FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER
Chris Renk In this article, Chris describes his thoughts on how he mastered the idea of capturing a successful landscape image and asks the reader several questions which, at some point, we have all probably asked ourselves. Landscape Photography: The Art of Seeing the Beauty ‘Every photographer has undoubtedly dealt with landscape photography at some time, be it during a holiday trip or an excursion to a nearby location. With full vigour, one rushed to the apparently worth-seeing objects and landscape forms to capture as many impressions as possible with one’s camera. After the photographer had photographed the motifs, there was a rush to develop the pictures to see the final result. The disappointment was all the greater that the photos, unfortunately, did not reflect the impressions collected on-site! Does this description sound familiar to you? If so, then this article might be just the right thing for you!
Over the next pages, I will give you a small insight into my thoughts about landscape photography and how I master it.
At first, we have to clarify what landscape photography is! There are many definitions out there, but to me, the most accurate description is as follows: •
•
Landscape photography shows spaces within the world, sometimes vast and unending, but other times microscopic. Landscape photographs typically capture nature’s presence, but can also focus on human-made features or disturbances of landscapes.
As you can see, landscape photography isn’t only limited to mountains, forests or lonely places. Rather, landscape photographers enjoy a wide variety of motifs.
Which brings me to the next important question about landscape photography - what’s the reason for it? •
•
•
Perhaps the most common is to recall a personal observation or experience while in the outdoors, especially when travelling Others pursue it mainly as an outdoor lifestyle, to be involved with nature and the elements Some as an escape from the artificial world!
For me, it is a mixture of all three of these statements. Of course, the most important is getting a balance to the increasingly demanding workload of my job. Being out in nature, I can immediately feel my heartbeat slowing down and my thoughts are focused only on the beauty of the surrounding landscape, filled with the sound of nature.
Touched by the rising sun
52 52
Even more, I can feel this when I am out during the early morning hours when the sun slowly rises or during late evening, when the sun is gradually disappearing behind the horizon and the blue hour begins.
Landscape Magazine Spring 2021
