Author Topic: Landscape Photography (Read 29205 times)

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #50 on:** 30 October 2013, 09:05:40 pm »

Fleetwith Pike, Buttermere, Lake District.

Yeah, but I'm at a disadvantage

mickvp · « **Reply #51 on:** 30 October 2013, 09:33:24 pm »

these are all straight out the camera too nick with no PP done. before I got my DSLR though(well, the first two are, not the last 3):

The view from the top of the CN tower in Toronto:

The view from the hotel room in Niagara:

Back to our own country(This ones from near Arrochar):

And again:

Nighttime Run up Rowardennan (this was taken in near pitch black whilst resting the camera on top of my car):

thats more than enough for now. Ive only actually managed out 1 day this year (which is when i took the image above in pitch black). Just dont get enough time for it nowadays. shame, as I was just about starting to figure things out

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #52 on:** 30 October 2013, 09:37:57 pm »

Wow, that sky in the Rowardennan shot is fantastic.

For everything that can be done with photo software, nature, I think, has some equally astounding effects.

mickvp · « **Reply #53 on:** 30 October 2013, 09:41:35 pm »

for me, i noticed a marked improvement in my shots after i moved to my basic DSLR, as it allowed much more control over just "auto" mode. for the first few weeks i was finding i would only get 1 or 2 "keeper" shots out of 100 or so, but over time it gets easier.

does your compact allow you any control over shutter,aperture, or iso, Nick? (As I know some of them do, which is essentially all I fiddle with on mine - I dont have many fancy lenses just yet)

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #54 on:** 30 October 2013, 09:57:45 pm »

No Mick, but it has various modes for portrait, landscape, night time shots, slow shutter speed for a couple of different applications, sunset mode (enhances colours, but not hugely effective), snow scenes etc. I guess these use various combinations of ISO, shutter speed etc, but don't give total control.

Wish I lived in an area like Scotland, Lakes etc. It'd be much more worthwhile laying out for some decent kit then, and could get out in the hills all times of day/year. $:\$

mickvp · « **Reply #55 on:** 30 October 2013, 10:02:32 pm »

you should consider even getting some cheap budget used gear if you want to get more into it Nick. that way the outlay will be minimal and you can sell it on again for no loss if you decide its not for you.

FWIW, Talk Photography has quite a busy sales section on there forum, but you do need to have a certain amount of posts to get access. Getting a cheap DSLR, or even a bridge camera which gives you more control, will help you better understand the shenanigans going on inside the camera (that last picture I posted wouldnt be possible with a compact, as I had to set the shutter open for around 6-8 seconds in order to get enough light in - something beyond the scope of most compacts)

Tori · « **Reply #56 on:** 30 October 2013, 11:16:19 pm »

Nick, the best way to learn is to get out there and shoot, shoot and shoot some more. Your eye will improve also. Don't get hung up on all the technical stuff at the moment, enjoy what you have. I like the shot you just posted

devilsyam · « **Reply #57 on:** 31 October 2013, 06:51:38 pm »

Fontana lake

rio grande

utah

cortez

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #58 on:** 31 October 2013, 08:14:07 pm »

That Rio Grande landscape looks like good backpacking country Luke. Course there's always the risk of bears, but I know lots about them so would be ok. You just need to heed the advice that's available. Like this:

In bear country, wear small tinkling bells, so that you alert bears to your presence without startling them.
Also carry pepper spray in case you do encounter a bear.
And it's useful to be able to tell black bears and grizzly bears apart by their droppings. Black bear shit tends to contain berries and maybe small squirrels.
Grizzly bear shit contains little tinkling bells and smells of pepper spray....

And another way to be able to tell them apart:
If you see a bear, climb a tree. If it climbs the tree and kills you, it's a black bear. If it knocks the tree down and kills you, it's a grizzly bear.......

slimwilly · « **Reply #59 on:** 31 October 2013, 08:19:57 pm »

unfazed · « **Reply #60 on:** 31 October 2013, 10:00:04 pm »

Avalanches thurndering down the Lho-La pass at Everest Base Camp, sound was awesome.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #61 on:** 31 October 2013, 10:16:11 pm »

I'm guessing there's a sizeable bergschrund between the avalanche cones and the foreground moraine? Otherwise, I reckon the base camp latrines got filled pretty quickly right around then......

unfazed · « **Reply #62 on:** 31 October 2013, 10:34:17 pm »

Especially by those closest to it.

