Senior critic. 1582 forum posts and 67 photos.
Summary of ‘Top ten things to look for in a landscape image’
This was a very interesting exercise to read everyone’s comments and points of view as to what makes a successful landscape image. I’ve summarised all the points from the discussion thread http://1x.com/discussions/13806/top-ten-things-to-look-for-in-/ and formed a list of ten things to look out for in a landscape image; you can use whether shooting or evaluating other people’s images.
Not in any particular order but generally the most common points from the top. I’ve included photo illustrations where appropriate, forgive me for using some of my own images but it was easier than searching the galleries in some cases.
Unfortunately I couldn't get the thumbnails working as it displayed random images, sorry.
Composition
This came out as the most popular but probably because it has a few elements that make up the heading.
Look for a balance of the elements within the image, a sense of harmony between these elements perhaps.
IMAGE: Composition harmony
http://1x.com/photos/member/9375/17631/
A strong foreground object to anchor the image leading to a mid-ground then onto the back-ground is a good rule of thumb to use to draw the viewer through the image.
IMAGE: Fore/mid/background
http://1x.com/photos/member/1797/25386/
The rule of thirds is a good guide to use as well where the frame is divided into 9 equal squares. Often placing strong compositional elements on some of the dissecting third lines can enhance the composition. Skies placed along these third lines can be done to good effect. The perspective and positioning of the camera can have dramatic effects as well especially if using a wide angle lens close to the ground and a foreground object.
IMAGE: Thirds rule
http://1x.com/photos/member/263/17245/
Of Course these are only guidelines and they can be broken to good effect.
IMAGE: Sky 50/50 split
http://1x.com/photos/member/9766/24781/
Subject and Point of Interest
A few people commented that the subject and the subject interest were high on the list, me included.
A strong focal point was mentioned a few times, this will be an element within the scene that attracts your attention and usually holds it, the “raison d’être of the image” as one commentator put it. Sometimes it can be the reason for the image such as a prominent boat, bridge or mountain for example or it could be a smaller but very significant element that the eye instantly latches onto and holds attention. Often in critique you hear people talking of their eye wandering all over and nothing to focus on; well this is where a strong point of interest comes into play.
IMAGE: Strong focal point
http://1x.com/photos/member/263/17445/
IMAGE: Smaller focal point
http://1x.com/photos/member/12659/24166/
Light
Another item right up there as being popular is light and how it has an important role deciphering and accentuating a landscape image. Many people talked about the type of light and the quality of it.
Early morning or late evening light is a much warmer temperature in terms of its colour often producing glowing reds and yellows which can do wonders to accentuate a landscape. It is a much softer light and less harsh than in mid day and in conjunction with the shadows that are created with the low Sun can be put to great effect to bring out all the highlights of a landscape.
IMAGE: Shadows and warm light
http://1x.com/photos/member/14617/21922/
Diffuse light can be used also to add a sense of mystery and mood to an image, early morning mist or daytime fog can act as a huge soft box reducing contrast difficulties.
IMAGE: Misty/Fog
http://1x.com/photos/member/12231/21638/
Partly cloud days can act as filters as well to create patchworks of light across the land and welcome indirect light in places such as rivers and water where direct light can cause contrast problems.
IMAGE: Partly cloudy
http://1x.com/photos/member/2881/23620/
Overcast and wet days should not be forgotten as well as very atmospheric moving water shots can be achieved easily with subtle diffuse light.
IMAGE: Slow water image
http://1x.com/photos/member/14617/24390/
Not to forget lack of light as well, coastal beach shots can start to come alive once the sun has actually set creating wonderful hues of sky colour. Wet sandy beaches can reflect good quality light well after the Sun has set.
IMAGE: Beach after sunset
http://1x.com/photos/member/14617/23188/
Mood
Often people mentioned a sense of connection with the image, that there needed to be some quality that transcended time and place. Landscapes can evoke emotions and portray a mood such as calmness and tranquillity. I quite often get a feeling of exhilaration from other member’s mountain shots for example or even something simple as ‘I wish I was there’ type feeling.
IMAGE: Mountain exhilaration
http://1x.com/photos/member/137/463/
To portray mood in an image I think it can help if you are feeling these thinks at the time of capturing the image as well.
IMAGE: Mood of calmness
http://1x.com/photos/member/12146/24527/
Lines, Curves and Shapes
Another popular item to look for or include in landscapes is lines and shapes. The obvious lines are ones that you physically see in an image and are leading you to a point in the image; these can be walls, a river, paths etc.
