8 Quick And Simple Composition Tips To Positively Affect Your Landscape Photography Today

Landscape photography is a genre of photography that focuses on capturing images of natural scenery, such as mountains, forests, oceans, and other outdoor landscapes.

It is a popular type of photography that allows photographers to capture the beauty of nature and share it with others.

In landscape photography, the photographer must carefully consider the composition, lighting, and exposure settings to create a captivating and visually stunning image.

Landscape photography can be a challenging but rewarding genre of photography.

It requires patience, perseverance, and a keen eye for detail.

However, with the proper techniques and equipment, anyone can capture stunning landscape images that will leave a lasting impression.

Don’t Get Stuck With Horizontals in Landscape Composition

The majority of landscape images are horizontal frames.

It is good practice to also use the vertical (portrait) frame. The main reason for this would be image variation.

There are specific compositions better suited to vertical frames.

To be safe, a landscape photographer can shoot both a vertical and horizontal scene.

By doing this, you will have options in your post-processing.

Be Careful When Using Ultra-Wide Angle Lenses in Landscape Photography

Ultra-wide angle lenses cause image distortion.

Distortion can exist in the foreground, background, and image subject.

For example, the fish in the foreground can look more significant than the ocean in the background.

This is an unnatural representation of reality.

Lines and objects near the side and corners can also become distorted.

Check for distortion when using wide-angle lenses to avoid these unnatural appearances in your images.

Keep it Simple Stupid

KISS – keep it simple stupid.

The KISS model is a much-promoted concept in the creative world. This acronym also applies to photographic composition.

The basic premise is to remove unnecessary distractions and keep the composition neat.

Compose and frame for simplicity in your photo.

Don’t overcomplicate the composition.

Think simplicity.

Use Elements in The Landscape Scene to Add Depth to The Photograph

Photographs with depth are almost always more appealing.

Try to place objects in a manner that adds depth to the composition.

Place objects in different areas of a composition that run a long line through the image.

Add an extended depth of field in your aperture setting to create this sense of depth.

Remember to use a tripod for stability and sharpness when using smaller apertures to achieve the depth of field.

Use Tighter Framing in Your Landscape Composition

Pay attention to framing.

In my early days of photography, a mentor taught me to “get in tight with your composition.” Filling the frame is an effective composition technique.

Zoom in or move closer to the main subject, if possible.

If you are unsure how to frame, or compose a shot, get close to the subject to reveal details in the image.

Getting closer to your subject will help remove any distractions in the frame.

Look for natural elements within the scene that can frame your subject.

Take Advantage of Leading Lines

Look for foreground elements that lead up to the main subject.

This can be a path, a river, a lodge, a field of flowers, or even clouds.

There’s a good chance these leading lines will make a big difference in an average image.

The image below demonstrates several leading lines that lead the eye to the subject (the person walking along the beach).

The shoreline, the sand’s edge, and the footsteps are examples of leading lines pointing to the subject.

The light from the right-hand corner of the frame is also a leading line that points to the subject.

Avoid leading lines where the subject falls out the edge of the frame.

Remember that leading lines are not always lines but can also be a change in colour or contrast.

Landscape Panoramas Are Awesome

Panoramas bring a different perspective to landscape photography.

Panoramas need extra equipment, such as a stable tripod and technical know-how.

Panoramas are generally not difficult to execute.

Practice makes perfect.

Panoramas consist of vertical or horizontal frames that form a logical sequence of frames.

These frames must overlap each other at the time of the shooting.

Use a tripod with markings from 0 to 360-degree angles to control the capture process.

Software is then used to stitch the frames into complete panorama post-processing.

Photoshop or other third-party software can perform this task.

The software can stitch a panorama automatically or manually, depending on your level of expertise.

Step Out of Your Usual Photography Routine

Sometimes photographers lose their desire for landscape photography.

This is common, especially in long-term photographers.

If you feel this way, you may want to consider changing things up.

Do things you’ve never done before.

Try a new lens or shoot a new landscape that you never shot before. Try shooting long exposure landscapes, or star trails, for example.

Learning something new in your landscape photography can bring new challenges. These should reignite the passion within you.

Take a complete break from shooting if you have a chronic case of photography fatigue.

Use the time-out to contemplate the ways you can reinvigorate your creative flow.

Sometimes a hiatus can be the elixir for your photography ideas and compositions.

In Conclusion

I hope that the above tips help bring success to your landscape photography dreams and goals.

Happy shooting.

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