Landscape photography presents unique challenges, but mastering them can lead to stunning results. One of the biggest hurdles isn’t technical—it’s psychological. Many struggle with motivation, making it hard to leave the house and commit to a shoot. Whether it’s the early mornings or the uncertainty of success, the mental barriers often outweigh the physical ones.
Coming to you from Thomas Heaton, this thoughtful video explores how embracing the process of photography, rather than fixating on results, can revolutionize your approach. Heaton reveals that a poll in his community showed 37% of respondents cite motivation as their biggest challenge, followed closely by finding interesting locations at 33%. These results highlight the need to shift your mindset. Instead of focusing on the final image, he suggests appreciating the act of being outdoors: the fresh air, the exercise, and the chance to connect with nature. By valuing these moments, you’ll find it easier to show up consistently, even on uninspiring days.
Heaton also dives into the practical side of this approach, sharing his experiences in remote locations. On a hike through the Scottish wilderness, he acknowledges the unpredictability of nature. Despite covering miles of rugged terrain, he admits to initially not finding a perfect shot. Yet, his patience paid off when fleeting light transformed the scene. Heaton emphasizes that just being present increases your chances of capturing something remarkable. This persistence serves as a reminder that landscape photography is often about waiting, observing, and adapting to the elements.
Beyond mindset, Heaton offers actionable advice. For instance, he uses a polarizing filter to reduce glare and enhance contrast in water scenes and experiments with a 10-stop ND filter for long exposures. These techniques don’t guarantee a masterpiece every time, but they equip you to make the most of any situation. Heaton’s ability to balance technical preparation with an openness to chance exemplifies the value of flexibility. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Heaton.
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!”
Yep! The key to any is to be there or be square!! The Europeans have it bad for mostly cloudy skies and I applaud the getting out there. First I am a hobbyist, just the joy of it. Second I believe it is an introverts world, never knew the term but for a year ago, the joy of being alone with ones own mind.
A photographer of landscapes not only knows the camera but the out there. One becomes a weather follower as well as the lights of day and night, yes there is AWB but testing the different WB's before a capture. I find that the net may have images on line of different places while traveling about. A great find is Google Maps or your favorite app for scouting is very important just viewing a on line road there are also some of mountain trails to save time of your own walkabouts. An example of the many apps on a landscapers phone are PhotoPills- with any and all things photography and location points showing blue and golden hours as well as Civil, Nautical and Astronomical times with a time line at the bottom to see as well as sun and moon travels - just to say a few. Another is Planit Pro and Planit Live, Pro has one important section if near and ocean or tidal place and that is tides with the closest place that records it is great to time a low tide or high tide capture day or night and again at the bottom on sign wave like hourly scale again just one thing of many, Live is like live to the point of time you want where you can see the size of say the moon with different mm lenses and if in mountains or cities you can see the moon/sun rise with the local buildings or mountain's in your foregrounds.
These are the video games of the Photographer, that you become hooked on! Ok, also the many travel videos on YouTube.
Something learned some years ago while doing Milky Way capture before the apps, I went to a place with a beach or driftwood and only with a tide chart in the local paper (did not or could not figure the tide) so I went and it was high tide and about 5 days before the new moon for the new moon night was to be cloudy with rain. I left to go back to my hotel and on the way a crescent moon rose so I stop to capture and there was the MW below it and found that as the moon rises the tide goes out. I spent the morning with a clean no foot print and alone time with not one but many foreground subjects. Final fact you have 5 days before and after a new moon to play with weather so also 10 days of night time play.
Sometime you do not have to leave home at all or just look for local locations.
Planning is 80%.