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So you know Ansel Adams, but you may or may not know Peter Lik. He does what Ansel Adams does but in color with a modern touch. The colors he produces in his photographs are ‘eye-popping’ly eyegasmic. Yeah we just made up that term, but that’s really how good he is. Some of his work is displayed in really nice galleries all around the world. If you love color landscapes, you have to check him out because he is truly incredible.

In our travel photosode  (episode 4) we didn’t really discuss how to create good landscapes photographs, because we didn’t have enough time to discuss everything there is with travel photography. There is simply too much to talk about, but we’ll break it down for you with the following.

1)When shooting landscapes try to photograph either in the morning or in the late afternoon. Shoot during midday creates unflattering shadows and plus it’s really hot. Also, if you wait til really late afternoon you can capture really beautiful sunsets with amazing colors (depending on where you live.)

2)Try a ND filter or Polarizing filter for better skies, less contrast, more details in both shadows and highlights. They also protect your front element of the lens, because if something hits the front of the lens without a filter, your lens is destroyed. Decent filters run about $70-80.

3)Try black and white. What makes black and white amazing it simplifies your photo and lets your main focus(es) pop more. Not all photos will work well in black and white, but a lot of times it can create something different and better.

4) Consider Angle, Balance, and Composition for your travel/landscapes. Angles- Consider and watch out for the lines that are created either by the angle (tilt) of your camera, or the angle that you are composing your shot. Make the lines and shapes work for your photo, and not against you. Balance the different elements in your shot, you don’t want to overwhelm, for example a subject could easily be lost in a photo of there are a too many details around it. Sometimes less is more. But not having enough in your photo will make it boring, try looking for a foreground, middle ground, and background. Lastly, composition can make or break a landscape for also. It is advised that you follow the rule of thirds when photographing  the horizon or any other intersecting lines that go through your photo. Make your photo interesting by not putting a subject completely in the center.

“Good photography is about knowing where to stand.” - Ansel Adams