Five Techniques to Improve Your Landscape Photographs

1. Introduction to Five Techniques to Improve your Landscape Photographs.: Hello and welcome to my course. I've techniques to improve your landscape photographs. In this course, I will teach you about photography composition and how to use it. Who is this course for? This course is for everyone who wants to learn the basics of landscape photography composition. It is suitable for beginners, DSLR and mirrorless camera photographers. And people who use their smartphones to take landscape photographs. When you see amazing landscapes, do you simply point your camera at the scene and hope for the best? Disappointed with your photographs and feel that sometimes something is lacking. When taking landscape and nature photographs, there is more to consider than just pointing your camera and shooting. The most crucial factor when taking landscape and nature photographs is the composition of your images. So what is composition? Composition is how the elements are positioned and arranged within the frame of your image. It includes the elements you'd have in the image and how they are laid out within the image. Composition is the difference between a stunning balanced image and an average photograph. Why is composition important? A photograph with good composition is visually pleasing. It conveys a story or mood and draws the viewer's eyes into the significant area of your image. The composition of your image impacts how the viewer sees and connects with the same you have captured. In this course, we will learn about five composition techniques. The composition techniques are straight horizons. The rule of thirds, leading lines, foreground, interest and framing. My name is Sandy for Stace room and I'm an avid landscape and nature photographer. When I began taking landscape photographs, my images were good, but they lacked the wow factor. After studying photography and especially different composition techniques, I began to capture some fantastic scenes. I look forward to teaching you about these landscape composition techniques in this class. How can you use your new skills? When learning anything new, it is best to practice as much as you can. I encourage you to grab your camera or phone and hit outdoors and practice these techniques. Once you understand the techniques and how to use them, you can capture visually pleasing images that convey a story or mood and draw your viewers eyes into your photos. During this course, you'll often hear me talk about drawing the viewer's eyes into your image. You know, you have composed a great photograph when you grab your viewers attention and draw them into your image. Steven Pinker says, the art of photography is all about directing the attention of the viewer 2. Straight Horizons: This lesson is about the importance of having a straight horizon when shooting landscape and nature photographs. A common mistake, photographers Mike, when taking landscape photographs is not having the horizon level. This is particularly noticeable in beach and ocean photographs. However, you should be aware of having a straight horizon in all of your photographs. Why is it important to have a straight horizon? If the horizon is crooked, the whole image feels wrong. You feel you need to turn your head to view it properly. It also looks very unprofessional and can ruin and otherwise perfect photograph. Let's look at some examples. In this photograph, you can see the uneven horizon detracts from the lovely sunset image. It is the first thing we view as eye is drawn to. And it looks unprofessional. Now with a nice straight horizon, the viewer's eye is drawn around the image to see the person on the beach and the lovely sunset. Here is another example with the horizon is uneven. It makes a photograph feel unbalanced and lacking is leaning towards one side. When the horizon is straight, the photograph is nicely balanced and looks much more professional. Here we have another example. In this photograph. The horizon is uneven and the viewer's eye is drawn along the horizon to the side of the photograph. When the horizon is straight, the viewer's eye is drawn into the tree and towards lovely night sky. You are not distracted by the horizon and can truly appreciate the photograph. In this photograph, the lake surface is not level and looks unnatural and unprofessional. When we have straightened the lake surface and it is even the photograph looks much more balanced and natural. How can you straighten your horizon? When taking photographs, you can ensure your horizon is nice and straight by using a tripod or by lining up the horizon on the grid lines of your camera or phone. Here we can see how using the grid lines can enable you to get a nice straight horizon. If you haven't already. It's a good idea to add grid lines to your phone. Here is how to add them to your iPhone. Go to Settings, select camera, and scroll down and turn on grid. Now you have grid lines on your screen ready to take photographs with nice straight horizons. It is a similar process with a Samsung phone. Launch the camera app, tap on Settings and turn on grid lines. If you have a different smartphone, check your manual or Google to see if you can enable grid lines on your device. Adding grid lines to your camera. Most DSLR and mirrorless cameras have the option to enable grid lines in the viewfinder of your camera. Check your menu if you want to add this feature. Unfortunately, not all cameras do have this option, but it is convenient for ensuring your horizon is straight. If your camera does. Can you fix a photograph with an uneven horizon? The good news is, yes. If you have