What is seasonal landscape photography?
Photography is about capturing moments in time and space. Seasonal landscape photography is a way of telling a story through a series of images depicting the changing seasons. The idea behind this type of photography is to use the season as a backdrop for an abstract image rather than to document a specific location or event.
When photographing a scene, you must consider whether the landscape will look interesting throughout the year. You must also consider the changing light as the seasons change, and how that will affect your photography. You can use long-exposure techniques to create a subtle glow in areas of the image where the light is strong, or you can use a high-speed shutter speed to freeze the action as the light changes. When shooting in the daytime, you can create interesting effects by using flash. You can use flash to illuminate objects and create dramatic effects, such as lighting up the sun at midday, or create silhouettes by using a flash to create a silhouette of a tree against the setting sun.
The key to making a successful seasonal landscape photograph is to work out a plan, select the location, and practice. A good plan means you are less likely to miss the moment. Choosing the right location means having a destination in mind but also knowing when and where to expect the best light. Practicing means getting used to different situations and seeing what works and doesn’t work.
Tips for Seasonal Landscape Photography
The changing of the seasons brings with it changes in weather patterns, and this in turn affects how we see the landscape and how we capture it on camera. With the change in the weather come different types of light, different angles of the sun, changing weather conditions and different atmospheric conditions.
The best time to photograph is in early morning or late evening when there is more light than there is later in the day, and the temperature is still pleasant. At these times you will find that the colours are vivid and that the light is soft. The atmosphere is still calm and the air still fresh and crisp.
To capture the best light and atmosphere, choose a location where the weather is changeable, and go early, before the sun has warmed up the land, or just before it sets. Avoid taking photos at midday or at the height of the heat of the day.
Shooting in winter can be very challenging. There will be more light in the middle of the day and the sun will be high in the sky, but the cold may cause the lens to fog up. The landscape will appear frosted and white and it will be harder to capture the rich colours of the winter scene. It’s better to visit landscapes that have a snow covered backdrop than to shoot landscapes in winter when there is a thin layer of ice on the ground.
When shooting landscapes in winter, keep an eye out for reflections. These can be quite dramatic and add an extra dimension to your landscape shots. The best places to look for reflections are ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. The reflection will be seen in the water, and the way the water catches the light will make the reflection really stand out.
When you are out in the winter landscape, make sure you bring plenty of warm clothes. You will need to cover your legs and hands to avoid the cold getting to you and making you shake and freeze.
Finally, remember that when you shoot landscapes, your images will always be best when the whole scene is not too busy. Try not to put too many elements in one frame. When you look at the image on your computer screen, you will see that it looks less cluttered when there are fewer objects in the foreground. Try not to put more than two or three objects in the same frame.
If you want to practice photography, you can use your digital camera as an introduction to landscape photography. To start with, you might want to download the camera manual and then you can start experimenting. It doesn’t matter if the image is not perfect. What matters is that you have taken the photo, and then you can refine it later.
Photography is a skill and you can improve your ability by practising. You will need to take lots of pictures of different landscapes and try to get close ups, mid-shots and back-shots. Then you can look at your photographs on your computer screen and study them closely to see what you have done wrong.
You can practise taking photos in the following locations:
• A park or garden
• The countryside
• The coastline
• A woodland area
You can even practise on a rainy day!
Try to find a location that is interesting and diverse. You can experiment with a variety of shooting angles. You will need to use a wide angle lens, a zoom lens, a macro lens and a telephoto lens. Use different shutter speeds.
Use a tripod to steady your camera. Use a cable release or a remote release to prevent the camera from shaking. Be careful not to let the wind catch the camera.
Practise taking landscape photos of the following:
• A river
• Waterfalls
• A lake
• Snow-covered hills
• A snowy forest
• A snowy meadow
• Ice-covered fields
• A field of poppies
• A sea of flowers
You will find that the more you practice, the more you will enjoy photography and the better your images will be.