Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra are known for stunning scenery. Absolutely stunning! John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, called this the Range of Light. Renowned 20th century landscape photographer Ansel Adams made his home here, as did famed National Geographic photographer, Galen Rowell. But you don't have to be a professional photographer with an expensive camera body to take great landscape photos while on vacation. Follow these five tips and take your next landscape photos from good to great!
1. RESEARCH THE LOCATION
Start your research from home. Find out where the most iconic features are. Figure out when the sun rises and sets for that time of year (two of the best times to capture gorgeous landscape images). Find out how far away is each point of interest from where you're staying. Is there significant travel time by car, foot, bus or a combination? Will it be an all day excursion or a quick romp at sunset? Carefully planning your landscape photography will allow you to incorporate it seamlessly into your vacation.
2. USE PEOPLE IN THE LANDSCAPE
Don't be afraid to photograph people in your landscape. They add interest and help tell a story. Brightly colored jackets can also add a pop of color, which adds additional interest. For example, compare the first image with the image below. It's the same shot, but one has the family trekking toward a mountain. What story does each image tell?
3. LOOK FOR SIGNS
Signs are also great for telling a story, but they're especially handy for helping you remember details about your vacation and distinguishing one area from the next.
4. GET DOWN (OR UP)
Far too many of us take far too many pictures standing and looking straight at a subject. Try getting on your knees or your belly for the shot. Hold the camera close to the ground and shoot, or climb up on a rock or into a tree (physical fitness allowing, of course.) Here I asked my husband to jump from one rock to another while I tucked myself into a wide crack for the shot.
5. TELL A STORY
Really think about the story you want to tell with your images. I love the below photo I took of my family. They had just summited a small rise near Morgan Pass. The panoramic views were incredible and the expanse of mountain and sky immense. That each of my family members is looking in a different direction underscores the fact that everywhere one looks in the Sierra there's an epic view waiting.
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