One of the things that will help is the rule of thirds. That involves placing the subject on a
third of the frame. For more on the rule of thirds, visit my article at: http://splashofphotographyblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-rule-of-thirds-golden-rule-of.html
Also, try to use foreground. It will make your photos come to life and will give a sense of depth.
Using anything that is available for foreground will do. For example, see how I used a tree as foreground?
In this photo, it is actually more of a subject then it is a landscape. But that is ok -
it looks great as it is. Just try to imagine this shot without the unusual focal point in the foreground.
More than likely, it would simply appear flat and boring.
If budget permits, use filters. And if you're going after a sunrise or sunset, use a grad filter.
The dark glass will cover the sky so that it is not too bright and the rest too dark.
When shooting waterfalls, use an ND filter. As a special effect, a longer shutter speed can give
the water an almost ghostly appearance.
If something is shiny in the photo, then a polarizer is needed to remove glare. Also, make sure
that the filter is the right size for your lens. The back of your lens cap will tell you the size of
your lens in millimeters (mm.).
Another tip - try to use a wide angle lens. This will allow you to get most of the scenery in the shot.
Also, it will make things look more stretched out. See how the sky seems to go on forever
in the next photo?
And finally, try to shoot in the morning or evening because the light is the softest at these times.
If you're shooting in the morning or evening and not aiming directly toward the sun, then the subject will be side lit.
If you are using a polarizer, then when your shot is side lit, the colors will look
more vibrant. Just a note - a polarizer will only add that vibrance if side lit!
I hope this helps you in your journey with landscapes. More next Friday on Weekend Photo Tips!
