11 Landscape Mistakes we've all made and How to Avoid Them

Whatever it is you want to learn in life, mistakes are part of the learning process. Landscape photography is no exception, its actually something you get good at by making a lot of mistakes. Here are eleven of the most common and how to fix them.No. 1 - Photographing in dull lightSerious and professional landscape photographers will often wait for hours or even days at a location for the perfect light. Beginners and non-pro shooters most often dont have that luxury. They get to a place and photograph it in whatever light is available. Of course a lot of times, the available light is dull or flat.Solution: Boring light is the enemy of good landscape photos. Remove the color from your photos and add a little more contrast. Also, consider changing the skies or adding some clouds for extra drama.No. 2 Tilted horizonsThis is one of the most common mistakes. It is the result of lack of experience and often lack of patience.

(Does this horizon look a tad off? LOL)Solution: Turn on the guidelines options in your camera menu and use them when framing through the viewfinder or LCD to get a perfectly straight horizon.No. 3 Bad compositionThis is one of the worst, yet most common mistakes. Composition is crucial in landscape photography because you have to create balance between foreground, middle ground and background, not to mention making all the elements work together in the frame.Solution: There is no way around this: study composition thoroughly. Read books, study, keep shooting and might I strongly suggest a set of photography specific cards to help you master composition. Its one of the simplest ways to master this important skill.No. 4 Over exposed skiesYou've probably taken shots in the past where the ground is well exposed but the sky is completely blown. This is a natural limitation for all cameras and it rarely has to do with bad settings.Solution: Purchase a Neutral Density (ND filter). Its simply the best option to deal with this issue.No. 5 Obvious use of ND filtersND filters are indeed very useful, but when wrongly used, they leave an ugly, very noticeable difference in light between ground and sky.Solution: Consider fixing this problem with a bit of post processing or switch to a filter with less stops.

No. 6 - Less sharp foreground or backgroundLandscape photography is one of the few genres that demand everything to be in focus. A huge depth of field is therefore necessary and beginners often have a difference in sharpness between foreground and backgroundSolution: Close down the aperture as much as possible. Optimum values xt influence image sharpness and ignoring just one of them will lead to a blurred or soft image.No. 7 - BlurredThere are a number of factors that influence image sharpness and ignoring just one of them will lead to a blurred image.Solution: Make sure you check everything. Shoot with the camera mounted on a tripod and use a remote to click the shutter. Use a lower ISO value and f- stop range between 8 and eleven. Make sure to shoot RAW.No. 8 Hard ShadowsThey are often the result of poor exposure or improper lighting conditions.Solution: The ideal solution is to stop shooting in harsh daylight. But if you can't avoid that, use Adobe Lightroom or Camera Raw to soften the shadows, but make sure not to overdo it and end up with a kitschy HDR shot.

No. 9 - No foregroundThe foreground is a part of the image that will simply make it more interesting to view. Without it, the picture will most likely look empty or like its missing something. Solution: Start adding a foreground to your landscapes. It can be anything from flowers to rocks.No. 10 - Over saturationPhotographers will often try to compensate for taking a less interesting shot by increasing saturation. Generally, this isn't a bad thing, but its very easy to go overboard and end up with a picture that looks like it was taken at Disney.Solution: Be moderate when playing with saturation. Dont overdo it when you want to turn it up a notch.No. 11 - Photographing classic scenesWhenever you're in an interesting location, particularly one with a popular name, you have to take in mind that other photographers have been there before you. Amateurs often forget this and shoot from the exact same perspective you can find on postcards.Solution: Walk around and find a better angle, a perspective that is harder to get to and is less likely to have been photographed by an entire army of camera owners and photographers.

11 Fail-Safe Tips for Landscape Photographers

Going out in nature and taking pictures of what you see is one of the most enjoyable things you can do with a camera. Some people make a living from it, but most take up landscape photography because it is very pleasurable and rewarding. We have eleven tips for them that will guarantee amazing shots and more enjoyable experiences the next time they go shooting out into the wild.1.Spectacular skiesOne of the most important elements in any landscape photo is the sky. You want something that people will look at. Try to avoid white, dull skies and include clouds as often as you can. Consider enhancing beautiful skies in post-production and use a polarizing filter for those blue, summer skies to make the color and contrast stand out. 2.MotionLandscape photography is usually all about still scenes, but you can give your images some extra weight with motion. Set your camera for long exposures and capture moving waves or flowing rivers. Even clouds can create motion in the sky if you keep your shutter open long enough.(Success Tip: Master landscape photography with a simple deck of cards here)3.Shoot in the golden hourI know this is a tip you hear and see everywhere, but it is that important. You'll most likely have very little time on your hands to capture a scene, so its best to schedule everything properly. Use apps to learn when the sun is in the correct position in the location you want to photograph and make sure you're there on time.