The bergschrund was not that large, but we did not go to measure it

Our tents were half a mile form the biggest one and we felt the wind blast, there were latrines filled that morning

the sound was awesome as it echoed across the Khumbu.
Here is one of me trying to sort out the battery charging with solar panels and generators.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #63 on:** 31 October 2013, 10:38:54 pm »

Were you there to climb?

unfazed · « **Reply #64 on:** 31 October 2013, 11:11:25 pm »

Nick,
No, technical support, did not have the €30000 + required to do it. An amazing place, and spent 6 weeks fixing things like generators, charging systems, communications equipment, laptops, solar panels and anything else that came my way, for some of the teams out there. They were impressed with my theory on repairs, "if its broken the worst you can do is fix it, as you can't break whats already broken". Did managed to get in some rock and ice climbs there. Have you been there?

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #65 on:** 01 November 2013, 06:15:41 pm »

No, more's the pity, never been anywhere like that, Unfazed. Wish I could have. I read a lot about climbing, exploration and travel and have always wanted to see these places for myself, but I've had to settle for the kinder hills of Britain so far. Might be able to rectify that a little next year; a trip to alpine regions on the cards. Would love to trek in the Karakoram, but probably won't happen now. Definitely gonna learn to climb in my next life!

VNA - BMW Wank · « **Reply #66 on:** 01 November 2013, 07:13:00 pm »

I quite like reading about climbing, got Learning to Breath by Andy Cave to Read just now.

Just about finished Cairngorm John, about John Allen's 30 year involvement in mountain rescue in The Cairngorms, a good read for anybody who goes walking in the Scottish hills.

Everest looks amazing. I've seen quite a few documentaries about it, including the one the other night Words of Everest, focusing on archive footage, photos and in particular private memoirs and letters of both the failed Mallory attempt (though of course nobody knows whether he made the top or not) and the successful Hillary climb. Not read anything about the mountain though.

A fascinating but strange place. But even if I had the money and/or the ability to get up there I wouldn't want to. Just don't fancy sleeping in those grave yard rubbish dumps. Sort of feel it's a mountain, a wild place that's not given it's respect. Just a personal feeling, but I still find it fascinating that people want to go to the top. I'm too old now anyway.

Forecast is not great up here this weekend Nick. Could head out but my priority is seeing what there is to see. Just got to be patient and wait for those breaks in the weather. Will probably force myself up my usual hill to keep my legs ticking over.

Me forcing myself up the usual hill;

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #67 on:** 01 November 2013, 08:41:06 pm »

Yes, I know exactly where you're coming from re. Everest (Chomolungma sounds much more exotic and enticing anyway!). It's just a "tick-list" item for the well-to-do these days, because of the sheer cost of it all. It's a very contentious subject, especially since that disaster some years ago (documented, some say controversially, by Jon Krakauer - which really brought it to public attention). And unfortunately, K2 seems to have followed in it's tracks somewhat, although because of the sheer technical difficulty of the latter, maybe it'll never get so bad as far as commercialism is concerned.
I don't see any reason why experienced climbers shouldn't push new routes in such places, the problem is with the commercial guiding companies, who sometimes seem not to care if their clients are mentally and physically "right" for such a challenge - as a challenge it will always remain while there are storms, avalanches, oxygen deprivation and the risks of oedema, etc - but only seem to be interested in the profits to be made.
For me, it would be more about trekking in those regions, and especially with the camera. I would never pay such a commercial outfit to get to the top. I think Reinhold Messner has a good philosophy on such things - if you are not skilled enough or fit enough to rise to the challenge, what are you doing there in the first place?

Andy Cave - he was the coal miner, wasn't he? A great story. From the deepest depths to the highest heights! My climbing collection is pretty big these days - just bought Savage Arena by Joe Tasker and Sacred Summits by Pete Boardman, 2 of the greatest climbers Britain ever produced, and love to read about that golden age of the Brits headed by such characters as Whillans, Haston , Scott, Bonington etc. Also I read the classics of the pioneers like Whymper, Bonatti, Harrer and others - different times!

But I love the photography people produce too - such deep blue skies, alpenglow on a vast Himalayan peak, precipitous valleys and raging torrents - this is why I would go to such places - to see and photograph all this!

VNA - BMW Wank · « **Reply #68 on:** 01 November 2013, 10:18:48 pm »

Chomolungma is the correct name, and aye so much better.

I do like your shot of Fleetwith Pike Nick.

Yup seems to be if you are very reasonably fit, for a price they'll check the ropes and the ladders and drag you up there.

But it's also into a place where you cannot survive, simply not enougth oxygen, if you make it to the top you are effectively dying, and if you turn for the worst, other than trying to drag you down there's not much anybody can do for you. And if you do succumb you will forever be on that mountain perfectly preserved and often lying there for all that follow to see.

