Friday, May 2, 2008

Photograph Landscapes With Your Digital Camera

If you’ve ever wanted to do landscape digital photography then here is some good news. You don’t need powerful digital photography equipment, but what you do need is a good lens.

Sorry to say but a lot of (I didn’t say all) digital cameras can’t take clear and “big” landscape photos because they don’t have the lens that enables them to do it. Digital photography has come along way in recent years and is racing up to traditional camera quality. Due to this fact landscape digital photography still needs to be done with a good lense.

So what is a good lens for landscape digital photography? A wide angle is a good place to start. Like a lot of things in digital photography this rule is not set in stone like the ten commandments, but it will help you a lot if you have a lens that is able to take mountain and nature scenes with a good view.

Think of a lens as a pair of glasses. The digital camera has the eye and the eye needs glasses. Okay, bear with me here….

The eye needs special lenses to see things from certain angles. It needs a pair of binoculars to see far away distances up close (telephoto lens), a magnifying glass if it wants to see detail up very close (macro lens) and it needs to see a ‘wide’ if it wants to see a scene clearly (wide angle lens.)

Okay now I know you are not a silly person and you can understand more technical things that that! I am just meaning that if you want good, clear detail in your landscape digital photography then you need to assist your digital camera to do it. And a wide angle is exactly what it says; it gives you a wider angle to shoot mountain ranges, landscapes, seascapes and even astrophotography. (The stars in the night sky.)

It’s easy to get landscape digital photos, but without the right lens its not easy to get good, sharp and clear digital landscape photos. If you won’t have the right lens then your landscapes will be flat lines with no depth, and you’ll be frustrated. I know, because this happened to me. Until I understood that your digital camera acts like the human eye and sometimes needs a little help for it to “see” what you want it to see.

If you are not sure if your digital camera can even take good landscape photos, then try it out. Get yourself to a mountain range or even cityscape and take a few different angles. If you have a camera that has an adaptable lens then you will be thankful for ever! If not, don’t despair, you can always hire dlsr’s from camera stores for a pretty reasonable price. It will be entirely worth it for that brilliant, clear, sharp detailed landscape photo you can hang on your wall for the rest of your life.

Good luck!

Home With A Landscape Picture

If you want to add a little extra something to your home but you are not really sure what to do, then why not start with a new picture? Landscape pictures really can add an elegant touch to any home and depending upon where you get one from, they do not necessarily cost the earth either. However, if you want an original you will probably not be able to afford it so it is better to stick with reprints which are cheaper but just as good.

Why Choose a Landscape Picture?

Choosing a landscape picture over any other type is advisable because it will fit into almost any room. So, whether you are looking for something for your living room, your bedroom or even your hallways, you will find a landscape picture to suit your needs. You just have to look around to find the best prices.

Think about it, we like our gardens to be really well designed. There is nothing more pleasing than to go out after a hard days work and relax within a scenic environment. Often we simply do not have time to go for a nice, scenic walk and so we rely upon creating a scenic and relaxing environment closer to home. Well, by having landscape pictures, you are adding to that scenic environment and you can lose yourself in the scenery of the picture whenever you want to.

There are some really famous landscape artists and if you do decide upon reprints instead of originals, you may be able to purchase pictures from the likes of Claude Monet, Camille Picasso and John Constable. Or, if you are not particularly bothered about famous paintings, searching online will bring thousands of landscape pictures available to you. It may take a while to look through them all, but as there is a large choice available it means that you are more likely to find something which you really love. Local stores do not always have the best pictures so it is nice to have the internet to turn to if needed.

As for the type of landscape picture that you purchase, that is entirely up to you. You can buy forest and woodland landscape pictures, waterfalls, beach and countryside landscape pictures. All of which have hundreds of paintings to choose from and each will look completely different from the next.

Overall landscape pictures really can brighten up the home and they do look really good. So, you do not only have the choice to landscape your garden, but you can also bring a touch of landscape to the inside of your home too.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Landscaping Photography

The pictures of landscape which photographers capture in their cameras are landscaping photographs. They are the most beautiful photographs and talented photographers use their expertise and get the best shot with a great blend of lights, angle and great available view. Landscape views look different when you look that with an eye of photographer. Most of the time it has been seen that people with artistic thought like to have variety of pictures in their houses. And landscaping pictures are so common that can be noticed in many houses normally. These days they have picked up trend and are readily available in market and art designer shop. The price of the picture depends on its clarity and the expertise utilized by the photographer.

Every person likes to maintain their house and try to make it beautiful. So they try to add many things like landscaping pictures and water ponds. Try to maintain their gardens. Garden plants changes by a change of every season. Artificial landscaping picture view is in latest trends in houses. Landscaping pictures includes- foundation paintings, Entryway landscaping, container garden designs, idea for a color scheme, photo of trees, and water fountains.

Landscaping pictures are not easily task to capture in cameras. But it has very large variety compare to other general pictures. And landscaping pictures cannot be same as it varies every time. Hanging these types of pictures in your homes gives a little artistic touch sometimes. On technical point landscaping photography is difficult task to deal with.

