#1 Be ready
When it comes to landscape photography there is nothing worse than missing out on that perfect moment. When you see that beautiful light, you want to be ready to shoot the scene rather than worry about making your way to the chosen spot that you have probably spent a lot of time researching about. Make sure that you allow plenty of time to get to the location and also to get set up!
#2 Gear
A solid tripod that will support your camera and the lens is critical if you want to ensure that your images are as noise-free as possible (hint: lower the ISO for less noise – ideally use ISO 100 or 200) especially for long exposure photography to blur movements or if you are doing low light landscape photography such as before sunrise and after sunset.
If you are going out in cold weather, make sure you dress appropriately for the weather. The last thing you want is when you get to the location and you are not dressed warm enough. You will be less likely to be in the mood to stand out there in the cold and make photographs.
#3 Camera setting
Achieving focus is really important in landscape photography. You want to make sure that the sprawling landscape that you have captured in camera from front to back is in sharp focus. How you set up the aperture of your camera will determine how much of the background is in focus. Typically for landscape photography this will be around f/11. However it very much depends on the focal length of the lens that you are using.
#4 Composition
I found that when you are shooting landscape it is better to find a point of interest in the foreground that you can use to lead the viewer’s eyes to the details in the background. Having foreground elements will also turn the image three-dimensional and create more depth.
The rule of thirds is probably the most talked about composition technique in photography. I often use the rule of thirds as a fall back. However if you want to get better with landscape or with any other type of photography, be creative and experiment with composition. Look out for a different point of view. Search for shapes, textures, colours and patterns. Look out for light and shadows. Be willing to try out something new and different. For subjects that have been photographed thousands of times over by many people, see if you can find a new angle to photograph that subject.
#5 Find the right light
I have realised early on that light is one of the most important elements that could transform a scene into a beautiful image. The key is to train yourself to observe the scene in front of you and to pre-visualise how light condition throughout the day changes and how it could complement the scene that you want to capture.
