Three must haves for your landscape photography
Do you have the right tools to photograph awesome landscapes? Many aspiring photographers tend to go for the "best" equipments without knowing why they need such high quality tools. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this idea. I't absolutely cool to spend thousands of dollars on cameras and lenses. However, You're not really spending on what you really need for an awesome photography which are usually fraction of the price of most lenses.
If you are standing in front of a stunning landscape, you honestly only need a camera and the kit lens - your thousands dollar lenses are only extra. What you really need for a stunning landscape photo are a tripod, remote shutter release and filters.
If you're just starting off, save your money on the expensive lenses and invest on the above items. You'll only spend a fraction and also be able to take your family on a nice dinner.
Choose the Right Tripod
There are so many options to choose from when it comes to choosing a right Tripod and it should be covered in a separate article. Tirpod is a must for landscape photography to prevent any shakes and have that crystal clear images. Especially if you're taking long exposure and night photography, you won't have a nice photo without one.
First, choose between aluminium or carbon fiber material. Carbon fiber is far more superior material than aluminium mainly in terms of its weight and durability. However, they can be lot more expensive. If you do a lot of walking or hiking, I'd definitely go with carbon fiber. You can get a decent carbon fiber tripods around $200. If you don't have the budget for it go with the aluminium. It is slightly heavier but the real downside of aluminium is really its durability. Your $200 carbon fiber may last over ten years but your $100 aluminium could only last five years before it starts to rust and malfunciton. Considering this factor, I'd recommend you invest little bit more and go with a carbon fiber for the long run.
Second, choose the size the right size that fits in your bag or is easy to carry. See if it's maximum height doesn't require you to bend over too much.
Lastly, see how much weight it can hold. This is where carbon fiber also has the advantage. Sometimes you'll need to hang your bag for that extra weight to hold the tripod more steady, especially if it's windy. You want to make sure your tripod can hold that extra weight without breaking.
Remote shutters
Remote shutter is another tool you need to prevent any shakes when pressing the shutter. Any shakes can cause your image to look blurry, especially when taking long exposures. This device will let you take photos without actually pressing the shutter.
However, recent cameras have wifi or bluetooth function to connect with your smartphones and the app on your phone will basically work as a remote shutter. If that's the case you don't really need this. Just download your camera app and connect with your camera.
Another options is to use the shutter timer. When I didn't have a remote shutter or the app, I just set the shutter time to two seconds so it will only take the photo two seconds after I release my finger. Any exposure longer than 30 seconds, you will need a remote shutter because it won't release itself.
Lens Filters
Some types of photos are impossible to take without filters and there are three main filters you should have in your camera bag at all times.
ND Filter (Neutral Density filter)
With an ND filter you can take photos like above during the day. ND filters reduces the light that comes into your camera through the lens allowing you to shoot at slower shutter speed. Without this filter your photos will come super exposed looking very white. ND filters are normally used for long exposure shots that will smooth out the water fall and while steady objects looking sharper. I recommend having ND6 and ND10 as a start.
Graduated neutral density filter. (ND Grads)
With the ND grads, you can take photos like this one here. ND grads give you the gradient effect on the photo. It's useful to use when the half the image is more exposed than the other half and you want to neutralize this lighting. Or you simply want to make things look cooler.
CPL Filter (Circular Polarized light)
CPL filters or Polarizing filters are generally lighter than ND filters and used to reduce the light reflection. You can screw on a CPL filter to reduce the unwanted reflections on a window or water. You can also use it to make the colors pop more, just like the photo above, you get a much more blue sky. However, if you don't use it right it creates unwanted vignette so keep that in mind.
*We have a full beginner photography master class that we're partnered with here. Please take a look if you seriously want to up your photography game.
I've went over few beginner tips to up your photography game. If you've missed them make sure you check them out.
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