Landscape photography is a very different specialism to something like product photography. Of course, there are many similar skills required of any professional photographer looking to get the highest quality results, but the objectives in each case will be quite distinct.

Whether taking photos is either a full-time or part-time job, or simply just a hobby, visiting different natural scenes and searching for the most impressive spectacles can be exciting and addictive. Specialist landscape photographers are always looking to push the envelope and capture scenes in the most striking or inventive way.

Often, the images produced are even more fascinating when you know a little about the techniques used when taking the images. Typically, some of the best pictures might include a following features…

– Depth of field – Keeping as much of the image as possible in focus is a method of capturing the scene in a similar way to the human eye, which can make for more immersive images. Focusing on both the foreground and background over a very long distance usually requires careful manual adjustments to your camera settings.

–  Clear focal point – Choosing a focal point is the easy part, but placing it within the frame requires more expertise. When done right, this naturally draws the eye to a point that makes the photo look its best.

–  No blank space – The best photos will rarely include a plain-looking sky taking up the top half of a landscape, or a boring foreground when the focus is in the distance. The composition of the shot will ensure maximum space is allocated to the interesting features of the scene.

One of the main differences to consider, when you compare taking photos of products and landscapes, is shooting on location. As a rule, a product photographer will almost exclusively work in a studio, where all lighting conditions and other factors can be micromanaged to ensure perfect results.

This is a contrast to landscape photographers, who often have to contend with unexpected weather conditions and try to make the best of any situation. Natural lighting will vary significantly throughout the day, which can make for (or ruin) incredible shots.