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How to shoot perfect landscapes

High Dynamic Range

There are a variety of methods to get an image with a far-reaching depth of sharpness, such as using a longer shutter speed. High Dynamic Range offers the ability to create the illusion of a single, perfectly exposed image by layering a number of shots taken at different exposure settings. This means the camera can be catered towards at capturing bright, medium and dark lighting conditions, and then the three shots combined to create one hybrid shot. This is especially useful for landscape photography, as the difference in lighting on an image is far greater than the likes of a portrait shot.

Do’s and Don’ts of HDR

Do

Try HDR even if the camera doesn’t have a built in feature to do it. You’ll need to maintain the focus, shutter speed and aperture settings and use the bracketing feature, which takes three shots at different exposures. These can then be combined in Photoshop.

Don’t

Over-processing is one of the biggest issues with HDR, resulting in haloes around where the exposures differ, and an unnaturally flat image. Creating the entire shot in Photoshop by adjusting the shadow and highlight levels on a single image can also create a fake-looking, obviously edited image

Do

Pick your subject because the camera can adequately handle all of the different exposure levels, as a well lit landscape won’t require the HDR process. Take a few shots and study the shadows for detail, if there’s something to be captured in the darkness go for a HDR shot.

Don’t

Waiting too long between shots can make the processing all the more difficult, as even a slight movement can create ghosting. Put the camera on the fastest multiple shot mode, and only press the shutter when the image is clear of any subject that could ruin the shot

Do

As consistency is paramount a static support of some kind is imperative. This doesn’t necessarily mean a tripod or even monopod, as any flat surface may do the job, but be careful when hitting the shutter release not to jog the camera as it may result in the framing being compromised.

Don’t

As good as the camera is, trying to expose for the sun is impossible. Frame so it’s to one side, as otherwise the mixed exposure with then be ruined by a single, white blob in the distance. Of course, if the sun is behind you look out for shooting your own shadow.    

Do

Once you’ve framed the shot and found a point of focus, switch the camera to manual focus to insure the camera doesn’t try to refocus once the shutter release is pressed. Try to get as much of the image sharp as possible, using the Live View mode to magnify sections.

Don’t

Water can be notoriously tricky to capture in a HDR shot unless completely still, so a lake may be fine but expect problems with the sea. Any movement in the image can look odd, but smaller subjects don’t make as much impact so the likes of leaves on trees shouldn’t present a huge issue.

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