Some of the Sherpas can apparently (correct me if I am wrong) get from base camp, to the summit and back without oxygen within a day.

I like the rule of leave nothing but foot steps. But I'm just a walker of wee hills.

Yeah that Andy Cave was a miner, and was a miner through the strike of the 80's, partly attracted me to the book.

Just waiting for the right weather, this was just a few weeks ago, 11th October this year;

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #69 on:** 02 November 2013, 11:18:41 am »

Crystal clarity in that shot VNA. I guess partly the camera work and partly just that kind of day in the Highlands?
That's something I can't achieve with my compact, and so perhaps a good reason to upgrade one day.

At the other end of the scale, here's one taken whilst headed towards the top of Grasmoor - it might be entitled "Into the Smoky Distance"!
Second shot is of Catbells - the first hill on many a Lakeland walkers tick list. Not high, but a lovely ridge to walk. This was actually early springtime - I'd love to visit with the camera in the autumn, as from photos I've seen, the colours are stunning at that time of year. I didn't manage anything spectacular with this shot, but just liked the sunlit greens and browns.

And lastly, again, no photographic skill in evidence, but Blencathra looking moody - taken from a commercial campsite I used a couple of times.

VNA - BMW Wank · « **Reply #70 on:** 03 November 2013, 12:11:36 pm »

Nice moody shots Nick.

The weather was perfect that day I was up Aonach Beag and Aonach Mor. Visibility was perfect, could just about see England from up there.

So yeah the right day, the right conditions help big time. Going into winter I always think can help, visibility improves (on still days), the snow reduces contrast between land and sky (though bear in mind in built camera meters don't understand snow!), the low sun makes everything look more dramatic. The downside is the big shadows the low sun can create, finding the sun getting in the way of your shot, flare, and of course the cold and short days! Downside with the snow is all that light reflecting about the place, that can be dealt with a polarising filter but that means taking off gloves and mucking about - frozen hands and being late off the hill etc. The polarisor only works at 90 degrees to the sun, so for wide shots it has to come back off.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah.

Weather has been generally miserable up here since I took those Aonach shots, only the baggers and crazy folks will be oot on the hills at the mo I would think. Peeved off.

Sure a good camera and lens helps. But don't forget the old rule, better gear won't make you a better photograher.

Understanding exposure, which is so much easier these days with digital cameras (if your camera displays a histogram then pay attention to it). Exposure is simple as there are only three variables shutter speed, aperture and film speed. Composition - read up on rule of thirds and play about with it, and a little post processing to finish it all off.

There's loads of good digi cams out there these days for not a lot of money. A free raw processor and maybe a copy of photoshop elements or something and you are in business.

Aonach Beag; 11th October 2013

fazersharp · « **Reply #71 on:** 03 November 2013, 12:47:42 pm »

I feel that most (not all ) landscape photographs are better suited to a more rectangle shape, but due the the cameras sensor size/shape you have no choice - but you can crop later.
I hpoe that you do not mind Devilsyam but I have used one of yours to demonstrate some cropping- I have also given it a tweek, but you may not like it as you wre the photographer and were the real witness to the view. If you dont like it then I apologise and will remove it

VNA - BMW Wank · « **Reply #72 on:** 03 November 2013, 02:44:32 pm »

Rectangular shape? As opposed to square?

The 6x6 format used to very popular with Landscape and portrait photographers, presumably still is.

The format of your camera does tend to influence how you take shots. So it's not so easy to take square shots with a say 135 format camera.
Which is one of the things I find weird about modern digital cameras, that is that most of them are based on the proportions of the rather awkward 135 film format.

Thought not everybody went in that direction, Olympus, who often go their own way, not only went for a smaller sensor for it's 'serious' cameras but adopted the much more natural 4/3rds proportions .

And don't forget to turn the camera on it's side if it's gonna give a better composition.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #73 on:** 03 November 2013, 03:35:10 pm »

Posted before, but this shot from Glen Shiel is one of my few that I felt suited a more vertical format. I think it will always depend on the subject. Instinctively, with landscape, usually I think I would shy away from a completely square frame. And sometimes, I think even vertical subjects can work better in a horizontal frame, like the second shot here - although the foreground hill is quite vertical;, I wanted some of the much more level ridge in the background:

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #74 on:** 03 November 2013, 03:48:51 pm »

Another little thing I tend to borrow from painting technique, is not to put the subject dead centre of shot; I wonder if that's what you were thinking when you cropped Devilsyam's shot, Fazersharp? Also, it's usually best to keep horizon lines or strong horizontal or vertical lines away from where they will divide the shot perfectly in 2.
The off-centre subject I hope is illustrated in this shot: