-form effort, aptly named Shorts, to compete with…you guessed it…Instagram and TikTok. In a sign of the times, all three platforms offer large creators monetary incentives to post content and more than a few do just that for all three of them. 

Is video the future? Or is Instagram losing its way with a decreased focus on photos in favor of video? Let us know what you think in the comments. 

Here are some of our other photography headlines at this link.

[TechCrunch]

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Photographing landscapes and capturing sharp details in the photo depend on many factors, including the settings and techniques used, the camera sensor, and the lens used. You will need a lens based on your shoot's purpose and what you want to achieve, for example, for websites, magazines, large prints, or just social media sharing. Without a good lens, you will not be able to work efficiently in certain situations, and the resulting images may be soft and sometimes not good for large prints and magazines.

There are certain features to look for in a lens if you wish to get into serious landscape photography. Besides, as you practice photographing the vast landscapes in the great outdoors and want to expand your possibilities, you will need more than one lens in your kit based on what you wish to shoot.

A wide angle or an ultra-wide angle lens is usually the preferred choice for landscape photographers, but do not forget that telephoto lenses will help get closer details of parts of the vast landscape that may get lost in a wide-angle shot.

For example,

• If you are capturing the panoramic view of the landscape in front of you, like a sweeping landscape, seascape, beach, valley, etc., then you will need a wide-angle lens typically in the range of 10-24mm, so you can use the zoom feature to compose shots of various focal lengths. A zoom feature will help you zoom into scenes you may not be able to hike to or reach through any other means. Zooming and composing work is better than capturing wide and then cropping.
• When you want to capture closeup details of distant subjects in a landscape like a mountain peak, a rock, a tree in a landscape, etc., you will need telephoto lenses in the range of 85 to 300mm or sometimes even 400mm. This depends on how far the subject is from the camera and how much of the scene you actually want to photograph.

Before purchasing a lens for landscape photography, here are some features that you need to focus on that will help with stunning results for landscape photography. Think about what you wish to capture personally and pick a lens based on that criteria.

Fast Lens And Features For Maximum Sharpness

In landscape photography, you are dealing with a wide range of lighting situations depending on when you are shooting. Sometimes, you may even shoot nighttime landscapes or during the blue hour, which means the light will be very low. Most landscape photography is generally done during the daytime when light is in the scene.

Also, using a tripod for the best landscape shots is always advisable, so you can flexibly compose and not worry much about shutter speed unless it is windy or there are moving elements like water, trees, etc., in the frame.

Most top-end lenses come with wide aperture values like f/2.8, which is not necessary for landscape photography. If you have one of those lenses, then it is good, but not mandatory as you will be closing down your aperture for landscape photography to capture a larger depth of field to have the entire scene in focus.

You can go for an f/4 lens, and it will work great to capture any landscape if you use it on a camera with a good sensor.

Note: If you choose to use wide aperture values like f/2.8 to f/5.6 for landscapes, the images tend to be slightly soft and not very sharp. Always take test shots and check results by zooming in at 100%. If you are unhappy with the sharpness, close down the aperture by a stop or more for better results.

Every lens has a sweet spot, which could be between f/7 and f/16 for recent lenses. Use your lens at that aperture for the best results.

Focal Lengths Based On The Type Of Landscape

If you are beginning in landscape photography, you will mostly shoot only wide-angle shots to have a good view of the scene in front of you in your captured image. It is good to opt for a wide-angle lens for this purpose, and we recommend a zoom lens instead of a prime lens because of the flexibility it allows in terms of compositions by zooming in and out.

A focal length range between 10 to 24mm is a good choice depending on the manufacturer and the camera sensor size. If you use a full-frame camera, start from 12 to 14mm, and for APS-C sensor cameras, start from 10 to 12mm for very wide-angle shots.

