Landscape photography - tips please!

Have recently acquired a new lens 18-55mm and have a 14-24mm on order because I wish to learn to take landscape shots, something in all my years with a camera I have never done. In my early days you could only afford one or two lens and you did your best with what you had.

So now I have the equipment I need help, how can you balance the light and shade, I have just had a go outside the front door and apart from not knowing where to focus I could not work out how to deal with the lit and unlit areas, should I not have tried in the evening light.

So where do you focus, is it the extreme distance or some intermediate point and how do I balance the lighting.

I can't really help you there Jackie, as I'm in much the same boat as you but good luck - and I'm sure I can learn from this thread too!

xx

read up on hyperfocal distance - that will help.

Thank you Jack I am sure that will be helpful I will let you know when I have.

Just back from the pub...probably best I don't offer my simple knowledge now...

Look forward to it later BC. Hope you had a good time.

Have looked up JR's point and I was applying that anyway, think somewhere in the dim and distant past I must have been taught that. The thing that I wondered about happened because I was taking a shot down a road into the village, I could not decide if I should focus approx. one third away or on the village.

Do have a lot to learn and remember, can't buy lens and not use them, so all help and advice is welcome and perhaps it can be gathered up and added to the Photographic Basics.

Strangely I looked up hyperfocal distance in 3 of my books last night and not a mention but I did remember the term from one hell of a time ago. I must have been given the basics but landscape was not the way I chose to go.

Am also watching this post with interest!!

Hi Nicola, I know you and I have launched into landscape at the same time. Have taken bits of buildings before but not scenic shots.

Somehow I had remembered that early or late was best for light but when I went out last evening the shadows were really heavy and I had not a clue how to deal with them. It was just before sunset and I think I should have waited till the sun went down but then I may have lost the different colour of the trees I was taking.

Never mind, sure we will get advice soon and then we can try for ourselves, mind you you seem to be making a pretty good job anyway.

I'll try and contribute later on today if I can. We've got my parents staying with us for a few days so I'm not going to be on as much. In work now so can't really add much either.

Good luck in the meantime !

Thank you Phil, hope you are enjoying the visit.