Photographing Landscapes

by John Hedgecoe

Every photographer--professional or amateur--who gazes upon majestic, snow-capped mountains, a lush green countryside, or a colorful tapestry of autumn leaves instantly reaches for the camera, hoping to capture every nuance of the remarkable scene. But, almost instantly questions of composition, lens choice, film type, and exposure arise. What framing would bring out the most in a landscape, which elements are most important to include, and what setting will truly catch nature's beautiful light and color? World-renowned photographer John Hedgecoe offers a systematic and inspirational solution for every situation, revealing the technical considerations and creative decisions that produced his finest works. Using over 300 photos as examples, he discusses equipment, photographic controls, training the eye to see, and natural factors that shape the landscape. A masterful guide on an extremely popular subject. 160 pages (all in color), 6 3/4 x 10 3/8.

Genres: Photography

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

John Hedgecoe (24 March 1932 – 3 June 2010) was an award-winning British photographer and author of over 30 books on photography. He established the photography department in 1965 at the Royal College of Art, where he was Professor from 1975 to 1994 and Professor Emeritus until his death. He was also Pro-Rector of the college from 1981 to 1993. His photographs appear in permanent collections at the New York Museum of Modern Art and London's National Portrait Gallery.

"Professor John Hedgecoe was a photographer who took the portrait of the Queen which is used on British postage stamps; as such he is credited with the planet's most reproduced image, which has so far sold more than 200 billion copies." (The Telegraph)

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I really liked about this book was that the emphasis was on technique and not a specific type of camera. This is the type of book I was hoping to find.

The book covers some good, basic techniques on how to approach landscape photography. I think each chapter is a stand-alone, so you can read which ever part is relevant to you and not worry about missing out on some cumulative knowledge. Overall, the discussion of techniques makes for a great primer for the beginner or a quick refresher for an advanced photographer. (At best, I'd call myself an advanced beginner.)

I had a project in mind when I checked out the book from the public library, and this book definitely helped me clarify my goals and ideas. I took a lot of core notes from the chapters and I really liked his sidebar comments and tips. The pictures he presents throughout the book were also really key in shaping some of the work I have in mind.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers some really good tips for reinforcing concepts around lighting, time-of-day, light-sourcing, and concepts for what makes for more interesting outcomes when taking pictures. Overall, I would call this a very helpful book.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used this book to help me with some of my pictures when I go on vacation. I read through it and it gave me some tips. I think I'm just not wired to learn photography from books. The lessons just don't stick in my head.