The phrase images has a literal translation of ‘drawing with light’, coming from the Greek phrases phos (gentle) and graphe (drawing). So it’s maybe no shock that I’m making the case that lighting is extra vital than digicam package or abilities, on the subject of panorama images.
For landscapes, I’d argue that an costly new lens may have a negligible impact in your pictures (until you’re particularly trying to shoot ultra-wide, telephoto or with a tilt-shift lens to repair vertical strains). However, what is totally free and has an enormous influence in your pictures is the sunshine, climate and time of day – and even time of 12 months.
Upgrading a package lens reminiscent of an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 to the legendary 24-70m f/2.8 we have all dreamt about will little question produce higher picture high quality, together with providing weather-sealing and a wider fixed aperture.
But planning your shoots across the gentle and climate can have way more attention-grabbing outcomes in your images. I’ve additionally discovered many package lenses like my Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens to actually be pretty tack sharp – ideal for landscapes with a deep depth of field.
I like to use the PhotoPills app to plan shoots – it’s brilliant for showing the direction of the sun throughout the day, so you can plan where you need to stand at any given location for the light to work for you.
You could choose to shoot towards the sun for loads of flare and directional lighting, and shooting in the golden hour (the hour before sunset or after sunrise) will produce wonderful golden tones, too. Alternatively, you could shoot with the sun at 90º to your subject for dramatic side lighting – or with your back to the sun for front-lit landscapes.
The AR (augmented reality) mode in PhotoPills enables you to use your smartphone’s camera and point it at your landscape. It then shows you where the sun will be in your frame at different points throughout the day – handy if you’re trying to include the sun in your composition, or need to know precisely when it’s going to pop up above the horizon.
Don’t just shoot landscapes in bright sunshine, though; getting out regularly in all weather conditions is a great way to add variety to your portfolio.
Rain adds atmosphere, moments between showers produce radiant rainbows, and while you of course need to be very careful about shooting in thunderstorms, lightning strikes can show nature with all its raw power.
So, while a new camera or lens can open up new creative possibilities, don’t feel that this is essential to taking better photos. There’s plenty you can do with the basic kit you already own, such as shooting in different weather conditions and throughout the seasons, which can all help you achieve a diverse bank of images.
If you’re on a tight budget, have fun getting creative with the gear you have – and persevere in weather conditions that others probably wouldn’t brave, so you end up with landscapes that stand out from the crowd.
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