Hey everyone! In a couple of weeks I’ll begin filming a series of landscape photography classes for Kelby Training online. I have some good ideas in mind for how I want the class to go, but I wanted to turn to all of you because, well, you’ll be the ones watching the class. So here’s the deal.
I Need Your Feedback
Some of the best ideas I get for teaching are usually from reading the evaluations of my classes or emails I get. For example, my Lightroom seminar is constantly tweaked and made better because I read all of the evaluation forms (usually 300-500 of them) after the seminar. If I see a pattern, I realize something needs to be added/changed/removed. So I’m reaching out to the audience that would watch this class and asking for ideas on what you’d like covered and how you’d like it to be covered.
Get A Free 2-Month Membership To Kelby Training
If I use your idea, I’ll get you set up with a free 2-month membership to Kelby Training ($50 value). That should be more than enough time to watch the class once it comes out. If you’re already a subscriber, your membership will get extended by 2-months.
As I mentioned earlier, I already have an idea for how I’d like things to go in the class. But I’m deliberately leaving the details out of this post, because I’d like you guys to look at this with a fresh set of eyes. Questions to think about:
1) What are the main questions you have when it comes to landscape photography? I want to make sure I answer these first and foremost.
2) What should be covered in the class?
3) How should I cover it? On location? Do you actually need to see me shooting? Am I shooting and talking? What am I talking about?
4) Your thoughts on pre-planning?
5) Any cool name ideas would be great. I’m initially thinking it needs the word photo or photography in it for marketing purposes, but who knows.
6) Anything else you can think of.
Thanks for stopping by and I really appreciate your feedback in advance. I truly want to make this a series of classes that helps people know exactly how to get beautiful landscape photos and I hope you’ll help out. Have a good one!
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
It’s been a while since this request for input was posted, nonetheless, maybe this will help, albeit late in the game. Too many Landscape tutorials end up being about the photographer, exotic places, the photographer’s equipment, showing off post processing skills, or a particular expensive lens (the latest Nikon shift-tilt), showing off fantastic photograph essays with a list of particulars (shot at ISO: 200; f/5.6; 1/100 sec; 24-70mm f/2.8 lens — and not talking about why the settings or lens was important), or spending an inordinate amount time going over the virtues of using the Nikon D800 or Canon EOS 5D Mark II and associated lens that I could never buy on a fixed income.
In other words, tell us the best time of day to shoot landscapes or nature, why this or that particular scene is photogenic, why a particular camera setting is important (“I chose f/8.0 over f/5.6 for this shot because …”), I also suggest that the course be divided between close up (including macro), and regular landscape photography — including panorama and HDR essential knowledge (and suggested software). Most of all, concentrate on light and light quality (bringing us back to the time of day).
I’ve seen many tutorials over the years, and think that starting each landscape session with a planning and research clip for the the day’s shoot; followed by a clip or clips of setting up the equipment and lecturing from the field — mistakes (with corrections) and all –; going over the filters being used; post-processing selected shots (and not always in Lightroom or Photoshop); and a follow-up clip, including a photographer’s notebook session (e.g., hand-drawn diagrams of why a fill flash was used and where and why it was placed as it was, etc),
Matt,
First thanks for all of your clear and usable instruction on the internet. I think all of your content is high quality – it’s easily understood and I can adopt new techniques quickly.
Let me try to answer some of your questions by example. I just returned from a one day trip to Yosemite National Park, exciting for me as I enjoy simply being in the park as well as the excitement of great photography possibilities and expression.
1) What are the main questions you have when it comes to landscape photography? I want to make sure I answer these first and foremost.
For me the essential question is how to prepare to travel to a landscape photography site – I don’t have the luxury of a lot of time, so I want to prepare and understand the physical layout, logistics on how to approach the site, and perhaps most importantly, what kind of light to expect when there. It’s typical not to know exactly what you are going to get, but like any other improvisational activity, mental practice helps
2) What should be covered in the class?
Answers to above question on key locations – for me that would be national park settings when I’m fortunate enough to get there – experience on what to expect on photo opportunities during different times of year is important. As an example, how to handle particular locations at critical times of day like sunrise and sunset
3) How should I cover it? On location? Do you actually need to see me shooting? Am I shooting and talking? What am I talking about?
Seeing you shoot a location would be fantastic. I read books and blogs to prepare my approach to Yosemite, but that would be no substitute for vicarious learning via video.
4) Your thoughts on pre-planning?
Read, watch video. Maybe have the opportunity to ask questions about particular areas of interest prior to the visit.
5) Any cool name ideas would be great. I’m initially thinking it needs the wordphoto or photography in it for marketing purposes, but who knows.
How about vicarious photography? – the movie ‘finding forrester’ was about a writer teaching writing to a student with ability, but he wanted to transmit essential techniques but then let the student find his own way – the technique in the story was the teacher wrote a book and gave it to the student and then said it’s yours – now what would you do with it?
6) Anything else you can think of.
Discussion of work after work is done. Everything is experiment and thought and getting trusting guidance. Encourage dicipline then the courage to experiment.
So far it appears there is no shortage of great ideas & topics to choose for your sessions. I have seen a few mentions of panos but I ges)would ask for an in depth discussion be included – planning, tools needed. lenses, techniques to use (and avoid), post processing, etc. Can panos be pulled off for night shots (really big sky images) and how are they different ?
You really have your hands full on this one. Should be a lot of work and great fun doing what you (and us watching) love – catching the light !! Can’t wait to see the end results.
John
would be good to include use of filters… the different kinds (e.g. ND grads and reverse ND grads) and when to use them, and tips on how to best use utilize them and when..
If you will be in any city X, how do you find shooting locations?
Can’t wait to see this! My main questions are always what aperture and where to focus for a perfectly focused image. Also- for those of us who don’t have top of the line gear- what would be good choices for lenses? Someday I hope to have a full frame camera- but for now, what would be good lens choices for my D7000. What would be a good plan when starting a landscape shoot- and how do you proceed? I know post-processing is important, but hope you spend most of your time on the photography itself. Shooting and talking? Yes, for part of the time. Title? Something like Top 5(6,7,10?) Secrets of Shooting Landscapes Like the Pros.
