The Key: Light

Lighting is the key to creating an image that captures the essence of the landscape and tells a story. Light is the primary tool used to convey mood and feeling in a photograph, and it is one of the most important elements of composition.

As Ansel Adams once said, "A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed." When shooting in the great outdoors, you must be mindful of the natural light and how it affects the scene. Light can be used to add depth and dimension to your images, enhance the colors and details, and create mood and atmosphere.

One of the secrets to Ansel's success was his mastery of light, and his ability to manipulate it to achieve the desired effect. Whether working with natural light or using a tripod and his famous "zone system" to control exposure, Ansel was always in control of the light and how it impacted his images.

When thinking about lighting, Ansel often visualized the final image in his mind, and then worked to create that vision by manipulating the light and shadows. This approach allowed him to create stunning, dramatic images that have stood the test of time and remain popular to this day.

In short, lighting is a crucial aspect of photography and, like Ansel, you too must learn to master it in order to create stunning images that truly tell a story and evoke an emotional response from your viewers.