5 Beautiful and Best Loved Landscape Photographs

5 of the best loved landscape photographs… and how they can affect your photography.

I got an email today and the sender announced that he had his five best loved landscape photographs of 2019, was going to review them and talk about all the specifics i.e.: lens, camera settings, etc.

I tried to click on the email and it was a video presentation and you needed to register and schedule time and couldn’t actually just READ about the images. So I backed out of it.

But then it got me to thinking about MY own 5 best loved landscape photographs of 2019 and what would they be if I chose them.

But then I thought, “Why does it have to be mine? Why does it have to be only in 2019? Why can’t I review the beautiful photographs that have influenced me throughout the years?”

Images that you have been exposed to over the years DO influence the way you photograph.

Usually there is a thread between the images you’ve seen and loved and been visually impacted by and your own style. Many other things influence your style as well, but I decided to investigate this particular idea.

My top 5 best loved landscape photographs and the artists behind them are:

1. Ansel Adams

How can I just choose one of Ansel Adams? His work is iconic and historic.

The one below, Aspen Trees in Northern New Mexico speaks to me. The pattern of the older trees, the new growth and bright foliage of the young tree, the difference between the leaves on the tree in the foreground and the starkness of just the tree trunks of the older trees in the background… They all combine to make an outstanding image that is photographically superb.

This image also tells a story by mixing young and old, old growth and new life, the light hitting on and spotlighting the new tree and less light on the background, letting it recede. It all combines to create emotions and visual interest at the same time.

As great as his art is, his life is equally interesting. I learned much by reading his autobiography, “Ansel Adams: An Autobiography”. He is a very good writer, at times bringing tears to my eyes reading about his life, especially his youth.

If you love his photography, you should really get his autobiography and learn more about this photographic legend. You can purchase a hard copy or kindle version by going here.

Ansel Adams-Aspen trees in New Mexico

2. Clyde Butcher

Another black and white photographer, only his subject matter is focused on Florida and the Everglades. Like Ansel Adams, he championed the region of this wilderness of the Everglades to bring to light the immense beauty and fragility of the area and its need to be protected against developers.

I met him originally at an art show many years ago.

I was showing my infrared photography in St Petersburg, Florida. At that time, I had no idea that he was so famous and his booth was set up directly behind mine!

We had the love of black and white photography in common and I just loved his work.

I was struck by his warm spirit and kind heart even with the limited interaction we had. This was over 30 years ago.

I have visited his showroom and dark room in Venice, Fl. and listened to a lecture by him many years ago. He prints his images huge so that they have the impact that they deserve and you can just immerse yourself in them.

If you ever have the chance to visit either of his galleries, please make time to do so. You’ll be glad you did!

In his lecture I remember him saying that he often tried to place a barrier in the front of the image so that the viewer was forced to visually overcome that to actually “step” into the image and become a part of it. I have always remembered that, but not really been able to recreate it in my own photography with any degree of success. I will keep trying though!

My favorite image of his is the one below that that captures the smooth water in this lazy river, the great ferns that have grown out of this long dead log and the primitive area that is captured here.

I apologize for the quality of this image. All of his online images are copyrighted (and rightly so!) and I could only pull a small file for this illustration. If you want to see a much better version, go here.

LOXAHATCHEE RIVER 1 © 1991 Jupiter, FL — LOXAHATCHEE RIVER 1 © 1991
Jupiter, FL

3. Galen Rowell

From black and white photographers I now jump to a more modern photographer who worked mainly in color. LOTS of color. His images are no less stunning than that of his legendary predecessors.

As an adventurer and mountain climber, he understood the landscape and light from being immersed in it for years. (This seems to be a common thread among great landscape photographers. They take the time to study their surroundings, spend a LOT of time in nature and capture the most exquisite lighting and time of year for their photographs.)

Winter Sunset, Gates of the Valley, Yosemite is one of my favorites.

By using the juxtaposition of the soft snow with the hard edge of the cliffs combined with the late evening fog, he creates a stillness and sense of time.

The hard lighting from the setting sun illuminates the rock face, bringing out the color of the granite and creating a mirror image in the water. Doing so brings the color of the cliff down into the lower part of the darker, shadowed water area, tying the image together with the duplication of color in multiple parts of the scene.

This much loved image even became a stamp in 2006, included in the Scenic American Landscape Series.

Mountain Light: In Search of the Dynamic Landscape This book makes a great gift for yourself or a photographer friend.

