Landscape photography brings together spending time in nature and taking some amazing shots. It’s a win-win, right? Well… Not quite, at least not always. In this video, William Patino takes you on a hike with him and shares the truth about landscape photography that’s a bit bitter – but it’s necessary to know.
I’ll try to break it down into lessons you can learn from William, but also from my own experience I’ll share here and there throughout this article.
The harsh truth
From William’s adventure, we can learn that not every outing will result in a portfolio-worthy image. William went on a hike 70 km away from civilization, and he was on a slippery, wet terrain about 4km from his car. He went out specifically to shoot landscapes, and the scenes around him were truly beautiful. inspiration everywhere: a waterfall, a turquoise stream, incredible trees, and rock textures… However, he ended up discarding the photos he took during the hike.
This sounds discouraging, doesn’t it? You take a trip to a place far from home, and you get wet, tired, and dirty; you definitely visit and photograph incredible places – yet no photos are good enough. None of them do justice to the amazing sights you saw. No matter how disappointed this makes you, it is a normal part of photography. And there are still things you are getting from the experience, so let’s go through them as well.
What are you getting?
Photography experience
If you feel that your photos aren’t working, learn to dissect why. In the video, William discusses the reasons why he discarded each photo. This self-critique is an important part of developing as a photographer. He also mentions the four pillars of photography: subject, composition, light, and post-processing. Analyze your photos based on these elements, and considering including them in the future.
When editing, take breaks and return to your photos with fresh eyes. William mentions how he decided against including a photo he initially liked after processing it. Taking a break from your photos can help you see them more objectively. Don’t be afraid to scrap a photo. If you don’t love it, it probably won’t resonate with viewers either. There’s no shame in discarding a photo, even if you spent a lot of time taking it.
New knowledge
Remember that you’ve still gained experience and learned something. Even though he didn’t get the photos he wanted, William points out that he still had a fun and educational experience. He learned from his mistakes and can apply that knowledge to future shoots.
Time in nature
What I’d like to add is that you spent time in nature, and it means so much for your body and soul. I started hiking a lot, and I don’t always come home with photos I love. Heck, most times I don’t even bring my camera, only my phone.
Still, I always discover some new bugs, plants, fungi and animals. I use Seek app I wrote about before to identify new species and learn about them. I explore new locations and challenge my body to get me through it safely. I’ve been through some crazy adventures that taught me so much about myself and what I’m capable of. Even if you don’t take a single shot while you’re out there in nature – all this is still worth the trip and the effort.
Some phone snaps from my recent outings 🙂
After all, sometimes the best photos are found totally unexpectedly. William got his best photo close to his car on the way home after a hike where he didn’t find any keepers. Be open to finding photo opportunities everywhere you go and cherish the entire experience, not just the images you bring home from a hike.