captured a wonderful photograph, but then notice the horizon is crooked, you can straighten it with editing software. We will look at how to straighten in Adobe Lightroom and in the editing section of your smartphone. Once you have uploaded your photograph to Adobe Lightroom, go to the crop section and click Auto on the straightened bar. This will automatically straighten your image. To straighten the horizon on your iPhone. You can choose a photo you want to straighten from your camera, roll and click on Edit. Then tap the Crop button and move the slider to straighten your photograph. It is a similar process on a Samsung phone. Go to the gallery and choose the photo you want to straighten, tap on Edit, and then tap on Auto, and it will automatically straighten your image. Alternatively, you can drag your finger across the bar to straighten the horizon manually, then save it to the gallery. How can you use your new skill? The best way to enforce a new skill is to practice it. So now that you are aware of the importance of having a straight horizon in your images. You can enable grid lines on your camera or phone and then practice taking photos by lining up the horizon with the grid lines. You can also use editing software to straighten the horizon on some photographs that you have already taken. That's the end of the first lesson. I hope you've learned something about ensuring you have a straight horizon in your landscape photographs. I'll finish with a quote from henri Cartier Bresson, the famous French photographer. It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera. They are made with the I hat and hid 3. Rule of Thirds: This lesson is about the composition technique, the Rule of Thirds. What is the rule of thirds? This is one of the most well-known composition techniques. It uses the grid lines we discussed in the last class to divide your frame into equal three by three grids. Two horizontal and two vertical lines intersect at four points in your frame. The rule of thirds is used in landscape and nature photography to organize your scenes elements and create a balanced composition. Using the rule of thirds will help you overcome placing the element in the center of your image, which is what many beginner photographers do. Why shouldn't you center the main element in the middle of your image when you send to them by an element, this is the only thing that your viewer sees that will go out to your image, get bored and look at something else. Most images are more interesting when the main element is not in the center of the frame. Here we can see how the tree is in the center of the frame. That doesn't make for very interesting image. However, the tree to one of the vertical grid lines changes the composition of your photograph and allows the viewer's eye to move around the image. You now notice the bench seat and the interests in clouds in the sky. It's made the photograph more visually interesting. How do you compose an image using the rule of thirds? When composing a photograph, you need to consider what elements you can place on the left or right third of the frame. Also, think about what elements you can put in the top or bottom of the frame. This will create a balanced and visually pleasing image. Photographs, the view is I is naturally grown to where the grid points intersect. Place key elements on these points to attract the viewer's attention. In this photograph, we can see how the lighthouse is for on one of the intersection points. Therefore, draws your eye in to see the lighthouse. In our last lesson, we learned the importance of having a straight horizon. In this lesson, we will learn where to place the horizon according to the rule of thirds. Center the horizon in your photograph. As this creates a dull static composition where the sky and the foreground compete for the viewers attention. If this guy is stunning and you want this to be the dominant feature in your photograph. Place the horizon on the lower third grid line. This would draw the viewer's eyes from the horizon up towards the sky. Let's look at some examples. In this photograph. The horizon is on the bottom third grid line. The sun rising and the interests in cloud formations are the main elements of the image. The viewer's eyes are drawn up into the image by placing the horizon on this bottom third grid line. He is another example of placing the horizon on the bottom of the grid line. Once again, the sky and the lovely cloud formations are the focal points of this image. If your image is foreground, is spectacular and you want this to be the dominant feature. Then place the horizon on the upper third grid line. This will draw the viewer's eyes from the horizon down towards the beautiful foreground in the photograph. Let's look at some examples. In this photograph, the focal point is the lovely white sandy beach and the blue ocean. By placing the horizon on the top third grid line, your eye is drawn down the image to the beautiful beach and the sand in the foreground. This is another example of the horizon. On the top third grid line, the viewer's eye is drawn down from the horizon to the lovely colored plants in the foreground. Rule of thirds exception. There is an exception to the rule of thirds but horizons. And this is when you are capturing symmetry in your photographs with reflections of mirrored elements, you want to have the horizon in the center of the image. Due to the symmetry, the viewer's eyes will move up and down to appreciate the whole image. Here is an example of symmetry, where the horizon is centered. If the horizon were placed on the top or bottom third grid line, you would lose the balance