Landscape

Landscape photography involves the photographer telling a story through their image. Landscape pictures are usually wide-frame images of what you see around you. 

Equipment that's needed for landscape photography:

• filters- ND and polariser
• camera
• tripod
• zoom lens 
• wide angle lens 
• rain sleeve 
• lens cleaner
• back pack
• spare batteries 
• memory cards

Ansel Adams:

Adams was a technical photographer, this can be seen in his images; whereby he includes many formal elements in each photograph. Adams preferred working in black and white, as it enhanced the colours in the images. Adams used pre-visualisation and the zone system. Pre-visualisation is when the photographer can already predict what the image will look like prior to the print. The zone system is a way of controlling your prints tonal range, you view your subject as having 9 tones (not including pure black and white,) you can then adjust these on the final prints.

In this image the river is portrayed as the leading line, drawing your eye into the image. In addition, shape is reflected in the mountains and the curve of the river, which takes your eye on a journey. I like how Adams has captured the clouds in this image, as you can see their form due to the shadows. This image looks artificial, therefore I do not like it as landscapes should appear natural.

 Again, in this image I like how the clouds are captured as it appears as though they're exploding from the mountains. Form is one of the main elements portrayed as the shadows imply the objects are 3D.

In this image line is evident through the cross. In addition the two trees either side create a symmetrical view of the image. I like how the background of the image is foggy and blurry. This image does appear natural, which I like. 

Overall, I do not like Adam's images as I believe they all appear grainy, however I do appreciate the technical advances of his images- I will strive to include some of his techniques in my images. 

Stephan Shore:

Shore was an early pioneer in colour photography in America, he uses bold bright colours in his images. Shore photographed places and objects on American streets. So used a large format camera, the advantage of this is that you can print your images bigger, with higher resolutions. Sore used Kodak colour negative films in his early photographs (e.g. American surfaces.) Negative films are where the lightest areas of the photographed subject appear darkest, and the darkest areas appear lightest. This reversed order occurs because of the extremely light-sensitive chemicals. 

This image was photographed in a car park. The cars are parked inconsistently, this my reflect what Sore believed American's lives were like. The vertical line on the ground of the parking spaces, almost acts as a leading line drawing your eye to the sky in the background of the image. Pastel colours  are used in this image. 

This image is extremely structured, there's horizontal and vertical lines present, also many squares. This implies order and structure in American's lives, contrary to the image above. I like this image as the pastel colours all complement each other well, and the orange/blues imply it's summer time in america. The saturated colour allows us to gage the temperature of the environment, and the season.

This image is again extremely structured and organised; many horizontal and vertical lines are present. Bold colours are used, the image is extremely busy reflecting the lives of Americans. In addition, there're manufactured machines in the image (petrol station, cars, traffic lights) therefore, Shore may be highlighting the effect we have had on the earth, inventing machines. Furthermore, he may be implying how they have taken over our lives, as they're seen in all corners of this image. A lot of advertisement also used in this image, showing us what American streets look like.




Overall, I prefer Shore to Adams as I admire Shore's use of colour. In addition Shore's images are extremely clear, whereas Adam's are slightly grainy and boring due to no colour being evident. Moreover, we can receive more information about the climate/season from Shore's images, in comparison to Adam's.