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- Choose a side-lighted scene. Side-lit scenes (light coming from the left or right) are easier to manage in terms of exposure and contrast. They are also easier to work with while using neutral density (ND) and graduated neutral density (GND) Filters. Lastly and most important of all, they usually offer longer moments of soft light which gives you more time to work and get the best output possible.
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- Shoot during soft light. Here in the Philippines, 15 minutes before and after the sunrise and the sunset are usually the best times to practice Landscape Photography. Get to the shooting spot least 30 minutes before so that you will still have time to study the scene and decide on your composition and framing. The duration of soft light is longer as you go father from the equator and get nearer to the poles.
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- Get 3-stop ND and GND Filters. ND Filters give you more leeway to manipulate your exposure triangle to produce the output you want. But the assortment can be intimidating for beginners. I strongly suggest that you initially get a 3-stop density and take it from there. The same density goes with a GND filter but start with a soft GND. The hard and reverse can just follow. Beware of filters that can cause color cast to your scene. The most trusted brands right now are Hitech Firecrest, Lee, and Nisi.
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- Get a nice tripod. Just like filters, tripods are essential to landscape photography. They help you stabilize your camera when working with slow shutter speeds or long exposures. They also help in taking multiple shots from the exact same spot. It’s also best to use a ballhead. My favorite tip for buying a tripod is this: Get the biggest one that you are willing to carry. With that said, carbon fiber models are generally lighter.
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- Don’t be lazy Need to wake up at dawn? Long drive? Tough hike? You’ll need to dip in water? Need to save money for that trip? DO IT! Landscape Photography isn’t easy but just like any other photography genre, the more you do it, the better you’ll become. Also, if you have the passion for it, the rewards will be worth much more than the efforts.
Jijo is a three time Master Photographer and Canon Brand Ambassador. The following pointers were taken from the lecture he conducted last Feb. 5 and March 2, 2018 entitled Keys to Effective Photography conducted at Rockwell Club, Makati City. Visit our Workshop page to learn more about our photography tutorials.
