Chapter 9: Landscapes

[Landmarks in Landscape Photography]

• inspiration = painting & the land
• Carleton E. Watkins = capture the grandeur of the American West
• Ansel Adams = capture the experience of being in the wilderness

[Thinking Artistically]

• composition & viewpoint
• value is important in black & white photos
• achieve a balance between unity & variety
• individual parts come together to support each other
• variety = diverse art 

[Camera Settings]

• maximum depth of field
• stop down the lens as far as it will go
• small f-stops = longer shutter speeds
• tripod is necessary for sharp, vibration-free images

[Light]

• photograph either after sunrise or before sunset
• angle of the sun is low = shapes & textures are emphasized by side lighting
• direct lighting = 3D

[Film]

• black &white = showcases value, line, shape, texture, & pattern
• color = fall foliage & spring flowers

[Lenses]

• wide-angle lenses = capture more of the scene
• include close & distant objects in the same photo
• greater sense of depth of field
• telephoto lens = capture scenes you cannot get close to
• macro lens = really close-up images = bark & rocks

[Filters]

• yellow filter = bring out clouds
• red filter = deep black skies & stark white clouds
• red filter & polarizer = ultimate black skies & maximum contrast

[Camera Support]

• slow fils & small f-stops = slow shutter speeds = need a tripod
• tripod should be sturdy & light

[The Grand Landscape]

• "big view" = wide-open expanses
• suburban housing tracts = repeating shapes of the houses
• include large expanses of the scenes
• horizon should be placed one-third from the top or bottom
• 19th century = print a sky from one negative onto another negative

[Landscape Details & Close-ups]

• parks are a good source of subject matter
• Japanese gardens = meandering streams, small waterfalls, & expertly placed trees
• fall's vivid foliage & vibrant flowers
• cloudy & overcast conditions = eliminating harsh shadows
• sunrise & sunset = quality of light with a special glow
• light meters = create an exposure that makes medium gray out of the scene

[Abstracted Elements in the Landscape]

• images composed of lines, shapes, values, & textures
• get really close to the subject & only photograph a small part
• need as much depth of field as possible