The most common wide-angle zoom lenses are 14-24mm, and most lens manufacturers have a lens around these focal lengths. For APS-C and micro four-thirds cameras, you can go slightly wider to 10 or 12mm, and for micro four-thirds, you can start between 7 to 10mm so that the effective focal length will be right for very wide-angle shots. If you are a beginner and have the 24-70mm f/2.8 in your kit, it can be a great lens to start with on a full-frame camera.

If you are looking for prime lenses, go for focal lengths like 14mm f/2.8, 16mm f/2.8 or 18mm f/2.8, etc. The only limitation is that you must work with just one focal length and crop the image for some narrow shots, which may not always work great. A zoom lens is more convenient and flexible, in our opinion.

If you have some experience and would love to take your landscape photography a bit further into capturing close-up shots of the elements in the scene, for example, a distant peak or other important elements in the landscape, or wish to isolate elements in a landscape, then you can use a telephoto lens between focal lengths 85 and 200 or 300mm depending on what you wish to capture. These will let you get more details on the object you photograph and offer unique perspectives because of the longer focal length.

Focal Length And Exposure Time

Focal lengths used for landscape photography greatly affect how the resulting image turns out. If you want to capture the vastness of the scene, use a wide-angle lens, but if you want to isolate an element in the scene and do not want the distracting surrounding landscape, you can use a telephoto lens.

For landscape photography, if you are going to handhold the camera, it is good to have the shutter speed greater than 1/100s for very wide shots, and for other moderate shots, it is good to have it greater than 1/(2 x focal length). This is so that you can avoid any camera shake, but it is always good to have the camera mounted on a tripod for landscape photography.

Not only will a tripod help you avoid any blur, but will also allow you to use low iso values lengthen the exposure time, and give you the flexibility you need to compose and focus on other tasks involved in the process. Besides, some long-exposure images definitely need the help of a tripod.

Unlike night sky photography, you do not need to worry about focal length vs. exposure time issues when using a tripod. You can decide on the exposure time irrespective of focal length as long as there are no moving elements that you need to avoid in the frame. When using longer lenses, you may need to increase the iso if handholding the camera and depending on the light in the scene to get the shot without the camera shake.

Filter Usage

Lens filters are lifesaving accessories for landscape photography, and especially when you wish to capture long exposures or tone down the bright skies, you need neutral density filters (ND filters) and Graduated neutral density filters (ND Grad filters). If you have an ultra-wide angle lens, it may not be possible to use a filter in the front, and these lenses also introduce unwanted distortions in the frame.

Keeping this factor in mind, invest in a good lens that can be used along with filters and one that will not distort the image heavily. If you have a grand scene in front of you and do not have a wide enough lens, you can always shoot a panorama.

Weight

Most landscape photographers hike a considerable distance before being at a perspective or viewpoint to get the shot they envisioned. It is important in these situations to pay attention to the weight of the lens as you will be carrying other gear like a tripod along as well.

Most fast lenses are a bit on the bulkier and heavier side, so look for lenses with maximum aperture values of f/4 so they are smaller, lighter, and easier to carry. These lenses will also cost comparatively less.

Weather Sealing

Landscape photography is a wide genre and is mostly performed in less-than-ideal conditions. Locations like beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, and weather conditions like fog and mist, sometimes even rain, are some of the conditions under which landscape photos are captured.

It is advisable, if possible, to have a lens that can withstand these weather conditions. Weather-sealed lenses can be slightly more expensive than non-weather-sealed ones but are a good investment.

Affordability And Third Party Lenses

Most lens manufacturers have a decent range of lenses that can be used for landscape photography, but the price becomes quite high when you go for wide-angle lenses. An alternative would be to go for third-party lens manufacturers, they make very good quality lenses these days.

Some of the most popular third-party lens manufacturers are Sigma, Tamron, Samyang, Rokinon, etc. They manufacture lenses of almost all focal length ranges that the original manufacturers do.

If you have a wide lens for night sky photography, then by all means, you can use it for landscape photography by closing down the aperture. In this case, you do not have to purchase specific lenses for landscape photography.

