Landscape Photographers
Gary Richards
photographers, and was studying their methods. One artist, a "Hoosier"
who lived in the Brown County (T.C. Steele) area of southern Indiana
subscribed to the notion that anyone doing landscape painting needed to
be up and about by 4:00a.m. in the morning. A good landscape artist
needed to be available when the light was right. I wonder how many
landscape photographers do this? I am not talking about just a trip, but
actually getting up this early every day to witness & study the light.
How many great moments have been lost for the sake of sleeping in.
Maybe, one could argue the evening light is just as good (or is it).
Anyway, the point being, would getting up everyday of the year at
4:00a.m. make one a better landscape photographer? Something to think
about.
GQR
Keith Clark
Gary Richards wrote:
In short, YES.
For instance, here in the NW, the sun comes up obscenely early this time of
year, and the only chance you'll have of getting photos with morning light
is if you're on-scene, ready to shoot, by about 5:30 AM.
Knowing what the light will do is only possible if you're around to study
it, as in your example.
Take river fog, for instance. We know what atmospheric conditions cause it,
but if you're going to get that perfect "romantic" photo of it, you have to
spend several days out before sunrise waiting for the right conditions,
camera planted on tripod.
The same goes for lake reflections. Only morning will do. In the evenings,
the lakes are more disturbed by winds caused by the day's warming.
Keep a tent in the back of your 4WD, I do.
By the way, check out the lead comic on this page. Some of you will find it
highly amusing. :>
Ken Smith
Keith Clark wrote in message <37B6F20F...@spiritone.com>...
>
>Knowing what the light will do is only possible if you're around to study
>it, as in your example.
Even then it can change from day to day, not to mention hour by hour.
>Keep a tent in the back of your 4WD, I do.
Exactly, so do I.
Roger N Clark
if you are awake, you can observe nature and
learn to "see" better, and that you will be
around to observe more and different lighting,
it is my opinion that modern landscape photographers put
too much emphasis on sunrise/sunset. Again this is my
opinion, but also look at historical photos, particularly
those by Ansel Adams. Many (most?) of his photos are not
taken at/near sunrise/sunset.
What this means is that there is great light at other times
of the day, it just depends on the subject. I'll pick on one as an
example: the Grand Tetons in summer. At sunrise, the best
view points (e.g. snake river overlook, oxbow bend,
signal mountain) has very flat
light. You do get good shadows further south
(e.g. blacktail ponds) but I would contend that mid-morning to
afternoon light is better from to northern 2/3s of the teton range.
After all, Ansel Adams did his famous snake river overlook image
in the afternoon. I've obtained a few sunrise images of the tetons
that I like, but more during the day and at sunset.
So, I advocate variety. Get up for sunrise sometimes,
but it is not necessary all the time
(also you would be too tired for sunset!).
There is no one universal magic moment. Lighting,
clouds, and atmospheric conditions are always changing,
along with the vegetation cycles
(color-fall versus summer, flowers, a brewing or ending
storm), so something is always different.
You need to experience it all, not just sunrise/sunset.
Roger Clark
Keith Wiebe
head above the horizon. The problem is I'm not an early riser and do it
about one time during a week vacation. The other times I'm in the late
morn. light or evening light. I agree that b/w work doesn't involve so much
sunset/sunrise requirements as does color. Maybe we should shoot color in
the even. and morn. and b/w during the rest of the day? I like to shoot
portraits in the evening light.
Keith Wiebe
Roger N Clark <rnc...@uswest.net> wrote in article
<37B73AEB...@uswest.net>...
GADA1
those by Ansel Adams. Many (most?) of his photos are not taken at/near
sunrise/sunset.>>
Ahh, but Adams was shooting B&W. There's a big difference between optimum
lighting choice between color and B&W. Also differences to consider between
shooting positive and negative film.
With reference to positive color film, being up early and staying out late can
result in top-notch landscape images. Lighting is often low contrast and
vivid, things are quiet and winds are often still, and atmosphere is often
happening (fog, etc.). And you are out there longer. Of course, there are
those overcast days too, when you can shoot all day!
Mike
Roger N Clark
> Ahh, but Adams was shooting B&W. There's a big difference between optimum
> lighting choice between color and B&W. Also differences to consider between
> shooting positive and negative film.
Yes, Adams was using black and white, but my opinion still stands.
There are conditions during the day that can be better than sunrise/sunset,
and better color too. I use color slide film, and have had great luck
at all times of the day. Another point: some photographers quit
when it is cloudy, but you can get great images then, especially
flowers. Basically all the time. Even night too. Only the subject,
film, and methods may change with variing conditions.
Roger Clark
Roger N Clark
> Yes, well said. In fact, my ideal landscape lighting is to have a partly
> cloudy day, with hazy clouds blocking the light on the field of flowers but
> nice blue sky for the horizon. Add the right neutral grad filter, and you can
> have a great shot!
I agree, and I got that opportunity this summer with the best wildflowers
in Colorado in years (see my other post). Miles of columbine, indian
paintbrush and others, nice mountains in the distance, pathes of snow,
low enough wind for the 2 second 4x5 image and no filters
needed, broken clouds with good patches of blue over the mountains!
They don't come like that often! I'll get a drum scan of the image.
I'll get a web page up--probably this fall.
Roger Clark
Al Denelsbeck
Roger N Clark wrote in message <37B77F28...@uswest.net>...
photography should be prepared for shots at any time. But I think the gist
of the original post still lies on the average landscape (pardon the phrase)
and getting the best use of it. And when the sun is high in the sky, harsh
and contrasty, the results are seldom as pleasing as when you have light
closer to the same angle that we view things at, especially when it's softer
and colored by rising or setting. Which is why the sunrise and sunset
periods are referred to as the 'Golden Hours' by so many landscape
photographers, and why I'll continue to advocate them along with many
others.
Here in North Carolina, any shot that includes the sky from March to
November will probably be colored white by humidity/haze, a
less-than-pleasing prospect when it hits the film. Moreover, unless you're
using a graduated neutral density, it either becomes overpowering and plain
when you expose for the foreground, or drops the foreground into darkness if
you account for the extremely higher light levels from the sky (and sky is
what makes up so much of landscape photography). Therefore, you make use of
the periods when it's softer, and the light levels less overpowering.
I completely agree with you that clouds or overcast don't ruin the day,
and owe some really great shots to conditions like those. But in a way, it
reinforces the point, since the clouds even out the harshness and contrast
that midday usually brings. Unless you're shooting for contrast, and we're
back in the B&W court...
And let's not forget calm winds, placid water, animals still active,
dew, spiderwebs, no people, no jet contrails, sun rays, fog and mist, etc.
You can get great shots any time of the day, but don't neglect the mornings
for the huge opportunities it can bring. -
Al
Roger N Clark
<snip>
> but don't neglect the mornings
> for the huge opportunities it can bring. -
> Al
I agree! I was trying to make the point that
you don't only have to get up at 4am every day
for sunrise to do good landscape photography.
But neither would I recommend never getting up
early! See it all (over time--not in one day)
and decide what is best for you. For me it is
a little of everything day/night/sunrise/sunset.
Sometimes I get up early, sometimes I don't, and
when I don't I no longer feel I missed something
because I know I'll see something else.
Roger Clark
Bob Flood
>
>> but don't neglect the mornings
>> for the huge opportunities it can
>> Al
>
>I agree
I do, too.... BUT ....
I recently looked at a local exhibit of landscapes by a local photographer,
and every photo in the show was excellent, something I'd be proud to call my
own. But every shot was either at sunrise or sunset, and nothing else. It
was surprising to me how many people viewing the exhibit noticed this and
commented on this rather one-dimensional approach.
To be sure the low sun angle creates some great opportunities, but to pursue
them to the exclusion of everything else is to be in a rut. There are
opportunities at all times of the day. They are just a bit harder to find at
mid-day!
DWA652
>if you are awake, you can observe nature and
>learn to "see" better, and that you will be
>around to observe more and different lighting,
>it is my opinion that modern landscape photographers put
>opinion, but also look at historical photos, particularly
>those by Ansel Adams. Many (most?) of his photos are not
>taken at/near sunrise/sunset.
>
>of the day, it just depends on the subject. I'll pick on one as an
>example: the Grand Tetons in summer. At sunrise, the best
>view points (e.g. snake river overlook, oxbow bend,
>signal mountain) has very flat
>light. You do get good shadows further south
>(e.g. blacktail ponds) but I would contend that mid-morning to
>afternoon light is better from to northern 2/3s of the teton range.
>After all, Ansel Adams did his famous snake river overlook image
>in the afternoon. I've obtained a few sunrise images of the tetons
>that I like, but more during the day and at sunset.
>
>So, I advocate variety. Get up for sunrise sometimes,
>but it is not necessary all the time
>(also you would be too tired for sunset!).
