This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Landscapes
Here are some general guidelines for better landscape photos:
- White balance: Daylight (preferred) or Auto
- ISO: Up to 400
- Suggested modes: Aperture Priority (A, Av)
- Shutter speed: Set automatically by camera
- Aperture: f/1.8 to f/5.6 (selective focus on details); f/5.6 or narrower (overall shot in focus)
- Scene mode: Auto, Beach, Snow as needed
- Zoom: As needed
- Notes: Shoot before 11 a.m. or after 2 p.m. for the best light. Use a tripod or image stabilization (IS) to prevent camera shake.
Directional Lighting
The light is lower in the morning and afternoon, and it can provide some outstanding "spotlight" effects, as shown in Figure 7.8.
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Figure 7.8 The low sun angle brings out the details of the dog and the dog walkers (f/16, 1/60 second, ISO 200, 2x zoom).
To get the full benefit of directional lighting, though, make sure you're shooting at an angle where you can see both highlights and shadows. Compare Figures 7.9 and 7.10.
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Figure 7.9 The sun is to the left of the towboat, so the entire side of the boat is in shadow.
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Figure 7.10 Wait just a few seconds, though, and the same subject provides a dramatic mix of light and shadows.