My main question of all time would be where to focus. I’m constantly in a guessing mode of where i should focus and if my DOF is enough. This is especially true when i am adding a foreground element into my photograph. Is f/16 enough for DOF with foreground element. or should i bump it up to f/22 (but i dont want to use the max aperture). also, where do i focus it on? one third into the frame? hyperfocal dist (which i never ever understand). which is the best method???
i think the video should be covered both on location and in the classroom with picture examples on how the shot was made, framed and composed. what were your thought process. did u intend the picture to be taken in b/w or colour, etc.
1) composition – what gives you the vision, framing of the picture
Focus – where?
foreground – what, how do you decide what blends with the photo
review camera setting – focus point on various photos
what makes the decision for HDR? photo
2) my request would be to have the class – reviewing basic and proceed to advance shooting then processing techniques
May be also review plugs in you use
3) I have no opinion on this except that I do like Moose way with his on location videos
4) pre planning- yes we all love gear, what do you take, how do you carry it & set up
5) SunRise – SunSet LandscapePhotography
thanks
Title : Give your Landscapes the WoW Factor
Suggestion : explain the advantage to shoot 5frames bracketed whenever possible as you can:
– pick the best exposure for post
– blend exposures to recover lost details
– make an hdr to maximize dynamic range
1) What are the main questions ?
Picking a location, what might make a better location, what might contribute to a worse one ? Framing. How to “balance” the shot. Angles you think about. Focusing, hyperfocusing. Technical things you think about ( camera settings, exposure, balancing highlights in the sky with everything else, ND or no ND, lens choice, do you think about spot metering ? how wide of a range of stops your sensor can expose for without blocking up shadows ?, other technical in-camera things you think about….)
2) What should be covered in the class?
Picking a location. Pre-planning, choosing equipment. Problems you have run into on previous landscape classes/shoots, that you now try not to repeat.
Thoughts about important weather gear ?. Framing, balanced photos. What do you think about when there is water, or sunrise/sunset ?
Possibly using ND filters.
Post processing – OK that is a big area, but maybe some of your standard go-to techniques ( I’m OK with or without plug-ins).
3) How should I cover it? On location? Do you actually need to see me
shooting? Am I shooting and talking? What am I talking about?
I often want to understand angles of a photo. Often you are wondering how a particular perspective was achieved. Either I would try to cover this specifically, or allow the video camera to pear over the shoulder so as to show a similar perspective. Yes, I think it can be very helpful to see the photographer in action, but I also think this can be captured with wider still shots that show you in action.
4) Your thoughts on pre-planning?
I think this is best done by possibly showing the results of a similar location with and without pre-planning. Maybe go through past examples of when your pre-planning did not work out like you expected, or when you didn’t do it, but should have. Yes, I think pre-planning should definitely be covered….
5) Any cool name ideas would be great. I’m initially thinking it needs the word photo or photography in it for marketing purposes, but who knows.
Concentrate on a name that catches the essence of what is different about this course. Good luck 🙂
Hi Matt,
first of all have to give you credit for this great idea to do a class “based” on feedback from crowd. Here is a list of my things I’d like you to include in your class. Think it will be helpful not just for me but for everybody out there who is interested in this kind of photography.
1) How do you pick your location + scouting
2) Show people that you have to shoot at dawn/dusk to get the best possible light. That includes getting video snapshots of time when you get up, getting into location, picking up the best possible spot. (think this one is really important otherwise they wouldn’t think it is so important)
3) Share with everybody your thoughts, what is your subject, how would you like to approach it, why are you choosing this composition.
4) Stick on that same spot for several hours and take 2 images. Same subject, same composition, same spot. Just with different light. Show us the difference between being there at 6 AM and 10 AM.
5) This might be a bit strange approach, but show us images when the light just didn’t happen. Not every time you’ll get that perfect portfolio super selling images.
Have fun!
I would like to see your process in arriving at a final composition on-site from beginning to end. Start with the overall scene and then share your thoughts in deciding what to shoot.
Also any pre-planning steps you follow.
Hi, How about discussing back up strategies when you don’t have a computer with you. Also what filters you recommend and how to use them, for example, a 1X – 10X filter, what is the best way (app) to figure exposure settings when using the various settings; polarizers – using them for situations other than skies, etc.
Hi Matt,
I´m excited about this class and i would love to add some stuff. This is some kind of a brainstormin´twister.
1. Camera Settings, why is a tripod better, dynamic range, golden hour, what kind of gear do i need, when should i go out, what are you looking for in a landscape, how do you find borders to frame, What kind of light do i need for Mountains or trees or lakes, how can the daytime influence my picture, what am i focussing at
2. pre-planning, setting up the camera and tripod, why moving is important, basic post-production, what are your biggest lessons learned
3. On Location would be nice, but i think the most important part is, pre-planning, packing, time schedule, Camera/tripod-setup, post-production. The actual shooting is a little more like waiting while fishing. smile
4. Why is the pre planning so imortant and why do i have to think about the time i arrive (different light situations).
5. “Where is this taken?!”-Photography
I hope i this is some kind of information you are looking for.
Greetings Martin
Hey Matt.
I recommend you to contact with Lukasz Piech from Poland, and hi is brilliant in landscape photography. Check his FB page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Landscape-Photography-Workshops/398892506867632
Matt,
One thing I think would be great would be for you to explain the aperture setting you chose and why, but to also take the same shot with multiple aperture settings and then to explain and show the difference between them and why the one you chose was optimal for the effect you wanted.
Would also be great to talk about focusing and where in the scen you set your focus point to get the depth of field you were going for.
I’d like to know how best to incorporate a person or people into landscapes without the two subjects competing with each other.
1) Some focus on how to “see the light” will be nice. There are many videos/classes that just tell you to shoot during the golden/blue hours and automatically have better photos, but seldom do I see any class that actually tells you how to analyze the lighting conditions and how to make use of them. The portrait classes usually doesn’t do this very well for landscapes – portrait classes focus mainly on how to modify the light, which isn’t possible in landscape photography most of the time. It is also not always the case that someone will be free to shoot photos during the golden hours, and if they have to shoot during the less than optimal times, what can they do/what should they look out for/any tips in general would be nice.
2) When does one use HDR/exposure fusion and when does one use graduated filters/black card technique? Many tutorials out there tell you how to do HDR or how to use graduated filters, but none of them tell you when to use each. A lot of people just stick to whatever they like (myself included), but it’s mainly because we don’t know how these techniques or gear really work, so we don’t know what to use.
