How to Shoot Landscapes

Think about the foreground

‘The big foreground' is a favourite compositional device among landscape workers; with a wideangle lens fitted, the photographer moves in close to a foreground element, giving it prominence and exaggerating perspective. If the lens is (35 mm-equivalent) 20mm or wider, the effect is almost always impressive. Nevertheless, the technique is much over-used on subjects that don't merit it: if you are drawing the viewer's attention in the first place to the foreground, make sure that it is at least as interesting as what is in the background. Many of these shots fail because all the foreground has to offer is an insignificant pebble or dead stick while a fascinating mountain range or sky in the distance is diminished. If that is where the real interest lies, focus on it.

Here, I got in really close to the life belt, being careful to make a secondary framing of the rugged island of Tindholmur through it. The belt's colour qualified it for star treatment. Since it was almost dark, I added further drama by underexposing the rest of the view by one stop then lighting the ring with flash.