4 Rules of Composition for Landscape Photography

by Darren Rowse

While I’m not always a fan of sticking strictly to the ‘rules’ or ‘guidelines’ of photography I think they can be well
worth knowing and keeping in the back of your mind as you shoot (whether it’s so you can follow them or break
them for effect). Here’s four ‘rules’ for landscape photography that might be helpful for those just starting out (ie
they’re not meant as a definitive guide but rather a starting point) :

1. Diagonal Lines

Photo by Feuillu

Using diagonal lines can be a very effective way of drawing the eye of those viewing an image into it and to the
main focal point.

The ‘lines’ need not be actual lines – they could be the shape of a path, a line of trees, a fence, river or any other
feature in an image.

Converging lines (two or more lines coming from different parts of an image to a single point) can be all the more
effective.

Read more about using Diagonal Lines in your digital photography.

2. Geometric Shapes

Photo by Mattijn
By positioning key aspects of a landscape on points of a geometric shape you can help create a balanced
composition. Perhaps the most common and easiest way to do this is to use a ‘triangle’ shape between objects in
an image with three objects in a frame positioned with one to each side and one more central.

Using Geometric Shapes in this way isn’t something that I’ve done a lot of – but it is one technique to get balance in
a shot and if you’re clever, to lead the eye into it (in a similar way to the diagonal lines rule above).

You can see this illustrated (to a point) in the photomontage image to the right.

3. The Rule of Thirds

Photo by james_wicks

The Rule of Thirds gets trotted out more often than any other in all types of photography and is one of the first rules
of composition taught to most photography students. While sometimes it can feel a little cliche it can also be a very
effective technique in landscapes (although keep in mind that breaking this (and other rules) can also produce
dramatic and interesting shots).

Position key points of interest in a landscape on the intersecting point between imaginary ‘third’ points in an image
and you’ll help give your image balance and help those focal points to really capture attention. Read more about
using the Rule of Thirds in composing your shots.

4. Framing Images

Photo by Leviathor

While adding points of interest to a foreground is an important technique for adding interest to landscape shots – a
similar technique is to ‘frame’ the shot by adding interest to other parts of the edges of an image.

Perhaps the most common way of framing a landscape shot is to include an overhanging branch in the upper
section of a shot. Similarly framing a shot with a bridge might work.

Read more about Framing Images

Of course while knowing the rules can be important – knowing when to use them and when to break them is a talent
that great photographers generally have.

Practice these techniques – but don’t get so worked up about them that they kill the creativity that you have.

Let me finish with a quote about Rules of Photography from Photographer Edward Weston to help give us a little
balance on the topic:

“To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before
going for a walk. Such rules and laws are deduced from the accomplished fact; they are the products of reflection.”

Further Reading: 11 Surefire Tips for Improving Your Landscape Photography.

11 Surefire Landscape Photography Tips

Photo by Auto matt

My first love in photography when I first got my trusty old Minolta SLR as a teenager was landscape photography.
There’s something about getting out in nature with the challenge of capturing some of the amazing beauty that you
see. Perhaps it fits with my personality type – but I loved the quietness and stillness of waiting for the perfect
moment for the shot, scoping out an area for the best vantage point and then seeing the way that the light changed
a scene over a few hours.

While I don’t get as much time as I’d like for Landscape Photography these days – I thought I’d jot down a few of
the lessons that I learned in my early years of doing it. I’d love to hear your own Landscape Photography tips in
comments below.

Landscape Photography Tips

1. Maximize your Depth of Field

While there may be times that you want to get a little more creative and experiment with narrow depth of fields in
your Landscape Photography – the normal approach is to ensure that as much of your scene is in focus as
possible. The simplest way to do this is to choose a small Aperture setting (a large number) as the smaller your
aperture the greater the depth of field in your shots.

Do keep in mind that smaller apertures mean less light is hitting your image sensor at any point in time so they will
mean you need to compensate either by increasing your ISO or lengthening your shutter speed (or both).

PS: of course there are times when you can get some great results with a very shallow DOF in a landscape setting
(see the picture of the double yellow line below).

Photo by hkvam

2. Use a Tripod

As a result of the longer shutter speed that you may need to select to compensate for a small aperture you will need
to find a way of ensuring your camera is completely still during the exposure. In fact even if you’re able to shoot at a
fast shutter speed the practice of using a tripod can be beneficial to you. Also consider a cable or wireless shutter
release mechanism for extra camera stillness.

