Most photographers try their hand at landscape photography at some time in their career, but the results often are, well, forgettable. In many cases, this is due to a lack of knowledge about the unique considerations involved in taking photographs of nature. Whether you are a seasoned professional or an amateur, the following twelve tips should help you get the unforgettable landscape photographs that you are seeking.

1. Research your setting. If you come upon the perfect photograph, take advantage of it. However, in most cases you will have to research the area in which you plan to shoot and know ahead of time where the best opportunities lie. It is also a good idea to plan exactly what time of day is best for the area and what materials you will need to get the best possible shot. Checking the weather ahead of time is another must, because it can save you some discomfort and prevent damaging expensive equipment.
2. Choose a focal point. One of the most common mistakes in landscape photography is neglecting the usual rules of photography. As with all pictures, you will need to have a focal point, with a background, a midground, and a foreground. In landscape photography, a focal point can be almost anything, as long as it is present. Without it, there will be nothing to look at in your finished product.
3. Focus on lines. These are truly the bones of your photograph, and just like a human bone structure, they can create beauty or completely eliminate it. There are often patterns in nature that can be captured in way that emphasizes the photo. Lines don’t just balance the picture; they add depth and character to it.
4. Shoot from several different points of view. This is usually the only way to get that rare, breathtaking shot. Landscapes don’t generally change substantially over time, so there is a good chance that the most obvious photographs have already been taken—repeatedly, in fact. Finding a new way to take the same picture can mean lying in the mud, climbing a tree, or wandering down forbidding paths, but it is the only way to get the original viewpoint that good photography demands. This dedication to artistry separates the artists from the point-and-shoot guys and can not be done in close up photos.
5. Get support from a tripod. Like all other photos, landscape pictures must be built, with special attention given to lighting, line, and color. This means that you may need to make multiple adjustments on a single shot before you get it just perfect. A tripod allows you to hold your position while changing other elements. In some lighting situations, you may also need to use a low shutter speed, which can emphasize blurring and camera shake when held in tired human hands.
6. Bring high quality filters. If you are an amateur, you may not have a variety of filters yet. However, these are a worthy investment if you plan to make landscape photography part of your repertoire. Polarizing filters are a must if you plan to photograph near water or other reflective materials. They reduce glare and create a more balanced light effect. Neutral density filters are another must-have for nature photographers, because they block out light when there is simply too much of it.
7. Use a variety of lenses. Most photographers think to bring a wide angle lens, as this is essential for many landscape shots. However, it doesn’t hurt to think outside the box. A telephoto lens can be an especially helpful tool in capturing the interesting details around you.
8. Work with the sky. If the sky is interesting in color, texture, or another aspect, it can create a great deal of interest. However, a ‘boring’ sky with nothing to look at will only make your photograph boring as well. If the sky is less than thrilling, angle your shots so that it occupies as little of the frame as possible. Keep the horizon high in your picture and choose a shot with an interesting foreground instead.
9. Choose unconventional weather situations. One common beginner mistake is to go for the classic ‘blue sky’ shot. These amateurs forget that most people are more than aware of what a clear, cloudless sky looks like, as they differ very little from locale to locale. However, clouds and other seemingly unwanted weather can transform a shot by adding a different mood, creating new shapes, and changing the lighting. Mist, rainbows, and other weather phenomena can in fact be the focal point of a photograph, giving a whole new point of view to an otherwise overdone shot.
10. Find movement. A landscape photograph isn’t meant to be a still life. There is rarely a time in nature when nothing is moving; in fact, most outdoor scenes are in constant flux, however slight. Capturing and emphasizing this subtle movement, such as a breeze through grasses, a ripple across a pond, rolling clouds, or other slight changes in the scenery, can add interest to an otherwise boring shot.
11. Stay focused. In many cases, a landscape photo is most interesting when the majority of the scene is in focus. An easy way to accomplish this is to choose a small aperture setting, which will give your photo the maximum depth of field. One important thing to remember about this technique is that you will need to compensate for the lack of light by lengthening shutter speed or increasing ISO.
12. Choose the right time of day. In most cases, this will be the time just after dawn and just before dusk. During these hours, the lighting is soft, horizontal, and golden, making a landscape come alive. Many successful shots have been taken at other times of day, but the light usually needs intensive management.

Taking an unforgettable landscape photo may seem complicated at first. After all, there is more thought involved than in most situations. However, as with all photography techniques, this skill can be learned with practice. Before long, you too will be capturing nature in all of its glory.