Here Are Some Lenses That We Think Are The Best For Landscape Photography:

Wide Angle Lenses

Most of the time, landscapes are captured by very wide and wide angle lenses of focal lengths 14-24mm for full frame, 10 to 24mm for APS-C sensors, and 7-14mm for micro four-third cameras will be the best options. A 24-70mm lens is always a good choice for a start if you have one already. You can check out the following lenses based on your own camera.

And some third-party lenses:

Moderate / Telephoto Lenses

For moderate shots of closeup landscape shots, focal lengths between 85 and 200mm are the best. Here are some lenses that you can check out!

The best lens for traditional landscape photography would be the wide-angle lens with an equivalent focal length of 14-24mm and a maximum aperture value of f/4, so you can capture stunning and sharp images with great details. Buying a lens of your choice really depends on your needs, skills, and budget. Check the lens features and choose one based on your requirements.

If you are a beginner with a kit lens, check at what aperture value the lens performs the best. Once you have gained some experience and wish to take your photography to the next level, you can explore lenses based on the above recommendations.

What are your experiences with landscape photography? Do you use and recommend a particular lens? If so, why? Please share with us in the comments section below.

Further Resources

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The headline pretty much says it all without saying much about the debate around the concept.

After all, isn’t the essence of a subjective competition an absence of bias among the judging cohort, whether that be three people or the entire world? Why enter a contest if you are competing with someone with so much more power in the process than you?

More than a few entrants into the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards by Unleashed Pet Photography are asking that very question after it was discovered, albeit buried somewhat in the contest rules, that judges could also compete against the work of other competitors.

And while there isn’t a bunch of money on the line, which would only exacerbate things somewhat, there is an entry fee which probably doesn’t help things.

PetaPixel reports that Annual Unleashed Pet Photography Education subscribers get one free submission while others need to pay $25. Then there’s a whole schedule of fees based on the number of images a contestant wants to submit and whether or not the contestant takes advantage of the early bird special pricing.

The max is 20 for $320 which is no small fee.

Judges, meanwhile, get two free submissions in exchange for participation. Judges are also able to submit more images if they desire. To their credit, the Unleashed Pet Photography folks said that judges won’t be evaluating their own work. But that’s not really the debate that this kicked off; rather, it is whether or not it is appropriate to have contests judged by competitors. While that probably won’t be decided here (or anytime soon), it probably helps to have utmost transparency in these matters – especially when charging entry fees.

Do you think judges should be allowed to enter – and win – the competitions they judge? Why or why not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Check out some of our other photography news at this link right here.

[PetaPixel]

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When you spend a bit of time in photography, there will almost certainly come a time when somebody comes up to you and asks you what the best settings are for a particular scenario. So today, we are going to cover a single scenario with the best landscape photography settings.

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Light and Colour are paramount to a powerful landscape image. Steve Arnold's detailed video course on that exact topic will take your landscape post-production of light and colour to a new level. And it's on special for Light Stalking readers this week. So grab it while it's available.

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Now the thing about answers like this is that the correct answer is, “It depends.” 

But that is probably not what you want to hear from landscape photographers.

So let’s look at this in the spirit of the question. What if we were forced to answer the question with a gun held to our head?

Well…

The best settings usually for landscape photography are the lowest iso possible, smaller apertures and the right shutter speed for correct exposure. Keep the exposure triangle in mind – ISO 100 at f/11 (likely your lenses' sweet spot) and a shutter speed to give you a histogram that looks like a bell (hopefully you use a tripod to avoid camera shake).

Although when you shoot in manual mode you will have creative control over all the settings for a good landscape photo, since you will be selecting a particular aperture value based on your lens' sweet spot, you can choose to shoot your landscape photos in aperture priority mode.

“BUT I DIDN”T GET A GREAT SHOT WITH THOSE SETTINGS!!!” I hear you scream.