4. The holy tripodTheres a saying among old-school pros: theres no lens like a tripod. Thats true for a number of reasons. You want your camera to be completely stable for motionless images. You also want to take your time with composition and the best way to do that is to slow things down a little. A tripod will be of great help in this regard.

5.Include a foregroundForegrounds will make your photos more interesting and give them a sense of depth. There are a lot of elements you can place in your foregrounds, but some of the most used are rocks, trees and flowers.6.Leading linesUse leading lines to guide your viewer into the frame and lead their attention to the points of interest. Look for natural symmetry in nature in elements like forest lines.7.Make bad weather your friendThe truth is nobody really likes to photograph in harsh weather. It can be very frustrating and exhausting, not to mention dangerous for both photographer and camera gear.

But its also true that bad weather produces spectacular light and makes scenes very dramatic. If I could choose between shooting a scene at dusk and doing it just before a heavy storm, I would always choose the second. 8.Straighten that horizon lineIts one of least favorite things for landscape photographers to try and keep their cameras straight enough to get a perfect horizon. You can make it easier by using a tripod and relying on the guidelines in the viewfinder or LCD screen. 9.The importance of perspectiveThe most spectacular landscape photos are those taken from the hardest places to get to. Remember that the next time you go shooting. It takes a bit of sacrifice and stepping out of your comfort zone to find an interesting, different perspective. Just make sure you stay safe and use the proper gear and clothing.10.Points of interestIts best to have a point of interest in your photos, something that will draw attention. It can be a lodge in the distance, or even the moon or a tree. The point of adding such an element is to increase the visual appeal of the image. Instead of having an even, yet mostly empty scene, put something in there that will grab the attention of the viewers.11.Maximum depth of fieldYou want everything in the frame to be completely in focus. Having a clear foreground and a blurred background isn't really called landscape photography .The best way to achieve this is to close down your aperture as much as you can. However, keep in mind that this can possibly result in underexposure, so boost the ISO a little, or turn to your trusty tripod once more.

5 Steps for Awesome Shots with Less Gear

One thing I don't like about us photographers in general is that we are vulnerable to certain threats. And one of the most serious threats is coming from camera manufacturers, and to be more specific, theyre marketing departments. For many years, they've gotten photographers, beginners especially, to think that in order to take awesome, professional looking photos, they have to buy the latest, most expensive gear and to replace it every two years when something better comes out. This is one of the worst propagandas we are constantly being exposed to, and needless to say, its far from the truth. A photographer is just like a musician: its the talent and skills that count a lot more than the instrument. We have five steps that will help you take amazing pictures with whatever gear you're using and break this spell that camera companies have put on you.1.Master exposureThe first step is something you must learn how to do regardless of the camera you're using. It can be your iPhone or a digital medium format camera, it doesn't matter. Getting the exposure right is essential. It all comes with a little practice and combining shutter speed, aperture and ISO. 2.Think outside the boxThis sounds like an overused clich, but its a good expression for the message I want to send. Everybody tends to photograph in landscape mode from eye level, especially in the first few months. Imagination is not just about choosing a cool subject, its also about how you photograph it. Always look for a more interesting perspective, no matter what you're shooting. Learn the rules well enough to be comfortable to break them.3.Be selective with lightHaving your camera with you all the time is a good idea, but shooting non-stop isnt. In time, you will learn the difference between good light and bad light. Keep in mind were talking about the most essential component of any photograph. Once you learn to be a little bit more selective about the time you go shooting and how the lighting conditions are, you'll start getting more and more good results and less failed attempts. No matter what camera you use, if the light is dramatic or spectacular, it will show in your photos. Thats what you want, not a $3,000 camera to shoot portraits at noon.

4.Love whats in your bagI see a lot of photographers being frustrated with their gear. Whether its an older camera or an entry-level model, a lot of them don't even feel like shooting anymore because they believe their cameras aren't good enough. I would like to remind all those photographers that there are currently photography exhibitions in museums around the world that were created with iPhones. An old or cheap camera is no excuse for not shooting, for not wanting to perfect your craft. Whatever it is that you're using, love that camera and lens and show the world that gear is not a real limitation.5.Work on timingTiming is one of the most difficult parts of being a good photographer, especially if you're into sports, street or documentary photography. Its all about the decisive moment Bresson was telling us about. With todays cameras its a lot easier because you get very high frame rates. Still, its a game of anticipation to have your finger on the shutter release at exactly the right time. It all comes with practice and a trained eye can take months or years to develop. Once you have a feel for the right moment, you'll start getting those awesome results.

Now that you know what these five steps are, its time to put them into practice. Before you do, always keep in mind the most important lesson: its all about who is behind the camera. Good luck!