Photography Cheat Sheet: Comprehensive Landscape Photography Guide

Still figuring out how to get better at landscape photography? Let this in-depth photography cheat sheet be your guide the next time you head into the great outdoors.

If you’re just getting into landscape photography you most likely have a lot of questions about how to nail those postcard-worthy photos. There are a lot of resources out there, but you can get a jumpstart with this quick cheat sheet. This comprehensive landscape photography guide should point you in the right direction, from equipment to settings and down to composition.

In the cheat sheet, SKCamera gathered a bunch of tips for better landscape photography, whether you’re new to the genre or somewhere far along. Some of these you’ve probably heard about if you’ve already started to do your own research. These include using a smaller aperture to maximize depth of field, or using a tripod to prevent shake, and picking a focal point or point of interest instead of just going for a snapshot of a scene. But if you’re looking for a more detailed guide, this should definitely make for a simple but comprehensive reference.

Now, let’s break that down:

• Boost your depth of field: Already mentioned above
• A tripod is key: Makes some essential points to keep your camera stable while you shoot
• Pick a focal point: Your eyes shouldn’t be wandering around the frame too much
• Focus on the foreground: Don’t forget to add a point of interest in the foreground to create a sense of depth to your photos
• Consider the horizon: Keep it straight and apply the Rule of Thirds
• Keep an eye on the sky: Know how to position the sky in your frame
• Follow the lines: Use leading lines to draw the eyes to the focal point
• Look for movement: Consider including some movement to your shot for added drama, mood, or point of interest
• Go for the Golden Hour: The first and last hour of sunlight will add dynamic patterns, dimensions, textures, and dramatic lighting to the scene
• Sunrise, sunset attractiveness: Because of the points mentioned above, sunrise and sunset photos make for the most eye-catching landscape photos

Want to learn more? We suggest following this up with five mistakes to avoid when you’re new to landscape photography.