3) Some focus on how to find good landscapes out of ordinary places would be nice. Many people can get good photos of iconic places, but how do you “find a photo”? What is the mindset behind looking at how to get a good photo out of a location? This also helps us find new compositions of the popular places, so our photos don’t turn out the same as the 1,000,000,000 other photos out there on the net of the same place.
I realise I seem to be demanding a lot out of you, but if I really wanted a class that is different from the thousands of video tutorials out there that tell you to use the $1000 tripod and shoot around dusk and dawn, these would really be what I’d like to see. By far, these are the only things I haven’t been able to find out of the many videos I can find online or in books.
A lot of great suggestions already. In addition to what people have already said, I would focus on the whole experience though… start to finish.
1. Research. How to find good places to photograph.
2. What kind of gear should I take if I’m backpacking to a location. You’ve mentioned this before when hiking in Oregon to Trillium or pretty much any waterfall. Photography bags that are made for hiking, lenses, tripods, filters, rain equip.
3. Maybe different scenes. Rivers, mountains, ocean, plains. I would like to see you be on location.
4. Obviously focus on composition; foreground/background, thirds, leading lines,
5. Something that still is difficult for me where dynamic range captured by my camera so much different than my eye… sunsets and sunrises. How to effectively do HDR… staying within the dynamic range of the eye.
6. Editing. Lightroom, photoshop, Nik.
good luck. I’m looking forward to watching the course.
Things like pepping a shoot, you know the homework before a shoot. Use of filters (Lee stuff). What is Plan A fails, what do you do? Location scouting. Title: “Landscaping Matt Style”. Looking forward to the video!
– How do you set up to go out and shoot landscape? what do you bring?
1) What are the main questions you have when it comes to landscape photography? I want to make sure I answer these first and foremost.
What do you look for when approaching a landscape? (When shooting around home we see the same things all the time it can be difficult to see the scene in a new way) How do you handle the midday shooting? (when you have no choice but to shoot at
midday) How do you get a new perspective on scenes that so many others have
shot? (Yosemite, Yellowstone, ect.).
2) What should be covered in the class?
I am not sure your overall goals are based on difficulty. This is what I would personally
like to see in the class. I would like to see you “scouting” a location. It
does not have to be an elaborate location as many of us cannot afford to travel
as often as we like. A simple from your backyard type shoot would be good, just so we can see you thoughts play out on a scene. Then make your picture and explain why you chose that moment in time to make the picture. The head back to Lightroom/Photoshop and shows us your workflow (including how you save your images, aka image organization). You don’t have to go into detail, for example instead of showing us how to use every tool that you are using, assume that we already know that and just do something like: Ok guys, I first take my spot healing brush and take out dust spots, now I take a look at the overall exposure and it looks like I need to increase the exposure
slightly, now I want to add a little more contrast to make the tree line stand out from the lake, ect. We don’t necessarily need to see the background to each tool or slider, but rather the tools and sliders you use to get your final image and how you use the to make your images “yours”.
3) How should I cover it? On location? Do you actually need to see me shooting? Am I shooting and talking? What am I talking about?
I would have it on location, it does not have to be elaborate. A simple local honey hole, like a lake, river, ect. that many of us will experience while shooting in our own
areas (not all of us can travel to places like Yellowstone regularly). I would
like to see you shooting and talking. While you are shooting you are saying
your thoughts out loud. Something like “I am not taking the picture because the
light is hitting that tree and drawing the viewer’s eye away from my subject.
Now I am making the picture because the light is on the rock and this tree over
here which is where I want my viewer’s eye to go.” This helps to see the
thought process behind the image and not just “use this shutter speed, this
ISO, and this F/stop on this location”, as photographers we should be able to
get a fairly good understanding of these things and I would like the thought
process of applying those settings and not so much coming up with the settings.
4) Your thoughts on pre-planning?
I am assuming you are talking about pre-planning the photo shoot. In this case I would like to see how you come up with the time of day for your shoot and if you look for
any particular weather conditions (rain, light cloud cover, no clouds, heavy clouds,
moon phase, ect.). I would also like to see how you prep for the possibility of
changing weather conditions so that if you are in a remote location and the
weather changes we don’t lose out on an image opportunity.
5) Any cool name ideas would be great. I’m initially thinking it needs the word
photo or photography in it for marketing purposes, but who knows.
A. The Great American Landscape: Photography for XXX (XXX would stand for beginner, advance, expert, ect.)
B. Behind the Scenes of a Landscape Photographer
C. Lights, Camera, Landscape! How to Make Great Landscape Photographs.
D. The Creative Landscape: Landscape Photography for Creative’s.
6) Anything else you can think of.
Overall I would like this class to be a class where we get a look inside your head. There is a lot of information already out there about how to make pictures technically,
but I want to learn how you add that personal touch to a photograph and make it
unique. I want to learn your creative side and how to think about a landscape
from a creative side and not so much a technical side (though it would be nice
to tell us your settings so we can understand how you used the settings to get
your creative look).
1) Outside of HDR (which I like), what’s the best way to capture a vivid sunset/sunrise while capturing details in the foreground?
Oh darn! I’m leaving town tomorrow and this is the only opportunity I have to shoot this scene. It’s well before sunset, there’s not a cloud in the sky. How can I make the best of this less-than-ideal situation?
2) Composition & processing
3) On-location clips would be nice, but a classroom setting for the majority of the session would be fine.
5) “Landscape Photography: Success is on the Horizon”
Wow, a ton of great ideas below. I made a list and read through the comments. So I’m only going to add to (and not repeat) the idea list.
One thing that I think has become popular with the landscape community is time-lapse photography. Most new digital cameras include a built in intervalometer, so they’ll be able to experiment without buying any new gear (always a plus). My suggestion would be to have a single section on time lapse photography. It could be toward the end after you have talked about everything else (but possibly before you do any editing). I think it could be simple and very effective. No need to go into rails (although you can mention them) and all that fancy stuff. Just show how to make simple time lapse. I would even say it’s as easy (if not easier) than taking a pano!
Ideally, this is what I think it might go:
– Talk about exposure mode and Focus. Just like a pano! I would talk about the role of shutter speed for time-lapse (i.e If it’s too fast you get a very choppy looking video).