of this image. Now that we have covered way to place the horizon according to the rule of thirds, we will look at the other elements. If you have vertical elements in your same line, these up the vertical grid lines to create balanced and visually pleasing images. Examples of vertical elements in landscape photography at tree trunks, file of waterfalls, buildings, people, mountains, and animals. Let's look at some examples. In this photograph, the waterfall is lined up with one of the vertical rule of thirds grid lines. This draws the viewer's eyes straight into the waterfall, which is the main element. And then they look at the other aspects of the image, including the river, the fins, and the logs. It makes a lovely, balanced, visually pleasing image. Here is another example with a vertical element is the palm tree. And it is placed on the vertical rule of thirds grid line. Once again, it draws the viewer's eyes into the vertical element. And then around the image to take in the sunset, the clouds, and the mountains. In this photograph, the main vertical element is the large house. And by placing it on the vertical grid line, it makes it the key subject of the image and the viewer's eye is immediately drawn to it. This is a visually pleasing composition with the lighthouse on the vertical grid line and the horizon on the lower grid line. Another way to use the rule of thirds grid lines is to place an interesting natural or man-made element on one of the four intersection points. To accentuate it. You can use plots by rocks, water elements, people, or anything else of interests. Let's look at some examples. In this photograph. Then lovely tree with pink foliage is placed on the intersecting point of the rule of thirds grid lines, making it the focal point of the photograph. It makes a lovely, visually pleasing, balanced image. In this photograph, the mossy rock in the foreground is on the rule of thirds intersection. This rules the viewer's eyes to the mostly rock and then up to the lovely waterfall. Here we can see this sailing boat is on the intersection of the rule of third grid lines. It makes a sailing boat that focal point in this lovely photograph. Now that we have covered the rule of thirds composition technique, here are a few things to consider when taking photographs. You need to consider where he want to place the horizon, is the sky or the foreground, the main focus of your image. You also need to consider, is there an interesting vertical element you can place on the grid line as a focal point. Are there any other exciting elements you can include on the grid line intersections? Can you improve photograph using rule of thirds when editing? The good news is that you can improve a photograph using the rule of thirds composition technique. When you edit your images, you can adjust or crop your photographs in editing software to create a more pleasing composition. This is a great way to enhance your photos when you haven't got it quite right when taking the photograph. In Adobe Lightroom, you can use the crop section to overlay the rule of thirds grid lines on your photographs. You can then adjust and crop them to have the focal elements on the grid lines are intersecting points. How can you use your new skill? Now that you know the importance of composing your photos using the rule of thirds technique enabled grid lines on your camera or smartphone to assist you in taking photographs. And then when you're at taking photographs, about the same, What would you like to capture? And how can you use the rule of thirds grid lines to compose visually pleasing images? Look at some of the photographs you've taken in the past and use the rule of thirds grid line to enhance them with editing software. That's the end of this lesson on using the rule of thirds as a composition technique. I hope you've learned something here and have some things to consider when next aren't taking photographs. This quote from photographer matt howdy sums up here, the thoughtful composition of your photograph makes a difference between a snapshot and a great shot. It can be seen in all things. Seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph. 4. Foreground Interest: Foreground interests. In this lesson, we will learn how to use foreground interests as a composition technique for landscape photography. What is foreground interests? And incredible landscape photograph has a foreground, middle ground and background. All these elements must be in perspective for your image to be balanced. The foreground is the area immediately in front of you. The background is the landscape furthest away from you. And everything in-between is in the middle ground. Placing something of interest in your images foreground, He's one of the best ways to create impact in your landscape photographs. The foreground interests in this photograph is the tropical plant with the lovely bright red flowers. In this photograph, we can see the sky and the tools mountains are in the background. The mountains and the like are in the middle ground. And the large rocks are in the foreground. The strategic placement of the rocks on the rule of thirds intersection point adds foreground interests to this photograph. It also makes the photograph visually pleasing and draws the viewer's eye from the large rock in the foreground up through the middle ground to the lovely mountains in the background. By placing exciting elements in your images foreground, you draw the viewer's eye into the picture where you view it can explore the whole photograph. Objects you can use for foreground interests include rocks, flowers, shells, plants, and water features. Let's