You know those pictures in national geographic of sweeping vistas … the grand canyon … Yosemite … the Rockies … there’s a certain art to talking those pictures. While photographing weddings you may not get the opportunity to, too often but as durham region wedding photographers we may get the odd shot or two once every couple weddings. Here’s a few tips to help fellow photographers along their way:
By the way – I highly recommend shooting in manual for most of these, and with a full frame camera, as with landscapes you’re looking to get alot of detail in there, and the full frame camera’s don’t ‘crop’ that detail with false magnification.
If you’re shooting water shots, either slow the shutter down for the silky water effect, or make the shutter fast for that crisp, I can see every drop, look! Again if you’re looking for that smooth effect I strongly recommend a polarizing filter, especially if there’s a bright blue sky!
When photographing a landscape, compose the same you would with a person, or any other scene: make sure the viewer knows what the subject is. It could be a winding road, a single tree, a lighthouse in the distance, or a broken looking shed. Make sure you highlight the subject!
As durham region wedding photographers, we know that when shooting panoramic images, make sure you have your camera in vertical position. Overlap all the shots all the way (say a third) to make sure you can stitch them properly after! By using vertical position, you capture more of the image. Also make sure you’re taking these pictures quickly, as changing light could make your image end up looking sunny in one part, then cloudy in the next!
If you’re looking to take those misty/foggy images, such as the moors in England do this: stick your camera in AV (or aperture priority depending on the camera brand), and increase the exposure by one stop. There meter is going to try and trick you, but increase that compensation right and you have the metered scene!
Rainbows! Everybody loves rainbows, and now you can get them! You’ve probably taken one of these pictures before and tried to work out why the colours look all muted. Well you weren’t using your cicular polarizer were you! Pop that puppy on and try again – look ma, a colourful rainbow!
The time honoured tradition of first light is always the time for the best landscapes. There’s less wind, and something about that light as it first comes over the horizon which makes those killer shots you’ve seen in magazines or on the TV. For an alternate time, try golden hour, the hour around when the sun goes down! Durham region wedding photographers absolutely love golden hour for making killer bridal compositions, such as the kiss of fire (positioning the bride and groom in front of the sun as it goes down!). Also remember – that when the sun goes down, you can keep on shooting! You get those deep blues and purples, and sometimes pinks in the 15 to 20 minutes after sun-down for some really interesting looking skies!
Which f stop should you use for landscape shots? This is easy – the highest number possible with your lens, as you’re looking to get everything in focus. This couple typically be F/22 on many wide-angle lenses. Similarly where should you be focusing? Focus about one-third into the image (as the lens generally focuses approximately one third in front and two thirds behind) to give yourself the maximum amount of focus for your landscape composition.
There’s a number of tips to help you on your way, and as in all photography, be sure to make the image your own, try lots of angles and focal lengths, and as all durham region wedding photographers do, have fun!