Project 37: ways of dramatising a landscape

This project called for an evaluation of what techniques could be used to make a landscape photograph more dramatic. Here are my thoughts:

1. Inherently spectacular subjects such as mountains, cliffs, sea stacks etc - this is very much in the vein of the work by Galen Rowell who photographed in mountainous areas of the world where the scenery was inherently dramatic. Here is an example...

Last light on Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park

2. Extreme focal length of lens:very wide angle or long telephoto - here is an example of a photograph taken by David Noton using a 15mm fisheye lens which shows a wide perspective creating an image where the full extent of the bay can be appreciated adding to the drama of the scene:

 Port Campbell National Park, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

3. Rich colours at sunrise and sunset - photographing during the magic hour is perhaps the most oft used way of creating dramatic images as in this shot at dusk by David Noton:

Twelve Apostles at dusk, Port Campbell National Park,
Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia. 

4. Backlighting - this inherently creates a dramatic image due to the high contrast nature of the resulting images. Here is a particularly dramatic image taken by Galen Rowell:

God beams and colors of The Glory through prayer flags atop Gokyo Ri, Everest Region, Nepal

5. Unusual composition - by definition this approach can inherently take many forms. Here is an example by Galen Rowell based on over-emphasising the foreground interest relative to the background:

Cuernos del Paine at dawn from Lago Pehoe, Patagonia, Chile

The project requires me to come up with some other examples of dramatic landscapes. Here are some thoughts:

1. Reflections - lakes surrounded by dramatic scenery can create a dramatic image when on a still day the landscape is mirrored in the lake - Buttermere in the English Lake District is a great location for this type of image. Sadly on the two occasions I have been there recently it has been very windy...still conditions are a pre-requisite for this type of image.

2. Dramatic Weather - stormy weather can be very dramatic with majestic cloud conditions and strong light. An image of a storm brewing over a distant landscape is an example of this type of image. 

3. Extended Leading lines - a shot along a beach with the sea tracing a long winding line into the distance has the potential to create a dramatic image particularly if the light and weather add to the mix.

4. Use of unusual aspect ratios - wide panoramic images with aspects ratios above 2:1 can add to the drama of a scene as they can present a perspective not normally seen by the human eye. 

5. Using ND filters to create long exposures - this approach particularly when the photograph has elements within it which are moving can create unusual and dramatic images. This is particularly the case when capturing images of the sea or lake moving over rocks or other static elements. The water takes on a creamy texture and the impression is of movement. The same is true of rivers and streams moving over rocks.

These are a few thoughts and I may add to these at a later stage as ideas come to me.