Please DO purchase this in hardback as the images are much more stunning in print. I purchased this 40 years ago and the principles outlined here remain the same. The references to cameras, film and technology are obviously outdated, but a lot can be gleaned from reading this book and being inspired by the photographs.

You can find it here on Amazon.

beautiful-landscape-photos-and-how-they-affect-your-photography-findingnaturesbeauty

4. Peter Lik

Peter is an Australian born photographer and is well known for his wide format images. Capturing more of the scene than is normally found by using a wide format camera system, he is able to bring a unique vision to his audience.

Again, very hard to choose a favorite from his collections.

This image spoke to me and I wanted to highlight it here.

His great use of color is amazing. We have all seen images of the lavender fields in France, but his luck (or planning) on the sunset and the way it mirrors the colors in the fields creates a masterpiece. Add in the lone tree in the middle of the field and the green hills that separate the horizon from the sky and you have a unique piece.

Peter’s images are found exclusively in galleries around the world or can be found online here. Be aware that you will spend a great deal of time perusing his galleries! I can seriously say it is a feast for your eyes!

5. Franco Fontana

Franco is a landscape photographer born in 1933 in Italy and his images are not all landscapes. And he is not as well known as the photographers included above. But his use of abstract imagery in his landscape photographs is what draws me to his work. The fact that he is able to create an abstract work of art from the landscape in front of him is remarkable.

Studying the lines and feel of his pieces is a very good excersize for aspiring landscape photographers.

He is best know for abstract and minimalist style. Franco captures shapes and lines in a way no other photographer does. Definitely worth it to take a look at his work.

Training your eye to see landscapes in a different way can open up a new body of work for you.

In conclusion, I urge you to contemplate some memorable images you have seen and loved and compare them to your own photography.

Are their similarities?

Do you see major components that you instinctively include?

Are you drawn to a particular subject matter in your favorite photographs?

Or does the subject matter… not matter?

Are you unconsciously recreating a pattern, cropping, lighting or composition?

Do you look for the same subjects over and over again? A road or pathway, the pattern of seashells, or fences scattered throughout your most loved beautiful landscape photographs?

It is an interesting thing to delve into the way our brains work and what influence other photographic works that we love have on our own beautiful landscape photographs.

If you would like to check out my photographic art, please just click here and you will be taken to my art photography site. Thanks for looking!

What 5 photographs (or photographers) have influenced you the most throughout the years?

I would love to hear!

Comment below and I will be sure to respond!

August 5, 2019August 6, 2019

Craters of the Moon, Idaho

I had never heard of this place before. But here I am in Idaho, exploring, and discovered Craters of the Moon. It is a large volcanic area from millions of years ago. A very stark landscape, unlike anything I had ever seen. Hot and arid. I was determined to hike at least some of these trails. I advise early morning or late evening, if you are hiking in July!

Craters of the Moon, ID, early morning hike — Early morning hike

This was a morning hike up the Inferno Cone. It is made up of lava cinders entirely. Pretty much straight up into the sky. I captured this image of the hiker in front of me, as he got to the ridge line of the mountain. I waited for him to come into the right place to get a silhouette against the morning light.

Craters of the Moon, Idaho, Sunset — Sunset at Craters of the Moon

Compare the sunset image of Craters of the Moon National Monument with the first one in the morning. The colors of sunset light are a lot different. A warmer, more golden light, lit this area of rocks. Combined with the dark blue of the passing storm clouds, the colors are beautiful!

Look for the light

When you are out on your travels or even on a walk around the neighborhood, get used to looking at the light. The intensity, the color temperature and even how the sun lights up an object can bring out a very different look than even 10 minutes before.

Remember to compare contrasts. Light against dark, delicate foliage against hard and flat rock. I found this image interesting with the comparison here in this very stark landscape.

And then, in regard to hiking … know your limits…

I just said no…

I had climbed the North CraterTrail Hike up about 1/2 mile, (yes, UP) and then was faced with this downward climb and then up again. I just said no. But for those of you more fit than I, it was probably a spectacular hike!

The image below is the other end of the same trail, North Crater Trail. I got here just in time to catch the beautiful light of sunset and the clouds. No, I didn’t hike it. I drove the loop to the other end and caught this at the last minutes of daylight.

The ground is all lava; lava flow, lava cinders, lava splatters…etc. The plants you see are very tiny and are spaced out as if someone planted them. Very curious! Their roots go quite deep and they spread out in a 3 foot radius from the original plant. You never know what you are going to find when you explore!