look at some examples. In this photograph, the rocks have been used to add full grant interests and placed in the bottom third of the rule of thirds grid. The rocks immediately attract your attention and then your eyes drawn upwards towards the lighthouse and the stormy sky. Here is another example of using rocks as foreground interest. In this image, the rocks have been lined up with the intersecting points on the rule of thirds grid line. These rocks. Draw your eye to the image is foreground, and then towards the beach scene and the sunrise. In this photograph, we see another example of using intersecting grid lines to add the cabin as foreground interest. Your view is initially drawn to the cabin in the foreground, then up to the mountains and around the image. Once again, this is a lovely, visually pleasing image that is fairly well-balanced. Why is foreground interests important? We need capture and exciting foreground. It transforms a flat, one-dimensional photograph into an image with dip and enhances all of the elements in the picture. Good for grant interests creates a more balanced and realistic photograph that draws the viewer's eyes into the scene. Let's look at some examples. In this photograph, we can say the mostly rock in the foreground on the intersecting grid line, which adds interests and perspective to this picture. It's visually pleasing as your eye is drawn from the mossy rock upwards towards the waterfall, and then around to look at the foods in the picture. This is a lovely balanced image. In this image, the lovely pink flowers in the foreground at a sense of depth and enhance all the other elements in the photograph. They also draw your eye from the bottom of the image upwards through the middle ground to the background with a lovely snow-covered mountains. In this image, the tree adds foreground interests and guides the viewer's eyes from the tree, across the lake and up towards the mountains in the background is a lovely, visually pleasing image as well. And it's very well balanced with the tree there in the foreground. One way to accentuate the foreground elements is to change the height at which you take your photographs. Adjusting the height at which he shoot changes the composition of your image. If a scene has a beautiful background and excellent foreground elements, but nothing of interests in the middle. Changing the angle at which you shoot compresses the middle ground and makes a photograph more appealing. Let's look at some examples. This photograph has been shot from ground-level, accentuating the autumn leaves or the foreground interests. And drawing the viewer's eyes up to the trees in the background. He's photograph would have been taken by laying on your stomach in the beautiful leaves and pointing upwards. Here is another example of taking the photo from a very low perspective. The colorful juleps add incredible foreground interests with the windmill in the background. Middle ground has been compressed at this angle and the windmill looks much closer. Once again, this image would have been taken by crouching or getting very low at the base of the tulips and pointing upwards towards the windmill. It's very well balanced with the windmill on the grid line there as well. Here is another example where the waterfall has been captured from a low angle. The rocks at the front of the image at the foreground, interests we've been discussing and there is a sense of depth to the image. The viewer's eye is first drawn to the rocks on the intersecting grid line, and then upward through the image to the waterfalls in the background. To capture photographs with a foreground interests, you need to look carefully at the scene around you. You need to think, are there any exciting elements you can use for foreground interests? If you find an interesting object to feature in the foreground, you need to decide where you will place this element in your image. Remember to use the rule of third grid line. Another thing to consider is whether changing the height at which you are shooting or create a more exciting and balanced photograph. How can you use your new skill? Now, you know the importance of foreground interests. It's time to practice carefully for exciting foreground elements when taking landscape photographs and use the rule of third grid lines to compose your image. Practice changing the height at which you photograph and see the different compositions that you can create. That's the end of this lesson on using foreground interests as a composition technique when taking landscape and nature photographs. This quote by Karl Lagerfeld reminds me why I love photography. He states, what I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that's gone forever, impossible to reproduce 5. Leading Lines: Leading lines. In this lesson, we will learn how to use leading lines as a composition technique for landscape photography. What are leading lines? Leading lines are a powerful composition technique that leads to viewers eyes through the image towards the main subject. They create a defined direction and connect your images foreground, middle, and background. They also add depth to your image. Leading lines can be vertical, horizontal, and diagonal. They can be straight, curved. First of all, we'll look at straight leading lines. Leading lines can create a sense of balance and strength in your image. Remember to keep your horizon and other straight lines. Nice and even. Straight leading lines effectively lead the viewer's eyes through the scene to the focal point. Examples of straight leading lines you'll see in landscape photography include the horizon, roads, bridges, and