All cameras, whether they are digital or film, point-and-shoots or digital SLR cameras, are merely tools in the hands of a photographer. If you want to take better pictures, no matter which type of pictures they are, we simply need to know some of the basic principles that apply. In landscape photography, there is a set of guidelines which, if you know them, will make your images so much better.
The fact is, with landscape photography, the rules or guidelines are fewer than in other types of photography. Basically, if you get a good composition and you know how to handle the lighting conditions, you will be much more successful.
Lighting is the most important aspect of any photographic endeavor. After all, the first part of the word, photo, refers to light. How the light hits the sensor, the quality of that light, and how much light hit the sensor, combine for the final outcome of that picture.
There are three aspects, or qualities of light that must be considered. They are light intensity, the direction of the light, and the color of the light.
Light intensity refers to the brightness or strength of the light. Undoubtedly, you have noticed that in the middle of the day the sun is much brighter than it is in the morning or late afternoon. The stronger the light, such as in the middle of the day, the stronger the shadows. This can make for a very unflattering picture. It is very difficult for most cameras to handle the wide range of light during that time of day. If you happen to catch a cloudy day, the light will be much softer, thus less intense, and taking a good landscape picture will be easier.
As mentioned, light intensity during the morning and late afternoon is less, and therefore, you will get much better pictures during those periods of time.
The second aspect of light is direction. When you're setting up your shot, you need to pay attention to which direction the light is coming from. There are three possibilities. The light could be coming from behind you, it could be in front of you, or could be him and him to one side or the other.
The best direction for lighting in a landscape photograph has something to do with the intensity, but in general, when the light comes from the side it tends to produce a nicer texture due to the mixture of light and shade. You'll probably want to avoid having the sun in front of you, because that lighting situation creates deeper shadows and lens flare, which is kind of like sunspots.
The third aspect of light is color. Many people are not aware that there are different colors for light depending on time of day. In the morning, the light is much warmer, which leads to a lot more depth of color, richness, and drama. You can have the same type of light in the evening, but most photographers prefer the morning light.
It is impossible to take a landscape photograph without lighting. Knowing a few basics about intensity and direction and color will help you to take better pictures of landscapes.
Wayne Rasku is an amateur photographer with an interest cameras and camera equipment. He uses digital SLR cameras as well as point-and-shoot cameras. Learn to take better pictures at http://photographyclassesatlanta.org/.
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