Discover how to shoot and create eye-catching images with 11 inspiring projects for taking your scenics to the next level
Capturing and editing a great landscape photograph is deeply satisfying. But attaching a ‘fine art’ label to it introduces an extra element that will distinguish it from a typical landscape image and elevate it into something that can be viewed again and again, standing the test of time. This timeless quality is what will make us want to frame the image and hang it on the wall, as it evokes something deeper and more compelling than just a pretty view.
If you imagine a moment where a bunch of keen photographers arrive at the same great viewpoint, there’s a good chance that they will all capture similar-looking shots. So the question is: what can you do to make your shot stand out from the rest, and earn the ‘fine art’ label?
This will usually come down to two factors: either the way you position and set up your camera to shoot, or the choices you make afterwards in the way you process the files you’ve captured. The mysterious ‘extra element’ you need is hard to pin down, so we’ve devised a series of projects and ideas that will inspire you to seek it out, and produce landscapes with a different feel to those that are ultimately destined to find themselves consigned to the ‘pleasant-but-disposable’ category.
1 CAPTURE EPIC COMPOSITIONS
Before we get into the different techniques you can use to produce stunning fine-art shots of landscape scenes, it’s worth going over some the essentials of photography that will stand you in good stead. The basic principle of considering your composition carefully before pressing the shutter will help to elevate your captures. Below are three reasons why this image works…
1FOCAL POINTS
At your location, study the scene so that you can find focal points to base your shot around. Here, note the triangulation of focal points: the two stones in the foreground were chosen as the main focal point of the photo; as a long exposure was envisaged, it was evident that the water would look dynamic around these stones.
2 COMPOSITION
This image is a great example of using the rule of thirds to good effect. As seen above, the horizon and the two stones neatly fit into a rule-of-thirds grid, making this image well balanced.
