Ask any landscape enthusiast what their favourite time of year is, and I guarantee few will answer summertime. The hours of daylight are long, the light can be harsh and unflattering, and the golden hours – when sunlight is most dramatic and warm – are unsociably early and late. Meanwhile, the countryside is less verdant, and popular landmarks and coastal locations are crowded with tourists.
But could it be that we just need to adapt our approach and attitude to the summer months rather than being dismissive? Instead of allowing your camera to gather dust, be more inventive with your outlook. Summer is the perfect time of year to learn new tricks and expand your technical repertoire and creativity. Summer also offers an array of unique seasonal photo opportunities.
Here are 10 tips for summer landscape success:
1 Embrace the conditions. Adapt your approach to maximise harsh light or clear skies by shooting minimalism or capturing infrared or black & white photographs.
2 If dawn is too early for you during summer, head out with your camera in the evening instead and capture late golden light and/or sunset colour.
3 Long summer days provide ample time and opportunity to try, or refine, less conventional techniques. For example, intentional camera movement (ICM), multiple exposures or infrared photography.
4 Use a polariser. The filter will help reduce glare and reflections, enhance colour contrast and make white cloud pop against a blue sky.
5 Search for seasonal flowers and crops that will add colour and interest to wider views. Sunflower and lavender growers often allow public access for a small entry fee.
6 Plan your adventures. Use apps like PhotoPills and the Photographer’s Ephemeris to calculate the sun’s position in advance of your shoot to avoid any frustration or disappointment.
7 Crops and rural views are great summertime subjects. And remember to revisit once crops ripen – fields full of stooks, or square or round bales, can create interesting seasonal images.
8 Avoid popular beaches – or tourist hotspots – during the school holidays, as crowds are rarely conducive to landscape photography. Instead, be prepared to walk further to escape people, and visit less well-known viewpoints.
9 Foggy or misty weather – or a sea fret – will simplify busy landscapes and are ideally suited to shooting atmospheric or minimalistic views with lots of clean, negative space.
10 Stop making excuses. Instead, make the summer months – and summer weather – work for you. An abundance of seasonal opportunities and development await if you’re prepared to adapt and adjust.
Read Ross’s full feature on capturing stunning summer landscapes in OP 331, in shops now and available to order here.
See more of Ross’s work at rosshoddinott.co.uk.