A good landscape photographer arrives at
a scene early, and waits for the scene to unfold. Waiting patiently for changing
colours and changing mood, which all go along with the change of the weather.
Vital to all of this is light - natural
light and all the elements it brings to a scene.
To be able to use light correctly and
creatively we first must understand it. Once we understand it we can use it to
our advantage in creating beautifully, dramatic landscape images.
There are three basic qualities of
light: intensity, direction and colour.
Intensity: refers to the strength of
light. If the sun is high in the sky, light can be harsh and too strong. Cloudy
days bring soft and defused light.
: refers to the strength of light. If
the sun is high in the sky, light can be harsh and too strong. Cloudy days bring
soft and defused light.
Direction: this refers to light
placement. There are three categories of light placement: front, back and
side-lighting. Side lighting produces more texture between light and shade.
: this refers to light placement. There
are three categories of light placement: front, back and side-lighting. Side
lighting produces more texture between light and shade.
Colour: the colour of sunlight varies
depending upon conditions and time of day. If the sun shines at the beginning or
the end of the day, the colour of the light will be much warmer, and will lead
to a much more dramatic scene.
: the colour of sunlight varies
depending upon conditions and time of day. If the sun shines at the beginning or
the end of the day, the colour of the light will be much warmer, and will lead
to a much more dramatic scene.
While all three are different qualities
of light, they all have another important factor in common - time of day.
Choosing the correct time of day is a foremost in capturing a scene at its best.
The intensity of light brings out different colours in a landscape image.
Colours in landscape photography depend on light available and also what time
you shoot a scene, and where you place your camera.
Early morning shots will cast a red hue
in your images. This only lasts a few minutes after sunrise. As the morning
progresses the red hue turns to yellow. This normally lasts while the sun is low
in the sky. Long shadows are cast along a scene during these early hours. These
can add mood to an image. Come mid-day the sun is high in the sky. The shadows
are gone. This is the best time of the day for landscape photographers.
As the day turns to evening and the sun
gradually falls in the sky, the sun casts stronger colours similar to morning.
Sunset can be just as exciting as sunrise.
Time and light come hand in hand. Using
both together will most certainly bring out the best in your landscape
photographs. We ourselves decide what direction we use, do we use the sun at our
backs, or is it better to use it at our side? I prefer side-lighting or facing
the sun.
If you're unsure go to a scene and take
a few images. Mark the ground so you can place the camera in the exact same spot
and return a few hours later. Return to the scene several times and take notes
of light direction. Record the different exposures you take your images. Compare
the shots from the different times of day, and the answer will unfold in front
of you.
Understanding natural light develops
your ability to create better images. You'll then start to see the beauty of
light and colours in a new and exciting way.
