Photography 101: Landscape Mode on the Beach

Shooting excellent landscape images is one of the most enjoyable disciplines of photography. It’s easy to start, and I have a few tips for you to take your landscape images to the next level!

Set Up Your Composition

When we start shooting landscape images, most people default to putting the horizon right in the middle of their composition, and that’s called a “Bullseye Shot.” This isn’t necessarily bad, but often times your composition can be improved if you put a little thought into what you want to show in your photograph.

You want to move around, look at different angles, think what you want to include in your shot, and when you consider all these things then you’ll end up with a much stronger image.

Best Times to Shoot Landscape Photography

When the sun is right below the horizon, we get what’s known as “Peak Color,” which is when the colors in the sky are the most brilliant. There are 2 ideal times to shoot landscapes, during sunrise and sunsets. When shooting landscapes, the biggest variable you should consider is what direction you want the sun to be facing, and that will determine if you should shoot at sunrise or sunset.

[Check out these essential beach photography tips]

Shoot at Your Lowest Native ISO

When shooting landscapes, you want to shoot in your lowest native ISO to capture the most Dynamic Range, which is the range of details from the Shadows to the Highlights in an image. Lower ISOs preserve dynamic range, higher ISOs reduce dynamic range.

Shoot in RAW

So you got got up super early in the morning to shoot a sunrise, you carefully framed your composition and chose your ideal settings, making sure you’re at your lowest native ISO to preserve maximum dynamic range, and then you get home and realize you shot all your photos in JPEG. Be sure to shoot in RAW so you have the most information recorded in your image so when you get home to edit your images, you have the best file format to work from.

Be Patient

Landscape photography is an art that requires preparation, patience, and perfect conditions. Don’t be frustrated if you’re not getting perfect shots your first time. Just remember to be patient, use your weather reports, scout your locations, and wake up on time!

CHAPTER 1: BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY CONCEPTS

• 1.1 – Photography 101 Trailer
• 1.2 – The Workshop Format
• 1.3 – The Camera is Simply a Tool
• 1.4 – How Does a Camera Work
• 1.5 – How to Adjust Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO
• 1.6 – Exposure Triangle
• 1.7 – Exercise: Practice Adjusting Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO
• 1.8 – What is a Stop of Light
• 1.9 – Reading Exposure via the Histogram
• 1.10 – Blown Highlights or Clipped Details
• 1.11 – 6 Tips to Understanding White Balance and Color Temperature
• 1.12 – Assignment: Histogram and Highlight Alert Practice
• 1.13 – Assignment: Mixed Lighting
• 1.14 – Quiz on Chapter 1: Basic Photography Concepts

CHAPTER 2: UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURE

• 2.1 – No Such Thing as the Correct Exposure
• 2.2 – How to Measure or Meter Light
• 2.3 – 8 Key Points to Understanding ISO and Image Quality
• 2.4 – Exercise | Understanding ISO
• 2.5 – Understanding the 3 Primary Metering Modes
• 2.6 – How to Get Perfect Exposures in One Shot
• 2.7 – Assignment: Portrait Using Spot Metering
• 2.8 – Equivalent Exposure but Different Images
• 2.9 – Compensating for Light and Dark Scenes
• 2.10 – Quiz on Chapter 2: Understanding Exposure

CHAPTER 3: FROM AUTO MODES TO MANUAL

• 3.1 – Starting with Automated Modes
• 3.2 – Auto Mode and Flash-Off Mode
• 3.3 – Exercise: From Auto Modes to Manual
• 3.4 – Portrait Mode on a Fashion Shoot
• 3.5 – Assignment: Outdoor Back-lit Portrait
• 3.6 – Landscape Mode on the Beach
• 3.7 – Assignment: Long Exposure
• 3.8 – Sports or Action Mode/a>
• 3.9 – Assignment | Sports or Action Shot
• 3.10 – Macro Mode with Food Photography
• 3.11 – Assignment | Food Photography
• 3.12 – Creative Effects Mode – Floral Photography
• 3.13 – Exercise | Creative Auto Modes
• 3.14 – In-Camera Processing
• 3.15 – Exercise | Pictures Styles and Picture Control
• 3.16 – A Glimpse Into Raw Processing
• 3.17 – Quiz on Chapter 3: From Auto Modes to Manual

CHAPTER 4: SHARP IMAGES AND FOCUSING TECHNIQUES

• 4.1 – AI Servo with Action Shots
• 4.2 – 15 Tips for When You’re Having Trouble Focusing Your Camera/a>
• 4.3 – 3 Primary Types of Autofocus
• 4.4 – Single Shot with Portrait Session
• 4.5 – Assignment: One Shot Focusing Mode for a Sharp Portrait
• 4.5 – Landscape Mode on the Beach
• 4.6 – Single Shot with Action Shots
• 4.7 – Assignment | Focus Recomposing and AF Selection
• 4.8 – Focus Recomposing vs AF Point Selection
• 4.9 – Assignment | Focus Recomposing and AF Selection
• 4.10 – Shutter Speed and the Reciprocal Rule
• 4.11 – How to Hold a Camera and Panning Tutorial
• 3.13 – Exercise | Creative Auto Modes
• 4.12 – Assignment | Panning
• 4.13- Quiz on Chapter 4: Sharp Images and Focusing Techniques

Chapter 5: COMPOSITION, ARTISTRY, AND CREATING GREAT IMAGES

• 5.1 – How to Find the Right Light Direction
• 5.2 What Makes a Great Photograph
• 5.3 How to Capture Candid Moments
• 5.4. Assignment | Candid Moments
• 5.5 Assignment | Flattering Cast Natual Light
• 5.6 Basic Compositional Theories
• 5.7 Assignment | Symmetry
• 5.8. Assignment | Leading Lines
• 5.9 Assignment | Rules of Thirds
• 5.10 Assignment | Triangles and Geometry
• 5.11– Assignment | Negative Space
• 5.12 – The Power of Cropping
• 5.13 Color Schemes
• 5.14 Assignment | Color Schemes
• 5.15 Diving into the Narrative
• 5.16 Assignment | The Narrative
• 5.17 If It’s not Working With, It’s Probably Working Against
• 5.18 Quiz on Chapter 5: Composition Artistry and Creating Great Images

Chapter 6: LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR CAMERA

• 6.1 10 Tips on Buying Gear
• 6.2 More About Your Camera and Lenses
• 6.3 Understanding Megapixels
• 6.4 Crop vs. Full Frame Cameras
• 6.5 Crop vs. Full Frame Cameras Demonstration
• 6.6 Prime vs. Zoom Lens
• 6.7 How the Lens Affects Composition
• 6.8 Exercise | Lens Compression
• 6.9 RAW vs. JPEG | The Ultimate Visual Guide
• 6.10 5 Tips on Memory Cards
• 6.11 Quiz on Chapter 6: Learning More About Your Camera

Chapter 7: BONUS

• 7.1 Posing and Action Shots with Female Model
• 7.2 Posing and Lighting with Female Model/a>
• 7.3 Posing and Lighting Couple Portraits

Total Course Run Time: 6H 30M 21S