![\"San](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/san-jacinto-180720-_SM37804.jpg\" "\\"san-jacinto-180720-_SM37804.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\nI think we all understand that serious landscape photography does\u00a0not document nature but interprets it.\u00a0 A well-made landscape photograph captures the photographer\u2019s response to what was experienced and is able to convey this response to the viewer.<\/p>\n
The Professional Photographers Association has 12 criteria by which\u00a0they judge their competitions.\u00a0 Granted, the PPA membership consists of very few fine art landscape photographers but still, the criteria of a great photograph are pretty much the same.<\/p>\n
Here are the twelve criteria (the order is my own):<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Impact<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Composition<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Center of Interest<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lighting<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Color Balance<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Technical Excellence<\/p>\n
7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Story Telling<\/p>\n
8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Creativity<\/p>\n
9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Style<\/p>\n
10.\u00a0 Presentation<\/p>\n
11.\u00a0 Subject Matter<\/p>\n
12.\u00a0 Technique<\/p>\n
I mention these because there\u2019s a lot that goes in to making a great\u00a0photograph and these criteria provide a framework in knowing what to look for. \u00a0But rather that exploring these criteria in words, let\u2019s look at a few photographs. \u00a0And let\u2019s do it by looking at two examples of the same image \u2013 what it looked like when it came out of the camera and what it became when transformed in the digital darkroom.<\/p>\n
The first image is a scene in the mountains of Southern\u00a0California.\u00a0 I was wondering by myself along a remote trail.\u00a0 The sun was sinking lower and lower in the sky and I was thrilled climbing the trails and walking among the trees and rocks.\u00a0 I came upon this scene and it just felt right. \u00a0I had to capture it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The mid-afternoon light is actually quite nice.\u00a0 It\u2019s not spectacular but it\u2019s very pleasant and doesn\u2019t pose any exposure challenges.\u00a0The shadows make for interesting patterns on the forest floor.\u00a0 And I tried for a composition that captured the energy and harmony I was feeling while at the same time portraying the stately strength of the trees.\u00a0 And the center of interest is the rocks that form a sort of path that leads up to the trees on the right.\u00a0 The trail leads out of the frame on the right, inviting the viewer to explore what lies beyond.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a very nice picture but now it\u2019s time to make it even nicer.\u00a0 An effective way to add impact is to increase the contrast.\u00a0 (This will be a recurring theme.)\u00a0The shadows can be darkened along with the midtones.\u00a0 Care is taken, however, to not lose detail in the shadows. \u00a0You also have to be careful with the clouds.\u00a0 They have more detail that the RAW image doesn\u2019t show, detail that can be coaxed out.<\/p>\n
The other thing to play with is the color palette.\u00a0 We have a comfortable, cozy response to warm colors and choosing a color palette the brings out the warmth of the trunks and the duff on the forest floor adds a good feeling.\u00a0 Combine that with the blue sky that is carefully enhanced, and the image becomes very inviting.<\/p>\n
![\"San](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/san-jacinto-180720-_SM37804-Edit.jpg\" "\\"san-jacinto-180720-_SM37804-Edit.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\n
When I look at this, I relive the joy I felt being alone in these\u00a0beautiful mountains.<\/p>\n
This next image is from a trip with my brother to Artist\u2019s Point in\u00a0Grand Marais, MN on the North Shore of Lake Superior.\u00a0 There\u2019s a good reason this is called \u2018Artist\u2019s Point\u2019 as it inspires artists of all types.\u00a0 It was autumn and the sun had set.\u00a0 Gentle twilight was upon us.<\/p>\n
It was a quiet, peaceful evening, infused with the glory and joy of\u00a0autumn.<\/p>\n
