Let’s have a look at the opposite of Macro.

How about we look at the horizons around us and shoot Landscape. The Mountain icon , or AV in the Creative settings. Go Manual for total control. Manual is not scary, it’s just a bit of learning is all, and that is what I’m here for. :O)

Remember the Aperture thread. Both Macro and Landscape relate directly to that. I recommend you have a read of it to refresh your memory, but in a nutshell……

Small f stop number = small focus (Macro). Large F stop number = large focus. (Landscape)


f2.8


f22


image source

Ok so let’s break down a landscape.

The horizon should be level. Move your camera so its level on your screen/viewfinder.

Imagine what you’re seeing thru the viewfinder is divided into horizontal thirds (longwise). You have the foreground, the middle ground and you have the far off distance. Traditionally Landscape images are pin sharp from front to back, meaning everything is in focus, from the foreground right thru to the horizon and including the activity in the sky.

To have an image that has the WoW factor, it must be in focus, a strong message that speaks to you, and is visually pleasing. Have 2/3rds of the image the foreground and 1/3rd sky or the other way around. This creates interest. If you have an awesome sky happening, have 2/3rds of the image sky.

There are a couple of landscape settings with your f stops that are rule of thumbs.

If the details in your landscape image are mostly far away then use f8. This opens up the aperture so you have less focus, for more light and more light on the sensor means you can use a quick shutter to capture what you are seeing.

If you have details in the shot that start at the bottom to top of the image, then go for f16. This closes the aperture blades down, meaning the light is concentrated thru a smaller hole, and as its more concentrated, more of the image is in focus. This also means there is less light hitting the sensor so the shutter speed slows down to capture enough light.

Ideally have your ISO as low as you can go to prevent noise and grain in your shot. When the ISO is low, the sensitivity of the sensor to light is low. Up your ISO and your sensor’s sensitivity to light, ups as well. But as a consequence of the higher ISO is the grain and noise.

With a high f stop number and low ISO, this means your shutter will be slower, which is not usually a problem on a bright day. Just make sure that your shutter speed (expressed as a fraction eg 1/100) is faster than the length of your lens. Eg say I’m using my wide angle lens which is 17-44mm then I want my shutter speed to be faster than 1/44. If I was using my telephoto zoom lens which is 70-300mm then my shutter needs to be faster than 1/300. If its slower then I run the risk of camera shake which means my shot will be blurred.

Sunrise and sunset is low light so a tripod, or resting the camera on something is a good idea to prevent camera shake. Using the timer on your camera is another tip to prevent the camera moving while its taking the image.

Also another tip, you can use the landscape settings for photographing a large group of people. Why??? You want everyone to be in focus and that is exactly what landscape settings do. Everything is in focus!!! If you have people standing in the shadows they will come out dark so either use your flash to fill in their faces with light or stand them in the light, but not looking at the sun. They will squint, so try moving them so the sun is about 45 degrees to their shoulder. Again, use your flash to fill in the shadows.

Ok.
This is your challenge.

Find a view that you love or have access too. It could be a streetscape, a seascape, a view from your backdoor to your fence and the sky above it or a park with trees and a playground. It could be standing in the corner of a room and shooting across to the opposite corner. It doesn’t really matter what the subject is, it’s the practice that counts.

Set your camera on the Mountain, AV or I would love you to go onto M.

Set the camera to 2 second delay timer or use a remote trigger.

Lets start with f8.

ISO at its lowest number.

Look at the exposure needle. Is it in the middle on 0??



Adjust the shutter speed so that it is. Check the shutter speed against the length of your lens. Is the speed faster??.

If the shutter speed is lower, then I suggest you tripod or sit the camera on something firm. You can use a jumper or a bean bag or a plastic bag of rice to level the camera and to prevent any scratches to the camera body.

If you have VR (Nikon for Vibration Reduction) or IS (Canon for Image Stabiliser) turn it off. You don’t need it as the camera and the subject is still and if its in use, it will vibrate within the camera and so spoil your shot.

