Photo: Courthouse Butte, Sedona, Arizona

Often, when new photographers view my landscape photography, the first question asked is regarding the equipment I use. The camera used is perhaps one of the least important factors in creating appealing images. I usually buy the cheapest DSLR available with kit lens. More expensive equipment does not mean better photos. Most of my photos were shot with the modestly priced Nikon D40 and kit lens. That is still a very nice camera that can produce images that equal cameras costing 3x its price. The truth is, there are really no bad cameras being made. Sony, Nikon, and Pentax use the same sensors (manufactured by Sony) so you can produce similar results with all of them. Only Canon manufactures its own sensors. The results from cameras in the same price range are usually very similar.

Three things result in better photos in landscape photography. Here are three important factors in getting good results.

1. Use a tripod. Many times when people complain about unsharp or blurry images it is usually because the camera is not held perfectly still. A tripod is the best way to get sharp images especially if you’re shooting landscapes. Also, it forces you to slow down and contemplate the composition you have in mind. Developing a “good eye” for composition is easier when you contemplate what you are shooting. That is made more difficult when you handhold a camera. Spontaneity is not conducive to good landscape photography. Study the landscape as it is seen through the finder. Slow down. The tripod will help you to do that. A tripod will also allow you to use the lowest ISO setting on your DSLR camera for best image quality and lowest noise.

2. Always shoot at apertures between f:8 to F:11 when shooting landscapes. This suggestion applies specifically to DSLR cameras (excluding full frame DSLR’s). These are the sharpest apertures for most lenses and adequate for good depth of field in landscape photography. This is especially important when using cheaper kit lenses. They may produce softer images at wider apertures and inadaquate depth of field. Smaller apertures will not produce more usable depth of field and also may not produce results as sharp as the F:8-F:11 range. When you stay within the sharpest range of the lens you guarantee the best possible results especially if plan to print enlargements larger than 8×10.

3. Wait for good light. Landscape photos taken in the early morning or late afternoon to evening will have warmer more appealing color because the sun is lower in the sky. If you shoot in midday the light is harshest and results in very dark shadows and glare. This is probably the best advice I can give. I rarely shoot earlier than 3:00 in the afternoon (I’m not a morning person) because the light is softer, warmer and creates very pleasing color in the photos. The right light can make a very common scene look wonderful. Most of the places I shoot are not spectacular in themselves, but when the light is right they can look special. Early evenings when you start getting magenta and reddish streaks of color in the sky is one of my favorite times to shoot. Also, partially cloudy days with bright sun, rich blue skies and white billowy clouds make a nice background for landscapes as well. The white clouds bounce light back into the landscape, softening shadows which improves images.

Learning to judge the quality of light in a scene improves with experience. Here is a good way to enhance your ability to judge light conditions: Shoot a convenient location in all sorts of light at different times of day and in different seasons. Study the photos you create. What are the light conditions, time of day, and weather patterns in the most pleasing images? This study will help you to see the major impact light has on your image quality. You will improve your ability to judge the quality of outdoor light when planning a photo shoot. You will soon discover that this is the single most important factor in good landscape photography!

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The photo at the start of this article was captured with a Nikon D40, 18-55mm kit lens, polarizer and tripod. The photo below was captured with a Sony Alpha A200, kit lens, polarizer, and tripod. Both were shot at the camera’s lowest ISO speed.

Photo: Papago Park, Phoenix, Arizona Sunset in Blue