1. Landscape Photography
Barb Redford
Redkoru Photography
Halton Hills Camera Club

2. What makes a great landscape Photograph ?
Composition
Lighting
Research
Luck

3. Remember sometimes you have to break the rules too !
Composition
Composition is a collection of elements coming together to form an outstanding image. Often thought of as the rules of photography:
Line’s – leading, diagonal, horizontal, vertical
Texture + Colour
Rule of 1/3’s
Simplification + Framing
Space to move
Symmetry + Pattern
Remember sometimes you have to break the rules too !

4. Line Most important and strongest element
Lead the viewer through the image
Draw interest to specific points
Horizontal Lines – stability
Vertical Lines – power + growth
Diagonal Lines – motion + direction
Horizons MUST be level

5. Lines

6. Texture Produces the deepest emotions Dependant on Light
Adds depth, reality and interest
Makes images appear 3D

7. Texture

8. Colour
Primary colours stand out but can take over an image as well

9. Rule of 1/3’s
Most camera’s have a grid or level you can turn on in the viewfinder

10. Simplification

11. Framing

12. Space to Move

13. Symmetry

14. Pattern

15. Foreground

16. Break the Rules

17. Depth of Field
One important thing to remember here, the size of the aperture has a direct impact on the depth of field, which is the area of the image that appears sharp. A large f-number such as f/32, (which means a smaller aperture) will bring all foreground and background objects in focus, while a small f-number such as f/1.4 will isolate the foreground from the background by making the foreground objects sharp and the background Blurry.

18. Aperture Large Aperture = small Depth of Field ( F1.4-F5.6)
Small Aperture = Large depth of field ( F16-32)

20. Shutter speed
Slow Shutter Speed ( long exposure) Fast Shutter Speed ( short exposure)

21. Lighting
One of the most important elements of composition. Without light we have no photographs but the amount of light and “type” of light can drastically change an image
The HOURS:
Golden hour / Magic hour – the time generally at sunrise and sunset where the light is low angled and generally “warmer” and redder toned than at midday
Blue hour - the period of twilight early in the dawn each morning and late dusk each evening when the sun is at a significant distance below the horizon and the residual, indirect sunlight takes on a predominantly blue hue.

22. Golden Hour
Blue Hour

23. EXPOSURE TRIANGLE
Each of the three aspects of the triangle relate to light and how it enters and interacts with the camera.
The three elements are:
ISO – the measure of a digital camera sensor’s sensitivity to light
Aperture – the size of the opening in the lens when a picture is taken
Shutter Speed – the amount of time that the shutter is open
It is at the intersection of these three elements that an image’s exposure is worked out.
Most importantly – a change in one of the elements will impact the others. This means that you can never really isolate just one of the elements alone but always need to have the others in the back of your mind.

24. Types of lighting
There are many ways to improve your photography with light. Light carries different colours, can be used from different vantage points and can totally change an image in the way it is applied.
Side Lighting
As you might expect Side Lighting is when the lighting is coming from the side. This usually provides a great deal of contrast, can create long shadows and adds depth to the image. This type of lighting can add a dramatic flare to architectural and portraiture photography.
Back Lighting
Back lighting is when light is behind your subject and is directed at you and your camera. This type of lighting creates silhouettes quiet easily. Combined with certain atmospheric conditions such as fog or airborne dust you can get dramatic lighting effects.
Rim Lighting
When light comes in at an acute angle it can create highlights along the edges of your subject. The stark contrast that it provides highlights shape and form. This type of lighting adds impact to macro, wildlife, nature and fine art nude photography

25. Various Combinations of Lighting
Ambient Light
Ambient light is non-direct soft lighting that often is bounced from one surface to another. As a result of the non-direct lighting, brightness of your subject is lower than with other types of lighting. In fact this type of lighting often tricks people the most as we seldom think about it consciously. Most photographers might just ignore it looking for other types of lighting. Ambient light works well for a variety of photographic genres particularly landscape photography.
Soft or Diffuse Light
Soft light is diffuse providing lighting that is even. This type of lighting reduces contrast and minimizes shadows. Soft light is excellent for portraiture, macro, and nature photography.
Hard Light
Hard light is quite direct and can often be intense in brightness. This type of lighting creates strong shadows and high contrast. Highlights can be quiet intense under Hard lighting conditions so special care should be made with ones exposure. Hard light can be stylistically applied to most any photographic genre, but for many eyes it can be less appealing than other types of lighting.
Spotlight
Very simply Spot Light is when a focused amount of light highlights a particular section of your subject or scene. This type of lighting can create strong shadows and contrast. Spot light can add dramatic impact to all genres of photography.
Artificial Lighting
The most obvious type of lighting is Artificial lighting. This can be generated from a variety studio lights, and built in or external flash units. There are few genres of photography that Artificial lighting cannot be used successfully. Artificial lighting provides a lot of flexibility and creative opportunities
Various Combinations of Lighting
Lastly there is the combination of any or all of these types of lighting. There is no rule that states you have to live with just one form of lighting. Creatively lighting your subject is an integral part of the photographic process.

26. Research
Prior to your trip research is the most important thing you can do:
Check online for pictures of the area you are going to – Google images, Pinterest, Flickr etc
Which direction do the things you want to photograph face – east or west – morning or evening sun
How many people will be there and do you want them in your images ?
What lenses will you need for your trip ?
Do you need a tripod ?

27. And sometimes it`s all about luck, right place, right moment

29. Quick Tips:
1- Always take multiple shots and change your point of view
2- Don’t forget the foreground it creates a sense of depth
3- Maximize your depth of field
4- Use a tripod !
5- Look for a focal point
6- Watch the sky – boring blue or beautiful clouds ?
7- Lines – diagonal, horizontal, vertical, leading
8- Capture movement – slow and fast shutter speeds
9- Golden/Magic and Blue hours
10- If there is sun on it, shoot it !
11- Research your locations
12- Zooming in compresses images and you lose depth, shoot wide when ever possible
13- Colour – always carry a red umbrella
14- Weather can be dramatic, use it in your images but BE CAREFUL !
15- Horizons MUST be straight
16 – Use filters – Polarizer and Neutral Density – graduated and solid
17- It’s not the equipment you have it’s how you use it
18 – Always remember to put your camera down and enjoy the view