Landscapes

Love landscapes? Here's everything you need to know to capture stunning scenes on camera...

Landscapers are a very specific breed of photographer. Often content to spend hours waiting on hillsides for ideal light conditions, a fan of landscape can be known to plot holidays around iconic locations, and thinks nothing of trudging for hours - often with a very understanding loved one in tow - over hill and dale to reach the perfect spot to take a single shot from. If this has you nodding in agreement, then congratulations: it looks as though you might be a landscaper lover.

Gear up!

Landscapers need cameras with the highest resolution sensors they can carry in order to capture images with the rich detail and tones presented by nature. That's why so many choose to shoot on DSLRs and mirrorless cameras - so if you've not got one of these in your kitbag yet, best start here.

Once you've chosen your camera, there are a few extras that'll make your life a little easier when on location. A wide-angle lens such as a 10-20mm or similar will allow you to capture the entirety of sweeping landscapes in single shots: plus a mid-range zoom like a 24-70mm gives you flexibility for framing more tightly.

You'll also need a good sturdy tripod that'll keep your camera solid as a rock: make sure you look for a light model as you'll be schlepping it back and forth from your car, but don't compromise on quality as it needs to be heavy enough to remain stable in breezes and gusts.

An excellent backpack is a landscaper's best friend: you'll need room for your new lenses, plus a tripod holder, assorted snacks and all sorts of items that become essential when out on a hillside. You'll also need to make sure it's comfortable when worn for long periods of time and, as we live in the UK, a waterproof cover isn't a bad idea.

Ready to go? Let's head out!

Set your alarm clock

If you want to be the best, you've got to get up early or stay out late - particularly if you're shooting in the summer months. The shorter days found during winter make beautiful morning light much more accessible, and helps put stunning sunsets within the reach of a 9-5er: but in the warmer months you'll need to get up with the lark to get the good stuff. We didn't say this was going to be easy - but it'll be worth it.

There's an app for that

Modern technology's a wonderful thing - there's now an app designed to help with almost everything, including landscape photography. The factor that can make or break a landscape image is the direction and quality of the sunlight or moonlight being cast upon a scene, so knowing when and where to find that light is essential. Download the Photographer's Ephemeris or take a look at it online to discover where and when you can expect sunrise and sunset to take place in a specific location - it's a fantastic tool that nearly every landscaper will have used at some point, and checking the direction of the light for that day will fast become an essential part of your pre-shoot routine.

Study a scene

Rather than travelling miles to a frequently-photographed location such as Buachaille Etive Mor or St Michael's Mount, why not pick a spot near you and use the above app to capture it at different times of year and under different lighting or weather conditions? Photographer Kevin Day famously studied a dead tree in this manner, and created a fantastic gallery of images. There's a famous quote about true excellence taking 10,000 hours of practise: Kevin's gallery is evidence that if you're willing to put the hours in, you'll get what you deserve.

Keep it on the level

A small tip, but an obvious one: keep your horizons and leading lines level and your shots will instantly look better. You can correct these later when you're editing your work, but it's so much simpler to get it right in camera. Many tripods have a spirit level bubble to show you when your camera's balanced: some cameras even offer the feature built-in as standard. If you aren't blessed with either, then one of our hotshoe spirit levels is a wonderful (and budget-friendly) addition to a kit bag. This cheery little gadget means you can check horizons at a glance and make adjustments to straighten up your shots - and it also makes a lovely present for a fellow landscape aficionado.

Fun with filters

If you've already visited one of the great iconic landscape locations found in the UK, then you've probably spotted another photographer with what looks like a grey rectangle mounted in front of their camera's lens. That is what's known as a filter - and it reduces the amount of light from certain areas of a shot.

There are many different kinds of filters, but the one you select depends on what you're trying to accomplish. Some half-grey filters or “grads” are designed to “dim” the brightness of a sky, allowing you to correctly expose the entire scene - these often come in kits with different levels of gradient so you can choose the one that best suits your scene. Some filters are coloured, to counteract the effect a sunrise or sunset has on warming a scene.

Other filters are uniformly dark, and will reduce the light so much that they allow you to work with wider apertures or slow shutter speeds in daylight, without over-exposing your photo. These filters are commonly known as 10-stop filters because they reduce light coming into your camera by 10 “stops”. They also have the effect of transforming any moving sections of your shot - such as waves or rivers - into beautifully soft, blurry areas. You can even make traffic or pedestrians disappear: set your shutter speed long enough with a 10-stop filer on the front of your lens and any unwanted moving elements will vanish from your shot like magic. Clever, eh?

If you're now totally convinced that landscapes are your cup of tea, take a look at our three-day-long Landscape Experiences: we only run these at certain times of year to ensure our photographers get the best possible chance to shoot stunning landscapes. After all - what could be better than spending a whole three days dedicated to your new favourite genre?

If you're setting out on a landscape expedition armed with our tips and some brand new gear, make sure you show us the results of your photographic adventures by tagging us in your pictures on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram - and good luck!