Landscape images can stir emotions. There is so much to capture in that perfect moment of light, color and motion all captured in a perfect moment in time. But what stirs you more color or black and white? For me there is just something so poetic about seeing a scene in black and white. Almost as if it brings you back to a feeling of a simpler time in life. So is it color or black and white that capture you more?

Improving Our Landscape Images.

All the world’s cameras, films and other photographic equipment are
no more than tools for making landscape pictures. Cameras don’t think
for themselves. Whether we use digital or film camera, the same
photographic principles apply.

We
don’t have to stick to many rules to produce great landscape images,
but knowing what they are will make your pictures more successful.
There are two salient points in landscape photography: how to compose
your image, and how to use available natural light in any given
situation.

Lets start off with light: There are three basic qualities of light: intensity, direction and colour.

Intensity:
refers to the strength of light. If the sun is high in the sky, light
can be harsh and too strong. Cloudy days bring soft and defused light.

Direction:
this refers to light placement. There are three categories of light
placement: front, back and side-lighting. Side lighting produces more
texture between light and shade.

Colour: the colour of sunlight
varies depending upon conditions and time of day. If the sun shines at
the beginning or the end of the day, the colour of the light will be
much warmer, and will lead to a much more dramatic scene.

Understanding
natural light will develop your ability to see. You will start to see
the beauty of light in a different and exciting way.

In
landscape photography it is very important to take care with
composition. A normal scene can be transformed by paying close
attention to detail. Composition is all about how you arrange the
elements in front of you.

Here are a few ideas in which you may find useful.

Lead
with lines: To lead with lines into the main part of the scene will
draw your viewer into your image. These lines don’t have to be
straight. Lines, such as tracks, riverbanks or fences, may work
successfully.

Foreground interest: Simple foreground objects can
give your landscape a greater sense of depth. Use a small aperture
(f/22) to keep the entire scene in focus.

Natural frames: Frame
your scene with the elements all around you. This will focus attention
on the main part of the picture. Trees make great natural frames.

These
are just a few essential guidelines, and combined with a good eye, you
have all you need to get the best out of photography – especially
landscape photography. These are just a few rules to get you started,
but like all rules, they are there to be broken.

About the Author: TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer and a freelance writer.
He frequently writes for the Art site Goldprints.com and the Gift ideas site shop-4us.com

To view or buy some of his images visit his on-line gallery of – pictures of Ireland

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