I've noticed something about my Photographic technique. I rush too much. Often, I'll take my camera and drive around, looking for places that catch my eye, but I rarely stop and scout them out. I'm in too much of a hurry to find the next place to drive past without stopping to examine the compositional possibilities.
Back at the end of May 2021, I drove past a place where the river was calm and smooth, and I saw a partly submerged tree that was casting a reflection in the calm water. But I was searching for something else, and so I drove past. I returned an hour later, and although the light had changed, the image was still worth capturing.
Getting into the right position to take the shot was a little tricky for a body as stiff and awkward as mine, but I managed.
I took several shots over the next 20 minutes or so, but most were simple variations of the first shot I took. I didn't really move from place to place; I didn't crop the original composition, and while I switched from Landscape to Portrait orientation, I only took one shot that way. I should have taken more!!
Landscape Photographers have a wonderfully unique opportunity to get it right nearly every time.
Aside from rapidly changing light or cloud cover, our subjects are pretty much stationary, unlike Wildlife Photographers or Wedding Photographers whose subjects are frequently moving, often moving fast. Most Trees, Lakes and Mountains I've met are really good at staying perfectly still. Therefore the only reason to rush is as I mentioned before, if the moody clouds are disappearing or the golden sunset is becoming dark.
So often we don't take the time to look at the composition; I mean really LOOK! The advice from the experienced Pros is to change your perspective, even by a couple of inches. Turn your camera on and compose the image in the Viewfinder. Does it reflect what you see with your naked eye? Does it touch you at an emotional level?
What's even more frustrating, is the fact that while I remember all this now, in the field, I sometimes come up blank and ALWAYS forget at least one key element.
Of course it simply stands to reason that one can take an image in September or October, and return to the same location in May, and everything looks different. Some of the greatest Landscape Photographers on the planet have shot the same image many many times with different results. And as mentioned before, the light can change and give a totally different image than was seen (scene?) moments earlier. As well, I’ve had to learn to explore the compositional possibilities from as many different angles as possible. A simple step to the left or right can totally change the way a subject looks.
It never hurts to “be there” either. I spent the first week of August camping at two Campgrounds. There is something about camping that inspires one to awaken early and get out. I was able to get to locations more quickly because I was already there, thus avoiding a long drive beforehand. That allowed me to get the images I would have otherwise missed.
While these strategies help, they don’t guarantee success; there are always variables that change and often work against us. The weather can change in a heartbeat, leaving us either sitting in a rain or snow storm, or a sunset can turn from “ho-hum” to “Oh MY!” in seconds leaving us scrambling to get the camera in the car and speed off to a more ideal location. There is only one cure to all this: GET OUT THERE!! See what locations would make the best images and in what conditions. Have a knowledge of local weather patterns and learn to read the skies so you can tell if the fog will settle, creating a moody atmospheric image or dissipate causing overblown highlights. Will those clouds part to let the sunset turn crimson, or will the sky remain grey until tomorrow? There is only one way to find out.
So, get out there, and until next week keep your shutter finger warm, don’t forget to pack spare batteries!