Landscapes: Photography Worth Waiting For

Inspired landscape photos require you to slow down and wait for the best light.

The other day, one of my stock agency editors told me to shoot more landscapes.

Having been a stock photographer for over 15 years, those are words that I’ve never heard. Just about every agency that I’ve worked with has always said the same thing. “Landscapes are a dime a dozen, we have enough of them. Shoot people.”

Here we are, years later and now they actually want landscapes. What’s going on here?

I think I know. Photography trends are mirroring those of real life.

Professional stock photographers, including myself, have been shooting people for years, and we’ve got it down pat. We’ve perfected our lighting and equipment techniques, our model styling and our subject control so well, that we can arrange talent, schedule a shoot and knock out a selection of sellable images in a completely reasonable amount of time.

Professional efficiency at it’s finest. After all, time is money.

Landscape photography requires exactly the opposite approach. You tromp around in the outdoors for an undetermined amount of time looking for interesting subject matter, and then when you see something you like, you set up your tripod, take the time to frame a great composition and then spend who knows how long waiting for the best light.

Only these days, who’s got time to wait? In our up to the minute texting, Tweeting and status update society, waiting is just not something we do. We like control and immediacy. That doesn’t work so well for landscapes, though. The craft of true landscape photography takes time and patience. You can’t force it.

However if you do take the time to get yourself lost out there in the natural world, and practice some serious waiting, you’re much more likely to create some truly wonderful and inspired one of a kind images. Those are the ones my editor is referring to. Those are the ones that have true selling potential. Believe me, she’s never steered me wrong.

Don’t look at it that way, though. Just go outside, slow down and practice some good old fashioned traditional photography. Even if the pictures don’t sell, the worst thing that’s happened is that you stood out there in nature for awhile.

Ansel and Galen would approve.

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Dan Bailey is a professional adventure, outdoor and travel photographer based in Anchorage, Alaska. Follow his own blog at danbaileyphoto.com/blog and see his daily updates at facebook.com/danbaileyphoto.

Tagged as: creative inspiration, landscape, Nature Photography, Photography, stock photography, Tips