Light
is Life!
By: TJ Tierney
The job of a landscape
photographer is to record a scene. Yet, photographers often fail to capture what
it felt like to be actually at a scene.
A good landscape photographer arrives at
a scene early, and waits for the scene to unfold. Waiting patiently for changing
colours and changing mood, which all go along with the change of the weather.
Vital to all of this is light - natural
light and all the elements it brings to a scene.
To be able to use light correctly and
creatively we first must understand it. Once we understand it we can use it to
our advantage in creating beautifully, dramatic landscape images.
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.
: 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.
: 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.
: 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.
While all three are different qualities
of light, they all have another important factor in common - time of day.
Choosing the correct time of day is a foremost in capturing a scene at its best.
The intensity of light brings out different colours in a landscape image.
Colours in landscape photography depend on light available and also what time
you shoot a scene, and where you place your camera.
Early morning shots will cast a red hue
in your images. This only lasts a few minutes after sunrise. As the morning
progresses the red hue turns to yellow. This normally lasts while the sun is low
in the sky. Long shadows are cast along a scene during these early hours. These
can add mood to an image. Come mid-day the sun is high in the sky. The shadows
are gone. This is the best time of the day for landscape photographers.
As the day turns to evening and the sun
gradually falls in the sky, the sun casts stronger colours similar to morning.
Sunset can be just as exciting as sunrise.
Time and light come hand in hand. Using
both together will most certainly bring out the best in your landscape
photographs. We ourselves decide what direction we use, do we use the sun at our
backs, or is it better to use it at our side? I prefer side-lighting or facing
the sun.
If you're unsure go to a scene and take
a few images. Mark the ground so you can place the camera in the exact same spot
and return a few hours later. Return to the scene several times and take notes
of light direction. Record the different exposures you take your images. Compare
the shots from the different times of day, and the answer will unfold in front
of you.
Understanding natural light develops
your ability to create better images. You'll then start to see the beauty of
light and colours in a new and exciting way.
TJ Tierney. Award winning Irish
Landscape Photographer. If you are looking for more tips visit:
Photo tips. To view some of his
images visit his on-line gallery:
Pictures of Ireland. Article Source:
http://www.Article-Content-King.com.
Great Landscape Photography
By Mark. A. Fenwick
Be at One with the Land.
Buyers and collectors have accepted photography as art for some time, but only
if it's of significant artistic merit. Great landscape photography sells because
the buyer is searching for escapism and the need to dream. As a species we have
always been linked to and drawn to the landscape. Do you have a love for the
countryside and an understanding of the landscape?
When you're out in the great outdoors, away from the bustle, what do you see ...
... sunlight filtering through trees and dancing on the landscape?
... snow on the mountains and a gushing river in full flow?
... coastal cliffs with the shimmering sea lapping onto the shore?
... a brooding sky casting a spell over the windswept moors?
... the warm glow of the sun setting at the close of day?
... or mists and changing patterns of wind, clouds and magical light?
Do you see the beauty and feel the connection?
To produce a great photo landscape you need to understand the countryside and
how light affects it. You need to have a passion for the land and experience an
intimate connection with nature. The best way of doing this is to explore an
area on foot and become part of the landscape before taking any photos.
On your walk look for:
* Light (shadows and highlights)
* Shapes (round and angular)
* Colour (harmony and discord)
* Texture (rough and smooth)
* Composition (strong and weak)
* Tones (light and dark)
* Patterns (even and odd)
* Mystery ( ? and ? )
So the next time you're out with your camera looking for that open vista of
rolling hills and mountains, also observe the intimate details in the landscape
and maybe just photograph a small section of the bigger picture.
Where do you go to find the perfect or most interesting images? Do you have a
favourite place or do you simply like to travel and see what you find?
The world is full of wonderful locations and the image creator is blessed with
so much choice. Some of you will specialize in a particular area ... capturing
the wildlife silhouetted against golden sunsets in Africa; the architecture of
ancient civilisation in Egypt; the vast skies and tumbleweed of Nevada or the
diverse, often moody landscape of the British Isles. Whatever gives you the most
joy and satisfaction, go there and get creative!
If you only have a vague idea of the landscape work you would like to do, the
best idea is to just go out there and explore. Start locally. It's surprising
what you'll find literally on your back door and this will give you a chance to
experiment and see what locations you are drawn to.
Your personality and your vision must come through in every photo you take; it's
up to you to capture the essence of the landscape in front of you. If your
photograph works, the person viewing your image will feel they can step into
your picture and experience the emotion of being there. A great landscape
photograph is a great escape.
About the author: Mark A.
Fenwick is a Fine Art Photographer. For tips and tricks of professional
photography, and photography jobs and opportunities, visit
http://www.PhotographyUpdate.com. Article Source:
http://www.Article-Content-King.com.
