Part 2 – DEVELOPING CHARACTER WITH YOUR LANDSCAPES!

Finding a whole week to talk about landscapes, and how to improve your photos is actually an amazing process for me. There are so many different ideas out there about how to improve your landscape photos. But, have no fear, I will call this: “The best of the instructions on Landscape photography”!

I have never thought of adding “character” to my landscape photos, but, this article from Andrew Goodall is an amazing article, and I want to share this with you now:

Landscape photography is a most rewarding pastime, but it can be far more challenging than some people imagine. It sounds so easy; visit a beautiful location, shoot a few snapshots, and come home with a work of art in your camera. After dealing with the public for over 20 years, I swear most people think it really is that simple.

4 Tips for Capturing the Character of a Landscape

But really good landscape photography is much more challenging. Anyone can recognize the potential of a good subject, but turning that potential into a memorable image is another story. The task is even greater if it is a popular location. When you photograph a place that is photographed a thousand times a day, you have to find a way to create something different from the everyday snapshot.

landscape character

1. You Don’t Have to Fit Everything In

Some panoramic views are so huge that the only way to fit everything into your photo is to use a very wide-angle lens. The trouble is, this reduces everything in size, so that the grandeur of your subject is diminished. It can be more effective to concentrate your composition around one feature of the landscape; a feature other people will recognize. With this approach, you can use a larger lens to add size and prominence to the the subject. You may also capture details that could be lost with a wide-angle lens.

2. Look For a New Angle

Why is it that so many photos of the great landmarks look the same? Simply because everybody photographs them from the same lookouts. It is easy to get a good shot from a major lookout; in fact, that is probably why the lookout was built in the first place. The trouble is, it is almost impossible to get a unique shot if your photo is taken from the same angle as all the others.

If possible, search beyond the established lookouts to see if there is a more interesting angle to take your photo. This may take a little more effort, and you may have to do some bushwalking to find the best spot. I don’t suggest risking your neck or trespassing, but in most cases there are alternatives to the established lookouts.

capturing the best landscapes
Photo by Giuseppe Milo; ISO 50, f/22.0, 1/20-second exposure.

3. Use The Surroundings to Your Advantage

Anyone can take a snaphsot of a mountain range. But what about a mountain range framed through the branches of a tree in the foreground or with a river winding away into the distance, drawing with it the eye of the viewer?

Every landscape can be photographed from a number of angles; the most obvious one is not always the best. By scouting around and looking for interesting foregrounds, you can add real character to your image and create something truly unique.

Always try to remember that you are not the first person to photograph this subject. To produce a memorable photo, you need to put in some effort to create something a little different.

4. Consider the Conditions

Capturing your subject in the best light can be a real balancing act. First you need to consider the time of day. Usually the ideal light is early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the light is softer and more colourful. The trouble is, any photographer with experience already knows that. So how do you take your photo to the next level?

take amazing landscape photos
Photo by Jacob Surland; ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/200-second exposure.

Keep a constant eye on the weather. You may be able to see something special, like a storm front, a good cloud formation, or even a good chance of a rainbow starting to develop. If you choose your moment just right, you can be on location in time for something really special.

This is a measure of the commitment of a landscape photographer. The more effort you put in, the greater the rewards. You’ll spend a lot of time waiting for the right moment, but once you get that perfect image, you will see it was not time wasted. You will know you have done a good job when people start to say, “I’ve been there, but my photos are nowhere near as good as yours!”

About the Author:
Andrew Goodall writes for http://www.naturesimage.com.au and is a nature photographer based in Australia. He manages a gallery in Montville full of landscape photography from throughout Australia

And now a few extra photos I have found, that I think have character to the photo:

There are a couple of things that this photo has character: 1- The photo was taken as a long exposure, so that makes the ocean waves along the rocky cliffs, all look soft and feathery, rather than the crashing of the waves. And 2- the photographer waited to get the clouds just so perfect on this photo. Turns out to be an extra beautiful photo, seen many times before, but, this one has more character because the photographer took the time to do what is necessary.
This photo also has extra character because it contains a beautiful sunset, plus, the air is misty or smokey. That just added to the character of this photo.
There is a lot of photos of the Grand Tetons, but, when you look at this photo, I can’t imagine not waiting to do it in the fall to get 2 things that will add incredible character: 1- waiting for the sunset on these mountains, and 2- Can I order the clouds to come in like this? Amazing character to a photo that everyone takes, but, not like this.

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