Mountain Landscape Photography: Everything You Need to Know for Amazing Snaps
Want to capture amazing mountain landscape photography? Mountain photography has been a popular niche since the invention of the camera.
Legendary landscape photographer Ansel Adams once said, “A good photograph is knowing where to stand.” We couldn’t agree more, but we also believe there are a few key tips and tools to help you shoot any mountains with ease.
Mountain photography can prove one of the most difficult forms of photography so take a moment to consider using each of these tips and tricks, and check out some of the best mountains and national parks in the world to shoot your next snow-capped peaks.
Tips and Tricks for better Mountain Photography
Next time you show up at a national park, feel more prepared to shoot the surrounding mountains using one or a few of the landscape photo techniques below. Pro photographers use many of these for their compositions, and you should too.
Add a Human Aspect
If you want your composition to be more interesting, try adding a human aspect to it. We all know mountains are huge towering piles of rocks and sometimes snow or ice.
But by adding a tiny person in the clouds, valley, or mountain sunset, your image will demonstrate just how grand the landscape is and hold the viewer’s attention for much longer. Create a contrast between the mount and those tiny hikers below in your next photo.
Don’t Climb Up
You may think that to photograph mountains, you need to climb them. This is not necessarily true. If you are on the mountain, sometimes you can’t get the best view. Instead, try finding a stunning viewpoint; one that can capture the surrounding blue sky, a river, a lake, or the morning sunrise.
By adding elements to surround your mountain, your composition will improve greatly. The best way to add an element is to change your perspective and get further away.
Less Light
Oftentimes when photographing mountain photography, you are in a race against the sun. For example, if you are in a valley, expect no sunset or sunrise as the mountains may be hiding all that golden hour glory.
Even if you are on the peak of a mountain, sometimes you deal with harsh weather conditions or a sky full of clouds. Try to look for locations where you can play with the angle and in turn the lighting.
Plan Ahead
As mentioned above, lighting can be tricky when shooting mountains. That’s why it’s a good idea to plan ahead for landscape shots, especially when mountains are involved.
Try using valuable free tools like Google Maps and the Weather Channel to have a look at the space before and to evaluate the weather conditions. Landscape photography is mostly about planning ahead, so you know what gear to bring and where to stand to capture the most beautiful scene.
Use Reflections When Possible
Photographers in every niche know reflections help to create a great composition. Imagine a rocky range full of clouds or a glacier mountain near a river.
All these scenes become more beautiful when reflected back by a local lake or another water source. Make it a point to seek out reflective elements in your photos.
Bracket your shots
The sweet spot for most photography lenses is around f/8-f/11 but if you want to have the crispest and focused landscape images, consider bracketing your focus. We bracket as well for exposure, but it works just as well with your focus range.
First, you will need to set your camera up on a tripod. Then carefully focus your lens on the background, foreground, and middle ground. Take 5 to 7 images in total, with each at the maximum aperture sweet spot of around f/8.
After that, you can use a program like Photoshop to overlay the images for the perfect peak shot. Make sure to explore different aperture settings for maximum exposure.
Post Processing
Even if we bracket and have the best focus in our mountain photography, it’s still important to edit.
Using presets for landscapes is a great way to edit your photos with the simple click of a button. You can also play with the highlights, exposure, peaks, contrast, and other elements to make your landscapes pop.
Foreground
Try to place something in the foreground of your mountain photography. Whether it’s a plant, person, or other subject matter, your photographs will automatically become more interesting by adding something.
Don’t forget to change your angle as well to play with the light when shooting.
Use Weather for Drama Effects
With having to add a filter, you can use weather to add drama to your landscapes. Often there are interesting weather conditions happening in the mountains.
Whether a lightning storm, rain, snow, or moody sun effects. Look for peaks of light in the sky or scene. And once again, mount your camera on a tripod to slow down the shutter and show motion or to bracket and capture weather fully in focus on all levels.
Gear for Mountain Photography
If you are going to take shots in the mountains, it’s important you have the right gear to support you. This list contains some of the essentials for shooting peaks around the globe.
