Photography as a personal expression
With the different hues of nature, landscape images are more than just a simple record of landscapes at a particular point in time. It is an image which represents the photographer’s emotion, idea or concept. Landscape photography uses light, design and symbolic reference as a way to communicate. Today, photography is viewed as such and its power to convey self-expression and charge emotions cannot be underestimated.
Today, the camera is more than just a recording medium, but rather, seen as a tool for a photographer to record his personal vision. It is a tool which can transform the familiar to the exotic, the real to surreal.
Landscape photography is no longer just about the beauty of nature, but also, the depiction of natural landscape as seen from an urban dweller’s point of view. Landscape images now depict alternative realities. They can be used as a political tool showing the differing values of society. The traditional conduct of landscape photography was unified and harmonious, but it may now be portrayed as cluttered and confused – a change owed to the development of technology and the changes it has effected to our world.
Landscape photography is a way for photographers to explore their personal relationship with their environment, a way to interact and respond to the external stimuli. The camera is now used as a tool for discovery and revelation.
Sample of urban landscape photography
How to take expressive photographs
If you are using a standard lens, you will realize that taking panoramic images can be difficult. On the other hand, a wide angle lens can take too much detail giving you an empty sky and foreground which does very little for composition.
As a photographer, you will need to learn how to remove excessive detail without ruining the message and emotion you wish to convey. The only way for you to do this is to find a great vantage point to capture the details you need for your message to be completed. You can move in closer to reduce the information contained on the frame but take care not to move too close or the feeling of the broad landscape may be lost.
Through careful observation and knowledge of the basic elements in photography, you will be able to achieve the landscape image you want.
Using ambient light
The best landscape photos are taken on low light situations – during sunset or sunrise. During this time of the day, the different colors in the sky can help you in depicting the mood you want to express. Also, the changes in contrast will give you lots of possibilities to use to your advantage.
In many cases, you might want to take photos of landscape with the sun shining bright in the sky. In this case, the extreme brightness might overexpose the details in the sky and underexpose the land. To prevent this, you can use a filter on your lens. You should also consider shooting at a different time of the day. Aside from these, it is important that you use the camera’s RAW format so you can exploit the full dynamic range that your image sensor is capable. You can also play with the exposure or correct the images in post-production.
Also, it is best to learn exposure bracketing so you can take a series of photos and merge them through Photoshop’s HDR (High Dynamic Range) automated feature. It is best not to change shutter speed and aperture for maximum results.
Night photography
Although they call it “night” photography, the best time to take photographs is at dusk, not in the middle of the night. During this time, the remaining light of the day will cast colorful shadows on the landscape allowing the viewer to delineate the different features of the scenery.
Night photography is a technically demanding exercise and will need the use of several photographic elements as well as additional equipment.
Always use a tripod to hold your camera and if you can, purchase a cable release to trigger the shutter. Of course, if your camera has a self-timer, then you can also use that feature to your advantage. Bring a flashlight with you so you can easily see the controls of your camera. To minimize noise on your images, raise the ISO and use long exposure settings.
When shooting night lights, you should avoid pointing your camera directly to the light source. Also, you can use exposure bracketing to get different images which you can merge later on during post production.
Continue on the page 3 to learn the different techniques you can use in landscape photography.