Landscaping pictures look good when carrying a beautiful natural scene in it. As nature has its own beauty and no one can define its beauty in proper words and it varies from time to time. Both pond and flower landscaping look good on there part of angle. Landscapes are permanent part of nature the don’t move from there places so the most important part is how to capture that beauty so people take photographs. But this is also an art which not every one easily can do.

For a simple picture of landscape there are no technical difficulties to occur. Both impressive and close aspects of nature can be exposed in landscaping photographs.

Great landscape Pictures

When it comes to landscape stock photos, there are many great pictures you can take. The world is filled with different locations with different looking landscapes that are sought after by many people. Taking landscape stock photos can be very fun giving you the chance to explore many different locations in search of the perfect landscape stock photo.

There are a few keys to success you need to follow to improve your landscape stock photos.

1. Be Prepared

When you go out and take landscape photographs, whether it is for stock photos or the simple pleasure of taking pictures, you must always be prepared. Most landscapes that you are going to be taking pictures at will not have electricity. They also probably won't have plumbing. Be sure to bring everything you will need for as long as you will be there. Have extra batteries, lens cleaning kits, various lenses, but also pack light. And yes, bring toilet paper. You don't want to wipe with your hands and get your camera dirty when you touch it.

2. Visit the location beforehand if possible

Before going on a full blown photo shoot at any location it is always a great idea to check out the place before. Bring your point and shoot camera and take many pictures. This will give you the chance to see where you want to take your pictures. You can also have the chance to brainstorm various ideas before going.

It's also a great idea to check the location beforehand because some locations might not be exactly what you're looking for. For example, if you go to a location and expect it to have good photographic scenes because it is in the wild, you can be surprised. Just because a place is "wild" does not mean it is great for taking photos at.

3. Use A Tripod

When taking wildlife landscape photographs you will probably need a very long exposure time. To get the rocks in the foreground and the mountains in the background both equally focused you will need to use a tripod. The tripod will ensure your photograph is as clear and crisp as possible.

4. Shoot during the morning or afternoon

Taking landscape photographs during a sunset or at a sunrise will make much better photographs than if you simply took the photograph at any time of day. Study the location before hand and look at the shadows and where they're placed during certain times of the day.

So when you go out and take landscape photos be prepared. The worst thing to do is to simply go out and say that you're going to take pictures of whatever catches your eye. You will be counting on luck which can be very untrustworthy.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Landscape Painters Just For You

There are literally thousands of landscape painters out there, so if you are looking for just the right decorative touch to your house or office, it should be no difficulty to find. It is a natural fact that landscape paintings are seen as desirable by a wide variety of people. Not everyone out there can have their house landscaped in the scenic and appealing fashion, and then many environments that just do not admit a whole lot of nature inside. This is why it can be so nice to have a nice landscape painting out in your house. The fact is that everyone needs a little touch of art now and then. Whether it is one of the great works hanging in the famous museum, or a simple humble work one of the many landscape painters, it can do so much to lift your spirits and make your day that much better.

In addition, although many of us do not like the inconvenience and discomfort of being out in the wild, we are all nature lovers at heart. All of us yearn for the great outdoors in some part of our soul. We may long for a warm summer days with the sky is bright and cloudless, or for a rugged autumnal storm, but either way, landscape painters can deliver. You see, landscape painters do not only paint bright picturesque paintings. The fact is landscape painters paints what they think will sell, or what their muse tells them to. Either way, there are landscape painters who depict all kinds of different scenes, from the most sunny and pleasant, to the most dark and brooding.

No matter what, you will be able to find landscape painters with painting just for you, or so it will seem. This is one of the best things about adding painting by landscape artists: more than in any other genre of art, landscape art is able to accommodate almost any conceivable taste. Nature conveys the wide range of human emotions, and the landscape painter makes it his job to copy nature. The fact is that if you have seen it outside, there are probably some landscape painters who have seen it and portrayed it as well. It is just simply a matter of being patient until you find the perfect work of art for you. If you believe that it is out there, it probably is. Now, it is yours to find.

Landscape Pictures Of Chinese Culture

On a recent trip to China, I was lucky enough to see some fine examples of Chinese landscape painting. Art is much revered in China and they are very proud of the masters of the ancient past. Museums and galleries take great care in preserving and displaying beautiful paintings. I was also able to see some of the scenery depicted in the paintings, mostly glimpsed from train windows.

The Chinese landscape was an inspiration to the poets of the past too, poetry being another important part of Chinese culture. In fact the actual landscape, poetry, painting, pottery and calligraphy all seem to complement each other. The rest of the world discovered Chinese landscape painting, when the trading routes were established. It was fashionable in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, for the aristocracy in the UK to collect Chinese landscape painting and pottery and show it off in their stately homes.

The Chinese landscape, and therefore the Chinese landscape painting are unique. There is a combination of mountains, forest and water that can't be found anywhere else. There are several movements, known as art dynasties, most of them enduring for hundreds of years. Royal court officials and members of the aristocracy in ancient times, were often gifted in calligraphy and painting. Painters worked on silk and then paper became popular after it was invented in the first century.

