The Myth of Landscape Photography: True or False

There are some rules in landscape photography which are really popular both among beginners and pro photographers. Some of them are so entrenched that if anyone violates the rules, his/her landscape photographs are categorized ugly or wrong. Indeed, some rules seem logical, but actually does not always have to be obeyed. It all depends on the condition and what message do you want to achieve. There are two popular myths in the landscape photography.

The horizon line should be perpendicular
That's true, for most static/unmoving landscape photos are more suitable if you have a straight horizon line as it gives solid and steady impression. But this does not necessarily apply to all types of scenery. To give an impression of motion, dynamic, flow, sloping horizon is more suitable. To make a landscape photography with slanted horizon is not easy, and should be done with caution. Here are some example.

Photo by Adel Kamal | Exposure: 1/2500, Aperture f/2.8, ISO 200, Focal Length 15mm

Photo by Manuel Diaz

Landscape photo should be sharp and bright so that the details are clear
Landscape photo should not always sharp and bright. In fact, we should be smart to choose which parts should be sharp and bright, which part is smooth, and which part is dark. For examples the waterfall photo below. The water looks smooth (achieved with slow shutter speed + ND filter to reduce the over exposure because of bright sun shine).

There is also the dark side, for example in the right side trees and rocks area, and there are the bright side, ​​the waterfall area. With dark rocks area, the viewer attention should be to the waterfall. At the same time, the images looks three-dimensional. The game between dark and bright that makes this photo looks awesome.

Photo by Yuri Prokopenko | Exposure: 1second, Aperture f/16, ISO 200, Focal Length 17mm