Well… yeah. I mean, you probably got something ok, but it isn’t what you were thinking about in your head.

Landscape photography camera settings depend on the amount of light, quality of light in the scene and there is simply no way we can know what light you are shooting in. And a good landscape photograph also depends on many other factors.

Let’s look at a few more nuanced questions that will serve you better than asking the best camera settings for landscape photography.

How about, “How do I get a great landscape photograph?”

Great question! 

And while it’s also a huge question, we can knock off some of the main tactics you will need to get a great landscape photograph quite quickly.

One of the best blog posts on the entire process of getting an epic landscape photograph is on this very site, by New Zealand photographer, Chris Gin. 

Landscape Photography for the Serious Amateur covers gear setup, camera setting and most importantly why all of those decisions were made. The results are difficult to argue with as Chris is a top notch landscape photographer. The post is well worth your time.

Another way to conceive of the things that you need for a good landscape photograph is in checklist terms. If you check off all of the items on the list, you will probably get pretty close to having a good result.

With that approach in mind, we developed the list of 50 Things You Need to Remember When Shooting a Landscape Photograph.

That might seem like a lot of things (and it is), but landscape photography is a very deep rabbit hole and one that takes a lot of skill and experience to get the type of images that you see in magazines. That list will give you a good grounding in some of the knowledge that you will need to get as you progress through the craft.

How about more specific “time of day” questions?

Now asking “what are the best settings for landscape photography” is a question that is made a lot easier to answer if you add the caveat of what time of day you are talking about.

Let’s dig down into some time of day camera settings that might get you closer to the real answer you are seeking.

Sunrise and Sunset Landscapes

Most photographers will suggest you should be shooting your landscape photographs during the much vaunted “golden hours” which is the time around sunset and sunrise.

You will need a tripod and might also want to consider an ND filter or Neutral Density Graduated Filters, but the results will often make you very happy. You can use these to lengthen exposures when you want to blur water or clouds in the scene.

The settings will still be close to ISO 100, aperture value around f/8 to f/11, but the shutter speed will probably be between 5 and 30 seconds (meaning you will be using a tripod). The settings also depend on how fast the elements are moving in the frame. For example a fast moving waterfall will require a slower shutter speed compared to a slow moving one.

For more in depth guide to this time of day, this is the article to read:

What Everybody Ought To Know About Photographing Sunsets and Sunrises

The Best Camera Settings for Landscape Photography at Midday

While most photographers will shy away from shooting landscape images around midday as the light is hard and harsh, sometimes you will have no option but to shoot at this time.

For such occasions, there is an exposure guideline that some photographers use, known as the Sunny 16 rule.

Basically that means f/16, ISO 100 and 1/100th second shutter speed.

Take a look at our Sunny 16 Rule article to see how that works.

Landscape Photography in Overcast Conditions

You might think that landscape photography on cloudy days is not worthwhile, but you would often be wrong. Many times you will get interesting clouds and weather that can make your images look quite amazing.

Again, you’re probably going to have a lowish ISO (somewhere between 100 and 400) and your aperture is probably going to be around the sweet spot of f/11. 

Shutter speeds will depend on exact light (so make sure you have a tripod).

Our guide to shooting outdoors in overcast conditions is probably where you should start to get a deeper understanding of the complexities of shooting in these conditions.

Other Landscape Settings

Of course, the settings on your camera body aren't the only thing you need to be considering. This article on measuring hyperfocal distance for landscape photography will also help ensure you get tack sharp images and have the entire image with all the elements in the scene in focus when you need to. Some quick settings to keep in mind for the highest quality landscape photos are:

• Shoot raw
• Camera mode – Use manual mode which is the best for full creative control or use aperture priority mode if you know the exact aperture settings you'll be using, and shutter priority mode for long exposures.
• Set white balance to daylight, shade, cloudy depending on the light in the scene so you get the best white balance set in the resulting image, or use auto white balance if unsure and make adjustments when post processing.
• Manual focus to get precise and sharp focus on the area you wish to set the focus on. As a general rule, it has to be one third into the scene or hyperfocal distance.
• Faster shutter speed to freeze actions if any (like moving water, swaying trees) and avoid motion blur, especially windy days and slow shutter speed for long exposures.

