Why Your Landscape Photos Feel Flat and How to Fix Them - TM 03

Have you ever been out in a location that looked stunning to you and you captured what you were sure would be fantastic photos, only to find when you went to process them that they felt flat and boring? Do you want some insight into what can cause this and how to greatly improve your chances of walking away with some awesome images? Well, there are a number of common things that can result in your photos turning out far less impressive than what you experienced at the time.

One thing to remember is that when you are out in nature, looking at that gorgeous scene in front of you, you are seeing much more than a single frame in a camera can hope to capture. There is the perception of the depth of field that your eyes see, which is much different than what a camera sensor can record. Having two eyes, rather than a single lens, gives you depth perception that a camera simply does not have. Don’t forget the greater dynamic range that you have compared to cameras, or the fact that you can detect motion. Beyond your visual senses are things like the smells, sounds, temperature, wind and even touch of things like the mist. All of these things add to your perception and memory of the scene, which means you have to do all you can to ensure there are elements in your photos which will help give a sense of depth to the viewer.

I explore more about creating depth in my latest Trail Marker episode of Shutter Trails. I hope you have a chance to check it out and tell me what you think. If you get a chance to try out some of my tips, I’d love to hear how they worked for you!

You can find this episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The podcast is still young and slowly growing, and I’d really appreciate it if you could share it with anyone you think may be interested in photography. Thanks!

I look forward to chatting with you soon.