IMAGE: Leading lines in composition
http://1x.com/photos/member/10079/24156/
There are not so obvious lines as well but certain strong elements that gently persuade you to view an image in a certain order, these could be a few strategic rocks on a beach for example or a certain cloud formation that points to way to an object on the horizon.
IMAGE: Not so obvious lines
http://1x.com/photos/member/2990/7132/
Of course there are just pleasing lines as well, the gentle curves of rolling Tuscany farmland comes to mind straight away. Repetition of lines in a ploughed field have a strong interest element.
IMAGE: Tuscany lines
http://1x.com/photos/member/9017/18875/
Shapes within a landscape as well are important; many times the number three has featured heavily in compositions to form triangles between elements. Elements within circles, static, increasing or decreasing ones have been used to good effect, although I have to say I’m not really conscious too much when on location and setting up a composition about the merits of the Fibonacci sequence in a landscape! You’ll need to do your own research on this one!
IMAGE: Triangles
http://1x.com/photos/member/3087/22972/
Colour
The element of colour was mentioned a few times. Look for complimentary and pleasing combinations, the sunset ones come to mind for the combination of reds, yellows and blues in skies.
IMAGE: Colour combinations
http://1x.com/photos/member/8471/16751/
I also like reds, browns and greens together but rarely like greens and blues together. I often like to tone a whole image so it predominantly has just one or two main colours and a colour theme if you will, seems more harmonised as an image that way.
IMAGE: Colour tone overall
http://1x.com/photos/member/14617/22597/
Pastel tones can have a soothing effect as well; go back to Tuscany for this as it seems to have a smooth sensual feel to it because of its colours.
IMAGE: Tuscany colours
http://1x.com/photos/member/2983/13273/
Of course there is black and white as well and some images are more endearing due to being mono. I’m no expert in this field so will just so a few images where it is put to good use.
IMAGE: mono
http://1x.com/photos/member/20962/24924/
IMAGE: mono
http://1x.com/photos/member/12012/23008/
Weather Conditions
A few people mentioned the weather as being a factor to look out for when taking a landscape. This I will wholeheartedly endorse as often I think I’m photographing a weather phenomena rather than the actual landscape directly.
Cloudy but sunny days can provide filtered and shaded light creating patches across the landscape adding contrasts.
IMAGE: Cloud/sunny
http://1x.com/photos/member/12404/20876/
Stormy weather adds drama and more mood aspects to landscapes and don’t forget shooting in the rain, I find flowing water is especially good to shoot when overcast and wet.
IMAGE: Overcast water image
http://1x.com/photos/member/14617/25368/
Of course there is fine weather as well; you often get a different feeling of calmness and peace in images of fine weather.
IMAGE: Fine weather image
http://1x.com/photos/member/13249/24058/
Textures
Soft textures such as grasses and crops gently swaying in the wind or shots within woods and forests all suggest a soft feel to images whereas the hard rocky outline of a coastal shot give a different edge.
IMAGE: Soft grasses
http://1x.com/photos/member/2983/14412/
IMAGE: hard coastline
http://1x.com/photos/member/15022/21884/
Water can be made to portray a texture as well; often the slow water milky effect can soften an image and used to contrast against hard rocks.
IMAGE: Soft water/hard rocks
http://1x.com/photos/member/5092/18317/
Point of Focus/DOF
There were a couple mentions of where the point of focus in an image has an effect. Points of focus with shallow Depth of Field can be used to train the eye to a certain area of the image where more attention is intended.
IMAGE: Shallow DOF
http://1x.com/photos/member/11626/20832/
Larger Depth of Field is usually employed to have the whole image in acceptable sharpness from front to back especially in scenes with a strong foreground element, a mid-ground and background.
IMAGE: Large DOF
http://1x.com/photos/member/16722/25127/
Miscellaneous
There was the odd mention of creativity and story but surprisingly for me very few people mentioned that story was an element to be included in a landscape image. Maybe the mood and atmosphere of an image is enough of a requirement to satisfy the story content. Possibly images with people in have more of a story content but few people mentioned that people were an important element in landscapes. I think when people are included in an image then the image tends to get categorised differently anyway towards what the image is trying to convey.
