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Tree tunnel at North Lake, Bishop Creek area photographed before the trees turn colors in fall. -
This is the same tree lined dirt road at North Lake, CA. Note how the subject becomes the color and not the road. During autumn, color usually is the subject. -
Placing the horizon at the upper third of the frame allows more foliage to be shown at the bottom of the frame. The diagonal line of the foliage also adds action to a landscape composition. -
There are many scenes in the natural world that defy the rule of thirds composition. Vast scenes such as Mono Lake with a beautiful reflection is one such scene that allows you to split the frame with the horizon. Otherwise, you'll be sacrificing half of the subject. This photo was made possible by using a Graduated Neutral Density filter that holds back the brighter sky and makes this reflection distinct. See our "Filters" section for more information on using the GND filter. -
On rare occasions I am blessed with extraordinary cloud formations like this. I look at clouds, light and composition like a chef looks at spices used in cooking. They are necessary ingredients if you want your photographs to stand out. A good photographer needs to learn to manage these ingredients to create the image that's in their mind's eye. -
Fall colored trees frame Mount Wallace and other distant mountain peaks in the High Sierra and lead our eyes into the picture. -
Wide-angle lenses used at the smallest aperture (f:22) will show the greatest depth-of-field. In this natural frame example, the branch and leaves are only a couple feet from the camera and Half Dome is still in focus several miles away. -
Perspective shot using a wide-angle lens to emphasize the size trees. Notice how small the mountain is in comparison to the trees. This photo was made using a Canon 28mm lens set at f:16 for 1/125 sec. ISO 400, polarizing filter. -
Perspective shot using a teleohoto lens to bring up the size of the mountains. Notice how small the trees are in comparison to the mountains. This photo was made using a Canon 24-70mm lens at 45mm and set at f:16 for 1/125 sec. ISO 400, polarizing filter. -
Shooting at unusual angles is another compositional tool that will really stop the viewer. Try to show subjects differently than we normally see them. -
Climbing to the top of a nearby hill can produce photos that show the overall vast expanse of a scene. Always try to produce a good variety of points-of-view. -
Vertical composition from the same position as the horizontal photo. -
Horizontal version to compare with vertical photo.
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