As a landscape photographer, I get pleasure in exploration, looking for compositions that have not yet been occupied and have to wait for the right light to illuminate them. Often, it leads to disappointment when the weather deteriorates and forces me to retreat from the car for shelter. However, to hug the elements of nature and use them for your benefit to tell a story will eventually pay more and more.
In this article, we will discuss every element of nature: Earth, air, water and fire, and check that we can take maximum advantage of any scene, maximize their creation and prepare a compelling view story.
Planning your shooting
However, before starting a storytelling enterprise, it is necessary to plan your shoot. Scouts the location in advance. Take some reference drawings to note natural elements in a scene. Next, like apps like app Photopils To check the time when the sun or moon rises and sets (you want to shoot). Given where the natural light is coming from, you can provide you a much better photo at the end of the day, especially if you plan to go during Golden Hour. After mapping the position of the sun, it is good to check the weather. I have used an app To be outside Now for a few years, and I have consistently found it more accurate than other weather apps available. In this way, you can see if any rain, thunder, fog, or ice is predicted in your place, which helps you plan a real shoot.
I am sure I am not alone in it, but I often get into the trap of taking photos to go out and take photos. I create my images to creatively appeal my images, the kind of feeling or story I want to tell, they often leave the images to visually pleased, but there is a lack of depth. However, now that you have made a basic plan and you know what the weather is going to do, it is time to think about the message you want to express through your picture. I usually do this by reviewing the reference paintings taken by me during the journey of either the place again or during the journey of recurrence. I examine creative elements in each photo, including light and texture, and consider how I can express the emotion by mixing these elements.
On the shooting day, I usually arrive a few hours ago, as much as I need. Early, I get time to establish some additional compositions and try some additional compositions while waiting for light. It also gives me time to try different lenses and see which the best final image. The lens you feel that the image can suit the image can be the worst fit. It is surprising to see whether trying various focal lengths can either be harmful or increase the composition and story.
Finally, try different light and weather conditions to increase your photo. Returning to the same place several times during a week or month (or even in other times of the year) can be incredibly beneficial, trying to catch the story you trying to tell. Now, of course, if it is a memorable journey for the Italian dolomites or the tibba of Namibia, you have limited time and budget to come back several times. Nevertheless, the same principle applies during a short time.
Now that we have plans, let’s check various elements that we can focus on telling our story.
Earth
Mountains, forest, rock formation, and torn deserts all represent the flexibility and stability of the Earth. It invites the spirit of durability, time and history. The landscapes are present in front of us and will stay here as long as we have gone. By studying your surroundings and looking for experienced and worn surfaces in nature, you can use the texture as a way to guide your eyes to the subject in your composition. Using perspective, you can emphasize the surrounding landscape or theme. Providing a sense of scale to the viewer will make them feel present in the photo.
Air
The air or air can be a difficult to catch and sometimes require more plan than the shooting of the direct landscape. However, using a slow shutter speed, we can easily create a feeling of motion, such as air traveling through long grass, swinging of tree branches, or vortex of dust are suddenly kicked by air. Apart from the wind, other forces present in the air contribute to imagination and storytelling. Dark clouds reflect a adjacent storm. The long exposure of an electric storm can make the viewer uncomfortable or stressful. This can tell a story how unexpected nature can be. In a dense forest, fog can create an air of mystery, while the heat fog in the desert can express the dry nature of the scene.
Water
Water is a symbol of life. It can provoke a series of emotions in the audience, which depends on the scene, which depends on the photographing: peace, joy, a sense of predecessor, and reflection. Whether you are shooting for a long exposure or at 1/1,000th place of a second, water provides a unique perspective, depending on the story you want to tell. Whether you are putting a picture of a lake at sunset or a storm above the sea, you can create a compelling story and beautiful scene using water as the main theme in your photo.
Fire
Fire may indicate destruction. Wildfire during summer is a painful reminder how delicate and small we are in greater plans of things. However, the fire can also be a sign of rebirth. Small plants sprouted with ash after fire can be a symbol of life after desolate, representing a new beginning or a new beginning. Using Juxtaposition between two elements can also have a more meaningful effect. A picture of an upcoming storm while an ongoing explosion is broad through a hill.
Apart from taking pictures of fire, we can also use elements that indicate heat, such as the sun. Sunrise and sunset also provide a beginning and an end spirit and can be a great way to add a sense of storytelling to your photos.
conclusion
The story can be difficult in photography, especially in landscape photography. This is the difference between just taking pictures of another beautiful view and using elements, breaking the rules of composition and emphasizing unexpected to create an emotional response in the viewer. From a technical point of view, we know what our photos and what shutter speed, aperture and focal length have to be used. However, they are just technical elements for any photo. By including the additional aspect of telling the story in our imagination, we can express a more deeper meaning beyond just another blind attractive image.
The above discussions are things with which we, as humans, are all in contact. We all share the same feelings when we come in contact with nature and its unexpectedness, peace and sheer power. By using these elements for your benefit, we can create a universal story that resonates with everyone.
