10 Photography Landscape Tips and Tricks
I finished a six week landscape photography class and feel like I learned so much – from two full day field trips and from listening to the weekly critiques from our teacher of our work. There’s nothing like looking at several hundred images every class to understand what makes the good shots pop.
I thought I’d share 10 landscape photography tips I learned over a six week course.Over time and with lots of practice the calibre of my photos should improve dramatically. (Lightroom helps too!)
Here are 10 landscape photography tips that I hope you find worthwhile
Photography landscape tips – the rule of thirds
Once you’ve divided your photo onto thirds put the main subject on one of the four lines or at one of the four intersections.
The golden rule
The most important area in a photograph is located near the bottom right corner of the image. I haven’t taken advantage of this photography trick very often.
Photography landscape tips – the golden triangle
If you can links three points of interest it will pull the scene together.
The golden spiral
Think flowers, shells, stairwells – anything with a curve that draws your eye in.
The 80/20 rule
Decide what’s most important in the scene. Is it the land, the water or the sky? Eighty percent of the shot should then be weighted towards what you want the viewer to focus on.
Framing an image
One tree is enough to frame an image. Dead tree trunks work well too.
Leading lines and S curves
Paths and rivers are a good place to look for leading lines and S curves.
Don’t forget your foreground
Give your viewer somewhere to stand.
Take advantage of the golden hour
Use the beautiful light from the golden hour to your advantage. The 15 – 20 minutes before the sun rises and after the sun sets can lend magic to your photos.
Change your point of view
Look up or get low, really low for a change of view.
Of course there are always times when the rules are meant to be broken but when you’re first learning I think sticking with the rules helps a lot. Chances are if your photograph can incorporate more than one of the composition rules it will be even stronger.
Photography landscape tips when you’re shooting outside
- Use a tripod.
- Avoid putting trees in the middle of your photo.
- Take lots of images.
- Bracket your exposures – especially for sunrises and sunsets.
- Always use a lens shade. Keep the sun off the front of the lens.
- Use different filters – like a polarizing, neutral density or graduated neutral density filter.
- Try changing your white balance.
- Use your histogram. Learn how to read it.
- At mid-day with bright sun a neutral density filter works well. It decreases the amount of light but not the colour.
- Move the composition around.
One other useful trick I found worthwhile and I now use on almost every shot is to underexpose my shot – from anywhere between -1/3 to – 1 1/3, especially if it’s really bright outside. You’ll find you get more contrast with your colours.
Look for the exposure compensation button on the back of your camera and then start playing around. You can always bring the exposure up again in a software editing program whereas if you’ve overexposed a photo there isn’t much you can do.
Further reading on photo heavy posts to inspire a trip
- 12 Photos to Inspire a Trip to the Magdalen Islands
- 10 Photos to Inspire a Visit to Pangnirtung, Nunavut
- Trekking in Northern India in 20 Awe-Inspiring Photos
Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.
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Wonderful tips – thank you for sharing some of what you’ve learned in class. It seems that many people who travel want to capture special moments with photography, and you are helping us all to do a better job.
Thanks so much for those kind comments Roberta.
Thanks for these tips! I’m a total noob at photography but interested in learning so these are great!
pfft! As if your photos weren’t already awesome
😉
Nice post!
From what I’ve seen on you blog you’ve got great photos.
Great tips! Bottom right corner, ok even I think I can remember that one!
@Natasha You’re a damned good photographer already but I figure it’s good to be reminded of ways to make a photo pop.
Stunning Leigh! Your pictures were fabulous already but having those tips and tricks surely can’t hurt!
I’ve seen a some of these tips before but never all together in one place! I’ve book marked this to help get me focused before shooting. Thanks!
These are such great tips, Leigh. Your photos are a testament on how much you’ve accomplished in the class. I wish I had time because you’re truly inspiring me with these photos to take a class. My husband takes the landscape shots but I’ve bookmarked this as a reference and hope to start applying them. Have a wonderful time in Utah! We hope to make it to Bryce and Zion next month. Can’t wait to see you pictures of Bryce!
Thanks for the tips Leigh….not that you needed a course!! So much to remember, but I’ll certainly be trying to incorporate some of your points in my photos. All stunning photos but I love the first one of the deserted fishing village!
@Jenny I think photography is something where if the interest is there you can keep learning. I know it’s taught me to think about light and to notice the details.
