7 Easy Landscape Photography Tips For Beginners

Combining photography with hiking in the great British outdoors can be challenging, especially if you want to take dramatic landscape shots whilst being on the move.

Peter Elia, journalist & photographer, shares seven simple steps to get you started and to take your outdoor images to the next level.

1. Keep It Simple

Heading out into the field should be fun and exciting, so make sure your camera equipment is light and easy to use.
Along with your camera, bring a wide-angle lens for capturing dramatic landscape shots, spare batteries, and a robust camera bag which can stand up to all kinds of UK weather.

2. Observe The Light

It's a common mistake for beginner photographers to neglect the direction of the light because we like the look of a particular shot.
Shooting towards the sun will typically produce an overblown image. This means your photo will look hazy and lack in detail. Conversely, shooting away from the sun will yield even exposure and true colours.

3. Use A Focal Point

When composing your images, it's a great idea to include a main focal point.
In the example below, I have used a farmhouse in the distance to help anchor my image. This creates a sense of scale to the viewer and provides a more balanced composition.

Use of light - tips for outdoor photography - Sherpa Van

4. Look for the Horizon

The golden rule here is to keep the horizon perfectly level in your shot and not slanting off to one side.
You then have two composition options: you could lower your horizon to include more dramatic sky, or raise it to capture more foreground like the image above. Try to avoid having your horizon in the middle as this will cut your photo in half.

5. Include Plenty of Foreground

The foreground is the introduction to the story you tell. Below is my example of the foreground setting the stage, giving both dimension and depth.
I use the hiking path as a method to keep the viewer connected to the landscape as though they're standing there themselves.

Outdoor photography tips for beginners_Sherpa Van

6. Invest in A Wide-Angle Lens

You may already own a kit lens (a starter lens which comes with your camera) but kits are generally a jack of all trades, master of none.
However, adding a wide-angle lens to your camera bag will allow you to fit more into the frame, making it perfect for capturing those vast lakes or mountain shots that the UK is so famous for.

7. Consider Shooting in RAW

A RAW file is an uncompressed digital file that is stored on your camera’s memory card.
This may sound very technical, but a RAW will allow you to edit photos in post-production. Software such as 'Lightroom' or ‘Luminar’ will give your images a professional touch.

 

About Peter Elia

Peter Elia is a freelance journalist and photographer who travels the globe in search of stories from the paths less travelled.

He combines his adventures on foot with dramatic landscape images which have featured in The Guardian, Cultural Trip, The Great Outdoors Magazine and elsewhere.

For more fantastic images from Peter, visit The man who hiked the world on Instagram and join over 80,000 followers or feel free to engage on Facebook.