– WB (it can be anything if shot in raw and then all photos can be synced to one WB, but I think it would be great to start with the same WB for all – so basically don’t shoot auto WB).
– Finding a composition with something that moves (clouds are always great!)
– Setting the intervalometer within the camera. Explain the role of the interval between shots (you don’t need a shot every second).
Once you get to the editing, this would be a great place to talk about:
– Batch processing with the Auto-sync feature in LR (or the copy paste)
– Exporting as small jpegs to make the time-lapse in CS6 OR using LR slideshow to make a timelapse! I know there are some plugins online for the latter. Possibly even talk about adding music with the Slideshow feature in LR?
Ok, that’s what I have. Hopefully you get a chance to incorporate it. I have a feeling it may be a big hit!
[I know that Moose has a section on time lapse photography in one of his Romancing the Landscape videos, but I think it was made a couple of years ago and could use a bit of a revamp, especially now that video is such a big thing in photography].
1) What are the main questions you have when it comes to landscape
photography?
– Best lenses to use
– Ideal camera settings
2) What should be covered in the class?
– Different types of landscape photography (mountain, ocean, garden, city)
– Ideal settings for day, night, fog, snow, sun, cloud, dust
– Equipment needed (tripod? filter?)
– How to be creative when the scene is already beautiful. Adding that personal touch.
3) How should I cover it? On location? Do you actually need to see me
shooting? Am I shooting and talking? What am I talking about?
– All of the above! Think of your audience and what type of learner they are. Visual (lets see you shoot) Oral (Let’s hear what you have to say when shooting) Maybe have a summary at the end.
– Talk about the different functions/equipment you are going to use and why. What would the picture look like if you used certain settings.
4) Your thoughts on pre-planning?
5) Any cool name ideas would be great. I’m initially thinking it needs the word photo or photography in it for marketing purposes, but who knows.
– Planet Earth: Landscape Photography
– Escape: Landscape Photography
-The Landscape Redemption (Shawshank Redemption)
6) Anything else you can think of.
Matt — what a great idea to ask for feedback BEFORE the event. In addition to a lot of the great ideas already presented , let me add two: 1. Have a distinct session/discussion on the art of landscape photography. Not just the Ansel Adams overtly majestic images, beautiful as they are, but what makes a compelling landscape image. You can always add the technical aspects of exposure and processing, but it’s too easy to let those elements distract one from developing your eye for the art of the landscape.
2. Also consider incorporating what I’ll call ‘smallscape’ photography in your lesson plan; images that are not grand vistas but are smaller in scale to allow one to focus on the fundamental elements of composition, vantage point, light, etc. I find that sometimes really compelling landscape images are in themselves too distracting to function effectively as a teaching tool.
Good luck and I’ll look forward to seeing your class. Thanks for all the passion and inspiration you put into your work on Kelby.
Tom
I’d like to see you, on location, detailing what your thought processes are when you arrive, but I’d also like to learn how you prepare, before going on location. How do you search for locations, etc.
Once there, I’d like to see you set up and use a variety of equipment, not just the best gear, but gear at various cost points, e.g. different cameras, lens, filter brands, tripods, etc.
A section on how you protect your gear, when you are out in the great outdoors, would also be useful as well as your outdoor backup strategy.
I think it would be useful to have a small section on safety. Might seem obvious, but very important, especially in some particular locations.
Just love what you are discussing allready but what bugs me the most is when to know to go out. I mean what kind of weather forecast doe you need to have to know that tomorrow morning there’s a big chance that there’s gonna be nice clouds. I now it varies per region but that’s what I’d like to know.
And would love to see you shooting just how you set up evaluate the landscape, making composition and so on…
Hi
Matt, I think it would be great to address the pre-planning a bit more than it
is usually addressed in landscape courses. To take nice landscapes you have to
go to nice places which can be expensive, so if you have a three day trip
planned to an area you want to make the most of your photographic
opportunities. I would really appreciate some tips/resources to finding great
photography spots that are perhaps a little less well known and more accessible
than say “the wave”, spots maybe you or your colleagues have been to
on previous courses. For example, your upcoming trip to Washington, where
exactly is a great spot to get a “rolling hills photo”, sort of a
“where to” guide to go with the “how to” . Here is a good
example for Banff National Park http://oopoomoo.com/ebook/banff-national-park/
(FYI this book has nothing to do with me, I just like the idea). I am looking
forward to your course. Thanks, Sabrena
I would like to see the whole process from start to finish. From deciding what general area to shoot to doing research on to determine exact locations, to planning out what times you want to shoot where, to scouting the locations when you get there, to taking the photographs, to your workflow (how you back up your images when traveling, how your sort the picks from the rejects, and how you process a few images).
As for a name, how about “Landscape Photo Shoot: Planning to Post.
Hello Matt,
Really excited about this as you’re the guy who inspired me to get back into Photography – Landscapes in particular.
I now have my D7100 in hand I am planning some trips to make the most of it and put the skills I’ve learned to use. Thats said there are still some answers that I’d like more practical information on – something I think you do really well! Iceland is my first adventure – RV booked for May roadtrip!
Here is what I’d like to see:
1) Focusing techniques: I’m fully aware of both Hyperfocal and image Blending to achieve optimum ‘focus’ and depth within a shot, but have never seen good solid instructions on how it’s done in practice nor when to chose to employ blending rather than Hyperfocal, or vice versa. I’m looking for tack sharp images and am just not convinced my focus technique is up to scratch. Can you help?
2) Exposure: Yes, this seems obvious doesn’t it? but I see that many of us are now relying heavily on a single RAW file to produce the image we expect, so this seems to be of first importance. Often because of the golden hours, I find myself pulling shadows quite heavily on a regular basis, obviously I bracket all my shots and make the decision of which one would be the best candidate by trying to chose the one I think contains the ‘most useful information’ dependent on my overall objective. I would like to see some information on how you chose the right shot to use, and most importantly, if there are any methods you employ during the shoot to ensure you end up with the perfect shot for processing. Scenarios with examples would be perfect.
Thanks again for providing a great resource that’s perfectly executed. You guys at Kelby Media have made photography fun, factual, and you always make me want to go shoot!
Cheers,
Mark
FIrst of all–can’t wait for this class, so thanks for putting this one together!