Thanks for reading. I hope I expand your view of the world and give you a few tips for creating your own gorgeous images.

If you would like to see more of my travels and hints for creating better travel pictures, please subscribe to this blog below.

Questions? Please let me know and I will answer!

July 25, 2019June 11, 2020

Landscape Photography Tips While Camping In Idaho

Photographing after a tremendous rainstorm

I went through a tremendous rainstorm yesterday as I drove through Idaho. On my way to Black Foot Reservoir, Idaho I could hardly tell what the landscape looked like until I came out from the downpour. Then … after the storm…

Lovely deep colors create striking photographs…

All around me were the most lovely deep colors of the landscape and then a wonderful pop of bright yellow. In the distance were dark mountains with the shadow of the clouds still on them and the bands of gentle colors in the foreground. Every once in awhile the bright pop of yellow interspersed the lovely blues and greens.

What a treat!!

When I was in a safe area, I stopped and created these images quickly as I was still on a road, (albeit pulled to the side).

I just love the rolling hills, the pop of yellow flowers, the ribbon of highway on the left, the mountains in shadow, and the rain streaks coming from the clouds in the distance. All of these elements are important in creating a visually appealing travel photograph.

Let’s take this image apart so that you can see why these matter in composing a stunning photograph.

The yellow pop of flowers against the shadowed mountains brings into play the color wheel and contrasts. The two colors, the bright yellow and predominately blue, dark shadows are not only in opposition to each other on the color wheel, but also provide a great deal of contrast. This is a totally different technique than I described here, about using coordinating colors or just one dominant color in the photograph.

When you compose a photograph, look for contrasts not only in light and dark but in opposing colors on the color wheel. If you are lucky enough to have both in the same photograph… winner! The deep blues of the clouds in the stormy sky also stand out opposite the yellow fields.

The ribbon of the highway on the left adds interest and leads your eye to the horizon. Remember the leading lines the art class teacher told you about in 4th grade? Yea, that applies here!

But there are even more leading lines.

The sun rays coming through the clouds end almost in the same place as the highway does and this only reinforces the pull for your eye to look here.

Did this photograph happen by accident? No.

I walked around until I saw the lines converge. I needed to use a high viewpoint to make sure the tiny bit of the highway was still visible and work quickly to capture the sun rays.

Once you know the rules, you can use them and strengthen just about any photograph.

Take a look at the photo below. This was taken at the same time, about 100 yards away from the first and behind me… Nice, clean, tells a story but not nearly as striking.

Take a little time to think about what you are photographing and walk around a bit if you are able. You might just be surprised at the difference a little thought can make in your final images.

These are all taken near Soda Springs on the way to Black Foot Reservoir.

Fileds near Soda Springs, Idaho — Fields after a rainstorm in Idaho

The image below was taken at sunset over the reservoir. Notice the purple clouds that are on the opposite side of the color wheel from the greens of the foliage.

Also, the visual weight of the green grasses on the left balances the weight of the dark purple clouds in the sky on the right. Look for balance in your composition as you photograph and you will be much happier with your final images.

Moonrise over Blackfoot Reservoir — Sunset over Blackfoot Reservoir

The image below was just from a different angle and minutes before the one above. The light is different and by shifting the grasses to the right of the image it produced a different feel. Again, the white clouds in this image on the upper left are balanced visually by the grasses on the lower right. Look for balance and opposing visual weight in your photographs when you compose them.

Camping provides so many opportunities for photography.

You are able to study the landscape and the light over a few days and plan your shots. Weather can always disrupt those plans, but sometimes the change in weather can be a happy surprise.

Camping here was great. The peacefulness of the campground, the lake view and the quietness of the area all lent to the wonderful feel of the campground.

I walked around the lake on the first night and was well rewarded with the full moon rising over the lake. Just gorgeous!!

For those that like to boat, camp or fish, this is an excellent area. Camping is peaceful with electric hookups available. The sites were larger with sufficient space between them so as to not feel crowded.

When I look at the first photograph, I like to remember that after I go through a trial, even if it is just a rainstorm, that we are often rewarded with seeing the mundane everyday things of life in a new and fresh way.

And hopefully, we remember that they always were that gorgeous, we just couldn’t see them.

Thanks for reading. I hope I expand your view of the world and give you a few tips for creating your own gorgeous images.

If you would like to see more of my travels and hints for creating better travel pictures, please subscribe to this blog below.