At some point or another, you have probably been standing in front of something and wished that you could capture the scene forever in lifelike detail. It’s a familiar desire that many people share, but it’s something very few will ever pursue. However, the best photographers in the world know that feeling well, and it’s what inspires them to continuously practice and improve their art.
Out of all types of photography, landscape photography is by far one of the most exciting and diverse. While other styles, such as portrait photography, usually give room for obvious artistic flair, landscape photography challenges the person behind the camera to focus on capturing the subject in its most realistic form.
They strive to make photos as straightforward, vivid, and lifelike as possible whereas, with a portrait, the goal is quite the opposite, with the photographer typically trying to conceal flaws and change the overall look and feel of the subject.
Landscape Perfect Areas
When it comes to shooting landscape photographs, there are many wonderful options, each beautiful in their own light:
- Farms: These locations are best photographed in a sunny daylight setting in a way that showcases the vast fields and old farmhouses. Pasture animals often find their way into the shots, bringing them to life and giving the photos a greater sense of depth and dimension. Grain mills and other buildings, whether functional or long forgotten, also make great focal points.
- Forests: The sunlight filtered through the leaves of a tree can add beautiful dimension to an otherwise everyday scene. When photographed correctly, a single tree can bring more interest to the viewer’s eye than an entire forest, but forests and woods are also excellent landscapes to photograph, whether at sunrise, sunset, or somewhere in between.
- Water: Water is always a very interesting element to work with as a photographer. Its reflections often allow for two scenes to be shot at once, whether it’s a crystal clear river or a still, quiet lake. Puddles and other unexpected water features can also be used to add this extra interest to a photograph.
- Casinos: Many times, landscape photographers focus on the world’s natural scenes and forget just how intriguing man-made landscapes can be. Casinos are among some of the best focuses for landscape photographers thanks to their many interest points, from colorful lights to ornaments, decor, and billboards. Older, more quaint casinos can also make for beautiful photos in their own rite.
- Historical Sites: Whether it’s a national monument or a national park, historical sites hold special significance in landscape photography. When framed correctly, they can add tremendous interest to a photo that would otherwise be everyday or mundane, showing their significance amongst the time and place where they stand. The correct framing of these photos also emphasizes the historical value of the elements within it, and can be taken to show how much time has passed and/or how things have changed through the years.
With landscape photography, there is really limitless possibility. From farms to family homes, just about anything can make for a beautiful, telling landscape photo if in front of the right lens.