One big picture idea is: How to take beautiful landscapes of (seemingly) ordinary scenes. Many photographers do this everyday, but it takes real vision and insight to do so.
A practical idea is: When and how to use filters on camera versus settings/presets in post. There are great debates out there about whether in-camera filters or post-processing creates the better ultimate image, so I think it’s a relevant concept to cover.
Title idea: Achieving Your Landscape Vision
I affirm the requests for more info on use of ND filters and other filters used for Landscape. An ND is probably going to be my next purchase and will be the first filter I’ll have ever used. Thanks, Matt
Hi Matt,
A lot of us are not always capable of being there at sunrise and sunset for our landscape pictures. I’d like to see some ideas on taking landscape shots in unperfect lighting like a 10:00 am or noon or 4:00 pm. Quick few minutes on composition and set up. Most of us are handheld shooter, so a few tips on that would be great. What do you look for when you shoot your landscape shots. What goes through your mind … a start to finished type of thing. And last but not least … post processing workflow. Fixing bad sky and stuff like that. Bracket shooting? Filter you use in certain situations. How you analyze and set up the shot.
Thanks for letting us help you out!
Dennis
I’d like to see what you can shoot outside of the golden hours – is it possible to still get great, moody images during the rest of the day??
Suggested title – Photographing the Woods rather than the Trees
How to make the best use of different lenses – when would you use a telephoto lens to capture the landscape rather than a wide angle.
How to use panoramic techniques to capture the landscape more effectively.
How to find the city landscape within the city and make the most of it.
A suggestion for the title: The Art of Landscape Photography
Matt; this is a great idea. Thanks for letting your blog readers sound off on what they would like to see. Some really great ideas have been suggested already.
In addition to the gear planning (quick pack to go light, or extensive pack to cover all the bases), I would suggest adding in what works best for you for carrying all the gear into the field. I’d like to see a couple different classes in the series, one focusing on beginning landscape photography, and one (or more) on advanced techniques. Maybe do the classes with another landscape photographer for more tips and tricks (not to say that just having you would be fine!). Doing the class in the field would be awesome! How about having a segment on “small” landscapes, such as lakes, ponds, and waterfalls? They’re more accessible to most of us. Also, talk about having something in the photo to show scale to the viewer and how it can affect the drama in a photo.
Have fun with the class and I hope to see it soon,
–John
– I’d love to see something on using tilt-shifts in landscape photography. Panos, maximizing dof, etc.
– I think something that many of us will find useful is if you could show that you could get awesome shots even if you can’t afford the best lenses, say the 14-24 or the 16-35. Maybe use some consumer/prosumer lenses (24-120, maybe even a Samyang/Rokinon 14 2.8).
– Nightscapes – how to find dark skies, how to frame a landscape shoe that includes the Milky Way, star trails, etc.
– Compression – how longer lenses make the distant mountains appear larger and closer, how to get a HUGE sun or moon in your shot, etc.
– Panos – regular and tilt-shift, from framing to technique to stitching.
What I’d like to see is something a little more real as opposed to staged. Something that feels more on the fly or in the moment as opposed to lecturing. So maybe something a tad more documentary style where you are being followed and are in the field focusing on the getting the photos. Then after the fact in post production you can do some voice overs or cutaways.
Another thing that might be neat is sticking a go-pro to your camera’s hot shoe or something. That way in editing you could always show a camera POV that’s video instead of just a snapshot and it will give the viewers a better idea of how you are working the scene.
What might also be nice is some of the stuff you do ahead of time. Not just packing your gear and going over all of it, but a quick segment where we get to see you doing research and looking up sunrise times and that kind of stuff. It sounds boring but if shot right it could be a quick 3 minute edited segment and seeing you in the moment and what your methods are would be more interesting then you flat out telling us.
Things I’d like to see:
1. Equipment used. (keep it light as if traveling)
2. Photographing in bad light. We all encounter when traveling.
3. Processing using plug-ins as well as Lr and Ps. Plug-ins save time and I want to see them in action by a pro. (Color effex pro, Viveza)
Matt,
“Hyperfocal focusing” would be great to see covered – always seems like a lot of us mess that up in the field.
Since a ton of us don’t get to travel very often for our photography, something on salvaging a day’s shoot when the weather or light sucks would be very interesting.
Great to see that some landscape photography is coming…not all of us are strobe users shooting portraits and weddings, and it’s awesome that you are doing it – have always liked your work!
Why you take the gear you take instead of the usual “what’s in my bag” and how you plan a shoot – your Landscape Photography from A to Z so to speak. Definitely include some post work because you’re a master at that.
Matt- I know you like to take photos with dark ND filters to smooth out the water, etc. How about session involving how you set up your exposure and how you focus with the VND filter, etc. A real detailed walk through. It would be a huge help to those of us on the front end of the learning curve, IMHO. I have a year’s membership to kelbytraining and have enjoyed many of the learning sessions available so far. This would be a bonus!
Reading through the comments posted thus far, you pretty much have the genre covered. If you got through all the suggestions already posted the series would be quite complete. One emphasis I would add: some shoots run well over the ‘golden hours’ of shooting, unavoidably. That happens so often that if you could cover making the best of those extremely challenging conditions, literally all of us would be interested (and grateful).
It isn’t necessary to shoot the entire series out in the field. A collection of photos projected on screen that allow you to make your specific points is fine (and you probably can cover more material overall). A series of images from one location, showing how you first approached a scene, what you discovered, what you tried next, what finally worked, etc. is more than enough. (Saving on production costs is never a bad thing.) Plus, even though you are an outstanding instructor, we all shoot best when we concentrate on that shooting. Shooting and instructing at the same time takes just a little bit away from both endeavors.
As far as names: fun names are great when sitting around with friends and throwing jokes and ideas back and forth. Descriptive standards that tell the viewer what the content will be are most useful for the vast majority of us. Consider naming it The Landscape Series: xxxxxxxx (where xxxxxxxx changes each time to describe what you are stressing in that particular segment). It tells the viewer immediately that there is more than one session to look for (hopefully increasing visits to each), and it informs as to what will be generally taught (without an exhaustive search).
Count me in as a viewer, no matter which direction you decide to go.
Title: Landscape Photography: From field to frame.