Nature Photography
By Seth Willis
Photography is an art that
requires passion, an eye for a detail, a camera, and a subject. Nature
Photography is not about taking a picture of a leaf or a waterfall but it is
about how detailed the picture is, how beautiful it looks, and what impressions
it produces for the observer. It is never as easy as it seems and to take
pictures of cascading waterfalls, meandering rivers and snow-clad mountains can
require a lot more than a good camera and passion for photography.
Nature photography also known
as landscape photography comprises of a number of elements, and how you bring
these elements together to present a whole picture is fundamental to this art. A
photographic composition includes visual elements comprising of a photographer's
vision and the ability to see, identify, arrange, and frame a finished or
complete image. This is definitely a distinct skill and if you think you have
such a skill then landscape photography will be a great experience and career
for you.
Let's look at some of the basic elements that will play a major role in defining
the final picture. The first element is Scale. If you take into consideration
images of nature then you will find that most of them differ by the scale of the
scene captured. The three different categories to be kept in mind are:
1.Grand Scenery: This includes huge expanses of landscape
2.Intimate Scenery: This is one of the most elusive of all sceneries, as you
will have to isolate a "scene within the scene" and keep only the important
part.
3.Macro Scenery: This includes enlarging the elements, which are small in nature
and cannot be noticed otherwise.
It is very important to examine and interpret each of these scenes distinctively
to get the best picture. The important thing to understand is that you should
not block your mind or vision to a particular scale you need to have an open
mind so that you can add variations and use the opportunities to your advantage.
The second important element of nature photography is Raw Material and it is
further composed of sub-elements like:
1. Light: Very important element, you need to identify and adjust its direction,
color, and angle
2. Shape: It consists of the outline as well as the surface of different objects
in a particular scene
3. Lines: There can be straight, and curved lines, which may be pointing out or
in from the frame towards a given object
4. Textures and patterns
5. Colors and tones
6. Frame boundaries
The third important element that you need to work on is Complexity. In any
landscape photograph there is an underlying concept that drives the composition
of that particular image. The concept will help the viewer to understand the
picture or image with various connotations, and help identify the relationship
between them and the image. This is why an image should neither be too simple
nor be too complex but at the same time, it should be complex enough for the
viewer to delve deeper into the composition to find the hidden meaning – to make
him/her think.
The last element in Nature Photography is Perspective and it can be defined as
the visual relationship between the scene portrayed and the point from where it
is being viewed.
Once you have understood the importance and impact of various elements required
of landscape photography, you would be able to create the magic that will hold
the viewer spellbound.
About the author: Seth Willis
is the webmaster for
http://www.Starephotography.com he enjoys photography as well as painting
and blues and Jazz guitar. Stare photography is an Online school for budding and
seasoned photographers to enhance their skills or start a new career. Article Source:
http://www.Article-Content-King.com.
Filters For Landscape Photography
By TJ Tierney
Filters are used in photography to
bring back an image to the way our eyes have perceived the original scene. Some
times it's not possible for our cameras to record an exact scene - so we have to
rely on the manufacturers of camera products.
Filters also help us to create
mood in our images and bring out the best in a scene. A small selection of
filters is well worth packing when heading off for a trip. They don't take up
too much space and will definitely add a bit of spice to your images.
Filters work by being placed in
front of your camera lens. You can also place several filters in front of your
camera at any given time.
Lets take a look at the most
important ones to use.
Neutral Density Filters
(ND): Neutral Density filters will certainly help you with tough exposures.
These filters work by cutting down the light that reaches your lens. These
filters come in a variety of strengths with the most popular being 0.3, 0.6 and
0.9 - these filters will help with exposure without affecting colour.
Neutral Density filters will
certainly help you with tough exposures. These filters work by cutting down the
light that reaches your lens. These filters come in a variety of strengths with
the most popular being 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 - these filters will help with exposure
without affecting colour.
One half of these filters is
dark and the other is completely clear. They basically work by reducing
brightness. The different numbers stand for the amount of brightness they reduce
- 0.3 ND reduces light by one stop - 0.6 reduces light by 2 stops - 0.9 reduces
light by three stops.
Lets say you arrive at a high
contrast scene, - you take a light reading of the sky and get an exposure
reading of F/22 at 1/8 second; you take a reading from the ground in front of
you and get a reading of F/22 at 1 second. This is a difference of three stops
of light. You need to reduce the brightness of the sky. By using the 0.9 ND you
will reduce the light in the sky by three stops without affecting the light
hitting the ground in front of you.
Polarizing Filters: A
polarizing filter should be top of the list - a polarizing filter can be used
with colour or black and white and is probably the most important filter on the
market today. The polarizing filter will also darken the blue sky to give it a
strong rich colour. It will make mist stand out and can be also used to give
fast flowing water a misty effect. This filter is most effective with side
lighting.
