Chapter 9: Landscapes

• the subject: place-located in real world with ecological devastation and human artifacts, or portraying an idealized version of what we want nature to be -pure and magnificent
• can include people and their stories but most focus on the natural world without people
• tends to be more formal than other genres

Landmarks in Landscape Photography

• Carleton E. Watkins
• wanted to capture the grandeur of the American West
• photographed in Yosemite Valley
• Ansel Adams
• also inspired by Yosemite Valley
• tried to capture the experience of being in the wildness

Timothy O'Sullivan (U.S., 1840-1882)

• learned from Mattew Brady
• photographed the Civil War
• photographs straightforward documents of extraordinary landscapes
• principle photographer for Gardner's book, Photographic Sketchbook of the War
• died of tuberculosis at 42

Photographing the Landscape

Thinking Artistically

• composition one of the most important aspects
• explore all the variations when taking shots
• value especially important in black and white
• good composition is to achieve a balance unity and variety

Composition, Balance, and the Rule of Thirds

• composition= where to place objects within the frame or space of image
• balance=how the objects relate to each other in size, value, color, and location
• 3 kinds of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial

Camera Settings

• maximum depth of field
• stop down a lens as far as it will go: f/16, f/32
• small f-stops = longer shutter speed

Light

• just after sunrise and just before sunset
• easier to deal with direct lighting for distant subjects that for closer ones
• closer views= overcast days that reduce the highlights and shadows

Film

• use 100 ISO film with 35mm cameras to capture all the detail
• fall foliage and spring flowers well suited for color landscapes

Lenses

• use wide-angle lenses that capture more of the scene
• concentrating on details or areas in the distance= use telephoto lens
• macro lenses-useful for getting close-up images; good for creating abstract images

Filters

• yellow filter-bring out clouds
• deep black skies with stark white clouds-red filter
• ultimate black skies and maximum contrast- pair with red and polarizer filter

The Grand Landscape

• is the "big view" for pictures of the great outdoors
• always include a large expanse of the scene
• wide-angle lenses will give wider view that is needed
• horizon in photograph should be placed either 1/3 from the top or bottom of image
• sky always figures prominently
• make clouds stand out- use polarizing, yellow, orange, or red filter

Landscape Details and Cloe-ups

• direct sun in wooded areas like park or garden create difficult lighting conditions
• shoot in cloudy or overcast conditions that even out the light, eliminating harsh shadows
• lighter values- opening up f-stop or slowing down the shutter speed for a longer exposure
• mostly darker values-close down the f-stop or choose a faster shutter speed for shorter exposure

Abstracted Elements in the Landscape

• images composed of lines, shapes, values and textures
• get really close to subject and photograph only small part of it
• telephoto lens for distant subjects or macro lens for closer subjects
• using macro lens on small subjects=need as much depth of field as possible