You can go one step further and this is totally up to you, but I do recommend it. Grab your camera manual and find Mirror Lockup. With DSLR’s the slap of the internal mirror moving up and away from the sensor when you press the trigger will vibrate the camera.

Move your focus point if you can (check your manual as this is an important one!!) about 1/3 of the way up into the shot. This ensures that everything should be focused.

Recheck your settings, take the shot.

Now move the f stop to f16. Check your exposure but do not touch the ISO, adjust the shutter so the needle is in the middle, refocus, and take the shot. You should find that the shutter speed is slower to capture enough light coming thru the smaller hole between the aperture blades. You should also see just more of your image is in focus.

Push out to f22. The shutter will be much slower to catch the ambient light. The image will be pin sharp from front to back.

Now that you’ve taken your shot you may want to crop it with your software on your computer.

A pano of 20cms long by 10cm wide is pleasing to the eye. Just make sure you don’t crop out any drama in the sky, or details within the shot. Stay with 10cmx15cm (4x6inch) if you want to keep it all in the shot.

Post your image here so I can see how your doing. If you’d like me to critique it, you only need to ask and I love to help. Any questions, ask away, I’ll answer them the best I can.

Over in the gallery is a folder to upload your WOW shot to be in the running for a prize. Comp ends on the last day of June at midnight and the winner will be announced on the First Friday of July along with the winners from all the Scrap Therapy monthly challenges.

This is my DH out in his element. We are Primary Producers and we continuous crop.

Manual. ISO 400 (dull light so I had to up it to get the shutter fast enough). f16. shutter 1/60th second. wide angle lens 17 to 44mm. Shot at 17 mm (widest)



So get out there and show me your part of our wonderful world.

This is the gallery link to put up your best shot to be in the running for this month's landscape comp. Enteries close midnight last day of this month.

good luck.

tiff

Another something amazing for us to aspire to Tiiff - thanks

will give this a go!! thanks Tiff!!

Oooooo! Love it!
Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Ditto bec!!!

Ive got to study this!!! Love it tiff!!

gallery link to put your best landscape shot to be in the running for a $25 shop voucher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ends midnight June 30th. Winners annouced on July's first Friday on the Month with the new MAN of the Month and other winners of the other comps.


go get em girls!!

Sounds like a fun challenge!

Question... which I'm sure I might find the answer to in the aperture thread... but does aperture only apply to fancy cameras or will be digi point and shoot have such a thing?

Looking forward to this.

Some point & shoots and be manually adjusted and you need to check the manual that came with it, or look on the net.

Wow Tiff amazing shot think I better try and read this again when I am less tired . think I have Helens problems with the mountain setting too I do have the manual somewhere but read it see what I can work out tomrrow

Trisha is right on the button LaniKate. have a look in your camera manual.

Alrighty.... will dig out my manual

well sorry TIff but I do not have a clue what I am suppost to be trying to do took the camera out this afternoon and had a play around but I was worse than when I just go take a picutre of something.

Would you be able to put up a coulpe more examples to show me what I am suppost to be getting at

one thing I did discover today is that we live in a hole surrouned by trees both natural and bluegum plantations

gypsy. remind me again what camera you got possum so I can help you.

Don't despair. Trees are beautiful too. In fact I was out late this very evening waiting for the spot of golden sun to light up the trunk of one old gum tree that was next to a track that wandered off to the distance.

When I drive anywhere I'm always looking for potential spots and thinking of what time of day it would look good. Just keep your eyes peeled chick. You will find something that 'speaks' to you.

tiff

Tiff I have an olympus FE-170 with image stablization

I have the basic manual but that really was basic and no help at all

thanks

Gypsy.
from looking at 'Google Images' I see you have a lot of scene modes on the camera dial. Put yours on the mountian icon. The rest of the camera should do the thinking for you.

I would strongly recommend you tripod or set the camera on something so it wont move while you take the shot. And use the delayed timer so you dont vibrate the camera at all.

I'll put up a pic today (when I get out of my pjs) of the trees that I took last night, just for you.

keep trying Gypsy. You will 'get it'

t