I have been photographing for about 30 years now and I just can’t help but think that I have been chasing the sun for just as long. The image above is around 20 years old (slide) and was probably the first to really drive the point home of when I needed to be out in the field, even if I skipped the rest of the day. I am constantly drawn to that pre-dawn and after sunset light that just makes landscapes magical, so I have put together two new programs: one to debut on Monday at the B&H Optic 2017 event and the other to debut at the NECCC annual conference later in July. I hope you can come and see these programs where I will share with you my first love, landscape photography, and my how my passion for it has not diminished and continues to feed my soul.
Many elements have an effect on the success of an image including color, composition, and subject, but it needs to have an immediate impact if it is to be truly successful and the most overlooked aspect of composition is composing vertically. It is by far my favorite element and combined with an ultra wide-angle lens and great clouds, makes the difference between average and spectacular. Compare these two images from my just concluded workshop to Iceland. The image below is from a higher vantage point at the falls of Mt. Kirkjufell with my new Sigma 12-24mm f/4 Art that shows the curve of the foreground and the entire scene with a pretty awesome sky I may add. I really like it but prefer the vertical image up top with the closer view of the falls and the sweeping sky! Why? To me the vertical emphasizes the form of the falls as well as the sky with both images at nearly the same focal length (the horizontal at 12mm and the vert at 13mm).
You should always consider shooting vertical out in the field and given that you have nothing to lose in the world of digital photography…. just take both versions and decide which you like best when you get home!
PS Magazine covers are vert!!!