Basic Photography Techniques for Nature and Landscape Photos

If you’re looking for basic photography techniques to improve your travel and landscape photography, you’ve come to the right place!

We’re sharing our list of landscape photography techniques, travel photography resources, travel photography gear and more to help you grow as a photographer!

full list of basic photography techniques

Take your photography to the next level by understanding and using the basic photography and composition techniques listed below!

For us, travel + photography go hand in hand so we use our camera gear checklist to make sure all the equipment is packed before embarking on any adventure.

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Why Photography?

We asked fellow photographers to share their story of how photography helped them through a difficult time, or how it helps them today.

Read all about their stories and the benefits of photography on mental health!

List of Basic Photography Techniques

It’s important to understand the concepts to use when composing your photo. Knowing the basics of composition will improve your pictures dramatically!

BLUE HOUR: Using Blue Hour and Golden Hour Photography
FILL THE FRAME: Fill the Frame Photography Technique
FOREGROUND, MIDGROUND, BACKGROUND: Using Foreground, Middleground, Background in Landscape Photography
FRAMING: How to Use Framing in Photography
HORIZON LINE: Why Horizon Line is Important for Landscape Photography
LEADING LINES: How to Use Leading Lines in Photography
PERSPECTIVE: Using Perspective in Photography
RULE OF THIRDS: Using Rule of Thirds to Take Better Landscape Photos

Landscape Photography Ideas

Take a look at these photo ideas to illustrate a variety of techniques for landscape and nature photography.

Read the articles and watch the videos as we discuss each photo and how it uses the concepts.

ABSTRACT: Abstract Photography Ideas
BALANCE: Landscape Photography Ideas Using Balance
BLACK AND WHITE: Black and White Photography Ideas
BLUE HOUR & GOLDEN HOUR: Blue Hour & Golden Hour Photo Ideas
BOKEH: Bokeh Photography Ideas
COLOR: Photography Ideas Using Color
CONTRAST: Contrast in Photography
EYES: Photographing Eyes
FILL THE FRAME: Fill the Frame Photo Ideas
FOREGROUND, MIDGROUND, BACKGROUND: Foreground, Midground, Background Photography Ideas
FRAMING: Framing Photo Ideas
HORIZON LINE: Horizon Line Photography Ideas
LANDSCAPE: Landscape Photography Examples
LAYERS: Landscape Photography Ideas Using Layers
LEADING LINES: Leading Lines Photo Ideas
MOOD: Using Mood in Photography
MOVEMENT: Movement Photography Ideas
NEGATIVE SPACE: Negative Space Photography Ideas
PART OF THE WHOLE: Part of the Whole Photo Ideas
PATTERNS: Patterns Photo Ideas
PERSPECTIVE: Perspective Photo Ideas
REFLECTIONS: Reflection Photography Ideas
RULE OF ODDS: Rule of Odds Photography Ideas
RULE OF THIRDS: Rule of Thirds Photo Ideas
SEASONS: Seasons Photo Ideas
SUBJECT: Subject Photography Ideas
SUNRISE: Sunrise Photo Ideas
SUNSET: Sunset Photo Ideas
TELL A STORY: Tell a Story Photography Ideas
TREES: Photograph Trees
WATER: Photographing Water
WEATHER: Weather Photo Ideas
WIDE ANGLE / PANORAMA: Wide Angle and Panorama Photo Ideas
WILDLIFE / PETS: Wildlife & Pets Photo Ideas

Photography Tips, Tutorials, and Ideas

Use the ‘how to’ photography tutorials to capturing stunning images of nature and the landscape scenes you see as you travel.

GLOWING MUSHROOMS: How to Photograph Glowing Mushrooms
REFLECTIONS: How to Photograph Reflections to Create Stunning Images
SUNRISE: Sunrise Photography: Tips to Get Beautiful Sunrise Photos
SUNSET: Sunset Photography: Tips to Get Amazing Sunset Photos
WATERFALLS & RIVERS: How to Photograph Waterfalls and Rivers

Photography Challenges

The number one way to improve your photography is to practice! Photography challenges provide a subject or technique to find and photograph. The challenge exercise helps boost your creativity and skills! Here are a few photo challenges to help you get out an practice! We also share fun ways to get the kids involved in photography!