Landscape photography tips and gear recommendations

A landscape photographer specialises in capturing photographs of natural environments, often aiming to evoke a sense of place and atmosphere through their images.

Landscape photography specifically focuses on natural scenes, often requiring different techniques and equipment compared to other genres like portrait or street photography.

Wide-angle lenses are typically preferred for landscape photography as they have the ability to capture expansive scenes and deliver a greater depth of field.

Cameras with high dynamic range and good resolution are ideal for landscape photography, as they can capture detailed scenes in varying lighting conditions.

Tripods are beneficial for landscape photography, but not essential. They help with sharp images by eliminating camera shake, especially important for slow shutter speeds used in when capturing scenes such as silky water or star trails. Tripods also provide more flexibility for precise composition and techniques like HDR and panoramas. However, if you are shooting during bright daylight with a fast shutter speed, you can achieve good results handheld.

50mm lenses can capture landscapes, but we’d recommend wider focal lengths (below 50mm). However, a 50mm lens can still be useful for creating more intimate landscape shots focusing on specific elements.

The best aperture for landscape photography depends on the desired effect. A small aperture (high f-number) creates a deep depth of field, bringing both foreground and background into sharp focus, which is great for capturing the vastness of a landscape. Wider apertures (low f-number) blur the background, isolating your subject and creating a more artistic feel.

Wide focal lengths (generally below 35mm) are most popular for landscape photography because they allow you to capture a broader view of the scene. However, the ideal focal length can vary depending on the specific landscape you're photographing. Telephoto lenses (longer focal lengths) can be useful for compressing the scene or focusing on distant elements.