Final Thoughts

Now the thing to remember about articles like this one is that there are a million exceptions. This is general advice about the best landscape photography settings, but there is no rule saying you must use them and it is very possible to get amazing results by ignoring them completely. What this hopefully gives you is a starting point for your photographs and a base one which to build your own knowledge of the craft.

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Buying a camera for landscape photography is a decision that requires careful consideration of many factors. Landscape photography demands specific features and capabilities to capture the grandeur and beauty of natural environments. From image quality to durability, here are the important factors to take into account when purchasing a camera for landscape photography:

Image Quality

Image quality is paramount in landscape photography. Look for cameras with larger sensors, as they generally produce better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. Full-frame sensors are usually better choices as they provide greater detail, which is crucial for capturing intricate landscapes.

Dynamic Range

A camera with a wide dynamic range is essential for landscape photography, as it allows you to capture a range of tones, from bright highlights to deep shadows. This is particularly important when dealing with high-contrast scenes, such as sunsets or landscapes with strong lighting variations.

Megapixels

While megapixels aren't the only factor determining image quality, they do play a role in the level of detail your camera can capture. Cameras with higher megapixel counts are better suited for producing large prints or cropping images while maintaining good detail.

Touchscreen Functionality

Touchscreens can enhance your experience by offering quicker navigation through menus, easier focus point selection, and more intuitive adjustments.

Weather Sealing

Landscape photography often takes you into challenging weather conditions. Weather-sealed cameras protect against dust and moisture, allowing you to shoot in various environments without worrying about damaging your equipment.

Build Quality And Durability

A sturdy camera body that can withstand the rigors of outdoor shooting is crucial. A well-built camera can handle accidental bumps and drops, ensuring that your investment remains protected during your photography adventures.

Weight And Portability

Landscape photographers often venture into remote locations. Consider the weight and portability of the camera system, especially if you'll be hiking or traveling long distances to reach your shooting locations.

Battery Life

Long battery life is essential when shooting landscapes, especially in remote areas where charging facilities might be scarce. Consider investing in spare batteries or a camera with exceptional battery efficiency.

Low-Light Performance

Landscape photography often involves shooting during the golden hour, blue hour, or even at night. A camera with good low-light performance and minimal noise at higher ISO settings will enable you to capture stunning images in challenging lighting conditions.

Viewfinder And LCD Screen

A high-quality electronic viewfinder or a clear, articulated LCD screen is essential for composing your shots effectively. These features help you see how different settings and compositions will affect the final image.

User Interface And Controls

A camera with an intuitive user interface and easily accessible controls will allow you to make quick adjustments in the field. This is particularly important when the lighting conditions are changing rapidly.

In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS)

IBIS can help reduce the impact of camera shake, enabling sharper images when shooting handheld. This is especially useful when you can't use a tripod.

Autofocus System

While landscape photography often involves manual focus, a capable autofocus system is still valuable, especially when capturing scenes with moving elements or transitioning from landscapes to other genres like wildlife or macro photography.

Bracketing And Exposure Compensation

Some cameras offer advanced bracketing capabilities, allowing you to capture a series of shots at different exposure levels. This is useful for creating HDR images and enhancing your landscapes' dynamic range and details.

GPS And Geotagging

Some cameras offer built-in GPS functionality for geotagging your images. This can be valuable for tracking where you captured each shot, especially when exploring unfamiliar locations.

User Reviews And Recommendations

Don't underestimate the power of user reviews and recommendations from fellow landscape photographers. Real-world experiences can provide insights into how a camera performs in various conditions and situations.

