Let\u2019s look at five key practices to help\u00a0ensure you capture the best and most beautiful landscape footage possible for your next project.<\/p>\n
\n
1. Mind the Horizon and Your Composition<\/h3>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/horizon.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/a>Image by\u00a0GoneWithTheWind<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\nWhen setting up your shot, your first composition decision is going to be where to set your horizon line. If you follow the rule of thirds (more on the concept here<\/a>), you have some options. You can put the horizon on the bottom line if you\u2019d like your viewer to focus on the sky. You can put the horizon on the top if you\u2019d like to focus on the land. You can also put the horizon down the very middle to create symmetry.<\/p>\nWhatever you choose, feel free to experiment. However, unless you\u2019re going for a canted-angle look, be sure your tripod or stand is accurately calibrated to the ground, or your horizon line could look uneven.<\/p>\n
Here are some more resources for composition theory and principles:<\/p>\n
\n- Video Tutorial: Composition, Framing and the 180\u00b0 Rule<\/a><\/li>\n
- Back to Basics: The Rule of Thirds in Filmmaking<\/a><\/li>\n
- A Masterclass in Composition That\u2019s Actually Fun to Watch<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n2. Check the Light and the Clouds<\/h3>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/light-and-clouds.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/a>Image by\u00a0Nadiia Iatsun<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\nAs the greatest light source there is, the sun\u2019s position can drastically change your landscape footage in\u00a0many ways. For science geeks, it\u2019s fun to note that the sun even affects night shoots. However, during the day, you can use the sun as part of your landscape footage by either shooting with it at your back, or shooting into it. You can also utilize the high noon sun to temporarily shoot without shadows, or use dusk or dawn light to get fantastic new colors.<\/p>\n
Also keep an eye out for clouds and try to find ways to incorporate them into your compositions. Shooting time-lapse footage (more on that below) can add great dynamism, and\u00a0it can add to your framing by creating beautiful counterpoints to the land below.<\/p>\n
Check out these articles for some more tips for working with natural, outdoor light:<\/p>\n
\n- 6 Tips for Filming Outdoors<\/a><\/li>\n
- Filmmaking Tip \u2013 Shooting Night Exteriors on a Budget<\/a><\/li>\n
- Videography Tips for Shooting in Bright Sunlight<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n3. Vary the Focus<\/h3>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/vary-focus.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/a>Image by\u00a0DoublePHOTO studio<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\nFrom there, you have compositional options for objects in the foreground, middleground, and background. If you\u2019re not familiar with those terms, here\u2019s a great article that breaks down the multiple composition planes<\/a>. To really utilize all three, consider putting objects in the immediate foreground just barely on the edges of the frames to provide perspective. Find shots that have interesting features in the middleground as well before opening up into the wide background across the horizon and sky.<\/p>\nYou can also experiment with depth-of-field and where you set your focus between the foreground, middleground, and background. Add ND filters to help you stop down to get shallower DOF too. You can also try rack-focuses to move the focus across the landscape (here\u2019s a good article\u00a0on that<\/a>).<\/p>\nHere are some more cinematography and depth-of-field resources to consider:<\/p>\n
\n- The Power of Shooting with a Shallow Depth of Field<\/a><\/li>\n
- 3 Easy Ways You Can Create A Shallow Depth of Field<\/a><\/li>\n
- Production Tip: 5 Simple Ways to Fix Out-of-Focus Footage<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n4. Find or Create Movement<\/h3>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/find-movement.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/a>Image by\u00a0Matt Antonino<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\nPerhaps the greatest trick you can use for your landscape videography to distinguish it from your regular landscape photography is to add or create movement. You can start by using simple pans and tilts. A pan\u00a0that starts on an object close in the foreground then reveals the wide landscape in the background is a great approach. It also helps to find movement even in a static frame. A car running down a highway or people moving across the screen will add more visual information for viewers to latch onto.<\/p>\n
From there you can add other types of movement utilizing sliders or jibs \u2014 or even create movement on your own by using time-lapses including\u00a0clouds, shadows, and the sun. Check out some more camera movement tips and tricks below.<\/p>\n
\n- The 5 Most Powerful Camera Movements in Cinema History<\/a><\/li>\n
- DSLR Slider Guide For Solo Shooters<\/a><\/li>\n
- 5 Ways to Use a Gimbal to Capture Cinematic Footage<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n5. Consider Time-Lapse<\/h3>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/time-lapse.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/a>Image by\u00a0DoublePHOTO studio<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\nTime-lapses are a great\u00a0way to really capture the majesty of the outdoors. To take a time-lapse, you have a couple of options. First you can simply record footage for 10-12 minutes (or longer), which you can speed up in post. However this takes up a good deal of card and drive space. You can also use an intervalometer to take a series of photos over a set period as well. (Bonus:\u00a0how to harness cameras like the Canon 5D Mark IV\u2019s built-in intervalometer<\/a>).<\/p>\nFor more time-lapse insights, check out this great video<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0or some of these articles.<\/p>\n\n- Timelapse Tips, Tricks, and Tools<\/a><\/li>\n