>There is no one universal magic moment. Lighting,
>clouds, and atmospheric conditions are always changing,
>along with the vegetation cycles
>(color-fall versus summer, flowers, a brewing or ending
>storm), so something is always different.
>
>You need to experience it all, not just sunrise/sunset.
>
>Roger Clark
>
cloudy day, with hazy clouds blocking the light on the field of flowers but
nice blue sky for the horizon. Add the right neutral grad filter, and you can
have a great shot!
God Bless,
Don Allen
http://www.DonAllen.net
http://members.xoom.com/donallenfoto
Photos + a large set of photo links including my PHOTO BOOK LIST - NOW WITH
BOOK REVIEWS!!!!
GADA1
best conditions (as long as you keep the gray sky minimized in the image).
Fall colors or deep forests are good examples.
However, with color slide film, contrast must always be controlled. Doesn't
mean conditions can't occur anytime of day that allow for quality landscape
images, but its generally more controllable in low light conditions.
Mike
Bill Rea
: While I won't disagree with the premise that
: if you are awake, you can observe nature and
: learn to "see" better, and that you will be
: around to observe more and different lighting,
: it is my opinion that modern landscape photographers put
: too much emphasis on sunrise/sunset. Again this is my
: opinion, but also look at historical photos, particularly
: those by Ansel Adams. Many (most?) of his photos are not
: taken at/near sunrise/sunset.
Ansel did shoot colour as well as B&W. I can remember in one of his books
that he said he *did not* shoot colour in late afternoon because
the light was too warm. Fashions do change. Some colours
look revolting in first/last light. The green of New Zealand bush
is one. I've seen plenty of New Zealand bush photographed in
early morning or late afternoon light. It often looks like
someone's come along and peed on the picture.
One the positive side, there are a lot of things that look their best
in this type of light and if you're not there to get in on film, then
you've missed it. That often means getting up 2-3 hours before
sunrise to get where you want to go.
--
Bill Rea, Information Technology Services, University of Canterbury \_
E-Mail b dot rea at its dot canterbury dot ac dot nz </ New
Phone 64-3-364-2331, Fax 64-3-364-2332 /) Zealand
Unix Systems Administrator (/'
Rick Munday
> >of the day, it just depends on the subject.
While I am by no means a pro (picked up this hobby again after a loooonnngg
break, and currently enrolled in college again studying... photography), I
tend to shoot most landscapes mornings and evenings in the summer and shoot
other things during the brightest light, like macros of flowers and busy
little bugs...
> >So, I advocate variety. Get up for sunrise sometimes,
> >but it is not necessary all the time
> >(also you would be too tired for sunset!).
One word - NAP! :-) I tend to pick a tree and nap for a bit if I'm on an all
day shoot.
Just a thought.
Rick
Roger N Clark
good images (at least I like them ;^)
see my web site at:
http://www.users.uswest.net/~rnclark/index.htm
Image 1: San Juan Mtn sunset: obviously at sunset.
Image 2: Mt Sneffles reflection (about 10am--I got up after sunrise,
had breakfast
with the family and drove out (I knew the
right time as
I had been there many times).
Image 3: frosty fall morning tundra: just after sunrise (only because
the
frost melts much
after sunrise) I knew what I wanted as I had
been there before
and knew when I should be there. I worked
in the shadow
of a pine tree, so it could really be done
anytime there
is frost and shadow.
Image 4: Morning views, Rocky Mtn National Park: I woke up
after sunrise
(which was at about 5:30am) and drove up from
Moraine capmground.
About 7:30 am. Too much earlier
and the shadows
are too deep.
Image 5: Elk at Sunset, yellowstone: obviously, sunset.
Image 6: Flowers, Organ Pipe: about 2pm in afternoon, small cloud overhead.
Image 7: Fall Colors at sunset, San Juans: a little before
sunset (about
an hour) at sunset shadows are too deep.
Image 8: Rocky Mtn National Park, Never Summer Range: about 2-3pm
in the
afternoon.
I was so intrigued, I returned again at sunrise
and took more
images, but the afternoon ones are far
superior. (the
small screen image doesn't do it justice--
full resolution
on screen would be 15x19 feet and show delicate
detail in the
flowers and tens of thousands of small
flowers of many
colors.
So, a variety of images can be done at any time. The subject
and its
location dictate when the best lighting would be, but don't dismiss
any time until you've observed your subject in that light.
Roger Clark
Joshua Wein
-Josh