likes. Let's look at some examples. Here. The lake's surface acts as a straight horizontal line. It draws your eye across the surface to the tree, which is the photographs focal point. This is a lovely, visually pleasing and balanced image. In this photograph, the rock ledge is a straight horizontal leading line. It draws the viewer's eyes across the image to the stunning waterfall, which is this photographs main subject. I really like how the rock ledge is a straight leading line in this image. Here we can see the pia is a straight leading line. It draws your attention across the image to the lovely sunset, which is the images main subject. Cubed, leading lines. Leading lines are often found in landscape and nature scenes. Soft, natural curves convey a sense of movement, gracefulness and calmness. Curved leading lines also effectively guide the viewer's eyes through the scene to the main subject. Examples of curved leading lines include hills, tracks, rivers, branches, and sand formations. Let's look at some examples of curved leading lines. In this lovely photograph, the curved patterns in the sand act as leading lines, drawing your eye to the tree and the Sunrise, which of the images main subjects. This is very cleverly done. In this photograph. The river is a naturally occurring curved leading line. The river draws your eye from the foreground through the middle and up towards the mountains in the background. This is a lovely example of curves leading line. Here we see the road as a curved leading line. This draws your eye from the foreground through the beautiful rock formations into the background. It gives a sense of perspective and depth to the image. Vertical leading lines. Leading lines draw the viewer's eye from the bottom to the top of the image, or from the top to the bottom towards the main subject. Vertical leading lines convey strength, energy, and stability. Examples of vertical leading lines include trees, buildings, mountains, roads, rivers, paths, and bridges. Let's look at some examples of vertical leading lines. In this photograph, the path is vertical leading line. It draws your eye from the foreground up towards the mountains and the sun, which are the focal points of this lovely image. Here we can see the lavender bushes have formed natural vertical leading lines. Leading lines draw the viewer's eyes from the bottom of the image to the tree, which is the photographs mind subject In this beautiful photograph, we can see the waterfall is acting as a vertical waiting line. And it's drawing your eye down towards the bridge, which is the images main subject. Here we can see that p is acting as a leading line, drawing the viewer's eyes from the foreground of the image to the mountain and the son in the background. Onto leading lines. Horizontal leading lines draw the viewer's eye across the image towards the main subject. Horizontal leading lines convey stability, strength, and balance. Examples of horizontal leading lines of the horizon, bridges, roads, plants, water features, logs, and the shoreline. Let's look at some examples. In this photograph, the horizon is the horizontal leading line, drawing your eye to the sun, which is the images focal point. In this image, we can see the bridge is acting as a leading line. Drawing your eye towards the snow covered Kevin, which is the main subject. The trees in this photograph also act as vertical leading lines and draw your eye downwards towards the cabin. This is a lovely image. We can see some symmetry there on the lake as well. The steps in this photograph of a horizontal waiting lines. As I draw your eye across the image to the lovely flowering bushes. The firing wishes on both sides of the path or the main subject of this photograph. Diagonal leading lines. Diagonal leading lines can create a sense of movement and depth in your images. Diagonal leading lines that dynamic and convey a sense of action. In landscape photography, examples of diagonal leading lines at sunrise, shadows, bridges, roads, branches, and loops. Let's look at some examples of diagonal leading lines. Here we can see the shadow is a diagonal leading line. The shadow draws your eye from the bottom of the image towards the thumb, which is the focal point in this photograph. In this photograph, the log acts as a diagonal leading line, drawing your attention to the lovely waterfall. This lovely tropical beach scene, the trunk of the palm tree is a diagonal leading line. It draws your eye through the photograph towards the hill in the background of the image. Converging leading lines. Converging leading lines direct the viewer's eye to a single focal point in an image. Converging leading lines enhance the sense of depth in an image. When the USA's parallel lines coming together, they perceive this as distance. The longer the lines are before they converge, the further why elements appear. Examples of converging leading lines appears roads, railway tracks, and trees. Let's look at some examples of converging leading lines. Here we see the converging leading lines of the pia. Draw your eye to the horizon and then lovely colors in the sky. In this photograph, the converging leading lines of the road draw your eye towards the mountain, which is the images focal point. Long converging leading lines give the image a sense of perspective and dip. The converging leading lines of the tree trunks draw your attention and view upwards from the foreground to the tree canopy. Why a leading lines, important? Leading lines are an essential composition technique as they create visual for leading the viewer's eyes through the photograph to explore the whole scene. They also