A form of photography I’m always amazed and intimidated by is landscape photography. Not only are these types of photographers trying to capture their surroundings/experience but it’s also necessary to make it visually appealing for the viewer. A lot more has to be taken into consideration when photographing landscapes such as time, location, main focus, and a lot more. I was first officially introduced and stunned by landscape photography through the famous Ansel Adams. He inspired me through his passion for photography, exploring nature, and mastering his techniques. Even without being able to utilize color in his photos, he was able to capture so much detail and the vast amount of space he was in.
Alone by ConchitaMXZ Rivera. A colored photo captured in Michigan, converted to black and white to create a timeless look. Shot at f13, 1/250th of a second, with an ISO of 100
The photos I decided to include in this post were either taken in Pennsylvania, Michigan, or Hawaii and the lowest aperture being at F10. Having a higher aperture essentially means being able to capture a wider, more detailed photo of your environment. There is such a thing as too big of a number or too small of an opening to capture a frame because it will lead to softening an image rather than sharpening. I also took these photos using my Canon 18-55mm lens.
Winter Wonderland by ConchitaMXZ Rivera. Captured during one of Pennsylvania’s winter storms, this photo was shot at f10, 1/800th of a second, with an ISO of 3200.
This last photo I’m going to share at my attempt of landscape photography was more planned out as I knew where and what time I wanted to capture for a deja vu feeling. For some odd reason, I just feel like a certain group of people can recall this photo somewhere in their memory or dream. I shot this on a crossing bridge and was also hoping to catch a neat image of a classic driving by as well but I guess that will be project for another day.
DeJa Vu by ConchitaMXZ Rivera. This photo was captured at f10 at 1/1250th of a second during golden hour. I was hoping to catch a classic car that locals drive around sometimes, but that would’ve definitely been an alternative for this end result.
My overall impression of this type of photography is just utter respect for it and the person behind the camera. An amazing landscape photo doesn’t always have to be perfectly planned out to a T, but having that skill and background in it definitely helps when it comes down to it. What also helps is just knowing the area or be willing to explore the most “crazy” places and having the photographic knowledge to create a stunning image. I will continue taking landscapes every now and then for my own challenge, but also keep my brain open to its own vast technical aspects. I hope y’all enjoyed this reading and you get a chance of your own to explore and capture the lands around you. Paalam!
~Conchita (@conchita.creates on Instagram/Tiktok :))