Tripod
A tripod is one of the most important investments you can make for mountain shots. You will be hiking and working your way around sometimes harsh conditions.
This will help you slow your shutter and bracket your images. I recommend a carbon fiber tripod over aluminum; they’re lightweight and super strong.
Lens
Lenses are very subjective, depending on the photographer. But to capture the huge peaks and low valleys, we recommend a wide-angle lens to put it all in one frame.
With that said, you may also consider a telephoto lens to zoom into those hard-to-reach mountain peaks.
Heavy-duty backpack
While traveling around the world to shoot, you may want to consider what you are carrying all your valuable materials in.
You don’t want a bag that can easily rip or tear when standing on the edgy of a mountain. That’s why we recommend taking your camera bag choice seriously.
Filters
To take a nice photo of a landscape, you are going to need a good filter to make the image be properly exposed. If you don’t want to lose the sky or that reflection in front of the mountain, invest in a good filter. A polarizing filter helps to stop harsh reflections from the sun that may bounce off of water or other shiny materials.
Another choice would be an ND filter which is basically a set of sunglasses for your lens. It helps to slow the light from hitting your sensor and in turn overexposes your photo.
Location Recommendations
The world is full of beautiful mountain views and landscapes. It may feel difficult to choose where to take the first shot!
But fear not, we put together this list of the top mountain landscapes to shoot and explore on your next trip around the globe.
El Chalten, Argentina
This place is a goldmine for mountain photographers, with stunning rivers leading into glaciers and mountain ranges. Every location is a point to settle in and start shooting.
Milford Sound, New Zealand
New Zealand is known for its gorgeous landscapes and beautiful mountains. Milford Sound should be at the top of your list for this very reason.
Lakes surrounded by green rocky mountains, the light is incredible, and the scene couldn’t be prettier.
Xingping, China
China is probably not the first place that comes to mind when it comes to mountains, but the Karst mountains are spectacular and need to be added to your bucket list immediately.
A foreground full of these rocky beauties will only add to your portfolio.
Dolomites, Italy
The fall is a magical time to visit the Dolomite mountains in Italy. It’s still fairly warm, and the changing colors as the light reflects off the leaves create an image worth a thousand words. Make sure to photograph here at least once in your lifetime.
Gasadalur, Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are by far off the beaten path. The mountains here are covered in green and full of hiking trails and waterfalls drifting down them. Each scene is more breathtaking than the next and a camera playground.
Torres Del Paine, Chile
This national park is diverse and full of light, color, and interesting rock formations. The Torres del Paine in Chile is a must-visit for photographing the best mountain compositions. Have a look at the example to see why!
Maroon Bells, Colorado
Colorado is already a background for many of the world’s most stunning mountain ranges. But, Maroon Bells is a haven for gorgeous photographs. The lake nestled below the mountains creates spectacular reflections and the golden hour can’t be missed here.
Mountain Photographers to Follow
Looking to be inspired by some of the best mountain and landscape photographers in the world? Check out these talented photographers to find your next national park, light, lens, or composition inspiration. Their photos are enough to make anyone pick up their camera and get started in shooting.
Sean Bagshaw
Sean combines his love of adventure and hiking with photography. He has captured some of America’s highest peaks and when he’s not shooting his next landscape shot, he enjoys teaching others how to do the same. Read more about Sean Bagshaw here.
Cath Simard
In a male-dominated field, Cath Simard stands above the rest with her incredible mountain photos. After quitting her job in Quebec, she took to the mountains to capture the blue glow of the moon on some of the world’s biggest mountains.
Christian Hoiberg
Christian Hoiberg is a master at shooting arctic mountains and glaciers. Each photo tells a story, and no filter is needed as he captures northern Norway like no other.
Scott Smorra
Scott Smorra is an expert at conveying emotions through each image he shoots. Whether it’s a romantic pink sky or a field full of sun and light, you can’t help but stay locked on his photos as your eye turns in circles around every subject.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article about mountain landscape photography. Besides focusing on light, one of the most important things you can do is be open-minded, prepare and have fun when shooting mountains. So get your camera and tripod packed and start hiking up the next peak!
This article is produced by: https://photographycourse.net/
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