| Whether captured on canvas with paint or on film | | | | a well-balanced image. But sometimes rules are there |
| with a camera, landscapes have always been a great | | | | to be broken as well! |
| artistic theme. We will always be inspired by the | | | | Focal Point |
| colour and infinite variety of nature and the | | | | Without focal point the eye can sometimes wander |
| landscapes around us. This article gives you useful | | | | around the frame unsure of where to look. The focal |
| tips for creating impressive landscape photographs, | | | | point is what drew your attention to the shot. It |
| and you'll learn how to make your pictures more | | | | could be a tree, hill, building or boat but should hold |
| striking. | | | | the whole composition together. By giving your |
| Capturing the moment | | | | photograph a point of interest it will also help create |
| Photography is about freezing a moment in time. You | | | | a sense of scale. |
| must make the most of the time that you have | | | | Time of Day |
| whilst you are out taking photos. If the weather is | | | | The quality of light changes considerably during the |
| not right, use the time to explore the area, assess | | | | day. At sunrise there are weak shadows and pastel |
| good viewpoints and work out what time of day will | | | | colours. Atmospheric haze and pollution are also at |
| work best for the shot. Using a compass is invaluable | | | | their lowest. |
| in determining where the sun sets or rises, but | | | | After shooting sunrise the light becomes harsher and |
| remember that this changes with the seasons. | | | | more contrasting. Colours are fully saturated and can |
| Preparation and planning will help you to capture a | | | | be enhanced further by using a polarizing filter. |
| successful photograph. | | | | Shooting with the sun behind you or to one side will |
| Composition | | | | usually work best for maximum colour. |
| Keeping it simple and not cluttering the shot with too | | | | By late afternoon or sunset the sunlight will create |
| many elements is a good rule. By removing | | | | much warmer colours and subjects will benefit from |
| distractions from your photographs will help bring | | | | strong side lighting. Shooting into the sun as it moves |
| more prominence to your subject. It is also important | | | | towards the horizon can also create stunning |
| to include some form of foreground interest, which | | | | silhouettes. Making a silhouette with a sunset couldn't |
| may be your subject or it could be used to draw the | | | | be easier. Your foreground subject will usually |
| eye towards the subject. | | | | automatically come out black in these conditions |
| There is also a rule that will aid you in creating good | | | | because the camera's meter will underexpose when |
| composition, which is called the Rule Of Thirds. In | | | | you are shooting towards a bright light source. |
| photography, using this The Rule of Thirds keeps the | | | | Silhouettes can produce very strong eye catching |
| main subject off centre, away from the middle of | | | | images that will look great when blown up big and |
| the frame. As a result, a photo looks more dynamic | | | | hanging on your wall. |
| and interesting. Imagine your image divided into nine | | | | Once the sun has set the dusk or twilight colours can |
| equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and | | | | still glow with warmth. After the sun has disappeared |
| two equally spaced vertical lines. Placing your subject | | | | carry on taking pictures using long exposures and you |
| where any of the lines intersect will help in producing | | | | will see the sky take on a dark blue tint. |