We've all been there. Spent a lot of money to go to someplace
we've never been before. We've taken the photos and brought them
home expecting family and friends to ooh and aah over the shots
we've taken. You open the envelope and take out the prints and
somehow the landscapes and nature shots that looked so beautiful
there look flat, dull, and you don't remember seeing that couple
in the corner of your shot when you snapped the shutter. First
thing that you must know is that to get really great landscape
and nature shots you really need an SLR with appropriate film
for the job, but these tips will help you even if you are using
a point and shoot.
1. Appropriate film. I use 100, 200, and 400
speed maximum. Film brand is a matter of personal taste. I use
the 100 and 200 when I know that it's going to be bright out and
I use 400 if I think that I'm going to capture wildlife or if
I'm deep in the forest.
2. Natural light. I try to avoid using
flash. If I do use flash I only use my fill flash. Whenever you
use flash you rob the scene of most of it's natural charm. Think
of it how many times did you take a shot because the light was
just to pretty.
3. The right lens. A slight wide angle lens in
very valuable for landscapes and a slightly telephoto comes in
handy for tight shots of beautiful flowers. I personally have a
favorite lens 30mm-70mm that is a staple for me and I use it
ninety percent of the time. Now that the technical stuff is out
of the way.
4. Decide what it is EXACTLY that you are trying to
capture on film and crop accordingly. Not cropping enough is one
of the biggest mistakes amateur photographers make. Great thing
about landscapes is that they don't move. So to learn take a few
shots cropping closer each time.
5. Occasionally turn the camera
vertically. So many people don't seem to realize that they can
turn their camera on to the vertical. Imagine that you trying to
get this tall evergreen perched on a rock above a vista. If the
camera is horizontal you'll crop out the tree, if you turn the
camera vertical you'll get the tree and a lot of the vista too.
Try this when you taking photos. Take one shot horizontal and
then turn the camera vertical. You'll be surprised.
6. If you're
taking a photo of a large horizon it will probably look flat on
film. You need a sense of scale. So frame your image. Sometimes
this can be a family member on one side of the shot, perhaps
looking out into the beautiful horizon. A tree, rock, or plant
can work in landscape shots just make sure that the framing item
is not the focus of your shot. This will get you started. Nature
and landscape photography is a specialized area of the art but
with practice you can improve your snap shots to capture some of
the great places you've seen.
If you have some specific questions please visit my Photography
and Design Forum at:
http://kellypaalphotography.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/index.php and
post your question there.
About the author:
Copyright 2005 Kelly Paal Photography Kelly Paal is a Freelance
Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and
internationally. She owns her own business Kelly Paal
Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an
educational background in photography, business, and commercial
art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography
principles to her web design.
