How to Take Great Landscape Photos in Harsh Midday Light

When most people think of landscape photography, they think of images shot during golden hour, with warm, diffuse arcs of light bathing the land. And while those times can certainly make for fantastic photos, they do not mean you should avoid all others times of day. Even the notoriously harsh midday sun can make for compelling landscape images, and this excellent video tutorial will show you what you need to know to get the most from it. 

Coming to you from Nigel Danson, this helpful video tutorial discusses how to shoot landscape images in harsh midday light. A lot of photographers will simply refuse to ever head out during the time, which I think is a shame, as you can make compelling photos in any sort of light at anytime of day. The key is learning to work with the light to produce images it is conducive to rather than trying to force a different shot into existence when it simply will not work, which is what most often leads to frustration in these scenarios. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Danson. 

And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan With Elia Locardi!" 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

Log in or register to post comments
1 Comment

Why can't you wake up before dawn or wait till golden hour and beyond?