Landscape photography is a pursuit that requires patience, dedication, and a persistent mindset. From waiting for the right conditions to refining compositions during challenging moments, as landscape photographers, we face a range of experiences that test our resolve. This article delves into the significance of persistence in landscape photography, exploring how embracing unfavorable conditions can benefit our skills, how enjoying the rewards of successful shots can continue to benefit us long after the shoot, the importance of how considered post-processing and printing of our banger combine and contribute to help us become a successful landscape photographer.

Waiting for the Right Conditions

One of the essential skills in landscape photography is the ability to wait for the perfect conditions to capture breathtaking shots. These conditions may include the golden hour, favorable weather, or the alignment of natural elements that create an awesome composition. Experienced landscape photographers understand that patience is key, as waiting for the opportune moment can result in awe-inspiring and ethereal images. Remember, it is better to capture a single remarkable photograph in ideal conditions than to rush through and produce mediocre shots. While many of the amazing shots we all see from other photographers look like they just rocked up and took the shot, the truth is that there have been many failed shoots beforehand, many mediocre images, and, most of all, many opportunities for each photographer to either give up or learn from each experience .

Learning From Unfavorable Conditions

Despite meticulous planning, us landscape photographers may encounter situations where the conditions are not ideal. Whether it’s unexpected rain, overcast skies, or harsh lighting, these moments should not be seen as setbacks. Instead, consider them as opportunities to refine your compositional skills and experiment with new techniques. Every challenging condition presents a chance to develop adaptability and creative thinking, which are invaluable assets for any photographer. A strong image consists of many elements and if we use the opportunity of “bad conditions” to fine-tune and lock in that banger composition, then we have removed one of the element challenges, all that’s left now is to wait or try again when the conditions are exactly as we wanted.

Avoiding Frustration

Frustration can be a natural response when confronted with uncooperative weather or persistent challenges. However, it’s essential to maintain a positive mindset and remember that every landscape photographer faces hurdles. By reframing setbacks as learning experiences, frustration can be transformed into motivation. Keep in mind that even the most renowned landscape photographers encountered many failures before achieving greatness. These failures could have been in the same location or in a totally different location, nonetheless by embracing the challenge and opportunity each presented, it helped to drive them on to succeed even more. For those of use that have chased a moon shot, for example, we know that it can only really happen once a month and more often than not clouds can spoil the party and the unobstructed view of the moon shitting on top of our subject. In times like this it is key to not give up, you will have another chance in approx 28 days, so just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and wait until the moment presents itself again.

Fine-Tuning Compositions in Bad Conditions

During adverse weather or lighting conditions, resist the temptation to give up and pack your gear. Instead, use these moments to focus on composition. Experiment with different angles, perspectives, and framing techniques. Pay attention to foreground and background elements that can enhance the overall impact of the photograph. The more you practice fine-tuning compositions during challenging conditions, the more proficient you’ll become in capturing captivating shots under any circumstance. Then, of course, when the best light or conditions do come, you are ready and armed with the knowledge that you have done your homework, and now, all that’s left to do is catch that banger shot. 

Enjoying the Moment When It Happens

When the right conditions finally align, relish the moment. Take a deep breath and absorb the beauty of the landscape before you. Allow yourself to immerse in the surroundings, creating a stronger connection between you and the scene. Being present in the moment enhances your ability to capture the essence and emotion of the landscape, resulting in more profound and impactful images. After all, most of us landscape photographers love being out in nature, so it’s important that we relish that moment and don’t just view it from the back of the camera or in the viewfinder, but instead see it for what it is, an amazing spectacle and a moment that we have waited and exercised patience possibly many times to experience. It is ok to let out a scream of joy at this moment, but, of course, not before you catch that elusive shot first.

Spending Time Processing the Images

Post-processing is an essential aspect of landscape photography. While it can be tempting to immediately share your images, dedicating time to process them thoughtfully will significantly improve the final results. Picture the scene, you finally got that shot, you rush back to your computer, load up the raw file into your processing software, dial in your settings and boom, you finally have it. The key, however, is to let it cook for a while, let your eyes adjust, and enjoy the image for yourself for a while before sharing it online. Once it is online, your edit is dialed in, and there is nothing worse than having that defining shot posted online only to discover a rouge dust spot or worse still, your colors were off, highlights blown, or dark shadows full of noise. During post-processing, you have the opportunity to fine-tune colors, contrast, and other elements to bring out the true essence of the landscape. Use this time to enhance the mood and atmosphere of your photographs, creating visual narratives that resonate with viewers and also yourself for years to come. 

Avoiding Immediate Posting

In the age of social media, there is a tendency to share photographs immediately after capturing them. However, it’s crucial to resist this urge and take some time before sharing your work. Allow yourself a cooling-off period, during which you distance yourself from the emotional connection to the photograph. Revisiting the image later with a fresh perspective will enable you to make more objective judgments and potentially identify areas for further improvements.