This may seem like a basic question to answer (perhaps it has been answered before), but from what I’ve seen of your blind critiques, you always say for landscape photography that you need to to photograph beautiful locations. My question: How do you find these beautiful locations? Are there community photo sites linked to maps so you can pull up where you may be traveling and quickly find out where you should shoot?
Matt,
How about a look into your view finder? I have a hard time envisioning what your view finder would look like for a particular photo and what is going on in your mind.
I haven’t seen this view in any of the blogs I follow, you could be the first.
Rick
I also would like to see at least a segment on the 22hr a day that are not sunrise or sunset. I suggest skipping some of the iconic places for a blend of local themes. When to handhold and when to breakout tripod and other gear. I like the suggestions on framing and where to focus on a big scene. I also would like a bit on the reality of not being able to move all over for a shot, like mtns or water. Perhaps big kit vs little kit might fit in the scheme of today’s world. Leave out phones and pads!
Title: Extracting the Landscape Photograph from the Scenery
That title should provide the framework for all related material, from the technical aspects to the artistic interpretation. My recommendation for the course is to show a landscape on video, capture it with a basic, dull and uninspiring photograph (as most people capture) and then explain how to get a great landscape photograph from that scene, the Matt K Way.
Alternate Title: Landscape Photography – The Matt K Way 😀
Matt,
Someone has already said that there are some really good
classes on Kelby Training and I agree. I love both Bill Fortney and Moose Peterson’s classes. What I think might be missing is a real a start to finish class. Both Mr. Fortney
and Mr. Peterson do a wonderful job of part of the process but it’s kind of like after the fact. They seem to start
with the photograph then go to post processing.
What if you started from the very beginning and go through the entire process to print?
You might describe the basics of composition and what make a good landscape image, why certain times of the day are best, etc. Tell us what you have in your mind’s eye. Have a location already picked out but don’t say
much about it at first.
Next you’d check the weather hoping for clouds but not total overcast. Go through your thought process on determining the lenses you’ll bring, along with your other gear such as tripods, cable release, filters, etc.
Let us know the reason why you’re taking what you’re taking with you. Go through the packing of the equipment. How you might hike or physically get to the location.
Then, go through your normal set up and selection process. Again, tell us what’s in your mind’s eye. Why you pick the spot you did and a bit about the composition again. Take your images and show the good, bad and ugly and tell us why you think they are good bad or ugly. Next go through post processing all the way to print.
I just think that it would be cool to see the entire process
from start to finish. Certainly throughout the process, you could incorporate some of the fine suggestions below.
Just my thoughts……….
This is great news and I can hardly wait to see the class. This has been said probably here but basically do a class from start to finish of what you would do for a landscape photo. Also as a landscape photographer how do you get recognized out there amongst all the portrait photographers. I just wrote a blog which I mention you and Kelby Training. Thank you for all you do for us! If you have time I would love for you to come by and see the blog http://mphocus.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/never-too-late-to-learn/
Matt:
I’m excited to see what you come out with. As others have pointed out, there are a number of landscape oriented tutorials out there. Most tend to get wrapped up into discussions of the golden hour or iconic locations and lose site of the importance of the mechanics of a shoot. While I understand the importance of location and light, I’d love to see some of the following:
– Hyper Focal Distance Techniques: I couldn’t agree more with the others who’ve already mentioned this. If you do include this, please discuss or assess the quality of online calculators/apps and focus on how to use modern lenses that don’t use the old-style aperture ring.
– Focus Layering: How best to shoot and blend layered/progressive focus images
– Manual focus vs. Auto focus: When and why?
Thanks!
locate places, planning, find out how the sun rises and sets, the best time of day to shoot, compose, foreground, background.
Not only photograph classic landscape images you can shoot urban landscapes and cityscapes as well.
Hi Matt,
1) What are the main questions you have when it comes to
landscape photography? I want to make sure I answer these first and foremost.
How to properly frame the image that you want to
obtain. Do you shoot wider than normal so there is more room to crop when
you get to post-processing?
2) What should be covered in the class? How to shoot
landscapes outside of the Golden Hours. Best practices for
post-processing in both Lightroom and PS.
3) How should I cover it? On location? Do you actually need
to see me shooting? Am I shooting and talking? What am I talking about?
You don’t need to be on location for most of it, but maybe
shooting one chapter in or around Tampa, maybe the Sunshine Bridge as an
example, just to illustrate points.
4) Your thoughts on pre-planning?
What gear to have with you, including lenses and
filters. Also maybe a good lesson on how to properly use ND filters.
5) Any cool name ideas would be great. I’m initially thinking
it needs the word photo or photography in it for marketing purposes, but who
knows.
How to shoot pleasing landscape photography.
6) Anything else you can think of.
Remember that the audience is likely to be beginner to
intermediate. While not talking down to them just remember what you were
discovering when you first started shooting landscapes, especially the failures
and errors and how you corrected them.
BTW I am still pissed you came to Phoenix while I was on a
Panama Canal Cruise. You had the whole first two weeks of March, but
nooooo. 😉
Best wishes.
How about the research before the trip? The difference between packing for a local (driveable) trip vice longer range (airline) trip? How to do the trip on a tight budget like Scott did for lighting? How to make the most of not ideal weather, etc.
“How to get beautiful landscape photos” Just quoting what your wanting to teach-
Focus, less than perfect weather, photomerge decisions, blending exposure and composition. Tethered on location shooting would be cool- (maybe an excuse to buy new toys!) I think watching and listening along with seeing will allow you to communicate all your talent- followed up by post of course.
Matt: I learn best by seeing how things are done: so I would love to see you out in the field actually doing your thing.
Show us what goes into visualizing a landscape scene: researching and scouting out the location, evaluating possible compositions, knowing how to anticipate the best light (e.g. when and where the sun will rise or set to the best advantage of the scene), improvising when conditions are not “right”.
Compositional practices: when to use a good foreground element; how to judge the best focal point of the image; when to break the “rules” in composition; how to get that “wow” image that isn’t like everyone elses. How to visualize a landscape for black and white conversion.
Sometimes I travel with a “non-photographic” tour: how do I make the best photographically out of this situation? I really need help with this one.
Some practical tips: What to look for in a travel tripod; how to travel light but with the best kit. How to use wide angle and ultra wide angle lenses effectively to change perspective in a landscape photo. What is the best way to create slow exposures. How to deal effectively with depth of field; when to maximize DOF and when to use narrow DOF. How to realistically use neutral density filters and when to rely on Photoshop or Lightroom for this.