![\"Artists](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/artists_point_2010-1.jpg\" "\\"artists_point_2010-1.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\n
The light in the RAW file is soft, cool and low-key.\u00a0 Contrast is low, and colors are muted and of a blue hue.\u00a0 The billion-year-old lava in the foreground and the descending line of trees converge on the endless still waters of the largest of the Great Lakes. \u00a0The motion that the shore generates is complemented by the stillness of the water and the quiet clouds above.<\/p>\n
To make this image come to life and fully release the emotion that\u00a0is just under the surface, a small amount of contrast is added to create what I\u00a0like to refer to as \u2018crispness.\u2019\u00a0 And one would be remiss if the warm autumn colors were not celebrated and set against the cool of the clouds and lake.<\/p>\n
![\"Artists](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/artists_point_2010-2.jpg\" "\\"artists_point_2010-2.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\n
The overall effect is still of peace and tranquility and it also has\u00a0a dash of life and a pinch of joy.<\/p>\n
The RAW files in the first two images were rather close to the final\u00a0photograph. Not a lot of work was required to bring them to completion.<\/p>\n
That was not the case with this next photograph.\u00a0 It was a location in Death Valley National Park that I had discovered quite by accident.\u00a0I had skipped off the pave road that leads into Death Valley from the south in favor of a 45-mile dirt road.\u00a0There were many intriguing stops along the way and as I neared its end, it crossed a fascinating, rugged salt pan before rejoining the paved road.\u00a0 It was in the afternoon that I first saw it and I knew I had to return for sunrise.\u00a0I was on the road the next morning before 5:00 to be sure to get there in time.\u00a0 Oh boy, did it ever pay off!<\/p>\n
![\"ECD](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ECD_120211__SM30432.jpg\" "\\"ECD_120211__SM30432.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\n
This RAW image doesn\u2019t look exciting at all.\u00a0 It looks flat and quite boring.\u00a0 The composition, however, is interesting. The clouds in the sky mirror the patterns, textures and lines in the salt pan below.\u00a0 And everything in the image draws the eye to the vanishing point right in the center where the salt, sky and two mountain ranges converge.\u00a0 There is a strong sense of depth and vastness.<\/p>\n
I started with this image the way I started with the others. \u00a0The first step was to increase the contrast in this image to utilized the full dynamic range of the medium.\u00a0 I created a few tiny specks of pure black, called \u2018black points,\u2019 and brought up the highlights so there were some small areas in the clouds that are nearly pure white.\u00a0 The clouds are very important, so I pulled out all their detail and set them against the blue, morning sky.\u00a0 Finally, I enhanced the warm color on the distant mountain range to provide some color contrast.<\/p>\n
![\"Death](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/death_valley_sunrise_2012.jpg\" "\\"death_valley_sunrise_2012.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\n
This image is so much better.\u00a0The light on the salt pan in the foreground enhances the textures, patterns and lines.\u00a0 The photograph pulls the viewer in and says, \u2018Isn\u2019t this a truly remarkable and grand place?\u201d<\/p>\n
The last image I want to share is a very special one from the Big\u00a0Sur coast of California.\u00a0 Of all the spectacular views along this amazing 100 miles of coastline, this is one of my favorites.<\/p>\n
I was by myself (seems to happen a lot) and photographing these two\u00a0bridges, the natural one in the foreground and the iconic Stony Creek bridge in
\nthe background.\u00a0 I was excited to photograph them in morning light, something I had never done before.<\/p>\n
It was a morning that did not have a strong golden hour; some\u00a0mornings are like that.\u00a0 There was a bit of haze that surrounded the bridge in the background.\u00a0 The dynamic range is quite large with very deep foreground shadows and the bright bridge in the background.\u00a0 Not much contrast needs to be added but the shadows are murky.\u00a0 That needs to be fixed.<\/p>\n
I set up my camera, chose a vertical orientation and dialed in the\u00a0composition.\u00a0 There is a strong connection between the two bridges, an implied line that ties the two together.\u00a0 I used a telephoto lens which compressed the space between them, giving both equal weight and importance.<\/p>\n
