Landscape photography: the basics

In short: Landscape photography shows nature and places in a way that lets you feel their space, light and mood. Good light, a well-thought-out composition and patience matter most.

In more detail: Photographers often work with a wide-angle lens and a large depth of field so that both the foreground and the horizon are sharp. A telephoto lens, however, can pick out equally striking details from a landscape.

In detail

• Light: Shortly after sunrise and before sunset the light is soft and warm, and long shadows emphasise shapes; midday sun, by contrast, often looks flat and harsh.
• Foreground: A rock, a flower or a path in the foreground gives the picture depth and leads the eye into it.
• Horizon: A straight horizon looks calm; placing it off-centre emphasises either the sky or the land.
• Aperture: Medium apertures such as f/8 to f/11 give high sharpness and a large depth of field with many lenses.
• Tripod: In low light, with a small aperture and low ISO, a tripod prevents blurred pictures.
• Polarising filter: It can darken a blue sky, reduce reflections on water and leaves and make colours look richer.
• Weather: Fog, storm clouds or snow often make landscapes more exciting than a cloudless sky.
• Planning: Maps and apps showing the position of the sun help you reach the right place at the right time.
• Respect for nature: Staying on paths, respecting protected areas and leaving no trace are part of good practice (brennweite-und-bildwinkel, blende-und-schaerfentiefe, bildkomposition-goldener-schnitt).