Landscape photography isn’t just about capturing a scene. It’s about guiding the viewer’s eye, balancing composition, and controlling light. Small adjustments can make a big difference, and knowing what to look for will take your images to the next level.
Coming to you from William Patino, this detailed video walks through a critique of several landscape images, breaking down what works and what could be improved. One of the biggest takeaways is how composition impacts the flow of an image. Leading lines, focal points, and framing choices determine where the eye goes. If a shot lacks a clear destination, it can feel unbalanced or directionless. Cropping is a simple but effective way to improve this. Adjusting the aspect ratio—such as using a 16:9 or 2:1 panorama—can eliminate distractions and make the subject more prominent.
Another key point is color balance. Cool shadows and warm highlights add depth, but too much of either can feel unnatural. Subtle tweaks in color grading help create a more realistic and visually appealing image. Shadows tend to pick up blue tones, especially in high-dynamic-range scenes, and sometimes adjusting them even slightly can make the image feel more balanced. A common mistake is pushing highlights too far, which can make a photo look unnatural. Letting highlights breathe while maintaining contrast keeps the image looking organic.
The video also covers the importance of detail control. Waterfalls, for example, benefit from a carefully chosen shutter speed. Too fast, and the water looks frozen in an unnatural way. Too slow, and it can become overly soft, losing texture. Similarly, ensuring proper focus throughout the frame is crucial. Using a smaller aperture or focus stacking can keep foreground and background elements sharp, avoiding distractions caused by soft areas in the composition. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Patino.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan II - Discovering Hidden Gems with Elia Locardi!”