- Premiere Pro Tutorial: Compositing Live-Action and Timelapse Footage<\/a><\/li>\n
- Turn Your Timelapse Videos into Moving Paintings<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nLooking for even more videography tips and tricks? Here are a few more resources to consider:<\/p>\n
\n- Tips for Photographers Transitioning to Videography<\/a><\/li>\n
- 7 Things All Video Professionals Should Share with Clients<\/a><\/li>\n
- How the iPhone is Changing Modern Videography<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to Soften Your Sharp 4K DSLR Video Footage<\/a><\/li>\n
- Educate Yourself: 16 Must-Read Books for Filmmakers and Videographers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/a>Image by\u00a0GoneWithTheWind<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n When setting up your shot, your first composition decision is going to be where to set your horizon line. If you follow the rule of thirds (more on the concept here<\/a>), you have some options. You can put the horizon on the bottom line if you\u2019d like your viewer to focus on the sky. You can put the horizon on the top if you\u2019d like to focus on the land. You can also put the horizon down the very middle to create symmetry.<\/p>\n Whatever you choose, feel free to experiment. However, unless you\u2019re going for a canted-angle look, be sure your tripod or stand is accurately calibrated to the ground, or your horizon line could look uneven.<\/p>\n Here are some more resources for composition theory and principles:<\/p>\n Image by\u00a0Nadiia Iatsun<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n As the greatest light source there is, the sun\u2019s position can drastically change your landscape footage in\u00a0many ways. For science geeks, it\u2019s fun to note that the sun even affects night shoots. However, during the day, you can use the sun as part of your landscape footage by either shooting with it at your back, or shooting into it. You can also utilize the high noon sun to temporarily shoot without shadows, or use dusk or dawn light to get fantastic new colors.<\/p>\n Also keep an eye out for clouds and try to find ways to incorporate them into your compositions. Shooting time-lapse footage (more on that below) can add great dynamism, and\u00a0it can add to your framing by creating beautiful counterpoints to the land below.<\/p>\n Check out these articles for some more tips for working with natural, outdoor light:<\/p>\n Image by\u00a0DoublePHOTO studio<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n From there, you have compositional options for objects in the foreground, middleground, and background. If you\u2019re not familiar with those terms, here\u2019s a great article that breaks down the multiple composition planes<\/a>. To really utilize all three, consider putting objects in the immediate foreground just barely on the edges of the frames to provide perspective. Find shots that have interesting features in the middleground as well before opening up into the wide background across the horizon and sky.<\/p>\n You can also experiment with depth-of-field and where you set your focus between the foreground, middleground, and background. Add ND filters to help you stop down to get shallower DOF too. You can also try rack-focuses to move the focus across the landscape (here\u2019s a good article\u00a0on that<\/a>).<\/p>\n Here are some more cinematography and depth-of-field resources to consider:<\/p>\n Image by\u00a0Matt Antonino<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n Perhaps the greatest trick you can use for your landscape videography to distinguish it from your regular landscape photography is to add or create movement. You can start by using simple pans and tilts. A pan\u00a0that starts on an object close in the foreground then reveals the wide landscape in the background is a great approach. It also helps to find movement even in a static frame. A car running down a highway or people moving across the screen will add more visual information for viewers to latch onto.<\/p>\n From there you can add other types of movement utilizing sliders or jibs \u2014 or even create movement on your own by using time-lapses including\u00a0clouds, shadows, and the sun. Check out some more camera movement tips and tricks below.<\/p>\n Image by\u00a0DoublePHOTO studio<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n Time-lapses are a great\u00a0way to really capture the majesty of the outdoors. To take a time-lapse, you have a couple of options. First you can simply record footage for 10-12 minutes (or longer), which you can speed up in post. However this takes up a good deal of card and drive space. You can also use an intervalometer to take a series of photos over a set period as well. (Bonus:\u00a0how to harness cameras like the Canon 5D Mark IV\u2019s built-in intervalometer<\/a>).<\/p>\n For more time-lapse insights, check out this great video<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0or some of these articles.<\/p>\n Looking for even more videography tips and tricks? Here are a few more resources to consider:<\/p>\n\n
\n2. Check the Light and the Clouds<\/h3>\n
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\n3. Vary the Focus<\/h3>\n
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\n4. Find or Create Movement<\/h3>\n
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\n5. Consider Time-Lapse<\/h3>\n
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