Intimate landscape photography captures the subtle, often overlooked details in nature. This approach offers a new way to explore and appreciate the beauty of small-scale compositions. By isolating textures, colors, and patterns, it enables you to find compelling visuals even in familiar or seemingly unremarkable locations.
Capturing the perfect moment often means waiting in less-than-ideal conditions and hoping for the light to turn. That’s exactly what happened during this trip to Yosemite National Park. In search of moody, winter-like weather, it became a waiting game against sunny skies and limited time.
When shooting in harsh lighting conditions, it’s common to encounter issues like lens flares or blown-out highlights. This is particularly relevant if you're trying to capture outdoor scenes with direct sunlight in your frame. In such situations, managing the light effectively can make a huge difference in the quality of your final image.
Every photographer has faced it—that sinking feeling of disappointment when things just don’t go as planned. Maybe it’s a matter of expectations, or perhaps a missed opportunity. But these moments are part of the process. Understanding how to handle these frustrations is crucial for anyone serious about photography.
Color grading can take your landscape images from good to great. This video tutorial walks through how to use Photoshop's Color Balance feature to enhance highlights, midtones, and shadows, creating depth and contrast in a natural and subtle way.
Connecting with nature can have a profound impact on your well-being. Whether you’re standing in front of a tranquil lake or hiking through a dense forest, these moments provide a sense of calm that can’t be replicated elsewhere. While many people see landscape photography as a way to capture beautiful scenes, it’s also a way to experience the healing power of nature firsthand.
Improving your landscape photography isn’t just about finding a stunning scene—it’s about how you approach that scene with your camera. Whether you’re a beginner or someone looking to refine your skills, these three essential tips will elevate your work.
5DayDeal is back with a photography bundle that's better than ever. This year, Fstoppers is including our tutorial with Elia Locardi, "Photographing the World 2." The full bundle only costs $166 and is 95% off the total value of the bundle.
Why do artistic creative types love melancholy so much?
Pastel color grading is a subtle yet powerful way to make your photos stand out, and you can achieve it easily with some simple tweaks in Lightroom. If you’ve ever wanted to experiment with color grading but felt overwhelmed, this method offers an approachable way to elevate your work.
If you want your photos to have that painterly, moody feel, editing is key. It’s possible to achieve stunning results with just a few thoughtful adjustments, even when nature doesn’t provide ideal conditions.
My favorite part about writing for Fstoppers is the chance to try out new and interesting camera gear. Recently, I got the opportunity to try the latest SD cards from SanDisk, the Outdoors series cards. Available in both SD and Micro SD, these are some of the latest tech for strong, durable memory cards. Let’s see how they performed in the field.
Visual tension is an often overlooked aspect of composition, but it's one you should be paying attention to. It’s about the spatial relationship between objects within a frame and how those objects relate to the edges of the frame. Ignoring this concept can lead to images that feel off-balance, while mastering it can elevate the quality of your work without extensive cropping or post-editing.
As a long-time resident of the Bay Area, I’ve had the privilege of photographing the Golden Gate Bridge for over ten years. Whether it’s capturing the low fog rolling in or watching the golden light of sunrise and sunset cast its warm glow over the bridge, this landmark never ceases to amaze me. The Marin Headlands offer some of the best vantage points, especially when the fog is low, and the atmosphere feels almost otherworldly. It’s a scene that continues to inspire me, even after all this time.
For nearly 30 years, Canon U.S. has partnered with Yellowstone Forever, and I recently received a beautiful photography book based on Yellowstone National Park and Canon's short film "Seismic." In this article, I interview two of the amazing creators behind this project.
Autumn is a spectacular time for landscape photography. The colors are vivid, the atmosphere is dynamic, and the changing light brings countless opportunities for creative expression.
Back for its fourth year, the Natural Landscape Photography Awards has announced the 2024 winners. The competition sets itself apart with an emphasis on its golden rule, “the integrity of the subject should be maintained,” setting the standard for landscape photographers with similar approaches to their photography.
