How to Take the Perfect Landscape Photo

With landscape photography, lighting is as important as location. Choose the right time of day to capture that beautiful view on film.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• SLR Camera
• Camera Batteries
• Camera Filters
• Camera Lenses
• Cameras
• Digital Cameras
• Film
• Light Meter
• Tripods
• Wide-angle Lens

1. Choose a location.
2. Observe the effects of light on the area over the course of a day.
3. Include an element in the foreground of your picture to add depth and scale.
4. Look for a unique vantage point to add interest. Look at the area from a variety of positions and levels.
5. Shoot in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid harsh shadows.
6. Set your camera up on a tripod, take a light-meter reading, and set the aperture and shutter speed.
7. Press the shutter release on the top right of the camera to take the picture.

Tips & Warnings

• Use side or backlighting to give water, grass, leaves and smoke a translucent appearance.
• The best times to capture a sunset are just as the sun touches the horizon and the 5 minutes after it has set.
• Shoot from a high vantage point when possible.
• Use a polarizer filter to enhance the color or tone of the sky.
• Attach a wide-angle lens to your camera to increase the scope of the picture.