Week 8Week 8Landscape Compositions

“ Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop. – Ansel Adams

If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere

-Vincent Van Gogh

AgendaLandscape PhotographyAssignment ReviewPhoto Fixes in ElementsCamera RAW

History of Landscape PhotographyHistory of Landscape Photography

Albert Bierstadt's Among the Sierra Nevada, California symbols of hearth and abundance http://www.artchive.com/artchive/B/bierstadt.html#images

Main Function of ArtMain Function of Art

Union Pacific Railroad- 1869 Union Pacific Railroad- 1869 Document the scenery

along for promotional purposes

Thomas Moran – painterExpeditions meant to

chart the largelyunexplored west

William Henry JacksonWilliam Henry Jackson

Worked with multiple cameras and plate sizes, under conditions that were often incredibly difficult.

Coated, exposed, and developed onsite

Exposures were guesswork

William Henry JacksonWilliam Henry JacksonWilliam Henry Jackson,The Behive Group of Geysers/Yellowstone Park

William Henry Jackson: Tower

Falls, Yellowstone

National Park, c.1892. Albumen

print

William Henry Jackson

Mirror Lake, Yellowstone

Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite Valley

Ansel Adams

Full Moon over Half Dome" YosemiteJohn Harrison http://www.jharrisonphoto.com/gallery/2742949_XSVvV/1/146002306_L98mR/Medium

How to take landscape picturesHow to take landscape pictures

Elements of DesignElements of Design

Yes, Landscape Photography is about:Rule of ThirdsLinesGeometric ShapesFraming

Those patterns in nature, the elements of design are what we often drawn on

Rule of ThirdsRule of Thirds

Guidelines for off centered subjects

Used by painters for years

Balance

Ansel Adams

LinesLines

• Horizontal• Vertical• Converging• Curved• Straight

Ansel Adams

Cluttered BackgroundsCluttered Backgrounds

• Depth of Field

Infinite Depth of Infinite Depth of FieldFieldAnsel Adams

Fill the frame for dramatic effectFill the frame for dramatic effect

Experiment by moving the camera up and down, side to side.

Tilt the camera to various angles and see what it shows you. Fill the frame with the object that interests you most.

Be aware of potential exposure problems. Consider bracking.

Look for trees and branches

Change your perspective Change your perspective

There’s no need to shoot everything from a standing position. Sometimes sitting, crouching or getting higher can produce a more interesting shot.

FramingFraming

Rick SammonRick Sammon

Top ten digital photography tips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Unv6DPJiU

Color and light Color and light

Great photography potential

Red is the most pleasant color for the eye.

Set up your tripodSee more lighting

examples at http://www.skychasers.net/

Sunrise SunsetSunrise Sunset

Be patient and prepared Underexpose Look for a frame or

landmark Again, use a tripod Shoot! Shoot! Shoot! Post editing is

essential Rick Sammon: http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MesymjGwuHo&feature=related

Christmas DisplaysChristmas DisplaysAuto mode setting for night

or low light photography. Switch to AV mode for more

control over the shot. Use a tripod, Set the ISO to 200. Set the aperture to f5.6 or f8Take a few pictures, adjust

the shutter speed, and keep shooting.

MoonMoonBest when the moon is close to the horizon and

there is something else in the shot, like a landmark or a tree. Similar to outdoor Holiday light displays, shooting at twilight is best.

Use a tripod, and zoom in as much as you can. Digitally enhance

F 6.3 1/640 ISO 200

Night & StarsNight & Stars

Shutter Priority - For many cameras, the maximum shutter time is between 1-30 seconds.

Bulb mode - Put the camera in Tv or M mode, then make the shutter speed slower and slower, until you get to the last one, which is Bulbs

Shutter will remain open as long as you keep the release depressed

Use post processing to bring out the light

Don’t forget the tripod

StarlightStarlightIf you want your stars to look like dots and not

lines, the exposure has to be less than 20 Sec.Up the ISO if needed

(10 minute exposure. Photo shot on assignment for "Nomad in Alaska's Outback," April 1969, National Geographic magazine)

FireworksFireworksTripod and flashlight is a must. Set your camera to Fireworks settingManual mode: ISO 200 (Cleanest shot),

aperture f/8 – f/16 (fireworks are quite bright)Shutter speed between 3 – 15 sec. Only adjust

the shutter speed.Find your spot in the sky…might need a wider

focal lengthFrame your shot…look for landmarks or

people watching.

LIGHTNINGLIGHTNING

F8 or thereabouts

100 ISOShutter ReleaseTripodFocus on the most remote thingWhen the lightning strikes, release the

shutter release

From Flickr: user Kuzeytachttp://www.flickr.com/photos/kuzeytac/2763734090/

Clouds Clouds

The most beautiful ones are the clouds above the horizon, close to the landscape.

At twilight or crack of dawn or after a storm these clouds may have astonishing colors.

Give intensity to the center of interest in the picture.

If the sky is expressionless, try to avoid the sky and change your prospective with creative space.

Moving SubjectMoving Subject

Leave room for the subject to move into

MotionMotion

Frozen Sharp Blurred

Calmness Calmness

A calm, windless atmosphere may sometimes be very useful for the landscape photographer

The wind alters flowers, leaves, trees, grass, lakes and water basins

It would probably be more cautious to use a tripod

WeatherWeather

Bad weather may be very good for taking pictures Fog, mist, snow or rain may give fantastic power

and impact to some every day landscapes.

Geographical position Geographical position

Whenever possible, try to place yourself at north or (especially) south from the landscape you want to take pictures of, because you will thus benefit from lateral (shadows) light.

This sort of light emphasizes the relief and textures, the shapes and shadows.

Simpler Rule: 10 or 2

Close-up Close-up

The best landscapes are usually those containing a powerful close-up.

Trees, bushes, rocks, bunches of grass or moss, dunes of sand, flowers, almost every subject may be used to create a particular depth in the image.

Such a detail may give a three-dimensional illusion, which is very important for the impact of the image.

Reflections Reflections

Peaceful waters offer perfect occasions for taking mirror images. This effect may be used in order to double the beauty of a landscape.

Consider converting to B&WConsider converting to B&W

B&W Adds DramaticsB&W Adds Dramatics

What does a picture tell youWhat does a picture tell you Put your camera away and enjoy the experience

POD - Lightning at Huntington Beach, Ohio

2008 National GeographicGrand Prize Winner, Josh BaldwinLower Wabakimi Lake, Ontario Canadahttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/grandcanyon/NV_PastWinners_01-2008.html

2007 National GeographicGrand Prize Winner, Tina Petrillo

Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park http://www.nationalgeographic.com/grandcanyon/NV_PastWinners_01-2007.html

2006 National GeographicGrand Prize Winner, Jason Behr

Gokyo Ri, Solukhumbu, Nepal http://www.nationalgeographic.com/grandcanyon/NV_PastWinners_01-2006.html

Landscape AssignmentLandscape Assignment

Capture the beauty or unique character of an rural or urban area and post on Flickr.