A good name for the course: How to Create Inspirational Landscape Photographs
Regarding “how” it should be covered I think you should walk around and show exactly what you do….set up some not so optimal conditions as well, and be spontaneus.Notice how some weather patterns change on a whim, and show how you adapt to each of them on short notice; not everyone has a full week to explore the Red Woods in detail…show how one can accomplish landscapes without a wide angle too by stiching a few pics together nicely…be divers, landscapes don’t just mean nature…NYC skyline viewed from NJ is a landscape too.
Show how one can get super nice landscapes just by setting the camera settings properly.
I would love to work with you on this particular project, really would.
Actually I think it would be nice to stray a bit from all the “National Parks” landscapes which cannot be achieved by those unable to travel, and focus a bit more on how can amazing landscape photographs can be achieved locally. I for one feel quite taunted knowing I could take amazing photos of the Grand Canyon but I have no way of ever visiting so, like me, there are many people who are not able to travel to all the gorgeous places in the world, and also find themselves there at just the right time of day, so it would be nice to address “Landscape Photography” as a whole, and expand on all kinds of landscapes, and not just mountsins & landmarks.
Here’s the title:
“Landscapes; Beautifull anywhere”
First, a name suggestion…How about something like Matt-Scape(s), M-Scape(s), or K-Scape(s).
Some things I would like to see is: effectively using HDR (shooting and Post Processing), how you select scenes and then the techniques you use to get the picture from within the scene, equipment used (lens, tripod, bags, and accessories) on different shoots.
One thing I really found helpful from your post from Death Valley was the “Out Takes”….photos you didn’t use and why. It really helped and had some very funny commentary!
Hi Matt, Lots of good ideas already posted. I’m a bit more generic. How about Landscapes: pre planning to post processing. I really appreciated the series Scott K did on his Paris trip and think that type of format would really benefit many viewers. I have every confidence it will be a great class.
I’d second the motion on hyperfocal distance. The lack of in-focus indicators on nonexistent aperture rings and the uncertainty of autofocus combine to make this topic a bit baffling. Or maybe it’s just a matter of wanting to impose an old-tech concept to modern equipment which has made it irrelevant. Beats me.
I just know that there’s always a lingering question in my mind as to whether something couldn’t have been done differently to make that foreground-middleground-background range more consistently sharp.
Actually, I think the topic to be addressed may be clarity. This is more than just sharpness. Given an attractive subject in favorable light, good composition, etc., it’s often the overall impact of clarity that causes a landscape image to capture the viewer’s attention. Once captured, it can be difficult to look away or move on to the next image.
That’s the kind of impact a landscape photographer would like to make.
Hey Matt, Sometimes I have problems with the landscape composition, where to focus, and what f-stop to use. Also is there a preferred exposure mode to use or does it depend on certain photos?
Where I would benefit the most is post processing in LR4 and CS6 along with your most used plug-ins. I would be most interested to know additional info where plug-ins is used. How to highlight certain areas of the photo to point the viewer towards and how to do it? How do you sharpen and do you sharpen all or part of the Landscape photo. Also I some times have trouble cropping a Landscape photo and know when/where to crop to make it a better photo.
I will look forward to the class whatever it includes as I learn a lot in all your classes in that as an aging photographer, you explain your actions very clearly and simply for a person like me to understand and learn.
Hey Matt
There are a number of landscape training videos available,
some of which are on Kelby Training. For
the most part they’re pretty much the same, a photographer out in the field
shooting images, then cut to a still of the processed image.
Assuming your target audience is amateur photographers with
a full time day job that maybe once a year go to a remote location on a week’s
vacation to shoot a landscape. What I feel
is needed is A Landscape Photo Shoot from Start to Finish.
Starting with Planning. Where am I going to go on my week’s
vacation? Followed by:
Research.
What should I be able to photograph and see while I’m there? Use of books magazines, brochures and the
internet. Next:
·
Equipment.
What to bring, lenses, filters, tripods, ect. based on the research. Then upon arrival:
Scouting.
The area may not look the same as you saw in your research. Where will the sun rise and set? Would this be a good shot for a long
exposure, a black and white, a pano, ect.
The shoot.
Followed by:
Post. Starting
with Lightroom/ACR then Photoshop and finally using plugins to create an image
as you remember it, or in many cases, better.
Well that’s my suggestion, feel
free to incorporate any of it into your class.
We know you like sun rise/set photography but how do you prevent blowouts when the sun is included? Have you any lunar tips? How about Golden Gate bad weather? What if you are on a tour bus in the middle of the day and have 30 minutes before leaving. How do you include people/family? How do you improve on the stock landscape photos you see on the net when you at that location. What visual accessories can you use versus post Photoshop fixes?
For in the field I would like to see how you choose your composition when you arrive at a new site. For post processing I would like to see more of how you dodge and burn to improve the shot. Also just wanted to mention that I really enjoyed your Lightroom presentation in Sacramento last December.
When I see Peter Lik’s photographs of the Grand Canyon, they are breathtaking. I think the reason for that is that he captures the MAJESTY of the beautiful scenery in our country.
Thus, I suggest your title be Majestic Landscapes, and the overall objective would focus on producing majestic images, the ones you really can’t stop looking at.
Perhaps a plain overall shot of what you first saw, and then the particulars of producing the final product, including, lens, angle, composition, lighting. Yet all these often seem to produce ho-hum photos then are later “brought to life” with photoshop/lightroom.
These are the lessons that I would value. Thanks, and I very much look forward to viewing your landscape classes!
Hi Matt,
I think many of the basics have already been covered on KelbyTraining, so my name suggestion is: “Landscape Photography: Beyond the Basics”. Topics I’d like to see would include:
– Definitely a mix of you in the field and postprocessing.
– A focus stacking demo, both how to shoot it and how to postprocess.
– The hyperfocal suggestions already made are good ones
– An in-field discussion of lens choice. When do you choose to shoot wide vs telephoto?
– Pick your favorite iPhone app and talk through how to use it to help with location scouting. I hope you pick Photographers Ephemeris.
– Strategies for handling 10 stop light and when to pick one over the other: HDR, filters, flash, manual exposure blending, etc.