Related Reading – Introduction to Tripods

Get more tips and tutorials like this one by subscribing to Digital Photography School via email or RSS

3. Look for a Focal Point

All shots need some sort of focal point to them and landscapes are no different – in fact landscape photographs
without them end up looking rather empty and will leave your viewers eye wondering through the image with
nowhere to rest (and they’ll generally move on quickly).

Focal points can take many forms in landscapes and could range from a building or structure, a striking tree, a
boulder or rock formation, a silhouette etc.

Think not only about what the focal point is but where you place it. The rule of thirds might be useful here.

Related Reading – Focal Points in Photography

4. Think Foregrounds

One element that can set apart your landscape shots is to think carefully about the foreground of your shots and by
placing points of interest in them. When you do this you give those viewing the shot a way into the image as well as
creating a sense of depth in your shot.

Related Reading: Getting Foregrounds right in photography

5. Consider the Sky

Another element to consider is the sky in your landscape.

Most landscapes will either have a dominant foreground or sky – unless you have one or the other your shot can
end up being fairly boring.

If you have a bland, boring sky – don’t let it dominate your shot and place the horizon in the upper third of your shot
(however you’ll want to make sure your foreground is interesting). However if the sky is filled with drama and
interesting cloud formations and colors – let it shine by placing the horizon lower.

Consider enhancing skies either in post production or with the use of filters (for example a polarizing filter can add
color and contrast).

Photo by hkvam
6. Lines

One of the questions to ask yourself as you take Landscape shots is ‘how am I leading the eye of those viewing this
shot’? There are a number of ways of doing this (foregrounds is one) but one of the best ways into a shot is to
provide viewers with lines that lead them into an image.

Lines give an image depth, scale and can be a point of interest in and of themselves by creating patterns in your
shot.

Related Reading: Using lines in photography (mini-series)

7. Capture Movement

When most people think about landscapes they think of calm, serene and passive environments – however
landscapes are rarely completely still and to convey this movement in an image will add drama, mood and create a
point of interest.

Examples – wind in trees, waves on a beach, water flowing over a waterfall, birds flying over head, moving clouds.

Capturing this movement generally means you need to look at a longer shutter speed (sometimes quite a few
seconds). Of course this means more light hitting your sensor which will mean you need to either go for a small
Aperture, use some sort of a filter or even shoot at the start or end of the day when there is less light.

Photo by 3amfromkyoto

8. Work with the Weather

A scene can change dramatically depending upon the weather at any given moment. As a result, choosing the right
time to shoot is of real importance.

Many beginner photographers see a sunny day and think that it’s the best time to go out with their camera –
however an overcast day that is threatening to rain might present you with a much better opportunity to create an
image with real mood and ominous overtones. Look for storms, wind, mist, dramatic clouds, sun shining through
dark skies, rainbows, sunsets and sunrises etc and work with these variations in the weather rather than just waiting
for the next sunny blue sky day.
9. Work the Golden Hours

I chatted with one photographer recently who told me that he never shoots during the day – his only shooting times
are around dawn and dusk – because that’s when the light is best and he find that landscapes come alive.

These ‘golden’ hours are great for landscapes for a number of reasons – none the least of which is the ‘golden’ light
that it often presents us with. The other reason that I love these times is the angle of the light and how it can impact
a scene – creating interesting patterns, dimensions and textures.

10. Think about Horizons

It’s an old tip but a good one – before you take a landscape shot always consider the horizon on two fronts.

• Is it straight? – while you can always straighten images later in post production it’s easier if you get it right in
camera.
• Where is it compositionally? - a compositionally natural spot for a horizon is on one of the thirds lines in an image
(either the top third or the bottom one) rather than completely in the middle. Of course rules are meant to be broken –
but I find that unless it’s a very striking image that the rule of thirds usually works here.

Related Reading: Getting Horizons Horizontal

Photo by curious_spider

11. Change your Point of View

You drive up to the scenic lookout, get out of the car, grab your camera, turn it on, walk up to the barrier, raise the
camera to your eye, rotate left and right a little, zoom a little and take your shot before getting back in the car to go
to the next scenic lookout. We’ve all done it – however this process doesn’t generally lead to the ‘wow’ shot that
many of us are looking for.

Take a little more time with your shots – particularly in finding a more interesting point of view to shoot from. This
might start with finding a different spot to shoot from than the scenic look out (wander down paths, look for new
angles etc), could mean getting down onto the ground to shot from down low or finding a higher up vantage point to
shoot from. Explore the environment and experiment with different view points and you could find something truly
unique.