The Beginner’s Guide to Landscape Photography
This article provides an outline of the equipment you need and the techniques you should learn to begin your landscape photography journey. Before we get into more detail, I briefly outline the essentials for landscape photography:
1. Camera and a single lens: Apart from having a camera, it’s essential to understand how to operate it and being able to focus, adjust aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings. You should take it off fully automatic mode and learn how to use your camera in either manual or aperture priority (‘Av’ or ‘A’) mode. And shoot in RAW.
2. Basic photography techniques: Learn the fundamentals of photography, including exposure, composition, and focusing. Understand how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings affect your images.
3. Basic composition techniques: Experiment with composition techniques such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, framing, and foreground interest to create visually compelling landscape images.
4. Understand light: Pay attention to the quality and direction of light when shooting landscapes. Golden hour (shortly after sunrise or before sunset) and blue hour (just before sunrise or after sunset) are good times for capturing beautiful, soft light and dramatic colours in landscape photography.
5. Photo processing software: Familiarise yourself with post-processing software such as Adobe Lightroom for editing and enhancing your landscape images. Learn basic editing techniques such as adjusting exposure, contrast, saturation, and sharpness to fine-tune your photos.
I strongly believe you should approach your photography as a (potentially/hopefully never-ending) journey. Start with the basics and as you gain more experience and confidence in landscape photography, you can gradually expand your equipment and techniques to further refine your skills and capture stunning landscapes. Remember to practice regularly, experiment with different settings and compositions, and most importantly, have fun exploring and capturing the beauty of the natural world.
The remainder of this article will go into more detail to get you started on your journey.
Camera Equipment
You’re going to need equipment to take photos (obviously). However, it’s important to not focus too much on equipment at the beginning of your journey.
Essential:
Camera: A digital reflex (DSLR) or mirrorless camera with manual controls will allow you to have more creative control over your images. I suggest that you obtain a camera of one of the well-known camera brands (such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm), as these provide a wide range of camera models and lenses. Therefore, it will be easier to upgrade and add equipment over time. Also, it will be easier to get help from more experienced photographers about specific camera features.
A high-quality smartphone camera can produce impressive landscape photos. However, if you want to progress your landscape photography journey, I’d recommend you invest in a dedicated camera.
Lens: A single, versatile lens such as a standard zoom lens (e.g., 24-105mm) is ideal for starting your landscape photography journey so that you can capture expansive scenes as well as close-ups and discover what you like.
However, you could start with a wide-angle zoom lens (e.g., 14-24mm, 16-35mm) if you’re particularly interested in capturing grand vistas, sweeping landscapes, and expansive skies. It’s also easier to use these lenses in low light conditions and get sharp images, which means that you’ll have less need for a tripod and don’t need to get into more advanced camera and editing techniques straightaway. Just remember that you often must get closer to your subject with a wide-angle lens to create interesting images.
Accessories: Essential accessories include one or two memory cards, one or two batteries, and a charger.
Backpack or camera bag: A durable and comfortable backpack or camera bag will help you carry and protect your gear while exploring different landscapes.
You could start with a ‘normal’ bag to carry your equipment, and then purchase a dedicated photography bag later. You can also expect that you will need to upgrade your camera bag as you purchase more equipment, combine photography with hiking in the bush, etc.
Optional
Note that the more equipment you have, the more you need to carry with you. Also, more equipment increases the risk that you focus more on using your equipment than taking engaging photos. I suggest you expand your equipment gradually as you discover more about your photography interests.
Additional lenses: In addition to a standard zoom lens, you could add more lenses to give you more options in the field. A wide-angle lens (e.g., 18-55mm) is ideal for landscape photography as it enables you to capture expansive scenes and emphasise the foreground. A tele lens (e.g., 100-400mm) is great for intimate landscape photography to isolate the subject from its surroundings and incorporate wildlife photography.
Tripod: A sturdy tripod is essential for landscape photography when shooting in low light conditions or using slow shutter speeds. It helps to keep your camera stable and ensures sharp images.
I strongly suggest that you gain experience with shooting hand-held before using a tripod, as it facilitates experimenting with compositions and lighting conditions. You may find that you don’t need one.
Filters: Graduated neutral density (GND) filters and polarizing filters are commonly used in landscape photography to control exposure and reduce glare respectively. They can help you achieve more balanced exposures and enhance the colours and contrast in your images.
You’ll likely need a tripod before you can use filters.
I have a selection of filters in my camera bag and use them probably 15% of the time. I mainly use them to get a longer exposure to soften water.
Remote shutter release: A remote shutter release or cable release allows you to trigger your camera without touching it, reducing the risk of camera shake and ensuring sharper images, particularly when using long exposure times.
I have been taking photos for many years and have a remote shutter release in my bag, but I can’t remember using it. I use the camera’s timer to delay the shutter release after pressing the button, which works fine. A remote shutter release could be handy when you’re doing long exposures where timing is important (e.g. seascapes with moving water). Note that nowadays it’s sometimes possible to operate your camera using your smartphone. In that case, your phone can act as the remote shutter release.
Accessories: Accessories that you may find useful to have in your bag include a lens cloth, memory card holder, torch (headlight), shower cap (to cover your camera and lens to protect it from rain and spray), and a small towel to name a few.
Basic Photography Techniques
Photography techniques encompass a wide range of methods and practices that you can use to capture images creatively and effectively. Here's a short overview of some key photography techniques:
Exposure Control: Understanding and controlling exposure is fundamental to photography. It involves adjusting the combination of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity to achieve the desired level of brightness and detail in an image. You can read more about this in my Exposure Triangle article.