draw attention to the main subject and add depth and perspective to an image, making this lane more natural and realistic. How to capture photos with leading lines. When taking photographs, look around you and consider what you want to capture. What is the main subject or focal point of the scene? Are there any natural or man-made leading lines pointing towards the focal point? Do we need to move around or shoot from a different height to capture the leading lines. How can you use your new skill? Once again, it's important to practice your new skill. So grab your camera or smartphone and practice taking photos that include leading lines. Look around you during the day and think about what naturally occurring and man-made leading lines you could include in your nature and landscape photographs. That's the end of this lesson on using leading lines as a composition technique. Xl atoms with a famous American landscape photographer. His quote, you don't take a photograph, you make it sums up the importance of getting the composition correct 6. Framing: Framing. In this lesson, we will learn how to use framing as a composition technique for landscape and nature photography. What is framing? Framing in a landscape composition technique that draws the viewer's eyes into your image. Using natural or man-made elements to create a frame around the main subject in your image gives you a photograph balance and an artistic feel. Effective framing creates exciting and engaging photographs. Framing with natural elements. You can use many natural elements when framing your landscape photographs. These include trees, clouds, right in both caves, rock arches, the hanging branches, cliffs, mountains, shadows, and sunrise. Let's look at some examples of using natural elements to frame your photographs. In this photograph, a cave has been used to frame the rock feature in the ocean scene, making the main subjects stand out and giving it a lovely artistic feel. This photograph, the drooping branches of the tree have been used to frame the image, creating a lovely natural artistic field. In this photograph, we can see how the shadows have been effectively used to frame the tree with the sun sitting behind it. It really is a stunning image. In this lovely tropical beach scene, the palm trees and rocks have been used to frame the photograph. Capturing a lovely peaceful location. In this photograph, the autumn trees have been used as a frame. They draw your eye towards the bridge, which is the pictures focal point. This is a lovely, balanced, visually pleasing image. Framing with man-made elements. You can also use interesting man-made elements for framing in landscape photography. Examples of man-made elements include windows, doors, bridges, at twice key ****, gates, and tunnels. Let's look at some examples of framing using man-made elements. In this photograph, the windows of a beautiful old building make a lovely frame around the view over the city. In this photograph, we can see a man-made arch. And the reflection of this arch has been used to frame the photograph. It draws your eye into the scene and towards the rocks in the lake. I really like the framing in this image with the man-made arch and also the symmetry with the arch reflecting into the water. In this photograph, a gateway has been used to create a frame. It finds the mountain on the horizon, which is the images main subject. Using this gateway as a frame really draws your eye into the image and towards those mountains on the horizon. Here is another example would be using a window as a frame to capture the lovely city view. This is one of my favorite framing compositional techniques. In this photograph, the doorway has been used to frame the image. It creates a striking and visually pleasing image. I really liked the darkness around the edge and then the castle in the clouds through the frame. Why is framing important? Framing as a composition technique, adds visual interest to your images and draws the viewer's eyes to the main subject. Framing also add context and perspective to your photographs. Adding a frame within a frame adds an additional layer to your photographs and creates a sense of depth. Capturing photos using framing. When taking photographs, look around you at the scene you want to capture, and think about what is the main subject or focal point of your image. Are there any natural or man-made objects that you can use to frame this subject. When you're at, look around you at your surroundings to find exciting elements that you can use to frame your photographs. How can you use your new skill? Now that you are aware of using framing to create exciting and artistic photographs, it's time to practice. Look for objects you can use to frame your pictures. And think about what natural and man-made elements would look good as a frame for your images. That's the end of this lesson on using framing as a composition technique. It's also the end of this short course. I hope you have enjoyed learning about these five composition techniques and we'll be able to use them in your landscape, in nature photography. In the world of photography, you get to share a captured moment with other people. James Wilson 7. Class Project: Now it is time for the class project. Please go out and capture some nature and landscape photographs. He needed one or more of the compositional techniques we have covered. To recap, the techniques are straight horizons. Rule of thirds, foreground interests, leading lines and framing. Then please share your images and your experiences in the project section. Thank you for taking my course and I look forward to seeing your photographs.