Winter Projects For Budding Landscape Photographers

68lbs

68lbs

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My photographic ambition, if I have such a thing, is to be able to take great landscapes. If I could one day be good enough to have an exhibition, or publish a book, then this would be the icing on the cake. With this in mind, I even find myself focusing my limited time in the landscape section of this forum in order to see what others do, learn, critique, etc.

However, I had a number of winter projects planned, and I am now wondering how worthwhile they will be. Bearing in mind I am a complete novice and still getting to grips wiith my camera, exposure, composition, etc. I was planning little projects like smoke art, some off camera flash still life stuff, etc. But I cant see how these would really teach me much for landscape work. Would I be better concentrating my efforts elsewhere? Even, taking pictures in rain or on flat overcast days, but concentrating on composition?

I was looking at a book today by Richard Billingham called something like Landscapes 2001-2003. As a novice who'd never heard of him, I was "huh, these are carp". Bland overcast sky, very boring fields and sky just split 2/3 landscape, 1/3 sky. Maybe I am missing something. Maybe this guy was lucky and the shots really are carp. Maybe he's a genius. I don't know... but I am wondering if I should just stick to taking photos outside regardless of the light, just to get the experience of differing lighting situations, and allow me to concentrate on composition. Perhaps even just shots of my street if I'm really struggling to find free time?

Not enough time... suffering SAD... but wanting to learn and improve!
 
I'm not that experienced a tog, and any time out in the field is time well spent. I will go out on gray overcast days, just to work on composition. I don't feel its time wasted,as when you get a good day, you have a better understanding of how to compose your images.

I also use these days to try and scout out some new location to photograph.

I like your ambition and its good to have a goal, you can only acheive these by practicing, so the more time with camera in hand the better, even it is still life, as it will give you a greater understanding of your camera.

I've never heard of Richard Billingham but I do spent a silly amount of time in the local borders store looking through landscape photography books for insperation.

Gerald
 
Nothing beats experience. You learn from your mistakes, build confidence, enhance your own critical values and perceptions, breathe clean air and excercise. In itself a very good support for SAD sufferers. Get out there and enjoy the light in all its natural, stunning forms.:thumbs:
 
jeangenie said:
For me one of the best things about winter landscapes is taking advantage of the early morning light without having to get up at silly o'clock.
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This is what's hacking me off. I only seem to get free time at boring, flat, overcast times. I prefer the earlier sunrise and sunset so that I can just get up at silly o'clock when I'd normally be sleeping.

Anyways... am hoping to get out tonite and try some christmas lights stuff, so hopefully that will give me a 'hit' and pull me out of this SAD rut! :)
 
Have you thought about trying to find a solution to the overcast sky look? Maybe try some high key landscape shots :shrug: Other than that, maybe try some shots with more land than sky ... maybe even cut the sky out all together if possible?
 
Jo said:
Have you thought about trying to find a solution...
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I hadn't, but I shall give it a go. In fact, my brain is making a little clicking noise now... this is promising...
 
I find the light at the moment is often so clear, you can see distant details that are rarely visible in summer. If it is raining then take pictures of the rain - wrap camera and lens in a plastic bag (or proper camera raincover) and see what you can get. I think a landscape can be a vast vista or a small section of it. The advantage of sunrise and sunset at the moment is that you do not have to get up extra early to view them, you are probably up anyway.
 
68lbs said:
I was looking at a book today by Richard Billingham called something like Landscapes 2001-2003. As a novice who'd never heard of him, I was "huh, these are carp". Bland overcast sky, very boring fields and sky just split 2/3 landscape, 1/3 sky. Maybe I am missing something. Maybe this guy was lucky and the shots really are carp. Maybe he's a genius. I don't know... but I am wondering if I should just stick to taking photos outside regardless of the light, just to get the experience of differing lighting situations, and allow me to concentrate on composition. Perhaps even just shots of my street if I'm really struggling to find free time?

Not enough time... suffering SAD... but wanting to learn and improve!
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The thing is, Richard Billingham is not known as a landscape photographer - he's kind of hard to categorise but I'd put him more in the Fine Art/ documentary stable - he was included in Saatchi's 'Sensation' exhibition in 1997 alongside other YBAs such as Jake & Dinos Chapman, Gillian Wearing and Marcus Harvey.

There's a book called 'Working the Light: Landscape Photography Masterclass' which might be worth a look. I got a copy for Christmas last year - very inspiring photographs, and useful info too :)

Edit: D'oh! AlexW beat me to it! :)
 
68lbs said:
My photographic ambition, if I have such a thing, is to be able to take great landscapes. If I could one day be good enough to have an exhibition, or publish a book, then this would be the icing on the cake. With this in mind, I even find myself focusing my limited time in the landscape section of this forum in order to see what others do, learn, critique, etc.

However, I had a number of winter projects planned, and I am now wondering how worthwhile they will be. Bearing in mind I am a complete novice and still getting to grips wiith my camera, exposure, composition, etc. I was planning little projects like smoke art, some off camera flash still life stuff, etc. But I cant see how these would really teach me much for landscape work. Would I be better concentrating my efforts elsewhere? Even, taking pictures in rain or on flat overcast days, but concentrating on composition?

I was looking at a book today by Richard Billingham called something like Landscapes 2001-2003. As a novice who'd never heard of him, I was "huh, these are carp". Bland overcast sky, very boring fields and sky just split 2/3 landscape, 1/3 sky. Maybe I am missing something. Maybe this guy was lucky and the shots really are carp. Maybe he's a genius. I don't know... but I am wondering if I should just stick to taking photos outside regardless of the light, just to get the experience of differing lighting situations, and allow me to concentrate on composition. Perhaps even just shots of my street if I'm really struggling to find free time?

Not enough time... suffering SAD... but wanting to learn and improve!
Click to expand...

I feel your pain. The long and short of it, get out, and get on with it - get up early, get cold, and chase the light. I am in the exact same position as you mate. You basically need to choose to be up every single day at whatever hour is required to ensure you and your kit are at your chosen landscape for approximately 8am (sunrise is not long after 8 at the moment)...

And then same again at the end of the day, be there at 3pm.

I understand this is often not possible with work commitments, but whenever it is possible, take advantage.

Its bloody annoying but surely worth it if you manage that killer shot.
 
EdinburghGary said:
You basically need to choose to be up every single day at whatever hour is required to ensure you and your kit are at your chosen landscape for approximately 8am (sunrise is not long after 8 at the moment)...
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I tried telling my daughter that she could make her own breakfast and get ready for school on her own. But she said "Daddy, I am only 5 and can't reach the krispies".
 
68lbs said:
I tried telling my daughter that she could make her own breakfast and get ready for school on her own. But she said "Daddy, I am only 5 and can't reach the krispies".
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b****r, well I have the dog and cats to feed - and if every day I left that duty to my beloved wife, I would be in the bad books :D
 
68lbs said:
I hadn't, but I shall give it a go. In fact, my brain is making a little clicking noise now... this is promising...
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:( Sorry, after reading that back it does sound pretty patronising. I type without thinking a lot these days.

Can you forgive me? :naughty:
 
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