MASTER FINE-ART LANDSCAPES

HOW TO MASTER

Discover how to shoot and create eye-catching images with 11 inspiring projects for taking your scenics to the next level.

By Jon Adams and Andrew James

Capturing and editing a great landscape photograph is deeply C 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 similarlooking shots. So the question is: what could you do to make your shot stand out from the rest and get the ‘fine art’ label?

This will usually come down to two options – 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 – in turn producing landscapes with a different feel to those that are ultimately destined to find themselves consigned to the ‘pleasant-but-disposable’ category. 

Captured on a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM lens at a low angle on a tripod, this carefully composed image also benefits from a long exposure to create movement in the water, resulting in a fantastic fine-art landscape photo.

1 CAPTURE EPIC COMPOSITIONS 

Take a step back and compose your scene before you press the shutter

Before we get into the different techniques you can use to produce stunning fine-art shots of landscape scenes, it’s good to consider the basics 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. Here are three reasons why the main image on the previous page works…

Try an ultra-wide

An ultra-wide-angle lens can add dynamism to your landscapes. Technically ‘rectilinear’ lenses, they are designed to keep lines straight for the most accurate rendition.

PRO ADVICE THREE TIPS FOR SUPERB SCENICS

1 Focal points

At your location, study the scene so 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. Many cameras have a rule-of-thirds grid overlay in their viewfinders, which is a very useful feature for photographers who shoot landscape scenes.

3 Leading lines

These are important for leading the viewer into a shot. As you can see above, the two main rocks draw the viewer up the central axis of the image towards the outcrop in the distance. The addition of the long exposure in the water actually adds movement and action as well as additional leading lines for the viewer, drawing the eye to the horizon.