Budget

Set a budget that accommodates the camera body and the lenses and accessories you'll need for landscape photography. Prioritize features that directly contribute to better image quality and performance.

The ideal camera will depend on your specific needs, shooting style, and the types of landscapes you plan to capture. Research thoroughly, read reviews, and, if possible, try out cameras in person to determine which one best suits your creative vision and practical requirements.

Below is a list of great cameras for landscape photography. We have included both DSLR, mirrorless cameras, and one medium format camera. Hopefully, you will find the one that suits your needs!

This full-frame DSLR from Canon was well-regarded for its excellent image quality, robust build, and versatile features. It offers high resolution and good dynamic range, making it suitable for capturing the intricate details and wide tonal range often found in landscapes.

• This camera gives amazing results with a dynamic range measured by the DxO Mark at 13.5 stops.
• Regarding the low noise, the camera performs great on the ISO invariance aspects. 
• The camera is weather-sealed for times when you have to shoot in extreme weather conditions.
• Bracketing is easy and convenient – this camera can do 2, 3, 5, and 7 images for a bracketed sequence and makes all the adjustments for you.

This mirrorless camera from Canon is suitable for landscape photographers who also want strong video capabilities and those who like shooting in low light. It is well-known for its great ergonomics too.

• EOS R5 has a vari-angle touch screen on the back of the camera, which was not a feature available on the EOS 5D Mark IV. This makes getting low shots easy, which is a great feature for landscape photographers.
• This camera's new ability to pick up focus points in incredibly low light has made a great difference for landscape photographers who like to shoot at night.
• The EOS R5 offers in-camera stabilization, which is super helpful when shooting in low light. 
• You can use EF mount lenses with the R5 thanks to the lens adaptor designed for the EOS R5.

Another full-frame DSLR, the D850 from Nikon, is known for its exceptional image quality, high-resolution sensor, and advanced features.

• It offers 100% viewfinder coverage, so it can effectively be used to compose your image, which is great for landscape photographers.
• Another great feature of this camera is the split-screen display zoom. It splits the display into two boxes, each showing a different frame area at a high zoom ratio. It can help you with focusing and noticing depth-of-field mistakes.
• There are the normal AF-S and AF-C modes, and focus areas can be set to single point, dynamic point, 3d tracking, group-area, and auto-area. When shooting landscapes, the AF system works great.
• D850 can shoot at ISO 64. This isn’t the same as Lo 0.3 on a camera with a base ISO 100. ISO 64 is the camera’s base ISO, which is amazingly good for crisp, noiseless landscape shots.

Nikon's full-frame mirrorless option, the Z7, offers a good mix of resolution and features for landscape photography, including a high-resolution sensor and good dynamic range.

• Nikon Z7 is 26% lighter than Nikon D850, which makes it a great choice for traveling landscape photographers.
• The resolution of the RAW files is 8256 x 5504 pixels, and the editing capability of the files is top-notch.
• The dynamic range is not as good as the D850, but it's nearly the same.
• This camera's overall responsiveness is great – you can flip between the back screen and viewfinder quickly and effortlessly.
• Battery life and usage in cold temperatures aren't that good, which might be an issue if you often shoot in colder climates.

Sony's mirrorless cameras have gained popularity for their compact size and impressive performance. The large sensor in Sony A7R IV ensures a good low-light image quality compared to smaller sensors. It also provides higher pixel quality compared to smaller sensors, which can be very important for landscape photographers.

• This camera has a very high resolution – it's 61.0MP, making it perfect for any landscape photographer. It can capture the finest details.
• It is weather-sealed, allowing you to shoot under any conditions.
• The AF of this camera seems to be amazing. Sony developed a new tracking algorithm for this camera – once the camera locks focus on an object, it follows it everywhere, even while you're panning.
• The battery life is great – you can shoot for a few hours and only use a small portion of the battery.

If medium format interests you, the GFX 50R from Fujifilm offers a larger sensor size, which can result in even higher image quality and greater detail in landscapes.

