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On Landscape: A Sense Of Scale
One key compositional technique in landscape photography is the use of scale. By including foreground subjects such as rocks or trees or flowers in front of mountains, for example, the photographer can convey depth in the scene, giving a stronger sense of the locale and of “being there.” In many uses for photographs, such as editorial use, it’s important to clearly describe the subject. Objects of known size give us clues as to the scale and depth.
A sense of scale in an image can be affected in several ways. One way re-lates to how we arrange objects with-in the frame, such as the foreground/background example above. Another method of conveying scale is the choice of lens. If you use a telephoto lens to photograph a range of mountains, they look taller. Put on a wide-angle lens for the same scene, and the mountains shrink in scale.
Contrasting large and small objects is still another technique to convey scale. An example of this might be placing a small sapling tree next to a full-sized giant sequoia as shown in image #2. Even without showing the whole larger tree, the massive difference in size is implied. When composing elements within the camera frame, keep in mind the idea of contrasting these elements so that the difference is clear without too many distractions.
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Photograph #3 shown here is of a cliff face in Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona. The image was purposefully composed without a clear reference to scale. Below the bottom edge of the frame is the ground. Had I included any foreground elements, these clues would take away the abstract aspect of the image where we wonder as to the size and subject matter. However, I did include a petroglyph in the lower left of the frame. While it’s probably not visible on the scale of this reproduction, if one is viewing an original photograph, the petroglyph is a subtle discovery that gives a small hint as to scale. I like the ambiguity of this composition, and it has long been a key image in my fine-art portfolio.
Remember to think about the use of scale in your landscape images on your next trip into the field. Experiment by including interesting foreground elements or contrasting large and small objects, as well as by removing content that suggests scale. Try all the ideas and variations that come to mind! The thrill of creating photographs, at least for me, is when a landscape, with all its aspects, such as light and graphic elements, becomes a work of art when translated through the photographer’s imagination.
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William Neill