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.
Coming to you from Christian Irmler - Landscape Photography, this informative video offers practical tips on managing harsh light in your landscape photos. Irmler explains that while soft light is often preferred for its ability to make scenes look more like paintings, it’s not always available. The sun, which is a small light source when far away, creates harsh light that can disrupt the harmony of your composition. But not all is lost. Irmler discusses how to use the atmosphere to your advantage, whether it’s by capturing the soft light of the blue hour or using natural diffusers like clouds to soften the sunlight.
Irmler’s approach to overcoming harsh light includes using tools like mist filters. He explains that these filters reduce contrast and help create a softer look in your images, even when the light is harsh. In one example, he describes how he used a mist filter to capture a castle scene where the light had already become too harsh. The filter helped to bring the contrast down, resulting in a more balanced and visually appealing photo.
But what if you don’t have a filter handy? Irmler shares another technique: using haze as a natural diffuser. When photographing a series of hills illuminated by harsh sunlight, the haze in the atmosphere acted like a mist filter, softening the light and adding depth to the scene. This technique is especially useful when you’re out in the field and need to work with what nature provides. Irmler emphasizes that understanding how to use the atmosphere and available light can make a significant difference in the quality of your photos.
In cases where you can’t rely on filters or atmospheric conditions, Irmler recommends careful post-processing. By properly exposing your image and using tools like luminance masks in Lightroom, you can recover details in the highlights and reduce the harshness of the light. While this method requires more effort, it’s a viable option when you need to salvage a shot taken in less-than-ideal lighting. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Irmler.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan With Elia Locardi!"
I've never used a mist filter as recommended in this video, but I have always found it interesting when landscape photographers only want to shoot during the blue hour or the golden hour but then you see all these travel and hotel photos shooting at 2pm with crystal clear waters and skies. Using harsh light isn't used as often as it probably should be.