Next time you’re out driving pack your camera. Drive up to a scenic lookout, get out and take a few shots before getting back in the car.
You’ve done it – you have captured a landscape photograph however this may not result in the ‘wow’ shot you expect.
The solution is to take a little more time with your photography.
Look critically at your photograph in the monitor before leaving. Is the foreground sharp, does the image appear flat or the sky shows no colour? If the answer to any of these questions is yes then reshoot the photo. Critical zooming or repositioning can remove any distracting elements or out of focus distractions. For bland skies or areas out of the cameras exposure range try HDR (Google it).
Most cameras now can display a histogram, which is a graphical rendition of the image exposure. Become familiar with how a well-exposed photograph should look, because no post editing can correct for underexposure or out of focus images.
Use a Tripod or Other Anchor to Solidly Locate Camera: Blur or camera shake is a must to avoid.
Shutter and Aperture Selection: Choose a small aperture (larger f stop number) as you need the greatest depth of field to produce an acceptably sharp image.
ISO Setting: the light sensitivity of either the film or imaging sensor should be high enough to allow a shutter speed capable of freezing any perceived or unwanted movement.
Depth Of Field: This is described as the acceptable amount of the photograph that is sharp. It extends both in front and behind the point of focus. It’s extend is dependent on the selected aperture but proportionally one third in front and two-thirds behind the point of focus.
Among landscape subjects to choose from, seascapes are my favourite. You add the beauty of the setting or rising sun and it’s hard to fail.
After choosing a location, planning is essential. Consider camera, lens, time and subject. All landscapes must have a subject to capture the viewer’s instant attention.
My sunset photograph emphasises the romance of a walk along the beach with your partner in the seclusion of lengthening shadows. By silhouetting them against the sea, it does not force the couples’s intimacy to override the mood.
After choosing the location and viewpoint, I had the couple walk through the scene and then repeat the walk to format the composition. The image was taken on aperture priority to keep the depth of field constant allowing the camera to compensate for the changing light.
This competition is sponsored by Hawkesbury City Council.
