Strong landscape photography isn’t just about finding a beautiful location—it’s about how you compose, frame, and time your shots to create something extraordinary. Weather and light can be unpredictable, but knowing how to work with what you have can make all the difference.
Coming to you from Albert Dros, this insightful video covers essential tips to elevate your landscape photography. Dros emphasizes that capturing a stunning scene isn’t enough on its own. Instead of simply photographing a rainbow, thunderstorm, or dramatic sky, he suggests looking for an extra element to add depth and interest. He shares an example of a rainbow shot where he incorporated cows into the foreground, turning a basic image into something more compelling. Thinking beyond the obvious is key to creating images that stand out.
Dros also explores the benefits of using extreme focal lengths. Wide angle lenses allow for exaggerated foregrounds, leading lines, and unique perspectives that wouldn’t be possible with a standard lens. He demonstrates this with images of landscapes and cityscapes, where small details in the foreground become dominant, changing the composition entirely. On the opposite end, he explains how a 400mm telephoto lens compresses a scene, making distant elements appear closer together. This technique works well for isolating subjects in vast landscapes or emphasizing scale, such as towering mountains or crashing waves.
Another major takeaway is the importance of perspective. Getting low to the ground can drastically improve a composition by making small foreground elements more prominent. Dros shares examples where adjusting his position by just a step or two transformed the image. He also explains how focus stacking helps maintain sharpness throughout the frame when working with extremely close foregrounds. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Dros.
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!”