A polarizing filter should be
top of the list - a polarizing filter can be used with colour or black and white
and is probably the most important filter on the market today. The polarizing
filter will also darken the blue sky to give it a strong rich colour. It will
make mist stand out and can be also used to give fast flowing water a misty
effect. This filter is most effective with side lighting.
Warm-up filters: In
overcast conditions, don't put your camera away. This is an ideal time for you
to switch your attention to landscape detail. On an overcast day images often
appear cold and dull. Try using a warm-up filter. These filters will remove the
dull effect that you get shooting without the sun.
In overcast conditions, don't
put your camera away. This is an ideal time for you to switch your attention to
landscape detail. On an overcast day images often appear cold and dull. Try
using a warm-up filter. These filters will remove the dull effect that you get
shooting without the sun.
The 81-series are the best
choice and will give your images an extra bit of life. An 81A warm-up filter is
ideal to use in adding extra warmth to low light images.
Filters for B/W photography:
Just because you use black and white film it doesn't mean that you can't use
filters - there are several filters for B/W photography. The polarizing filter
is one of the few filters that work for B/W and colour photography. It will help
to darken shades of grey in your final print.
Just because you use black and
white film it doesn't mean that you can't use filters - there are several
filters for B/W photography. The polarizing filter is one of the few filters
that work for B/W and colour photography. It will help to darken shades of grey
in your final print.
The red filter is one of the
most popular. This filter will darken the sky giving your image more impact. The
most common red filter is the number 25. Filters for B/W work by transmitting
light of its own colour, and holds back light of the other colours.
There's a large amount of
filters available; these are the most important filters for landscape
photography.
There are also several filters on the market today that will do very little for
your photography. Colour graduated filters should be left at home or placed in
the bin - colour graduated filters work by creating un-natural colours,
destroying your final print.
TJ Tierney. Award winning Irish
Landscape photographer. If you are looking for more photo tips visit
http://www.goldenirishlight.com/photographytips.html
To view some of his images visit his on line gallery @
http://www.goldenirishlight.com
Neutral Density filters will
certainly help you with tough exposures. These filters work by cutting down the
light that reaches your lens. These filters come in a variety of strengths with
the most popular being 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 - these filters will help with exposure
without affecting colour.
A polarizing filter should be
top of the list - a polarizing filter can be used with colour or black and white
and is probably the most important filter on the market today. The polarizing
filter will also darken the blue sky to give it a strong rich colour.
It will make mist stand out and
can be also used to give fast flowing water a misty effect. This filter is most
effective with side lighting. In overcast conditions, don't put your camera
away. This is an ideal time for you to switch your attention to landscape
detail.
On an overcast day images often
appear cold and dull. Try using a warm-up filter. These filters will remove the
dull effect that you get shooting without the sun. Just because you use black
and white film it doesn't mean that you can't use filters - there are several
filters for B/W photography.
The polarizing filter is one of
the few filters that work for B/W and colour photography. It will help to darken
shades of grey in your final print. Article Source:
http://www.Article-Content-King.com.
Landscape Photography - Tips To Enhance The
Experience
By Albreht Moy
One
of the great things about landscape photography is
that the possibility is endless on where you can
go, what to take a picture of and it all starts
with a few steps from your own back door. The
horizon is your limit.
Lighting
speaks volumes in landscape photography. Getting
up with the sun at dawn, watching the animals
hurry around as they gather their food for the
day, and while the sun is just peaking its face
over the background would make for great photo
with perfect light. When the sun is on its way
down, this is great for a landscape picture of
peace and serenity. This time of day is when
animals and people are heading home for the night
where the land is clear of “clutter” and the
trees, skies and land are open. Shadows will add
depth to any photo of the landscape and give it
more of a three-dimensional feel to it.
Landscape photography should be relaxing and fun
to do. It also requires some time to get the
precise composition. When a camera is slightly
shifted one way or another, you can see how it
will dramatically improve the picture you are
looking to take. When it comes to taking a picture
of the landscape, taking one photo is just as good
as taking ten. You do not have to waste film on
something that can be done right the first time,
this can be achieved with a bit of patience, and
some practice.
When photographing landscapes, give your photo a
feeling of depth by including close objects in the
frame as well as the distant objects.
A fine lens for landscape photography is the 50 mm
lens that comes as standard equipment on many SLR
cameras. but if you are seriously interested in
photographing landscapes, a good lens to have
would be a wide-angle lens.
Losing detail due to camera shake is the biggest
problem in landscape photography. So, a tripod and
a shutter release cable are very helpful tools to
have.
About the author: Albreht Moy offers
photographs for sale
at his website.
Article Source:
http://www.Article-Content-King.com.
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