I suck at landscapes but im trying!

This is only the second time ive really shot any kind of landscape stuff at all. The 1st 3 are HDR's combined from 5 exposures, the last 2 are not. I have a few more to post but photobucket is being retarded so i hope to post them soon. Really looking to get some advice on how to improve.

I definitely need a wider lens.

1.

I don't know what you're talking about... Sure, 1 & 2 aren't exciting, but 3-5 are gorgeous! I wish we had waterfalls... well, I just wish we had water in Albuquerque...

thanks, when I shot 1-2 i was really interested in the texture of the rock and the mountain, but something about them i just dont find successful, thats why im hoping to get some tips!

Shultsjh wrote in post #3510619
I don't know what you're talking about... Sure, 1 & 2 aren't exciting, but 3-5 are gorgeous! I wish we had waterfalls... well, I just wish we had water in Albuquerque...

I agree, 3-5 are really great! Nice work!!

I was in the same type of terrain just the other week & couldn't pull off the shot. I think using the rocks as a prominent foreground would have done this shot well. Can't ask too much from nature though...

Now that I look at it closer, 3 might need a little straightening... that tree on the right is a little distracting the way it's angled.

Number 3 is gorgeous. I'm tired of not having any mountains in Texas.

im honestly not a huge fan of the mountains. i like to go up and take photos from time to time, but i never ski/snowboard and i hate snow! Where in texas do you live? I lived in witchita falls for a few years.

Nos. 1 and 2 aren't exciting - that's true. There is no foreground to lead your eye from the bottom (front) smoothly to the background (top).

Nos. 3, 4, and 5 are a different story - very nice. They have a foreground, and mid-ground and background (albeit not terribly far back for 4 and 5).

No. 3 has the elements of a good landscape image.

Tim Fitzharris recommends the following approach in his book on landscape photography:

"The relative size of landscape features is one of the most obvious cues in conveying the depth of a scene. Objects that are closer appear larger than those that are far."

"Lens focal length generates a powerful perspective effect. By emphasizing the different size cues, wide-angle lenses increase the perceived distance between elements in the composition and promote a feeling of deep space."

"Because the eyes of a standing human are some 5 or 6 feet above the ground, landscape features that are close to us are positioned lower in our field of view than those more distant. For a maximum three-dimensional effect, you should set up at about a 45 degree angle (above horizontal) on the first cue size in the composition".

In other words, the lowest cue or feature in the picture that gives us some sense of scale is what should be seen at a 45 degree angle down from the lens (the closest feature), and it should be in focus. This is one reason that No.3 shines above the rest (and the subject is good too).

I've learned more from his book than from all other sources combined.

http://www.amazon.com …ext_b/102-9762121-5311311

thank you very very much! thats exactly the kind of help im after!

303villain wrote in post #3510761
thank you very very much! thats exactly the kind of help im after!

Glad to be of some help - and your acknowledgement is appreciated.

Don't be so hard on yourself , the title does not suit with pictures 3 4 5 have great potential, well done

I normally don't care for HDRs' because of over saturation, buy yours look normal. Excellent work. #3 is the best of the series.

I like number 3 and 5, they're just amazing. What lens did you use for number 3?

thanks, i do a bunch of HDR's and i make it a point not to go overboard on the tone mapping. Some people see that menu and go nuts with the strength/saturation without really thinking about what they are doing.

I used the 28-75 for all of them. I need a wider lens.

thanks again everybody.

You need to frame that 3rd one! That is one great, natural HDR. Most HDRs look like "Frankenstein Monsters". Well done!