Capturing the beauty of a woodland setting presents a mix of challenges and opportunities. With the dynamic play of light and shadows, it's easy to get overwhelmed by nature’s complexity.
Capturing stunning photos isn’t reserved for world-class professionals. You can take breathtaking shots by focusing on a few key elements, regardless of your skill level or equipment.
Are you making the most of your landscape shots? Sometimes, even with the best gear, we don’t always capture the scene as well as we could.
Coming to you from Brian Matiash, this insightful video offers a detailed look at the process of improving a landscape shot from start to finish. Matiash walks through his decisions at the location and how they translate into his editing workflow. He starts by explaining the limitations of his camera setup, including the Sony a7R Mark III and a 12-24mm lens, and how those choices affected his composition. The lens’s ultra-wide angle...
The unpredictability of weather is something you’re bound to face if you spend time doing landscape photography. Sometimes it works in your favor; other times, it’s a frustrating barrier to getting the shot you envisioned.
Simplicity in landscape photography is not as easy as it sounds. The natural world is filled with complexity, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the visual elements. However, simplifying a scene can help create more powerful, evocative images, making it easier for viewers to connect with your work.
When you’re working on improving your landscape photography, you’re trying to capture more than just a scene—you’re telling a story. From the foreground to the background, everything in the frame plays a role.
Landscapes are often the gateway drug into other genres. Be careful; it can be addictive and lead you to harder photography. Here’s how to get high from what might seem a benign habit.
As a landscape photographer, I've come to realize that one of the most important factors that can make or break a shoot is the weather. Landscapes themselves might not change, but the way they appear through the lens can vary dramatically depending on the weather. Understanding how to predict and interpret weather conditions is something I now consider crucial for capturing standout images. I only wish I’d appreciated its importance earlier in my journey. Before we get into what I wish I knew, let's discuss the importance of understanding weather for landscape photography.
Many photographers find editing frustrating, especially if they’re more focused on capturing the shot than on enhancing it later. However, mastering a solid editing workflow can drastically elevate the quality of your work, giving your photos the polish they need to stand out.
Color processing can be a tricky subject, especially when you want to make sure your landscape photos look natural but still stand out. Whether it’s light, contrast, or the subject itself, each plays a big role in how colors are rendered in your final image.
Instagram might have sparked your interest in photography, but it could be leading you in the wrong direction. While it’s easy to be drawn in by the idea of getting more followers and likes, this focus on social media can hurt your progress as a photographer.
One question we’ve always had about Peak Design is why they didn’t have any bags designed for hiking and outdoor adventures. That all changes today.
Harsh light can ruin a landscape photo. It’s something you’ve probably faced when trying to capture the perfect scene, only to find that the sun has risen too high, casting harsh shadows and blowing out highlights. Knowing how to deal with this situation is crucial if you want to keep your photos looking their best, even when the lighting isn’t ideal.
Improving your photography often requires a closer look at the fundamentals. When your images aren’t turning out as you hoped, it’s usually because one or more key elements are out of balance.
Light is the cornerstone of photography. Without it, there are no images, and in landscape photography, the light's quality, direction, and intensity can make or break a shot. As a landscape photographer, understanding how light works is key to capturing the beauty and drama of nature. Over time, I’ve realized that mastering light is among the most crucial skills a landscape photographer can hone. Looking back, there are insights about light I wish I’d known earlier—knowledge that would have significantly boosted the quality of my early work.
Exposure bracketing is a technique that can significantly improve your landscape photography by helping you deal with difficult lighting situations. If you've ever struggled with blown-out skies or muddy, noisy shadows, bracketing might be the solution you're looking for.
Capturing a stunning landscape is as much about patience as it is about skill. Sometimes, you’re simply at the mercy of the elements, waiting to see if the light will cooperate. But when it does, the results can be magical.
Do you sometimes have a feeling of resistance before a photo shoot? It happens to me when a lot of work is involved in getting a photo, and this resistance tries to prevent me from heading out. Over the years, I found that the bigger it is, the larger the reward.
