Light and Landscape Photography
As a landscape photographer you are always ‘searching for the great light’; the light and moreso the quality of light is all important. It’s no secret that the best light falls between blue hour to golden hour in the morning and the reverse in the evening; golden hour through to blue hour. Here the light is soft and smooth with subtle gradations from light to shadow and tinged with beautiful tones, textures and colours. In contrast, the middle of the day when the sun is bright and more overhead bring harsh light and sharp, dark shadows. The problem with shooting during these good periods is that you must be at your location early and fully prepared, as the light changes and disappears very quickly – blink and you’ll miss the shot!
Of course there is the other obvious problem for some who think that 5 o’clock comes but once in a day, but there aren’t too many suggestions I could give to help on that one!
Different light, maybe at a different time of the day, can change who entire look and feel of a landscape. Below are three similar shots from Mt Bromo Volcano, from the top as the afternoon sun was setting, secondly at sunrise and at the bottom, slightly earlier just after dawn.
How do you find the best shots in new locations?
For anyone looking to shoot beautiful landscapes, you should look no further than New Zealand (apart from Australia of course ). New Zealand offers a wealth of variety in terms of scapes from the luscious green rolling fields to the snow-capped, rugged mountain tops. Sothe problem most of us will face is ‘I only have a limited time, how do I see it all; where do I go?’ Add to that the country is split across two islands!
While I have been to New Zealand numerous times, my advice from a photographer’s perspective would be to find a professional workshop or tour with a talented, local professional photographer. To this end my last experience in NZ was outstanding. While there are numerous photographers willing to offer their services, I believe you could do no better than signing up for a tour with the guys from Capture New Zealand. The tours are led by professional landscape photographer, Phillip Bartlett, who will ensure that you are in the right location to grab the best possible light as it falls on some amazing scenery. One of the best parts about these workshops is that whether you are a raw beginner or pro, Phil is able to share his expertise and tips to help enhance your photographic experience and grab some wonderful images.
I believe that if you are in a new location, or a great spot that you’re unfamiliar with and you wish to maximise your photography options, do some research and find a great local professional photographer. There’s always:
‘So much to shoot and so little time’