Landscape photography can be difficult because it is so dependent on nature. Even if the photographer takes a photo that is technically perfect, it may still look boring if the clouds and light aren’t ideal. If this has happened to you, then consider an experience I had a couple years ago.
I had just moved to Naples, Florida and wanted to shoot the scenery. I found a beautiful area of the city called the Bayfront and wanted to take pictures of the buildings reflecting in the water. I went and took the pictures and was disappointed that the photos were a bit boring.
I was determined to get a quality photo of the area, so I returned later to try again. I shot at sunset and still got poor results even with the golden sunset lighting. I stayed and shot the same area until it was dark. Suddenly my boring photos took on a new life.
One thing you can learn from this experience is that night photography is a great way to add a little flavor to a landscape that has potential, but that you can’t quite figure out. Obviously night photography is no panacea for all landscape photography problems, but it is an oft-overlooked way to add drama to a scene. I’m just suggesting that you give it a try the next time you run into a scene that you can’t quite master.
Oh, and if you have no clue how to do night photography, check out my eBook on night photography. You can download a copy of the book for just $5.99 and read it right on your computer. No special software needed.