• At 775g, it’s 230g lighter than a Nikon D850, which is a noticeable difference that could be quite important for landscape photographers who travel often.  
• The camera has a dedicated exposure compensation dial. This is much nicer than pressing or holding a button and turning a control dial. This dial will simplify your shooting routine.  
• Autofocus is not fast, but it's accurate. Medium-format cameras have never been intended for fast-moving action, which is fine for most photographers who shoot mostly static scenes in nature.
• One special feature that landscape photographers appreciate is the ability to dial in manual exposures of up to an hour without using bulb mode.

When choosing a camera for landscape photography, consider factors such as resolution, dynamic range, weather sealing, ease of use, available lenses, and budget. Additionally, the lens selection is equally important, so be sure to invest in high-quality lenses that match your camera system.

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When was the last time you went out and shot some gorgeous landscapes? Recently, ages ago or never? I ask because sometimes if it's been a while you may have secretly given up. Now, why would I insinuate something so presumptuous? Well, often times when something proves difficult, we can have the inclination to give it a try and if it doesn't work out quite right, leave to rest. Most photographers know that Landscapes are some of the hardest, most painstaking, challenging, gruelling, time-sapping, patience-testing areas of photography…ever! So let's ease you in with some simple, hand-selected hints.

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Light and Colour are paramount to a powerful landscape image. Steve Arnold's detailed video course on that exact topic will take your landscape post-production of light and colour to a new level. And it's on special for Light Stalking readers this week. So grab it while it's available.

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Start creating breathtaking works of landscape photography art…

Photographing Beautiful Landscapes is a Dream

As humans, there wouldn’t be many people who wouldn't appreciate the beauty of a natural landscape and as photographers, we try and capture the presence of nature before a moment is lost.

Landscapes may or may not change with time, but each day it never fails to amaze us with a different mood or feel. Nature puts up its own drama from time to time!

Let's look at the sort of things a landscape photographer would tell you about how they understand and capture the surreal beauty of nature.

4 Landscape Photography Tips Any Pro Should Tell You…

When it comes to shooting landscape photography, some photographers, especially beginner landscape photographers, are sometimes worried about the fact their photo looks nothing like what they actually witnessed on location.

There are various factors that need to be taken into account when shooting landscapes outside for example:

• The time of the day,
• Your gear,
• Exposure times,
• Compositions,
• Perspectives, and finally
• The post processing part that lets the photographer bring to life what they witnessed.

Here are some tips on creating stunning landscape photography. These will for sure come in handy the next time you get out there to photograph a landscape.

1. Depth of Field

Some of you may get a bit creative with those shallow depth of fields while shooting landscapes, but, with landscapes, you need as much of the scene in the frame to be in focus. Hence you need to go for a smaller aperture. That is the beauty of a landscape photograph.

Since a smaller aperture allows much less light to fall on your camera sensor, you will need to compensate for that by either increasing your ISO or shutter speed or both depending on the light naturally available.

This leads you to this quick tip – “Always carry a tripod” and carry a “wired or wireless shutter release” for shooting landscapes as you need to make sure that there is no camera movement during the entire exposure process.

2. Placing the Horizon

Whatever is the type of landscape you shoot, it needs to be interesting to the viewer.

Most natural landscapes (unless it is an aerial shot captured top down) will have the sky as an element. There are times when the weather can disappoint us with those bland boring skies. Don’t give up.

Look for interesting foreground elements and include them for the most part of the image by having the sky only in the upper third of your shot.

On the other hand, if the sky puts up an interesting drama, with beautiful colors and clouds, take it to your advantage and place the horizon in the lower third of the frame.

3. Capture the Movement

Most landscape images are supposed to bring in that serene and calm feeling to the viewers’ mind.

However, not all landscapes are still, especially when they have elements like the clouds, water or trees moving.

The best solution to capture these movements in an image to make it look more interesting is, to use a long shutter speed. This can be accomplished using a very small aperture or by using a Neutral Density Filter.

