Landscape Photography Tips

If you have tried your hands at portrait photography before, you'll find that these tips are different from tips for portrait photography for the fact that these are two very different styles of photography.

Increasing the depth of field of the photograph means a greater part of the photograph is in focus. To do this you need to decrease the aperture of the camera. However, decreasing the aperture size means less light reaching the image sensor, which needs to be neutralized by increasing the shutter speed.

For the simple reason that you need to set the shutter speed as high, to compensate for a smaller aperture, it is extremely important that your camera is completely still while the shot is taken.

If you hold the camera in your hand during the shot, chances are that it may get shaken, resulting in a blurred image. It is even better if you use a wireless remote instead of manually clicking the shutter with your hands as this way you'll get really sharp images.

There are an array of different filters that serve to enhance your shot in different ways. While density filters control the amount of light reaching the lens, color filters come in different colors, and add a touch of a particular shade to the photograph. Polarizing filters add saturation to your shots.

The 'Rule of Thirds' is helpful in creating a balanced composition, which is essential for landscape photography. According to this rule, you are supposed to divide any composition into three parts by imagining lines passing across it.

Now, you have to set the frame such that the areas or objects you wish to focus on, lie on the intersection of these lines. This can be a useful tip for beginners in the field of landscape photography.

The term 'landscape' generally brings serene images to our mind. However, objects in motion do form a part of many landscapes. Consider this. You climb a hill to capture the breathtaking view of the valley below. On your way back after having clicked some splendid shots, you suddenly come across a majestic waterfall.

Being the nature lover that you are, would you not want to capture the beauty of its cascading waters? 'But how?', you may ask. Well, to capture moving elements in a landscape, you need to set a slow shutter speed.

However, keep in mind that a slow shutter speed means more light reaching the lens. To counter this, you need to have a smaller aperture and use the right filters.

To make a composition truly interesting and visually appealing, add something that holds the viewer's interest and kind of leads him into the picture. To bring out this effect, add an object of interest which can be anything as varied as a strange-looking tree to a weird-shaped sand dune, or even a cottage in the distance.

Another way to lead the viewer into the photograph is the use of 'leading lines' that end up at the point of interest or the focal point. You can use winding lanes, streams, railway lines, etc to direct the viewer's attention towards the focal point of the composition.

In addition to the most important tips given here, there are a few more quick tips and tricks that might prove useful.

• Use the histogram feature on your camera to determine the perfect exposure required for the shot.
• Experiment with different locations and do not hesitate to explore unknown or uncharted territory.

• Try experimenting with the different features on your camera.
• Try shooting in black and white.
• Pay attention to the position of the sky and the horizon in your composition.
• Learn from the works of master photographers like Ansel Adams.

This was all about some effective landscape photography tips that will help you click that perfect shot you have always dreamed of. However, it's not necessary that you go by the rules every time. Put your own ideas to use and who knows, you might just end up with something truly appreciable and indeed unique.

After all, as the most famous landscape photographer Ansel Adams said, "There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."