As I browsed the Ansel Adams challenge photos, I was reminded of an early lesson in photography that I learned here on DPChallenge. It all boils down to composition and image design, for the most part.
In any type of photography, you need to have at least one of the fundamental elements of a good image included somewhere.
Fundamental Element #1: A Subject
Not withstanding abstract and documentary photography, a great photograph is formed around a choice of subjects. In a landscape photograph, there still needs to be a subject for the viewer to observe. There needs to be at least one strong focal point. There may be multiple focal points, but one of them should be stronger than the rest. You don't want to leave your viewer wondering what you intend them to see when they look at your image.
Once you have chosen your subject for the photograph, all of the other elements of composition and technique come into play to create a strong image.
In landscape photography, the image design part of the equation is the most difficult part. You may have a GREAT subject, but then you have to explore how and when to make the photo. You have to figure out the best perspective as well. It's not an easy task. Great landscape photography doesn't just happen on its own in most cases.
In my early existence here at DPC, I did a lot of still life photography because it was a stepping stone in the learning process. In a still life setting, I had the ability to control everything from the light, the positioning of my subject(s), and the angle of attack. These luxuries rarely exist in the landscape shoot. Great landscape photographers often shoot 'sample' photos of scenes and then study them. The studies will help them go back later and find the right perspective and time of day / weather conditions to shoot in.
I have several friends in my local area who are great landscape photographers. Some of them have shot the same scene hundereds of times before they came up with the image they really like. They aren't constrained to a 1-week time frame either, but that's beside the point. Their persistence and determination to create the 'right' image makes them great. |
