Ma.gazin.es

Landscape Photography – After Light It’s All About Composition in Landscape Photography | By Jamie Paterson

You’ve heard time and time again that landscape photography is all about the natural light that nature provides to you at the time of taking the photograph. This is extremely true, but even if the light is perfect your photo won’t stand out unless you composed it in the best way that you can.

Okay, so what constitutes great composition is always going to be extremely subjective and there are no 100% right or wrong answer and yes sometime you have to go against the norm to tell your story. However, there are four major things that I look for when I’m taking a photo.

American PHOTO - Subscription American PHOTO is the premier showcase for outstanding photography. A reflection of contemporary culture through the camera's lens, it inspires professionals and sophisticated amateurs alike with its coverage of art, fashion, journalism celebrity, sports, politics and advertising. American PHOTO is a stunning visual commentary on our world, featuring masters of photography among others. Each issue also includes technical data on the featured images as well as the behind-the-scenes anecdotes that relate to the shot.

The first thing I always try to follow is the rule of thirds, do a Google search to find out more but essentially try to avoid having your horizons going straight through the middle of your photos and definitely try to avoid putting your subjects in the centre of your photo. If you’re taking a photo of a really impressive rock then don’t put it bang in the centre of your photo. Perhaps you could take a photo with ¾ sky and the rock placed on the right hand or left hand side it would make for a different and interesting landscape photograph. Always try to think outside of the box.

If I’m taking a landscape photograph of something like a mountain range that is a little distance away I always ensure that I include something that qualifies as foreground interest. Here’s an example, I want to take a photo of a hill that is perhaps 500M away, no just taking a photo of that hill would look pretty boring. If I managed to include a nice rock or tree in the foreground then that adds depth to the photograph and makes it significantly more interesting.

Using the same scenario as above another composition trick is to add leading lines into your photo to literally ‘lead’ people’s eyes towards the main subject in your photograph. So how could we include this in the above photo? Well we’ve found our hill and we’ve found our tree, is there a fence for example leading up to the direction of the hill (this in itself is also foreground interest), is there a creek running down from the hill as this could be used as a leading line as well. Leading lines work really well if you get them right.

One of the last composition techniques when taking landscape photographs I employ is called framing. What do you think might be more interesting? Taking a photo standing on a beach or standing back in the tree line with a shot of a branch at the top of my photo ‘framing’ my photo? Again do a search on Google images from examples of this.

So using a combination of great light, the rule of thirds, foreground interest, leading lines and framing you’ll be able to produce some stunning landscape photographs. If you have a look at some of my work you’ll see where I have tried to use at least one of these techniques in each photo.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Paterson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Landscape-Photography—After-Light-Its-All-About-Composition-in-Landscape-Photography&id=2462379

Not registered with eBay?
Click to sign up

MORNING LIGHT Black White PHOTOGRAPHY Litho LANDSCAPE

US $12.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 10:00:42 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

HIROSHI HAMAYA LANDSCAPES JAPAN PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK + CASE

US $29.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 17:57:39 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

PHOTOGRAPHY-LANDSCAPES-BRIDAL VEIL FALLS-ANSEL ADAMS

US $23.75 End Date: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 18:20:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $23.75 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Lee Frost's Landscape Photography: How to Take Spectacu

US $11.16 End Date: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 19:41:40 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $11.16 Buy it now | Add to watch list

5 Great Reasons to Landscape Your Home | By Brian Schmidt

Many home-owners see landscaping as a necessary evil. However if you look at landscaping in a different light you can see that a nicely landscaped yard can be a blessing and a definite asset. Investing time and money to plant a few shrubs, trees or flowers can provide benefits that will increase the value of your home, bolster your position in your community and give you a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually.

Why should you invest in landscaping?

We have all heard the phrase that you have one chance to make a first impression. When friends come to your home for the first time they judge you by the appearance of your home. And what is the first thing they see after your castle? Your landscaping of course. Along with your entertaining skills and your house-keeping, your landscaping can make that perfect first impression and possibly having your new friends for life. And remember that a well dressed landscape keeps on making those ideal first impressions.

Organic Gardening - Subscription Organic Gardening is a trusted source of gardening information that celebrates the pleasures of growing great tasting vegetables, breathtaking flowers and lush, chemical-free lawns. As the essential resource for any gardener, every issue of Organic Gardening is filled with fun, practical tips and easy advice you can use every day.

There’s No Place Like Home

We live in an age of fast pace and stress. At the end of a grueling day wouldn’t it be nice to come home to an inviting, relaxing special place – a place that gives you a sense of peace and comfort? As you approach your driveway you see the gorgeous crabapple in full blossom. You exit your car to the heady fragrance of the Hansa rose. You head to the front walk where the formality of the boxwoods reminds you that there is a sense of order in this world.

Those kinds of emotions are something that money cannot buy (unless you’re buying landscaping).

Maintaining your landscaping yourself can be very stress relieving. We have extensive gardens and I personally spend many hours a week in the garden. Some of the chores can be taxing, but all are very relaxing helping me to unwind from the hustle and bustle of today’s lifestyles.

Healthy Benefits

Moving on from the spiritual well-being we come to the physical benefits of landscaping. Having a home landscape with trees, shrubs and plants can actually increase the air quality around your home. In today’s world, this is worth its weight in gold! Better air quality equates to a healthier body.

If you choose to landscape your yard yourself or even if you choose to maintain your landscape personally you get the added benefit of the exercise involved in the physical work. A word of caution though… Don’t overdo it. Leave a bit of work for tomorrow so that you can get your exercise and unwind from future stresses.

Landscaping – Environmentally Speaking

We have actually touched on this earlier. Our world needs healthy plants to provide cleaner air to breathe. Every tree, shrub or plant that you include in your landscape plan helps the planet. Now a couple of trees doesn’t seem like much in the global picture but if everyone globally planted and maintained a couple of trees, how much impact would that have?

We have all been introduced to the concept of building and living green. Reduce, re-use and conserve have all become green catch-words. Believe it or not, landscaping can be a big part of reduce and conserve (while conserving our money as well!). Well placed trees and shrubs can reduce the amount of heat gain in a home thereby reducing the amount of air-conditioning required thereby conserving our energy resources and reducing our carbon footprint. The amount of reduction can offset the cost of the landscaping in a very short period of time.

Not only will you benefit today, but your children will benefit for years to come. And by showing them the way now, we can feel confident when we turn over the job of sustaining the environment to them.

Let’s Talk Assets

So far, we have talked about all of the physical, spiritual and emotional benefits to landscaping your yard. Now let’s talk cash!

Well. maybe not cash in your pocket or cash in the bank but definitely a boost in your asset portfolio. A poorly landscaped or unkempt yard can drag the value of your home down. On the flip side, a nicely landscaped and manicured yard can dramatically increase your property value.

A small investment if landscaping can provide you with many benefits – increased self-esteem, increased health and an increased financial portfolio. What are you waiting for?

Brian A Schmidt is the author and publisher of a Prefab Metal Building Kits website. He has been a construction company owner and long time construction manager for a Commercial Metal Building Kit contractor and designer-estimator for a low-rise, light-gauge Metal Residential Building Kit fabricator.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Schmidt
http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Great-Reasons-to-Landscape-Your-Home&id=2464915