Embracing the Reward

After dedicating time, effort, and patience to capture the perfect shot, the sense of accomplishment can be incredibly rewarding. Embrace the joy of a successful shoot and celebrate your achievements. Sharing your work with fellow photographers and appreciative audiences can strengthen your passion and drive for landscape photography. The endorphin release that we all feel when receiving any accolades is mostly short-lived. In the modern age, an image passes by the viewer’s eyes quite fast, and unless someone sees it there and then, it may not register. A good practice it to share this image more than once, as you will have new followers who join your network after you have shared it at that time, and you will want them to also see this shot(s). A good idea is also to re-share this shot when another shot reminds you of it, or even once a year at the time of year you finally managed to capture it, then the reward systems can start all over again. 

The Importance of Printing Your Images

In today’s digital era, many photographs remain confined to screens and hard drives. Printing your images elevates your work to a new level of appreciation. Seeing your photographs come to life on paper brings a sense of fulfillment and allows you to experience the details and textures that might get lost on a screen. Additionally, displaying your prints allows you to share your vision with others and potentially inspire fellow photographers and art enthusiasts. Doing this at home is a great way to remind you of the feelings, hard work, sounds, the exact time you hit that shutter button. It can also serve as a great motivator for you each time to pass it in your hallway, living room, or wherever you decide to hang it. And finally if you have a visitor to your home/workplace you have a great subject to talk about and relive and share off of the emotions that came with grabbing this shot. 

Persistence is the backbone of landscape photography, guiding us photographers through challenging conditions and enriching the rewarding moments. By embracing unfavorable circumstances, fine-tuning compositions, dedicating time to post-processing, and cherishing the journey, us photographers can elevate our craft and create impactful images that stand the test of time. Remember, persistence is not just about the end result; it is about the dedication and love for the art of landscape photography.

Now, I know you have had challenges and rewards like I mentioned above, so share your story in the comments below and let’s chat. 

The phrase “shooting a moving target” certainly has more than one connotation, especially coming from an ex-military combat photographer. While I’ll be using examples from my time in the U.S. Air Force, we are specifically talking about photography. I’ll be sharing my top 6 action photography tips for run and gun photographers.

Capturing action, and telling a story of motion with your still photography can be tough. But we’ll break down my top tips, tricks, and formulas so you can capture better action shots. It’s a lot more than cranking your Shutter Speed to 1/4000th of a second and snapping away with a continuous high burst mode. So let’s jump right into this action photography tutorial.

What is Action Photography?

Action photography, sometimes known as an action shot, refers to capturing a photograph of a moving subject in a way that conveys motion to the viewer. The idea of showing a moving subject with still photography may sound quite contradictory. But don’t worry, this article is packed with tips, tricks, and techniques to take your action shots to the next level.

Tip #1. Anticipate the Action

When capturing action shots, anticipating the subject’s movement is key. For example, pre-focusing on where your subject will be instead of where it currently is may make the difference between a sharp or blurry shot. If your subject is moving in a straight line from point A toward point B, you can anticipate that your subject will arrive at point B. Thus by setting your focus at point B, you won’t be chasing your subject, searching for focus (and likely missing the shot) when it arrives.

Tip #2. Don’t Chimp

What is chimping? Chimping is a term used to describe when digital photographers look at the back of their LCD screen after every single shot. It’s a silly term derived from the monkey-like “ooohh” and “aaahh” noises made by photographers admiring their every shot. Another reason is that monkeys also enjoy inspecting everything. Don’t be a chimper!

If you’ve already set the proper exposure, and the lighting conditions haven’t changed, there’s no reason to stop shooting and check your LCD after every shot. You could be missing valuable moments while you’re too busy admiring your photos. There’s plenty of time to view all of your imagery at home at 100% resolution after the photoshoot. That’s not to say never look at your LCD — find a balance, but don’t miss the next shot chimping at the last shot.

Tip #3. Know the Rules

I approach all action photography situations the same, whether I’m shooting sports, cars, or a military training exercise. Before starting, we need to know the “rules” of the game. If I’m photographing a basketball game, for example, there are literal rules: two teams of players on the court alternate putting the ball in the net. Our action is confined to the width and length of the court or how high the players can jump.

Military action can be approached in the same manner. We commonly used sports to practice capturing action shots. The fast pacing of sports helps one prepare for the rapid movement of military personnel and equipment. Also similar to sports, I was on a team (unit) with objectives (missions) to complete. Having a relative idea of troop positioning, movements, and tactics are quite similar to sports plays and strategies.

Sure, rules can absolutely be broken. If you’re familiar with Murphy’s Law stating: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong,” you know things don’t always go according to plan. In sports, a basketball play may leave the court and punch a fan. In the military, equipment may break or an ambush occurs. While these are typically the exception, they may lead to unplanned photographic opportunities.