As from the Tang Dynasty, (618-907), the main subject of painting was the landscape. This school of art was given the name shanshui, which translates as mountain water. This Chinese landscape painting was impressionistic, rather than an attempt to depict realistic detail. The traditional method used in Chinese landscape painting was the same technique to be found in calligraphy, of a paintbrush and black, or sometimes colored ink. Oils were not introduced until much later. The paintings were then usually transferred to scrolls, but could also be displayed on beautiful lacquer work or on walls. Europeans did not paint landscapes until after the 17th century, and so most experts believe that the very first landscape painting was created in China.

Different art movements developed over the years in Chinese landscape painting, often influenced by the principles of Buddhism. A wider use of the color palette was used during the Ming Dynasty, and advances in color printing were made in the 1600's.

Unfortunately, with modern day China in the relentless march to industrialization, the landscape is taking a battering. Industry desperately needs energy, and scenic countryside is often sacrificed in the quest for more coal and timber. My train journeys also bore testimony to this, as I saw the countryside being unceremoniously carved up with no thought to the legacy left behind. For me, it makes the Chinese landscape painting all the more significant. The paintings capture a more romantic past. They are a time capsule of a unique landscape that is disappearing fast.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Well Inspired Chinese Landscape And Painting

On a recent trip to China, I was lucky enough to see some fine examples of Chinese landscape painting. Art is much revered in China and they are very proud of the masters of the ancient past. Museums and galleries take great care in preserving and displaying beautiful paintings. I was also able to see some of the scenery depicted in the paintings, mostly glimpsed from train windows.

The Chinese landscape was an inspiration to the poets of the past too, poetry being another important part of Chinese culture. In fact the actual landscape, poetry, painting, pottery and calligraphy all seem to complement each other. The rest of the world discovered Chinese landscape painting, when the trading routes were established. It was fashionable in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, for the aristocracy in the UK to collect Chinese landscape painting and pottery and show it off in their stately homes.

The Chinese landscape, and therefore the Chinese landscape painting are unique. There is a combination of mountains, forest and water that can't be found anywhere else. There are several movements, known as art dynasties, most of them enduring for hundreds of years. Royal court officials and members of the aristocracy in ancient times, were often gifted in calligraphy and painting. Painters worked on silk and then paper became popular after it was invented in the first century.

As from the Tang Dynasty, (618-907), the main subject of painting was the landscape. This school of art was given the name shanshui, which translates as mountain water. This Chinese landscape painting was impressionistic, rather than an attempt to depict realistic detail. The traditional method used in Chinese landscape painting was the same technique to be found in calligraphy, of a paintbrush and black, or sometimes colored ink. Oils were not introduced until much later. The paintings were then usually transferred to scrolls, but could also be displayed on beautiful lacquer work or on walls. Europeans did not paint landscapes until after the 17th century, and so most experts believe that the very first landscape painting was created in China.

Different art movements developed over the years in Chinese landscape painting, often influenced by the principles of Buddhism. A wider use of the color palette was used during the Ming Dynasty, and advances in color printing were made in the 1600's.

Unfortunately, with modern day China in the relentless march to industrialization, the landscape is taking a battering. Industry desperately needs energy, and scenic countryside is often sacrificed in the quest for more coal and timber. My train journeys also bore testimony to this, as I saw the countryside being unceremoniously carved up with no thought to the legacy left behind. For me, it makes the Chinese landscape painting all the more significant. The paintings capture a more romantic past. They are a time capsule of a unique landscape that is disappearing fast.

Landscaping With The Right Touch

There are literally thousands of landscape painters out there, so if you are looking for just the right decorative touch to your house or office, it should be no difficulty to find. It is a natural fact that landscape paintings are seen as desirable by a wide variety of people. Not everyone out there can have their house landscaped in the scenic and appealing fashion, and then many environments that just do not admit a whole lot of nature inside. This is why it can be so nice to have a nice landscape painting out in your house. The fact is that everyone needs a little touch of art now and then. Whether it is one of the great works hanging in the famous museum, or a simple humble work one of the many landscape painters, it can do so much to lift your spirits and make your day that much better.

In addition, although many of us do not like the inconvenience and discomfort of being out in the wild, we are all nature lovers at heart. All of us yearn for the great outdoors in some part of our soul. We may long for a warm summer days with the sky is bright and cloudless, or for a rugged autumnal storm, but either way, landscape painters can deliver. You see, landscape painters do not only paint bright picturesque paintings. The fact is landscape painters paints what they think will sell, or what their muse tells them to. Either way, there are landscape painters who depict all kinds of different scenes, from the most sunny and pleasant, to the most dark and brooding.

No matter what, you will be able to find landscape painters with painting just for you, or so it will seem. This is one of the best things about adding painting by landscape artists: more than in any other genre of art, landscape art is able to accommodate almost any conceivable taste. Nature conveys the wide range of human emotions, and the landscape painter makes it his job to copy nature. The fact is that if you have seen it outside, there are probably some landscape painters who have seen it and portrayed it as well. It is just simply a matter of being patient until you find the perfect work of art for you. If you believe that it is out there, it probably is. Now, it is yours to find.