LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

I like to vary the look of my landscape images. I don't want them all to have the same look--sharp and detailed, vibrant colors, and no shadows. I have several that do have that look. However, I like to mix it up with subdued colors, less detail, include fog in the image, and introduce shadows. 

When we think of landscapes, we think of horizontal orientation. I like to sprinkle my compositions with vertical or portrait formats, once in a while.   

My definition of landscape photography is two-fold: At most, my images may include only a hint of humankind or a hint of wildlife. Most of them include only nature's beauty and majesty. I also like to capture what I call the intimate landscape. I extract from the big picture and home in on only a segment of it.

I don't like HDR images. Most images I have seen look "overcooked," overdone. Some look cartoonish. When I do apply HDR to my images, I don't want them to look HDRed. I want them to look natural, unmanipulated. I do that by taking seven shots but only choosing the best three to load onto my HDR software.

Technically, I use f/stops ranging from f/8 to f/22, depending on the situation and how I want my images to look, or what effect I want. Shutter speeds are usually not an issue. With my camera on a tripod, my longest exposure has been five minutes. Below is one nighttime image taken at just over two minutes.     

With that introduction, let's start with one of only three landscape HDR images in my collection.

This is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado. It was extremely dark at the bottom of the canyon, while the afternoon sun lit up the sky. That is a good scenario for which the HDR technique can come in handy.

Near the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, there is an area called "Mormon Row," where you find a couple of well-maintained old Mormon barns still standing. On one of my trips, I arrived extremely early to photograph the barns. When I was done, I kept driving down the dirt road to see what else I could find. To my surprise, I saw several buffalo in the golden plains, with the majestic Grand Tetons as their backdrop. It was awesome. composition is everything in landscape photography. 

The Grand Mesa is a few miles from the outskirts of Grand Junction, Colorado. When I created this shot, I saw a giant floating cloud surrealistically hovering over the mesa. it gave the image a unique feel. It makes one wonder how high the mesa goes. It is the world's highest flattop mountain, at over 11,000.' 

I mentioned earlier the intimate landscape. Below is an example, extracted from the scene above. I did not crop the image. I zoomed in on this part of the mountain, in the field. The colors look different because of where I aimed my camera, and the lighting had changed. 

This unique outcropping is called Hawksbill Crag in Arkansas. You can see why. I made sure to include part of the valley below to add context to the crag. 

In my book, Right Brain Photography, I included a chapter on creative in-camera techniques. I did  light painting on these formations at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado. With my camera on my tripod, I set the shutter speed to "BULB," which allowed me to lock my shutter open until I finished "painting" the formations. My part-time assistant was with me. It took two separate "paintings." With my shutter locked open, I walked along the pathway, shining my light on the ground along the path. I told Jeff to tell me when he could no longer see me. He did. I then turned my flashlight off, walked back to my camera, and then began "painting" the other formation. Viola! 

It usually takes anywhere from two to four tries before I get it just the way I want it. Sometimes I "paint," or move my light along a formation, either too fast or too slow. If I go too fast, I don't get enough exposure. If I go too slow, I overexpose the formation. Multiple "paintings" are a form of  bracketing.

Be sure to photograph landscapes in all seasons. This is also at Garden of the Gods, but in the middle of winter. The snow on the formations looks like a sprinkling of sugar. 

   

This last landscape image is of Fish Creek Falls near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It is absolutely beautiful during snow melt, around May, when the water comes gushing down! The key factor with waterfalls is shutter speeds. Do you want to freeze the water (high shutter speed) or give it that gentle feel (slower shutter speed)? I prefer the latter. Which shutter speed to use is dependent on so many variables. The best thing to do is to first decide what look you want, then take several photos, at different shutter speeds. Often, you will get more than one you like. Keep them both!   

There are landscape opportunities in every state. So, find a state map or search online for state parks, national parks, national monuments, national forests, or any place surrounded by nature. Have fun! 

Contact me if you have any questions: www.elivega.net     vegaphotoart@gmail.com