Hints came just in time. I’m heading off this morning to see some fall leaves in the mountains of northern Arizona. While I was familiar with some of the tips, I’ve definitely learned some stuff. Now if I can just remember it in the heat of the moment! BTW, I LOVE the hay bale shot!!
@Vera At lower elevations the colours in northern Arizona are still fabulous as I saw them for myself today. Try getting some backlit shots with the wonderful yellows.
Thanks for these great photography tips, Leigh! I’m in love with your photos. They are absolutely stunning! Hay beles, big sky, path and golden hour photos are my favorites.
Wonderful tips Leigh and I love your photos! It looks like the class was definitely worth while.
Such gorgeous photos, I love it. ♥
Natalya
You’ve presented these tips in such an easy-to-understand manner. We just have to look at your photos to see how brilliantly they can work. Thanks.
Great tips Leigh! I especially like “Give your viewer somewhere to stand.” Makes perfect and I can see it in your photo.
Wow, Leigh, these are absolutely stunning!
Thanks for sharing what you’ve learned.
Thanks for your ringing endorsement Fink.
Awesome Article, I found this really helpful. I’ve only had my DSLR for a couple of months and still have a lot to learn in the ways of photography. This post helped a lot
I’ve had my Nikon D3100 for over a year but I still haven’t mastered it. Sometimes I look at photography books but most of them I don’t understand at all. So thanks so much for condensing some tips here! I do a lot of them already, not knowing there are really rules like that hehe
I already loved your photography! I can’t wait to see what great new things you’ll be posting. I have a new point-and-shoot that I’m still trying to figure out. My white areas keep getting blown out. As for your Golden Hour rule, I still remember an outdoor portrait session my kids did years ago. The photographer was begging them to cooperate, telling them that we were losing the light, but they frankly didn’t care. oh well
@Michele Spend a few hours with your manual and take lots of photos to see the different effects. Try using your exposure compensation and you may need a neutral density filter if your shots have subjects that are more than two stops apart.
Good tips. And while I know I’ve heard and read them all before, it seems I keep forgetting them, judging by the pictures I end up with. I appreciate the reminder; plus you’ve kind of motivated me to go out and spend the day shooting some pictures, which I’ve been neglecting recently.
Good tips. And while I know I’ve heard and read them all before, it seems I keep forgetting them, judging by the pictures I end up with. I appreciate the reminder; plus you’ve kind of motivated me to go out and spend the day shooting some pictures, which I’ve been neglecting recently.
@Daniel Pick a one word subject – a broad one to focus on – even something like rocks or clouds or up or down and you may find yourself getting very excited about a day out taking photos.
@Aleah I was in the same boat you were in a year ago. I started by reading Bethany’s Getting out of Auto which you can buy for $10 on the beers and Beans website — great value and a fantastic place to start.
Beautiful shots Leigh. I think your photography has improved a lot over the past couple of months.
I’ve discovered that I really don’t like online photography courses. As you’re doing I want to do something off line, so that means waiting until I’m in a city/country where I can find a photography course offered by an Engish speaking expert. In the meantime it practice practice! 🙂
@Nancie I’ve taken 5 courses now through SAIT in Calgary. I think looking at others photos is a huge learning experience as well as getting the depth of knowledge provided by the instructor. Online wouldn’t cut it for me either.
Great tips…I’ve been looking for ways to improve my photography on golf trips, because I always think the pics turn out terrible. Hopefully these will help…
@Deej Hope one of two of these tips stick with you.
Thank you very much for your handy tips. I make photos but never thought of these tips.
Hope they come in handy Sanjeewa.
Surley I will use this tips in my next trip. Thank you!
@Traves For You Hopefully you’ll find the tips very useful.
The 80/20 rule RULES. 🙂 I love interesting skylines. Many people would argue (and have argued) with this rule, stating it doesn’t fit into the rule of thirds. Well, I say break one to make another! Thanks for the tips here! I will save them to refer to later as I review my photos.
thank you for usefull sharing………
Expecting another tips
thank you for usefull sharing………
Expecting another tips
@Dwimuljo Will be taking more classes – sports & close-up photography.
@Amy I love the 80/20 rule when you’re dealing with big skies – and rules are made to be broken. I think the main thing with photography is to have fun.