Landscape Photography Techniques

Series Summary

Photography is the practice of making images by exposing film or another medium to a timed flash of light. The basic equipment used for photography has changed dramatically in the last decades, many people finding digital photography an inexpensive and creative hobby. We use photography as a means of communication worldwide: to sell things, to tell stories, capture memories, evoke passions, fight for causes, make new meanings, and inspire the imagination. Mastering the art of photography is a technical and challenging experience. Even with an automatic, digital camera, one has to learn how to frame a shot, choose a background, interact with the subject, use natural light, and select the right supplies and tools.

In this free video series, pro photographer James Flint gives you all the basics of different kinds of photography. Covering landscapes, abstract shots, portraits, and group photos, James leads you through the concerns, issues, and themes of each category. You will learn how to incorporate people and animals into your landscapes, what times of day and of the year to shoot outdoors, and how to decide on a point of view. For action shots, James advises you on camera settings and strategies. You will learn how to pose groups, when you focus on head shots, how to light faces, and more. It is all here.

Video Transcript

"Landscape photography is probably the most popular photography because a landscape is your most accessible subject. No matter where you are, you are probably a short walk away from some sort of landscape that you can make a photograph of. Now, just because it's the easiest thing to find, doesn't mean it's the easiest photograph to take. And you have to consider that anybody can point their camera at a landscape and take a photograph. So, you need to get a little creative and/or put in the time to find the best shot possible. You notice here in this photo of the trees and the pond, I was hiking along and, you know, I really enjoyed the evergreen trees. But when I came across this pond, I was able to take a picture that not only showed the trees and the sky, but reflecting in the water. So, you know, it's no magical work of art, but it's just an example of how using some reflections or other unique styles can make a landscape come to life a little bit more. Now, another thing to consider with a landscape is sometimes you're just going to get lucky and you're going to stumble upon something. A perfect example is, I was hiking and came across these horses. You never know what you're going to get, but you got to put yourself out there. And, sometimes, in order to find the best landscape shot, you just have to put in the time and wait for something special to come along. Another example of a type of landscape is this mountain shot from below. Not only am I showing the little village in the foreground, but I wanted to show how it was really wrapped in mountains. So, this photograph is kind of an example of how getting the right viewpoint for your landscape can make a really strong shot. Because for me, the best way to show that this little town was surrounded by mountains, was to get up high, show the mountains in the background, and show just how small the mountains make the village and everything look. So, again, when you're shooting landscapes, remember, it is the easiest thing to take a picture of, but due to the fact that so many people are taking photographs of landscapes, you need to try and do some interesting things in order to get a unique image."