Good landscape photographs usually come from a chain of small decisions: where you go, when you arrive, how you compose, and how you finish the image. This guide follows that order. Where a topic deserves more depth, it links to a separate article.
Plan before you go
Research the location before you leave. Look at maps, other photographers’ pictures, and weather forecasts. Check where the sun rises and sets relative to your subject, since that decides whether you get front light, side light or backlight. Arriving early lets you scout and compose without rushing.
Stay flexible. Conditions often change, and a plan that allows for a second location or a different subject usually works better than a fixed shot list.
Learn to read the light
Light shapes a landscape more than the subject does. Low sun near sunrise and sunset gives warm color and long shadows, while overcast skies give soft, even light that suits forests and water. Midday sun is harsh but can still work for some scenes. Our guide to lighting in landscape photography covers each type and what suits it.
Start with simple camera settings
These are common starting points, not rules:
- Shoot RAW so you have more room to adjust highlights and shadows later.
- Use a low ISO, typically your camera’s base setting, to keep noise down.
- Choose a mid-range aperture, often around f/8 to f/11, for depth of field across the frame. Very small apertures can soften detail through diffraction.
- Use a tripod so you can keep ISO low and shutter speed flexible.
- Focus a little way into the scene rather than on the horizon, and check sharpness on the screen.
Compose with foreground, midground and background
Many strong landscapes have a clear foreground, middle area and distant background. A rock, flower or stream in the foreground gives a sense of depth and leads the eye in. Rule of thirds placement of the horizon is a useful default, but it is a starting point. Take your time, walk around the scene, and try a lower or higher viewpoint before you press the shutter.
Choose gear that matches your scenes
You do not need much. A camera, a sturdy tripod and one or two lenses cover most situations. A wide-angle lens is common for expansive scenes, while a longer lens can isolate details. See our guide to choosing a lens for landscape photography for how focal lengths compare. A polarizing filter and neutral density filters are the usual extras.
Look for smaller scenes too
Not every good landscape is a wide vista. Patterns in rock, leaves, ice or grass can make strong images, especially when the main view is dull. We explain this approach in intimate landscape photography.
Landscape photography on a phone
Modern phones can make good landscape pictures. Tap to set focus and exposure, keep the lens clean, use the grid to keep horizons level, and consider a small tripod or resting the phone on a stable surface. Wide and telephoto lenses, if your phone has them, work much like their camera equivalents. Avoid heavy digital zoom, which tends to reduce quality.
Stay safe
Tell someone where you are going, check weather and terrain, and dress for changing conditions. Photographers get hurt near cliffs, tidal areas and slippery water by stepping back for a better composition without looking. No photograph is worth a serious risk. Respect local rules and closures. For a trip-specific example with weather and coastal hazards, see our Iceland photography settings and tips.
Process thoughtfully
Editing is part of the craft. Adjust exposure, contrast and color to match what you remember, and crop to strengthen the composition. Subtle edits usually age better than heavy ones. Learn one editing program well rather than switching often.
Can you make a living from landscape photography?
It is difficult, and income varies widely. Photographers who do it commonly combine several sources, such as prints, workshops, licensing, writing or teaching, and many keep other work alongside it. Treat it as a business as well as an art form if you plan to pursue it professionally.
FAQ
What are some basic tips for taking good photographs?
Pay attention to light, keep the camera steady, simplify the composition, check the edges of the frame, and take time to look at the scene before shooting.
What is the best time of day for landscape photography?
Early morning and late evening are popular for their low, warm light, but overcast, stormy and even midday conditions can suit certain scenes.
Do I need an expensive camera?
No. Light, composition and patience matter more than the camera, though good lenses and a stable tripod do help.