Don't forget the tripod and the remote shutter release when shooting landscape photography!

4. Time of Day

The best time to shoot landscapes would be the golden hours (dawn and dusk).

Why? The light is beautiful, the sky presents itself with some gorgeous and dramatic colors and the light hits the landscapes at an angle creating interesting shadows, patterns and textures.

What Else Can Possibly Make Landscape Photography More Interesting..?

Post Processing for Landscape Photography (including Photoshop Tips and Lightroom Tips)

Now to the final part! Fine tune that masterpiece you just created. Always shoot in raw as it helps you to work well with landscapes.

The greater dynamic range will allow you to manage the shadows and highlights. Lightroom is a landscape photographer’s best friend when it comes to post processing, so try and make the best use of this software.

Our Photoshop tips for Landscape Photography article is also well worth a read to help your core post-production skills as is our article on Lightroom Workflow Tips for Landscape Photography article.

Some Important Tools and Sliders Landscape Photographers Play Around With

• Straighten any tilted horizon using the “Crop” tool and make use of the “Graduated filter” to adjust any specific parts of the image.

• Fix any distortions that may be present using the “Lens Correction” tab

• Use the “Basic” adjustment panel to control the exposure, contrast, white balance and others basic sliders. To bring out any textures in the image, use the “Clarity” slider (use this only if necessary). Make sure that you keep the vibrance and saturation under 20.

• Use the “Detail” tab to work on the sharpness of the image. (Be sure to look at our sharp landscape photography article to cover other methods in more detail).

• Make best use of the “Tone Curve” to control the light and dark regions in the image.

• Use the HSL tab to adjust the colors of different elements in your image. Be careful to not overdo the colors.

• Finally add a little bit of “Vignette” if necessary, as in some images it can draw the viewer’s attention into the image.

• As a general rule, do not over process the image. Post processing must be done to bring in the natural details of the images and to recover information that are not visible in RAW.

7 Quick Tips

1. Always get the horizon straight, unless you had to have it tilted for compositional purposes. And not to forget, get the horizon on the upper or lower third of the frame!
2. Do your homework; look for visually compelling locations, viewpoints and the right season to visit the locations so they look the best. Check the weather forecast for the day and sunrise / sunset times!
3. Research the location and draw compositional ideas in your mind beforehand if possible. You do not want to shoot a frame that has been shot by hundreds and thousands of other photographers.
4. Landscape photograph doesn’t necessarily have to be wide angle. Try different focal lengths.
5. Don’t run away from cold, wet and stormy weathers. While it can be challenging, they can contribute to some of the most dramatic photos ever captured. Make sure you protect yourself and your gear from the bad weather.
6. Try different viewpoints and different subjects like forests, plains, prairies, deserts, mountains, sea coasts and waterscapes.
7. Keep the frame simple (clutter-free) with interesting elements in the foreground, middle ground and background to create that depth.

That's a whole heap of tips there for you – so now, you don't even need to pester a landscape photographer because you've just gone and got yourself all clued up!

Beginners' Landscape Photography Tips

Now if any of these ideas seem a little vague or too advanced for you, we strongly suggest that you take a look at our beginners' landscape photography tips article that spells out similar ideas in much simpler terms and also our Surefire Tips for Getting Started in Landscape Photography article. They will have you on the path to landscape keepers very quickly.

Our Bite Size Tip on Landscape Photography to Impress People will also be of interest to beginners and more advanced shooters alike.

Another Landscape Photography Checklist

If you have read this far, this Landscape Photography Checklist will also be of interest to you. Having a series of things to check off to maximise your chances of getting a keeper is always a handy thing.

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Further Landscape Photography Resources:

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Sourced by Time Trap Photography sharing the best photography tips, news and tricks throughout the industry. Time Trap Photography is dedicated to freezing those special moments in life that can be revisited and admired for generations to come. - Shannon Bourque
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