![\"Morning](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/morning-at-stony-creek-big-sur-151112-_SM39098-1.jpg\" "\\"morning-at-stony-creek-big-sur-151112-_SM39098-1.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\n
It was important to open up the shadows so that the patterns and\u00a0textures in the rock stood out. And the contrast needed a little tweaking to\u00a0create that \u2018crisp\u2019 look.\u00a0 The sunlight on the middle ridge was brightened which help to achieve this.<\/p>\n
Finally, the joy of golden hour was created by warming the entire\u00a0image enough to make the haze warm without sacrificing the beautiful blue of\u00a0the sea.<\/p>\n
![\"Morning](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/morning-at-stony-creek-big-sur-151112-_SM39098-2.jpg\" "\\"morning-at-stony-creek-big-sur-151112-_SM39098-2.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\n
The result is very pleasing, a scene that invites you to just relax\u00a0and indulge your senses.\u00a0 One can talk about the technical qualities of this image, how the light and composition and post-processing all come together.\u00a0 But in the end, it\u2019s the feeling that one gets when looking at this that is important.<\/p>\n
Maybe you\u2019re thinking, \u201cThat\u2019s beautiful but it\u2019s not real.\u201d\u00a0 I have a couple of responses to that.\u00a0 The first is how I respond to the question, \u201cDo you manipulate your photographs?\u201d\u00a0 My answer is always, \u201cYes, of course!\u201d\u00a0 When making photographs like we\u2019re talking about here, it\u2019s important to be honest about it.\u00a0 Trying to deceive the viewer is, well, a lie. The viewer has the right to set their own criteria for enjoying a photograph and if it excludes \u2018manipulated\u2019 photographs, that\u2019s fine.\u00a0 But they have a right to know.<\/p>\n
The second response is related to a follow-up question to the \u201cDo\u00a0you manipulate your photographs?\u201d question that never gets asked and that is\u00a0\u2018Why?\u201d\u00a0 But I have an answer for that also.\u00a0 \u201cBecause my camera doesn\u2019t know what I\u2019m feeling.\u201d\u00a0 The reality I\u2019m trying to capture is the inner feelings I have.
\nAnd just as important, that\u2019s the reality I\u2019m trying to share.\u00a0 Because art is a shared experience between artist and viewer.<\/p>\n
So, with that in mind, how are the qualities of an effective\u00a0landscape photography achieved?\u00a0 It starts with a strong composition, a composition that \u2018starts the ball rolling\u2019 to capture the response the photographer wants to share.\u00a0 Fantastic light helps a great deal and when you have it your images soar.\u00a0 But, as you can see in the examples above, fantastic light can also be coaxed out in the digital darkroom.\u00a0 And, you want to begin the post-processing with a RAW file that does not have any exposure or sharpness issues.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the digital darkroom, contrast is the first thing I\u00a0attend to.\u00a0 It is a powerful element that creates impact.\u00a0 When you work on contrast, the image comes alive before your eyes.\u00a0 One way to think about it to make the best use of the full dynamic range of your medium. \u00a0\u00a0In addition to adding \u2018crispness\u2019 to your photographs, you want to make sure you don\u2019t have blown highlights or murky shadows.<\/p>\n
Next, you need to be aware of your color palette.\u00a0 Painters understand that the color palette has a powerful emotional impact on the viewers. \u00a0Warm colors bring energy and come toward the viewer.\u00a0 Cool colors retreat from the viewer and bring quiet.\u00a0 We are smart to follow their wisdom in this area.\u00a0 Choosing to emphasize colors that are opposites (on the opposite sides of the color wheel) also enhances the image\u2019s impact by adding color contrast.<\/p>\n
Finally, we look at color saturation.\u00a0 A lot can be communicated by the intensity or purity of the colors.\u00a0 Strong, saturated colors convey one thing while soft, pastel colors convey quite another.<\/p>\n
In the end, the photographs you make will result from the understanding\u00a0of these tools gained through practice, trial and error, and applying your own\u00a0judgement and taste to their use.\u00a0 Your photographs will reflect your reality and that\u2019s the way it should be.<\/p>\n