Photography Tips - Landscape Photography
Improve Scenic Images By Choosing The Best Light For The Subject
Aug 24, 2009
The first and most important thing to consider is the light. The quality of light, and how the photographer captures it, is often the main ingredient that makes or breaks a good landscape image.
Choosing The Best Light #1– The Magic Hours
While it isn't possible to order up the light required for any given situation, a photographer can improve their chances of getting the best light possible. The easiest way to improve the lighting is to use the early and late light of the day. Often called "Golden Light" or "The Magic Hour" the light within a couple of hours of dawn and dusk is often the most useful to a photographer. The low angle of light helps pick out definition of rocks, trees, ground cover without creating the harsh "blocked-out" deep shadows of midday. The long shadows the low light angle creates can also be very photogenic in their own right.
Choosing The Best Light #2– Storm Light Is Great, So Get Outside Whatever The Weather
Sometimes the most interesting light comes just after the worst of weather. That sudden ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds to light up, for example, just one particular patch of trees on a hillside, or an old ruined farm-building. But to get such pictures, the photographer usually has to be out in the worst of the weather to be in position for when the sudden improvement in conditions comes. So when a rainsquall comes through, that's the time to protect the camera from the rain – but instead of staying inside, go out and get ready to capture the light at the end of the storm!
Choosing The Best Light #3 - Flatter Light Is Good For Flowers And Trees
Bright sunshine isn't always the best light – in fact it can often be the worst light, for being too harsh and contrasty! Images where flowers and trees are the main subject in the landscape often benefit greatly from flatter, less contrasty light. These are the duller days, where perhaps just a hint of sunlight is trying to break through the clouds, but where the sun remains at least partially covered by the cloud.
This partial sunlight can add gentle highlights to the picture without leaves and foliage burning out and allow shadows to be gently defined without becoming harsh and blocky. Flat light can be especially good for woodland scenes, allowing the textures of the trees to become clearly visible, and mist or fine drizzle can add a ethereal quality to such images.
Choosing the best light for the subject is an important factor in successful landscape photography. Composition and technical know-how such as Depth of Field are also key factors – these are covered in separate articles. Photographers who get their choice of light right will greatly improve their chances of capturing stunning photographs.
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