How to Leverage a Clear, Cloudless Sky in Your Landscape Photos

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How to Leverage a Wide-Angle 16-35mm for the Best Seascape Photos

Photographer Michael Shainblum chose to capture photos with only his 16-35mm f/4 lens and shares how he composes his seascape images with such a wide angle and how he crops them for a polished finished photo.

Landscape photography that encompasses bodies of water can give photographers a wide range of opportunities in just one area. Photographers can choose to shoot detail up-close, such as rock and sand patterns, or opt for a wider composition that takes in more of the land, water, and the sky.

Shainblum wanted to explore the seaside with his wide-angle lens and has shared a behind-the-scenes first-person perspective. Although generally he carries a telephoto lens in his kit to give him the opportunity to create a variety of compositions, this time he constrained himself to just the wide-angle.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to picking out the type of lens for coastline photography, Shainblum tells PetaPixel.

"Part of it comes from instinct of what is happening around me and then another part of it is just what I feel like shooting," he says.

A downside to picking a telephoto lens is its weight. Having to bring two cameras, multiple lenses, and two tripods for these types of shoots, Shainblum often weighs the benefits of bringing a heavy telephoto lens with him. Having said that, the decision to leave it behind has come back to bite him many times in the past.

The weight of the equipment also comes into play when photographers want to be more adventurous and explore compositions that require climbing, for example. Shainblum found a stack of rocks that gave him a good vantage point and revealed a more unique composition than simply shooting from the coast. Photographers who try similar vantage points should note that it's important to be mindful of the tide to avoid getting stuck in high water.

Shooting with a wide-angle lens allows the inclusion of more detail in the image and gives the opportunity to later crop the photo during post-processing. In this instance, Shainblum cropped every horizontal image from 2:3 ratio to 8:10 because he felt this type of crop makes the images more impactful by removing some of the empty space on the left and right side of the image.

For vertical images -- which are his favorite for seascape work -- Shainblum left them as 2:3 ratio and included as much sky or foreground flow as possible. By comparison, he felt that cropping the vertical images would remove elements that are too important to the composition.

As Shainblum shares in his video above, landscape photography is not just a technical exercise -- it can be an emotive and relaxing experience that allows photographers to enjoy the beauty of the landscape around them, especially as the sun lights up the sky in a variety of colors.

More landscape videos like the one above can be found on Shainblum’s YouTube channel, with his photography portfolio available on his website and Instagram.

Image credits: All images by Michael Shainblum and used with permission.

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How Landscape Photographers Can Make the Most Out of Dull Lighting

Landscape photography does not always have to be about dramatic sunsets and striking light. In his latest video, photographer Michael Shainblum demonstrates how to bring out the nuanced beauty of an overcast day.

Although Shainblum is not a stranger to dramatic landscapes and certainly doesn't shy away from weather conditions that would deter most -- such as his storm and monsoon chasing adventures -- he also is appreciative of more subtle environments -- perhaps those that others might even classify as dull.

In the video above, Shainblum explains that there are times when photographers simply feel creative inspiration and want to wander out on a shoot, even though the weather and lighting conditions may not be ideal. However, there are ways that photographers can fill those days with interesting shots and find inspiration to make the most of what the landscape in front of them has to offer, despite poor lighting.

On this occasion, Shainblum decides to slow down, forego wide shots of the view, and focus on the details of the land instead. He finds that the coastal rocks are a great source of unique images and provide nuances of color, texture, pattern -- all of which can be composed in countless ways.

Details like these can be shot either handheld or on a tripod, however, for the image focus stack, Shainblum uses a tripod to make sure that every corner of the image is in focus. Shooting and studying rocks so closely can create almost unrecognizable patterns, depending on the formation and colors of the rocks, that could even be attributed to reptile skin or alien life form, says Shainblum.

After exploring the area, Shainblum located a small pool of water with a round boulder right in the middle. In this scenario, tripod is a no-go because the rocks around make it difficult terrain for a tripod to be placed on. He shoots it handheld, finding just the right angle to avoid his own reflection in the water. The resulting image makes the rocks come alive which Shainblum describes he views it as a dragon protecting their egg.

Shainblum points out that although the images may not appear dramatic, the process is all about learning to find something special in seemingly ordinary scenes. Every photographer will bring their unique vision to the table and find parts and details of the land that resonate with them.

In his video, Shainblum shares how he finds abstract compositions to create images that almost resemble paintings. Although the finished images may look simple to recreate, Shainblums says that it's a challenging yet rewarding process.

More landscape videos like the one above can be found on Shainblum’s YouTube channel, with his photography portfolio available on his website and Instagram.

Image credits: All images by Michael Shainblum and used with permission.

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