| Nature and landscape photography represent an | | | | Adding scale to a photograph is another way to |
| area of the photographic art which requires | | | | improve composition and generate a sense of the |
| specialized skills. As we all know, practice makes | | | | dramatic in your pictures. A large rock or tree to |
| perfect and over time, with the right shooting | | | | one side in the foreground with say a waterfall or |
| advice and some handy photographic techniques, | | | | mountain occupying the centre thirds of your |
| tips, tools and tricks, taking beautiful landscape | | | | photograph with the sky above, not only aids the |
| photographs can be mastered and your shot | | | | composition but also imparts a sense of grandeur |
| making can improve to the point that your | | | | to your shot. Adding more sky to your |
| photos really begin to capture some of the | | | | photograph can create a sense of “wide open |
| essence of the great places that you get to visit. | | | | spaces.” |
| One of the photographic techniques that I find | | | | Changing the mood and feel of a scene can make |
| really useful, as obvious as it may sound, is | | | | the difference between average and stunning |
| making sure that I always have my camera with | | | | photographs. Allowing the setting sun, for |
| me when I head out. It can be quite surprising | | | | example, to light up your shot or shooting into the |
| when revisiting an area that we think we know. | | | | sun to create silhouettes can produce wonderful |
| Things change all the time. Maybe the lighting is | | | | shots. |
| different. Perhaps you are passing through at a | | | | Capturing sunlight through leaves or tree branches |
| different time of the day and a scene that | | | | can achieve a dappled effect of light and shade to |
| hadn’t previously imposed any particular | | | | augment photographs. Two hours after dawn |
| sense of drama suddenly impresses you. | | | | and two hours before dusk are great times for |
| I recall driving through an area many times | | | | shooting, enabling best use of light and shade. |
| before. There was a long white sand beach with a | | | | When the sun is higher, shadows are more |
| bridge over a stream at the northern end. I had | | | | intense and strong shadows require extra lighting, |
| even picnicked and swum at the northern end of | | | | increasing the technical complexity of a potential |
| the beach last summer. In the intervening months | | | | shot. |
| since I had last visited the beach, the local council | | | | Shooting buildings in cityscapes represents some |
| had built a path under the bridge and alongside the | | | | interesting challenges where sunlight at certain |
| stream bed as part of a beautification process | | | | angles can enhance building detail or by reflecting |
| opening up an area which wasn’t previously | | | | off glass and stainless steel, produce interesting |
| accessible from the beach. | | | | light effects. |
| As a result I was able to acquire some very | | | | The very same shot at a different time might |
| pretty landscapes where I wasn’t really | | | | appear uninteresting without the detail emphasized. |
| expecting anything in particular. So even if you | | | | The sun going down between two tall buildings |
| are familiar with an area, remember not to take | | | | with the inner faces of both buildings lit up and |
| things for granted. People and places do change | | | | other parts in shadow or semi-silhouette might |
| and often over shorter time-frames than what | | | | achieve a very dramatic photograph. |
| you might appreciate. | | | | Looking for reflections in puddles or other still |
| Especially now with the advent of digital cameras, | | | | bodies of water is a great way to add to your |
| immediate recall and the ability to shoot many | | | | photographic composition and fill in the foreground |
| pics without the handicap of time and cost of | | | | with extra color to enhance your picture. |
| development, why not take multiple photos of the | | | | A good way to improve your understanding of |
| same scene. Play with different exposure settings, | | | | landscape photography (or any other photography |
| angles, variations in zoom. Change the | | | | genre for that matter) is to take an image that |
| perspective, turn the camera sideways through | | | | you really admire from a leading exponent and |
| 90 degrees, or even set the horizon on diagonally | | | | pick the picture to pieces, isolating the different |
| opposite corners to optimize composition if that is | | | | aspects that come together to create the photo. |
| what it takes. | | | | By identifying and analyzing the components of |
| Work through different shots of the same scene | | | | the photograph you come to gain an appreciation |
| at different focal lengths, telephoto through to | | | | for the mechanics of the composition thus |
| wide-angle and be surprised at how much | | | | increasing your knowledge. Use the identified |
| variation can be achieved in the shot. Eventually | | | | facets in your own photography to enhance your |
| you will find the optimum picture which may | | | | skills. |
| appear to be quite different from the first | | | | Good hunting! |
| impression. Capture a range of photos and make | | | | Additional Resources: |
| your selection afterwards rather than discard | | | | Some sources that you might like to check out |
| options at the time. | | | | for techniques, tips, tricks, and more can be |
| With the benefit of hindsight it is possible to | | | | found in photography books and magazines at my |
| re-crop a shot to change the emphasis or mood. | | | | website portal where you can follow links to the |
| Digital storage is so cheap now that retaining | | | | best deals and discounts that that the web has to |
| shots that may be less than optimum and having | | | | offer. |
| a library of images for later use offers alternate | | | | For a shopping portal that offers access to best |
| cropping options to accent different aspects of | | | | value and hard to beat buys for camera and |
| the photo. | | | | photography accessories and equipment, you |
| Telephoto lenses enable magnification of a distant | | | | won't go past my website portal where you can |
| subject and wide angle lenses reduce the depth | | | | follow links to the best deals and discounts that |
| of field enabling more content to be included in | | | | that the web has to offer. |
| the. Compact cameras achieve this variation | | | | One of the things I really like about having a |
| through a single lens that offers variable focal | | | | hobby such as photography is that I can make |
| length usually between 30-70 mm or similar and | | | | money from my hobby and as you might |
| often with inbuilt converters that double or treble | | | | appreciate, there can be no better thing, no |
| the focal length, increasing the telephoto | | | | better lifestyle option than doing the things you |
| capability whereas with a digital SLR (DSLR) these | | | | love to do.... |
| are separately acquired hardware options and | | | | The bonus is that my love of photography can |
| each lens or converter has different | | | | produce income, enhancing my lifestyle and sense |
| characteristics. | | | | of satisfaction with my hobby. |
| A lens that offers variable focal length usually | | | | I'd like to give others the opportunity to convert |
| between 30-70 mm is recognised as a standard | | | | their favourite hobby into a financially rewarding |
| zoom lens and will be able to be used in most | | | | life-style choice by helping you create a business |
| scenarios. It is only when exploring the extremes | | | | opportunity and income stream from your |
| that specialist lenses such as fish-eye, wide-angle, | | | | favourite hobby. |
| telephoto and converters are required. | | | | Follow this link to learn how!!! |