Newbie to landscape.

[kato1]

I've never taken landscapes, but here's 2 I took today. It was very windy and my tripod blew over twice. Fortunately the camera wasn't on it at the time. First was hand held hence it's not sharp.
Am I heading in the right direction compositionally though?
Which landscape photography books are worth reading?

[AdamJL]

Hi Kato1

The first one looks like it has lots of potential. A graduated neutral density filter would have done your skies wonders, as you wouldn't have had that blown top left corner which is quite distracting.
Compositionally, I think you should get closer to the ground. Landscape orientation is fine, but it becomes harder to include an immediate foreground interest. And make sure you get a STURDY tripod. A good tripod is both the friend and enemy of a landscape photographer. We hate lugging them around (unless you've got a carbon fibre one, and they are awesome!) but they are indespensible in the field.

The second shot would be great if you made a portrait shot, went towards the river more, and aimed along the shore, so the rocks lead you into the main interest in the middle or background.

As for reading books, don't bother! Just hang out here, this place is awesome for knowledge :) I'm learning stuff all the time.

[exile]

Kato, as I was looking at your shots I was thinking of a message to write and then I read Adam's reply and, well, he pretty much sums up what I was going to say;)

[curiousgeorge]

I don't agree that you need to invest in a decent tripod and a grad ND filter and the required adapters, especially if you're a beginner. You can take excellent shots without these things. Invest in them later if you feel the need. A circular polarisor is a must though, and this also darkens skies if you use it properly.

I agree the best way to learn is to look at other photos and use them for inspiration, then go out and practice.

WRT your photos, I like the first one but it's a little dark because you've tried to compesate for the bright sky. You could have got away with 1/3 stop more exposure. And perhaps a bit less sky and more foreground.

I'm not keen on the second - the subject matter is just not too interesting.

[exile]

Curiousgeorge, you are right that you don't need to buy a tripod and ND grads to get good photographs, but they are technical aspects that have to be learnt - not so much for the "what" but more for the "why". I'm a firm believer in understanding why something could or should be done, then you can be in position to either decide to do it, or know that it should be done.:)

[krazziecliff]

I think the Nd grads r a dream for landscape work. b4 everything around us went digital, it was probably the portrait film photographers best friend. a polariser creates the same effect, but u have to use it intelligently. Its not too much of an investment at all, if u really wanna do landscapes. alot of times the foreground is too dark n the skies r just too bright...so in compensating for the sky we lose vital clarity from the foreground.

[krazziecliff]

For example...u cud have has a slower shutter which wud make the flowing river look milky (dats if u like it dat way), n the ND grad wud help u not over expose the sky

[kato1]

Thanks for all the advice. It is very much appretiated. I'll keep trying and hope I improve.
Always been more comfortable taking photographs of people and thought it was time to broaden my horizons.

Any suggestions for ND filters. Does anyone sell them as a set?

[Neilyb]

Kato - don't go out an buy NDG filters, holder, adaptors etc...I did that, bough the Cokin P system, then the Hitech, then the Lee....should have waited. For now get used to using the Tripod, take two exposures - one foreground and one sky - the mask one out over the other in Photoshop (or other packege of your choice). When you think you need the filters buy the Lee foundation holder and some hitech 100mm filters (the holder is the most flexible and the filters from Hitech are cheaper than lee but perfectly good!)

If you want to know how to layer exposures PM me, I'll try to explain it. Where were the above taken? If you need UK inspiration have a look at my two links, I take a fair few shots in Yorkshire :)

[AdamJL]

Cokin make pretty good introductory stuff.
You might notice a slight colour cast to your shots (it's a known issue), but if you shoot in RAW, this is easily editable.
I currently use Lee filters and holders. Higher quality IMO, slightly higher price though.

[AdamJL]

PS - I disagree with Neil with this.
Get it right in camera first. Software manipulation is all well and good, but learn the skills about getting a single exposure done right in the camera before you learn about blending exposures.
That's my $0.02 anyway.

[Neilyb]

I disagree with Adam. Yes, in camera is better, small shifts, wind in the trees can make lining up two shots impossible but I would say get used to metering from the sky and forground first, this will help make better judgements when selecting grads and where to place them (playing around in PS is non destructive).

The cokin colour cast can often - I've been there, I know - not be balanced out in RAW and only by removing selective colours in PS - ruining a shot.

You could by the cokin holder and 85mm hitech filters on a budget, that would seem reasonable if you want to try it out.

[AdamJL]

I would say get used to metering from the sky and forground first, this will help make better judgements when selecting grads and where to place them (playing around in PS is non destructive).


Metering for the sky or ground is not that difficult. I think one should be learning over-all exposure, not certain segments of a scene.
If you can master using a grad in a high contrast scene, then this automatically covers exposing/metering for each highlight and lowlight.
To meter for the sky, aim at it, get your exposure right, then take the shot. Obviously cloudy days can throw this but the principle remains the same. It's much more difficult to learn how to meter for an overall scene in the mid-tone with a grad, and this is what I think someone should learn with. You've got to then adjust with EC and this will also teach you the strengths and weaknesses of your camera's particular metering system.
Yes digitial photography is also about software manipulation, but photography is photography and it's far better IMO to get the shot right in your camera first before anything else. Don't rely on software to make your shot.

[kato1]

Never thought taking landscapes could become contrevertial.
I'm also a novice with photoshop and so the easier route to go, and probably the more traditional, would be filters.
Thanks again for all the advice.

[exile]

Never thought taking landscapes could become contrevertial.
I'm also a novice with photoshop and so the easier route to go, and probably the more traditional, would be filters.
Thanks again for all the advice.

Just enjoy doing it and you'll be fine :D

[AdamJL]

Never thought taking landscapes could become contrevertial.
I'm also a novice with photoshop and so the easier route to go, and probably the more traditional, would be filters.
Thanks again for all the advice.

haha. Everything in life is contested by someone. It's what makes it interesting. You never learn if you don't listen to someone else's viewpoint.
And Neil is a great photographer, he talks sense (though just not this time :lol: jk dude)

[curiousgeorge]

This debate is nothing compared to the 'my lens is better than your lens' debates on the lens forum! Especially the 17-40 vs 17-55 one recently.

[exile]

This debate is nothing compared to the 'my lens is better than your lens' debates on the lens forum! Especially the 17-40 vs 17-55 one recently.

:lol: Now there's a really contentious issue :lol:

[kato1]

I know very little about landscape photography, but I'm with the 17-40 L is better than the 17-55.
Why? Because I have the 17-40 L. Is that a good enough reason? LOL

[exile]

I know very little about landscape photography, but I'm with the 17-40 L is better than the 17-55.
Why? Because I have the 17-40 L. Is that a good enough reason? LOL


Best reason of all ;)