There is nothing better than capturing the world around us— whether we document our everyday lives and locale, places we travel for our photoshoots, or unique places in the world we travel to. Our upcoming BONUS Quest set for September, Quest 29 Altitude Presets, was developed with landscape and drone images in mind, but you certainly don’t have to be an expert in landscape photography to capture this beautiful planet!!

We’ve rounded up some tips to take your landscape photography to the next level!

Tip #1: Create unique compositions

Instead of capturing every landscape straight on, document the vista with a more creative eye!

Utilize dynamic elements to frame your landscape

If you’re photographing an aerial photo from a drone or a high place, look for winding roads or features that can frame the rest of the image. From the ground, include interesting foreground elements to add depth and perspective to your photos. These elements can be rocks, flowers, or anything that complements the scene.

In the image below, photographer Mathias de Coensel used the road and winding river to give the eye something to peruse in the wider landscape.

*Image by* *Mathias de Coensel*
Edited with Quest 29 Altitude, coming soon

In the image below, the photographer used the reflection of the treeline and mountains as the foreground elements that draw the eye around the scene framed by trees.

*Image by* *Bogdan Babanin*
Edited with Quest 29 Altitude, coming soon

Tip #2: Go Vertical

Landscapes don’t always have to be horizontal! Go vertical and give yourself more foreground to play with— vertical images also help with balanced compositions. Consider the visual weight of objects in the frame. Ensure there's harmony between the foreground, midground, and background elements.

Bonus tip: Create panoramas (yes, even vertically) to capture more detail in the scene and make composites when post-processing.

*Image by* *Bjorn Snelders*
Edited with Quest 29 Altitude, coming soon

Tip #3: Capture weather and atmosphere

Weather conditions can add drama and atmosphere to your drone photos. Moody, cloudy skies or foggy mornings can create unique and ethereal effects! Of course, take care when photographing in less-than-ideal conditions and take precautions!

Bonus tip: Add people

Adding people to your landscape compositions can help show off just how vast the landscape really is! Whether they are just small figures or more prominent, adding subjects will give a sense of scale.

*Image by* *Klaudia Kirschner*
Edited with Quest 29 Altitude, coming soon

What is your favorite landscape to photograph? Tell us in the comments!

3 Tips for Photographing Landscapes

QUEST 30 SNEAK PEEK

Inspiration: Into the Water