Landscape photography is a genre that almost everyone tries at some point. You see a breathtaking view, and instinctively, you want to capture it. But landscape photography isn’t just about taking pretty pictures of nature.
Coming to you from Pat Kay, this insightful video explores four key ideas that can transform how you approach landscape photography. First up, Kay challenges you to redefine what you consider a landscape. It’s not just about mountains and rivers. Think broader—cityscapes, seascapes, and even cloud formations all fall under this category. By expanding your definition, you open yourself up to a wider range of photographic opportunities. This mindset shift is crucial if you want to create images that are unique and memorable.
Another important point Kay makes is about the importance of planning. Landscape photography is deeply tied to nature, and understanding your environment is key. Kay shares how he’s learned to read the sky, predict a great sunset, and plan his shoots accordingly. It’s not just about being in the right place at the right time—it’s about knowing when and where that right time will be. This level of preparation often means that the actual process of taking the shot is quick, sometimes just a few minutes, but it’s the planning that makes those minutes count.
That's just the start, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Kay.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan With Elia Locardi!"
Very, Very great advice! It is about being a observer of everything and spotting what others do not. Also not so much just pushing the shutter button and knowing the perfect manual settings. Being a weather person better than the person on TV/radio/newspaper. Like the point of saying here but most will miss that the sun comes up in a different place on the horizon from south to north then back north to south and two times a year directly from the east while the moon comes up 180 degrees opposite. Also time the best time to get a full moon rise, which comes up on the horizon at the same place, is the day before the full moon so you get the foreground lit by the setting sun below the horizon. There are man made structures all over the world that were built for planting crops and harvesting etc..
The best tool today for photographers is the cell phone, a mini computer, and the programs/apps you can have on them. TPE - the first out where you can find a place of interest and see what time of year the sun/moon will set or rise. PhotoPills this is so full of things but is most used for Milky Way rise time and places from SE to SW and early in the morning in February to just after sunset in September and October with a scouting tool where you can go to a spot of interest foreground and see where it will rise and time at any month also the shutter speed for any camera and lens mm combo, kept up to date for new models and mm lenses and much more for a stack of books in your computer. Planit Pro/Planit live will do most the same but give a visual also and the best for those around oceans a tide low and high in a sign wave along the bottom with the MW/moon/sun info also in a sine wave, it will also let you see the size say of the moon per your lens mm size and the live will show the what will be in the way like mountain or building. So many weather apps to say but to work around for a night MW you have 5 days before and after a new moon but an added plus before you will get a rising moon below the MW, a note to complete is one year the new moon is at the beginning of every month and the next year at the end of the month and also full moons follow in the opposite of.
Also tracking future moon and solar eclipses if at rise, top or at setting time - note most Sun eclipses are at high noon and even lunar eclipses will during be at high midnight so plan on being on your back and off the tripod this is where the steady shot sensors and lenses for camera and lens will be too heavy for a small tracker- info lunar eclipse stay at 600mm for you will get stars also and if needed you can crop in.
Again lastly there are apps that will tell the cloud cover for about 10 days ahead for night or day like Clear Skies.
Now break out your calendar and plan a date with your favorite landscape places.