You will probably find at least a couple of landscape images on the walls of most people's homes. This suggests that that scenic pictures are extremely popular. Whilst the rules of landscape photography are simple, on the surface at least, concentration and skill is required to produce great landscape photography. The danger is to think the composition is already complete but you have to pay close attention to objects, light, shadows, and the equipment you use.

The same rules apply to all cameras, whether digital or traditional film cameras. Until artificial intelligence reaches new levels, we have to think for the camera. Cameras, tripods, zoom lenses and any other kind of photography tools you can name are just equipment to help us create landscape images.

The Rules for Creating Great Scenic Pictures

By knowing and applying a few basic rules to landscape photography, you can make your images more successful. If you can master two main points, you can create great landscape photography. These are:

1. Image Composition

It is vital to pay attention to the composition of any landscape photograph. Paying attention to detail can make the difference between a good and bad landscape image. Think carefully about how the elements in the scene are presented in the composition.

Ensure that objects are placed in the foreground to provide a real sense of depth in your scenic picture. To ensure the whole scene remains in focus, use a small aperture such as f/22.

2. Maximise and Manipulate Natural Light

If possible, try to shoot with natural light instead of using artificial light such as flashes or spotlights. Experiment with how a scene looks at different times of the day and pay close attention to light when setting up the shot. If the shot is to take place in bright light, consider the use of a filter.

Filters for Scenic Pictures

In certain situations, the camera can not record a scene in the the exact way that our eyes view it. At such times we use filters to enable the camera to create an image in the way we see it. The polarizing filter is the one filter you will need the most to take landscape photography. This is probably the most important filter available to the modern photographer and can be used with colour or black and white photography.

Tips for Taking Scenic Pictures

• To help make your image stable, use a tripod. This will increase the quality of the final image.
• Study your image from all angles to make sure you choose the optimal viewpoint for the photograph.
• Look for contrasts when shooting landscape photography. For example, avoid shooting a blue sky with blue water below. Look for white clouds or objects to provide focus.
• Don't be afraid to take a few minutes to set up the composition and take several practice shots before settling on the final image.

Practice Makes Perfect Landscape Photography

Hone and practice your scenic pictures. With modern photography you can review your photographs on your digital camera before leaving the scene. Even though your camera screen won't show you every detail of the scene, you can see enough to get a handle on the final image on the way to finding that perfect landscape picture.