IMAGE: People/story
http://1x.com/photos/member/6509/16036/
IMAGE: People/story
http://1x.com/photos/member/16663/25531/
Last edited by John Parminter at 20090624 20:40:39
This was a very interesting exercise to read everyone’s comments and points of view as to what makes a successful landscape image. I’ve summarised all the points from the discussion thread http://1x.com/discussions/13806/top-ten-things-to-look-for-in-/ and formed a list of ten things to look out for in a landscape image; you can use whether shooting or evaluating other people’s images.
Not in any particular order but generally the most common points from the top. I’ve included photo illustrations where appropriate, forgive me for using some of my own images but it was easier than searching the galleries in some cases.
Unfortunately I couldn't get the thumbnails working as it displayed random images, sorry.
Composition
This came out as the most popular but probably because it has a few elements that make up the heading.
Look for a balance of the elements within the image, a sense of harmony between these elements perhaps.
IMAGE: Composition harmony
http://1x.com/photos/member/9375/17631/
A strong foreground object to anchor the image leading to a mid-ground then onto the back-ground is a good rule of thumb to use to draw the viewer through the image.
IMAGE: Fore/mid/background
http://1x.com/photos/member/1797/25386/
The rule of thirds is a good guide to use as well where the frame is divided into 9 equal squares. Often placing strong compositional elements on some of the dissecting third lines can enhance the composition. Skies placed along these third lines can be done to good effect. The perspective and positioning of the camera can have dramatic effects as well especially if using a wide angle lens close to the ground and a foreground object.
IMAGE: Thirds rule
http://1x.com/photos/member/263/17245/
Of Course these are only guidelines and they can be broken to good effect.
IMAGE: Sky 50/50 split
http://1x.com/photos/member/9766/24781/
Subject and Point of Interest
A few people commented that the subject and the subject interest were high on the list, me included.
A strong focal point was mentioned a few times, this will be an element within the scene that attracts your attention and usually holds it, the “raison d’être of the image” as one commentator put it. Sometimes it can be the reason for the image such as a prominent boat, bridge or mountain for example or it could be a smaller but very significant element that the eye instantly latches onto and holds attention. Often in critique you hear people talking of their eye wandering all over and nothing to focus on; well this is where a strong point of interest comes into play.
IMAGE: Strong focal point
http://1x.com/photos/member/263/17445/
IMAGE: Smaller focal point
http://1x.com/photos/member/12659/24166/
Light
Another item right up there as being popular is light and how it has an important role deciphering and accentuating a landscape image. Many people talked about the type of light and the quality of it.
Early morning or late evening light is a much warmer temperature in terms of its colour often producing glowing reds and yellows which can do wonders to accentuate a landscape. It is a much softer light and less harsh than in mid day and in conjunction with the shadows that are created with the low Sun can be put to great effect to bring out all the highlights of a landscape.
IMAGE: Shadows and warm light
http://1x.com/photos/member/14617/21922/
Diffuse light can be used also to add a sense of mystery and mood to an image, early morning mist or daytime fog can act as a huge soft box reducing contrast difficulties.
IMAGE: Misty/Fog
http://1x.com/photos/member/12231/21638/
Partly cloud days can act as filters as well to create patchworks of light across the land and welcome indirect light in places such as rivers and water where direct light can cause contrast problems.
IMAGE: Partly cloudy
http://1x.com/photos/member/2881/23620/
Overcast and wet days should not be forgotten as well as very atmospheric moving water shots can be achieved easily with subtle diffuse light.
IMAGE: Slow water image
http://1x.com/photos/member/14617/24390/
Not to forget lack of light as well, coastal beach shots can start to come alive once the sun has actually set creating wonderful hues of sky colour. Wet sandy beaches can reflect good quality light well after the Sun has set.
IMAGE: Beach after sunset
http://1x.com/photos/member/14617/23188/
Mood
Often people mentioned a sense of connection with the image, that there needed to be some quality that transcended time and place. Landscapes can evoke emotions and portray a mood such as calmness and tranquillity. I quite often get a feeling of exhilaration from other member’s mountain shots for example or even something simple as ‘I wish I was there’ type feeling.
IMAGE: Mountain exhilaration
http://1x.com/photos/member/137/463/
To portray mood in an image I think it can help if you are feeling these thinks at the time of capturing the image as well.
IMAGE: Mood of calmness
http://1x.com/photos/member/12146/24527/
Lines, Curves and Shapes
Another popular item to look for or include in landscapes is lines and shapes. The obvious lines are ones that you physically see in an image and are leading you to a point in the image; these can be walls, a river, paths etc.
