How to Use a Wide Angle Lens for Landscape Photography

When it comes to landscape photography, wide angle lenses are the most frequently chosen tools, but they can be particularly challenging to work with. If you are new to landscape photography and wondering how to best handle a wide angle lens, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced landscape photographer sharing useful tips and techniques and a lot of examples images sure to help you improve your photos. 

Coming to you from Adam Gibbs, this helpful video tutorial offers a range of useful advice on using a wide angle lens for landscape photography. There are generally two reasons so many photographers struggle with wide angle lenses. First, because they include so much in the frame, it can be difficult to arrange the elements in a compelling and organized composition. Second, because they tend to push away the background, if you do not include a foreground element to bring depth back to the image and give the viewer a natural entry point, you can end up with an overly two-dimensional shot that feels flat and largely empty. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Gibbs. 

And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out "Photographing The World 1: Landscape Photography and Post-Processing 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.

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These are beautiful images. I particularly like the more abstract shots of the cliff face with texture, movement, tones, and color. I see some dynamic shapes everywhere. The isolated rocks on the sand before the cliff face didn't speak to me, with the exception of the last photo shot from the level of the rocks.
This video is a help to me as I work with my new XF 16mm lens; I really can get closer if i keep an eye on the perspective. Thanks