Landscape shooting game is 90% light quality. It’s the most important and uncontrollable element of your shot. Here are some tips to get the most out of it.
Landscape photography is certainly not just about the location or landmarks seen in the photo. Even the most beautiful locations and natural wonders lose a bit of their appeal when photographed in terrible lighting conditions. This is why in addition to planning and figuring out how to get to a certain location, it’s important to do as much as possible with good lighting. There are a lot of factors that go around getting good light like weather, direction, and of course, time of day and your photography plan should always take all of those factors into consideration to get the right shots. like. In addition to all the logistics, here are four tips to consider to increase your chances of capturing breathtaking landscapes with great light.
1. Aim for conversion
The knowledge is not new to photographers that the best lighting often occurs around the transition between night and day. This is why most photographers generally prefer to shoot around sunrises and sunsets, but why exactly? Sunrise and sunset are the two most dynamic phenomena of each day. During this time, the light coming from the sun changes in quality almost every minute, and each step in that sequence gives its own character in illuminating both the sky and the earth. These transitions in light bring together all the different characteristics of light that can complement the character of the landscape. Being able to shoot for this particular time period means being able to capture different variations of light and choose which one you think is best to go with.
2. Start early and finish late
While landscape photography often feels like an activity with the utmost freedom, you really have to pay attention to the timing. According to the first tip mentioned above, it is totally rewarding to arrive early to catch the sunrise or sunset and stay a little longer afterwards. Although the strongest transitions and most dynamic changes in light occur in the 20 minutes around sunrise and sunset, light continues to change even after that and there is certainly a lot to be had. may happen during that time may yield some value.
Early sunrise or sunset allows you to position yourself for the best possible composition for the most important photo of the day. At the same time, it can give you clues as to how the light will act and change right in front of you and somehow allow you to prepare by deciding how you will interpret the landscape and the techniques you use. Which exposure technique you will be able to use. Aside from the fact that you’ve been able to start shooting within the grace period you’ve given yourself, it can also be a time to shake off any worries, fatigue, or overwhelms that might be distracting you during the day. when shooting.
3. Anticipate the most important moments
For any type of photography that involves an uncreated or completely controlled environment, prediction is the most important skill. While this is mostly done in genres like weddings, events, photojournalism and documentaries, it is without a doubt also applicable to landscape photography and can be done. that’s pretty good. Landscape photography refers to the interaction of the ever-changing environment and light. There are favorable environmental conditions for those seeking to capture dynamic and dramatic light photography, especially if set to a particular mood or emotion.
While much of the environment can ultimately be unpredictable, there are certain factors to consider that can give clues as to how the light will change and how it will affect the scene. mandarin. First, overall weather conditions and an abundance of clouds are the first and most obvious clues as to whether there will be anything interesting to look forward to as time goes on. Related to that, the wind direction and the speed at which the clouds move will also provide clues as to how dramatically lighting conditions can change.
The direction you are facing and the path of the sun are also very important factors to consider. With little experience in landscape photography, obviously facing the exact direction opposite where the sun sets or rises will give you the least chance of any dynamic light. Shooting a landscape lit by the sun from the side at sunrise or sunset can create a lot of emphasized depth, especially if there are multiple layers of visual elements between the camera and the background. With or without anything moving in the sky, strong and bright sunlight will be enough to transform the location into something impactful. Finally, shooting in the direction of sunset or sunrise (provided there are enough clouds to let the light through) can produce very dynamic light. The condition of the sky determines a lot of this because too many clouds will block the light and too few will not have enough clouds to illuminate. Cloudy skies that cover 40-60% can create some of the most dynamic sunsets and sunrises. It is important to anticipate whether there are any partial obstructions to sunlight that could help create a fascinating sunburst effect in the process.
4. Enjoy the moment
Whether or not you succeed in capturing the image you envisioned for that day and for that place, always take some time (and consciousness) to enjoy what’s going on. in front of you simply. Of course, you’ll feel much better if you succeed in getting the image you envisioned, but even if you don’t, take your time and process it yourself. One benefit of this is obviously just being able to experience the pleasant environmental phenomenon, but being able to witness it first-hand, especially when you’re not successful in taking pictures can be helpful as the experience A personal account of it in your memory can help you identify mistakes and areas for improvement later in the process and prepare for the next possible similar shoot. .
The video below shows the process of shooting the Mayon volcano sunrise photos above, but more importantly, it captures the delight of witnessing such an interesting light transition.
As a landscape photographer, with your own personal style and artistic vision, it is important that you are able to develop a certain state of awareness of the natural environment and the full light. This not only adds to your experience and ability to adapt to changes in light, but more importantly, increases your appreciation for everything that is governed by nature.