IMAGE: Leading lines in composition
http://1x.com/photos/member/10079/24156/
There are not so obvious lines as well but certain strong elements that gently persuade you to view an image in a certain order, these could be a few strategic rocks on a beach for example or a certain cloud formation that points to way to an object on the horizon.
IMAGE: Not so obvious lines
http://1x.com/photos/member/2990/7132/
Of course there are just pleasing lines as well, the gentle curves of rolling Tuscany farmland comes to mind straight away. Repetition of lines in a ploughed field have a strong interest element.
IMAGE: Tuscany lines
http://1x.com/photos/member/9017/18875/
Shapes within a landscape as well are important; many times the number three has featured heavily in compositions to form triangles between elements. Elements within circles, static, increasing or decreasing ones have been used to good effect, although I have to say I’m not really conscious too much when on location and setting up a composition about the merits of the Fibonacci sequence in a landscape! You’ll need to do your own research on this one!
IMAGE: Triangles
http://1x.com/photos/member/3087/22972/
Colour
The element of colour was mentioned a few times. Look for complimentary and pleasing combinations, the sunset ones come to mind for the combination of reds, yellows and blues in skies.
IMAGE: Colour combinations
http://1x.com/photos/member/8471/16751/
I also like reds, browns and greens together but rarely like greens and blues together. I often like to tone a whole image so it predominantly has just one or two main colours and a colour theme if you will, seems more harmonised as an image that way.
IMAGE: Colour tone overall
http://1x.com/photos/member/14617/22597/
Pastel tones can have a soothing effect as well; go back to Tuscany for this as it seems to have a smooth sensual feel to it because of its colours.
IMAGE: Tuscany colours
http://1x.com/photos/member/2983/13273/
Of course there is black and white as well and some images are more endearing due to being mono. I’m no expert in this field so will just so a few images where it is put to good use.
IMAGE: mono
http://1x.com/photos/member/20962/24924/
IMAGE: mono
http://1x.com/photos/member/12012/23008/
Weather Conditions
A few people mentioned the weather as being a factor to look out for when taking a landscape. This I will wholeheartedly endorse as often I think I’m photographing a weather phenomena rather than the actual landscape directly.
Cloudy but sunny days can provide filtered and shaded light creating patches across the landscape adding contrasts.
IMAGE: Cloud/sunny
http://1x.com/photos/member/12404/20876/
Stormy weather adds drama and more mood aspects to landscapes and don’t forget shooting in the rain, I find flowing water is especially good to shoot when overcast and wet.
IMAGE: Overcast water image
http://1x.com/photos/member/14617/25368/
Of course there is fine weather as well; you often get a different feeling of calmness and peace in images of fine weather.
IMAGE: Fine weather image
http://1x.com/photos/member/13249/24058/
Textures
Soft textures such as grasses and crops gently swaying in the wind or shots within woods and forests all suggest a soft feel to images whereas the hard rocky outline of a coastal shot give a different edge.
IMAGE: Soft grasses
http://1x.com/photos/member/2983/14412/
IMAGE: hard coastline
http://1x.com/photos/member/15022/21884/
Water can be made to portray a texture as well; often the slow water milky effect can soften an image and used to contrast against hard rocks.
IMAGE: Soft water/hard rocks
http://1x.com/photos/member/5092/18317/
Point of Focus/DOF
There were a couple mentions of where the point of focus in an image has an effect. Points of focus with shallow Depth of Field can be used to train the eye to a certain area of the image where more attention is intended.
IMAGE: Shallow DOF
http://1x.com/photos/member/11626/20832/
Larger Depth of Field is usually employed to have the whole image in acceptable sharpness from front to back especially in scenes with a strong foreground element, a mid-ground and background.
IMAGE: Large DOF
http://1x.com/photos/member/16722/25127/
Miscellaneous
There was the odd mention of creativity and story but surprisingly for me very few people mentioned that story was an element to be included in a landscape image. Maybe the mood and atmosphere of an image is enough of a requirement to satisfy the story content. Possibly images with people in have more of a story content but few people mentioned that people were an important element in landscapes. I think when people are included in an image then the image tends to get categorised differently anyway towards what the image is trying to convey.
IMAGE: People/story
http://1x.com/photos/member/6509/16036/
IMAGE: People/story
http://1x.com/photos/member/16663/25531/
Last edited by John Parminter at 20090624 20:40:39
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