Hope that helps,
— Bill
My first question back to you is what is the level of the class? If it’s beginner level, your topics may be different. I consider myself a beginner wanting to know and understand so my answers are from that point of view.
1) What are the main questions you have when it comes to landscape photography?
2) What should be covered in the class?
– what makes a good landscape photo as compared to a great photo./ -where should the sun be?
-how to get great pictures without a tripod. With a tripod.
-guidelines for how much ground/sky to include
-scouting a location
-learning to “see” the photo
-why don’t my colors/pictures look like the what I thought I was taking? (my expectations for the actual picture don’t match up to reality)
-guidelines for taking sunrise photos (if you’re waiting in the dark for the sun to rise, when do you take photos to actually get something that’s not grainy?); sunset photos
-shooting something not very interesting, ie the desert, and making it interesting
3) How should I cover it? On location? Do you actually need to see me shooting? Am I shooting and talking? What am I talking about?
-yes, on location and explain what you are seeing, thinking, your settings. It would be ideal to see you shooting and later see the photos and see how they came out and then hear you critique it. For a video class it would be interesting to see the shoot, talking, picture, critique. It would be easy to follow the thought process. If it were video I wouldn’t necessarily need to see you shooting though. If it was an on location class everyone would probably want their camera too and try and take pictures, which adds a whole extra layer of complexicity to the class.
4) Your thoughts on pre-planning? Besides location and handouts (if any) I wouldn’t have shots preplanned.
5) Any cool name ideas would be great. I’m initially thinking it needs the word photo or photography in it for marketing purposes, but who knows.
-Matt’s Viewpoint on Landscape Photography
-Carpe Diem- Seize the moment capturing landscape photographs
6) Anything else you can think of. Haven’t I rambled on enough?
Scouting:
I use flickr and other photo sites to see what other people photographs look like at the location I plan to photograph. Most have Exif to find out time of day and exposure settings.
Ephemeris:
This free software let’s me determine the direction and time of sunrise and sunset.
photoephemeris.com
Lens selection:
Are wide angle lenses still necessary with the panoramic abilities of cameras and software? I struggle with lens selections and zoom settings.
Hi Matt,
Here are some points I’d suggest including in your class:
– how do you figure out where and what to shoot?
– how do you compose an interesting shot?
– what focal length / lens to use?
– how to handle shooting at sunrise and sunset or when the sky is much brighter than the foreground
– use of GND filters, ND filters, polarizers and how to handle using them with wide angle lenses (show and tell)
– HDR, bracketing (shoot and talk)
– proper use of a tripod (e.g. weighing it down, using the thicker legs first) (show and tell)
Hope this gives you some ideas!
Camera placement! Several people can be at the same scene but someone always has that kick-a-pow! image from the same spot and other people’s images are just meh. What do you do to place your camera. Don’t just show what is in the view finder also show a behind the scenes image that shows the camera/tripod placement in relation to the scene. Is it low/high, tilted down on the foreground anchor or dead flat and parallel to the ground. I’d really like to observe what you do to set up. Things you naturally do and probably take for granted but we have not thought of as students.
Thanks Matt!
Hi Matt, There are several items that come to mind. 1. Taking sharp photos. How lens diffraction comes into play, especially with high MP cameras such as the Nikon D800. 2. Hyperfocal distance. Where to focus on a landscape image. 3. Use of graduated neutral density, reverse neutral density, Lee Big Stopper, and polarizing filters. 4. Lens selection. The benefits of both wide and long lenses in a given situation. 5. Shooting landscapes during the blue hour or even at night. 6. Post-processing. Tips, tricks and software filters specifically for landscape photography.
– Scouting locations
– online – best web resources, apps
– onsite – Where to put the tripod (I hope the answer isn’t next to all the other tripods.)
– How to tell at noon when a location will look great at sunset (or sunrise) (i.e. things to look for that make a great image)
– How to shoot iconic locations and make the images your own.
– When nature doesn’t cooperate – turning lemons into lemonade
– Shooting in extreme conditions – Rain, snow, heat, dust, lightning (not just camera care but using these environmental factors in your images.)
I enjoyed your Phoenix LIghtroom class and I’m looking forward to seeing this landscape class.
Make sure you let us in on your decision making process, i.e., what are the challenges or questions encountered both in planning and on location and how you decide the best action. Also, its a small thing, but a little insight into the value of a spirit level on a tripod and how it should be mounted and used. I know its a “rule” but none of my tripods have one and I’m wondering if it would really help?.
If you have time, show common mistakes and how to fix them. How is landscape different from portraits, what different things do you have to consider? Definitely do at least part of the class on location. It may sound silly, but include tripod tips in the field for folks who’ve never done that (on a hill, in the wind, how to level).
Good day, Matt,
Thanks for the opportunity to input for your class. Eric C. did cover a lot of it. But I would like to see more on techniques for adverse conditions. We can’t always be at a location at dawn or dusk. Also, I was just up on Steptoe Butte doing test shots. And the wind was pretty stiff. What I should have done was lower the height of my tripod for better stabilization. We all get in a rut and miss the obvious.
Also, I live in Spokane and have traveled through the Palouse forever. But I had to see the sold out class at $1200 to realizse that I take it for granted. Please encourage people to shoot where they live.
Hi Matt, I think a class where you show everything that goes into doing a complete landscape photo shoot. You could start with showing everyone how you scout your location, to packing your gear, getting set up on location, shooting, and then post processing would be pretty cool. I would definitely sign up with Kelby Training again to watch that.
Matt,
How about some info on the 9-10 stop ND filters. Their pluses, and minuses. Maybe some info on the lower fstops as well.
I know for me knowing what filters to use in which circumstances is always a challenge? Also what about ideas for shooting in your own area? I know some of us cant travel to these awesome locations and any ideas for getting great shots in not so great locations would be a huge plus?
Hi – I’d like to see what you can shoot outside of the golden hours as so much of the day is lost. Can you get great shots in normal light?
This will be a great class, Matt. My idea for you would be a detailed instruction segment on the use of Hyper Focal Distance techniques. Not only using the classroom but actual setting up and shooting using Hyper Focal Distance. You could also include a bit on the use of Hyper Focal Distance calculators and charts. This could perhaps clear up some of the mysteries surrounding the use of Hyper Focal Distance with Landscape Photography.