Tip #4. Shutter Speed Tricks

As I said earlier, there’s a lot more to action photography than cranking your shutter speed to 1/4000th and calling it good. Sometimes a slower shutter speed can be used to emphasize motion in an action shot. Using a technique like panning, when done properly, will freeze your subject and add motion blur to the background. Additionally, you can utilize a flash with rear-curtain sync to add a little more “pop” to the subject of your panning shot.

Tip #5. Always Be Ready

This may sound like common sense, but then again common sense isn’t always so common. This concept can be as simple as having enough fully-charged batteries or formatted memory cards at the ready, the moment you need them. You’d be surprised how many photographers show up to an all-day event with one battery or one memory card…

This also means being able to take a photo from the right location at a moment’s notice. If you’re too busy changing lenses, buying a hotdog, or chugging a beer, you might miss out on some action shots. Heck, you may even be on the wrong side of the field during the tie-breaking point, if you’re not in position and ready to shoot.

Tip #6. Situational Awareness

This could potentially be a life-saving tip for photographers. It’s easy to get tunnel vision through that 70-200mm lens when there’s something awesome to be captured in front of you. Being situationally aware means knowing what is happening around you at all times. Is there heavy equipment moving in the area? Is your camera bag in a safe spot, where it won’t get snatched? If you step back, will you get sucked into a running turbine engine?

When I was photographing military action, it was critical to know what was happening in my surroundings, since my imagery, and at times my life, depended on it. I’ve watched as another photographer was nearly crushed by a taxiing B-52H Stratofortress bomber because he was so focused on a shot of an aircraft at the other end of the runway.

Two Theories of Action Photography

I like to break action photography down into two approaches or theories: shoot and move or compose and wait. There are Pros and Cons to both, but all of the 6 tips I shared earlier can be applied to these theories. There is no right or wrong way to capture action shots, so take all of this information and apply it to your own shooting style as you see fit. Let’s start with the idea of Shoot & Move.

Shoot and Move

This is run-and-gun photography in its most literal form. With this capture style, we are physically following our subject, hoping for a serendipitous clash of light, composition, and moment. The pro of this shooting style is you may capture an amazing moment while chasing the action. After all, you are in the action and giving a POV (point of view) perspective, which can be powerful.

The biggest con is also that you are in the action. In addition to being possibly dangerous, you may find little time to stop and compose your shots, leaving you with a lot of blurry frames.

Compose and Wait

It sounds simple; find great light, compose your shot, and then wait. When your subject enters the frame you’ll capture a well-composed photograph of the decisive moment with great light. Sounds like the easiest way to go about capturing action shots, right? The obvious pros are that you have precise control over your lighting, focus, and composition.

However, what if your subject never makes it into your frame? All of that preparation was for nothing. Additionally, you may miss out on other great shots because time was spent sitting… and waiting.

About the Author: JT Armstrong is an award-winning military photographer and is currently the video director for the U.S. Space Force. He runs the Youtube channel RunNGun Photo that focuses on sharing photography tips, tricks, and hacks. This article was also published here.

Nowadays, your website is one of the most important parts of your photo business, and as such, it is well worth putting a lot of time and effort into making yours as good as possible. If you would like to make sure yours is as good as possible, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced wedding photographer discussing a common mistake creatives make with their websites and how to ensure yours rises above the rest. 

Coming to you from Katelyn James, this excellent video tutorial discusses the importance of careful curation of the portfolio you present on your website. This is a very common mistake that even experienced photographers make (and I have certainly been guilty of it). The important thing to remember is that when people view a portfolio, it takes several good photos to make a solid impression and make the client feel comfortable contacting the photographer, but all it takes is one mediocre photo to give them doubt and cause them to move on. It is easy for us to become emotionally connected to images for a variety of reasons or want to show off photos that took a lot of work to create, but it is important to remember that those things don’t matter to potential clients. Be ruthless in your curation and remember that quality is always better than quantity. Check out the video above for the full rundown from James. 

AI has caused a ton of excitement and controversy in the last year, and the photo industry has not been immune to it. This has led to many creatives wondering how the role of the professional photographer will evolve under the shadow of AI. This insightful video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing his thoughts on the topic. 

Coming to you from Scott Choucino of Tin House Studio, this interesting video essay discusses the future of professional photography with the evolution of AI. I think Choucino makes some interesting points regarding other groundbreaking technologies, such as the Brownie camera and the shift from film to digital. All of these were seen as death knells for the industry by many, but, as we know, photography continued to grow and thrive. Now, that is not to say that these did not have an impact, and surely, they even put some professionals out of business. However, the photography industry is not unique in that sense, and the onus is on professionals to read the industry and adapt as needed. While not to diminish the impact AI will have on the industry, there will always be the need for photographers in many capacities. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino. 

You Belong Here: Place, People, and Purpose in Latinx Photography

Register Online

Register Online