Improve Your Landscape Photography with this Subtraction Technique
Landscaping photography is a beautiful, but complex form of art. It is not only about the seizure of what you see; We are talking about creating a convincing image that tells the story. Often the creation of a powerful composition is more about what you leave from the stage than shooting from each visible element.
The photographer -landscape Jan Wart shares his understanding of how to simplify and raise his landscape photograph with the help of a technique that he calls the “art of subtraction”. Here’s how you can apply its practical advice to improve your own shooting skills.
The task of seeing in comparison with the capture
When we look at the stage with our eyes, we naturally make the whole picture: every tree, blade of grass and a cloud in the sky. However, the camera does not have the same ability to filter distracting factors. This often leads to cluttered, focused images. Jan emphasizes that the key to the best photo is to simplify the scene by removing unnecessary elements.
“Photography is often described as the art of selection,” Yang explains. “Unlike painting, where you add elements to a clean canvas, the photograph begins with everything in front of you. The task is to narrow it to the essentials. ”
Practical advice on simplifying your composition
- Move and increase
One of the simplest ways to eliminate distracting factors is the physical movement or regulation of the focal length. Jan demonstrates this, showing how to move back and scaling can remove undesirable elements (for example, a horse packet in his example), while maintaining a similar personnel. - Use a shallow depth of the field
Shooting with a wide aperture (for example, F/2.8) and approaching your subject can create a small depth of the field. This technique erodes the background and the foreground, isolation of your item and gives your image a clean, focused appearance. - Turn on the negative space
Filling your frame with a negative space, such as heaven or ocean, can help isolate your subject and create a minimalist composition. Jan often uses this technique to attract the attention of the viewer directly into the focus. - Transform into black -white
Bold colors can sometimes be distracted. Transforming your image into black -white, you will analyze the color and focus on textures, light and shadows. This can simplify the scene and add dramatic, timeless quality to your photos. - Use light and shadow in your interests
Light and shadow can be powerful tools for hiding distraction. Placing your subject in bright light and hiding the undesirable elements in the shade, you can direct the viewer’s eyes to the most important parts of the image.
The importance of patience and observation
Jan emphasizes the importance of slowing down and observing your environment. “The best way to practice the art of subtracting is to take a step back and just observe,” he says. Look for an interesting point, but also pay attention to what you can exclude. This attentive approach helps you create more deliberate and effective compositions.
Cope with difficult lighting conditions
Lighting plays a decisive role in landscape photography. During his shooting on the west coast of Wales, Yang was faced with less ideal lighting conditions. The sun was right behind it, creating flat, evenly lit images. He prefers lateral lighting, which adds depth and measurement to the stage.
“If the light is wrong, do not force it,” Yang advises. Sometimes a revision of the location during the best lighting conditions (for example, during a golden hour or sunset) may matter.
The last thoughts
The art of subtraction is more than just removing elements from the stage – this is focused on what is really important. Simplifying your compositions, you can create images that are more effective and visually attractive.
The next time you go to your camera, try Yana’s approach: start from the whole stage and ask yourself: “What can I delete to do it stronger?” Whether through movement, adjusting the focal length or creative use of light and shadow, subtraction can transform your photo.