Depth of Field: Manipulating depth of field allows photographers to control the area of sharp focus in an image. A shallow depth of field (achieved with a wide aperture) can isolate the subject from the background, while a deep depth of field (achieved with a narrow aperture) keeps more of the scene in focus.
It’s essential that you understand your camera’s controls to apply these techniques. Critical camera controls to understand include:
Exposure, Aperture, and ISO Dials: The exposure, aperture and ISO dials are essential to controlling exposure.
Exposure Mode: The Exposure mode determines how the camera selects aperture and shutter speed settings. Common exposure modes include Manual (M), Aperture Priority (Av/A), Shutter Priority (Tv/S), and Program (P). In Manual mode, the photographer manually adjusts both aperture and shutter speed settings, while in Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes, the photographer sets one parameter (aperture or shutter speed) and the camera adjusts the other to maintain proper exposure. For landscape photography, set your exposure mode to Aperture Priority or Manual.
Focus Mode: The Focus mode determines how the camera focuses on subjects. Common focus modes include Single Autofocus (AF-S), Continuous Autofocus (AF-C), and Manual Focus (MF). In Single Autofocus mode, the camera focuses on a single subject when the shutter button is half-pressed. In Continuous Autofocus mode, the camera continuously adjusts focus to track moving subjects. Manual Focus mode allows the photographer to manually adjust focus using the lens focus ring. For advanced photographers, there is a setting often referred to as ‘Back-Button Focus’ where focussing is no longer controlled by pressing the shutter button, which has advantages in more complex situations.
Metering Mode: The Metering mode determines how the camera measures light to determine proper exposure. Common metering modes include Evaluative (Matrix), Centre-weighted, and Spot metering. Evaluative metering measures light from multiple areas of the frame and calculates overall exposure, while Spot metering measures light from a small area (typically the centre of the frame) and is useful for precise exposure control.
File Format: Use the File Format or Image Quality settings in your camera to ensure that images are recorded in a high-quality RAW format as opposed to JPG. RAW files contain all the data captured by the camera sensor and offer greater flexibility for post-processing adjustments. I have written a comprehensive article about this topic that you can find here.
White Balance: White balance adjusts the colour temperature of light in the image to ensure accurate colour reproduction. Common white balance settings include Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Custom. Auto white balance is usually suitable for most situations, but manual white balance adjustments may be necessary in challenging lighting conditions. Since you’ll be shooting in RAW format (😉), the camera’s white balance setting is not important, because you can set that in photo processing software.
Basic Composition Techniques
Composition techniques are fundamental principles that you can use to arrange elements within a frame to create visually compelling and impactful images. Here's a short overview of some key composition techniques for you to experiment with:
Rule of Thirds: Divide the frame into a grid of nine equal sections using two horizontal and two vertical lines. Place key elements of interest along these lines or at their intersections to create a balanced and visually pleasing composition.
Leading Lines: Use lines within the scene, such as roads, paths, or fences, to lead the viewer's eye into the image and toward the main subject. Leading lines can add depth and perspective to the composition, guiding the viewer's gaze through the frame.
Symmetry and Patterns: Look for symmetrical or repetitive patterns in the scene and use them to create visually striking compositions. Symmetry can create a sense of balance and harmony, while patterns add visual interest and texture to the image.
Foreground Interest: Include elements in the foreground of the image to add depth and dimension to the composition. Foreground interest can help create a sense of scale and draw the viewer into the scene, making the image more immersive and engaging.
Frame Within a Frame: Use elements within the scene, such as doorways, windows, or natural arches, to frame the main subject. Framing adds context to the composition and draws attention to the subject by enclosing it within the frame.
Fill the Frame: Fill the frame with the main subject to create a bold and impactful composition. Eliminate distractions and unnecessary elements from the frame to focus the viewer's attention on the subject and convey a sense of intimacy or intensity.
Negative Space: Leave empty space around the main subject to create a sense of isolation, minimalism, or tranquillity. Negative space can enhance the visual impact of the subject and evoke a mood or emotion in the viewer.
These are just a few of the many composition techniques that you can use to create captivating images. Experiment with different techniques, and don't be afraid to break the rules and explore your own unique style of composition.
Understand Light
Pay attention to the quality and direction of light when shooting landscapes. Golden hour (shortly after sunrise or before sunset) and blue hour (just before sunrise or after sunset) are good times for capturing beautiful, soft light and dramatic colours in landscape photography.
Usually, daytime, when the sun is right above you, isn’t the best time to get a good landscape photo. Adjusting the timing of your photography sessions can significantly enhance the quality of your images. You may have to get used to getting up early, and/or changing dinner times 😊.
Photo Processing Software
Familiarise yourself with post-processing software such as Adobe Lightroom for editing and enhancing your landscape images. Learn basic editing techniques such as adjusting exposure, contrast, saturation, and sharpness to fine-tune your photos.
Adobe Photoshop provides more advanced image editing features and gives you more control over adjustments while increasing the learning curve. It’s essential when performing advanced photo merging. I suggest that you perform most of your photo editing in Lightroom, and gradually incorporate Photoshop in your post-processing workflow.
A computer (laptop or desktop) is essential when using photo processing software. Both Lightroom and Photoshop are powerful software applications used for photo editing and manipulation, and their system requirements can vary based on factors such as the version of the software, the size and complexity of the images being edited, and the specific features being utilised. It's essential to check the specific system requirements for the version of Lightroom or Photoshop you plan to use, as well as any additional requirements for specific features or functionalities you may need. Additionally, consider future-proofing your system by choosing hardware that exceeds the minimum requirements to ensure smooth performance as your editing needs evolve.