Shooting Landscapes with Longer Focal Lengths

One of the simpler tips that I would suggest for those wanting to add a little variety to their landscape photography is to shoot with longer focal lengths.

Image by straightfinder - focal length - 300mm

While the majority of landscape photography is done with wide angle lenses (and rightly so - it’s a great way to capture to dramatic wide vistas) it can be very effective to take a lens with a longer focal length with you next time you set out to capture a scene.

Longer focal lengths can be particularly effective in those over-photographed locations where images can end up looking a little cliched. They’re also great for capturing patterns and layers on the horizon that often go unnoticed in landscapes shot with a wide lens.

A quick tip for those shooting landscapes with longer focal lengths - make sure you use a tripod. With longer focal lengths, any camera shake or movement will be amplified. The longer the lens the more noticeable it will become. So secure your camera and consider using a remote shutter release of some kind.

Image by Ivarth - focal length - 200mm

By Darren Rowse