5 Reasons Why You Don’t Need to Travel to Take Great Landscape Photographs
Last Updated: February 14th, 2020
If you’ve spent any time at all browsing social media, you’ll undoubtedly have come across a landscape image of a far-flung location that takes your breath away.
After a moment of awestruck staring, you head to the description to find out exactly where the photo was taken. That location is swiftly added to your ever-growing bucket list of places you must visit.
If you’re anything like me, that list of must-visit areas is significantly longer than your arm already.
But is traveling to exotic and iconic locations actually the best thing you can do to improve your landscape photography?
Well, in my experience I would argue that this mad dash around the world can actually harm your photography, and that getting to know your immediate surroundings is one of the most rewarding things you can do for your landscape photography.
1). You Have All the Time in the World
Traveling is enjoyable, rewarding and enlightening – there’s no doubt about that. However, one thing you’re always short of when traveling is time. There’s always the next iconic location to tick off or the next plane to catch.
This invisible clock looming over your tripod doesn’t mix well with the patient world of landscape photography. You want to have the option to stay on location for as long as it takes to capture that decisive shot, and while that’s not always possible when shooting locally, it’s certainly easier than when you’re in the midst of a regimented travel itinerary.
Landscape photography on the move often boils down to capturing that must-have shot before moving on to the next part of your journey. Shooting the local landscape, on the other hand, allows you time to wait for that perfect breakthrough of light, explore new compositions, or even just relax and tune yourself in to the surrounding environment.
There’s also the added benefit of having all your photography gear close to hand, rather than relying on what is likely a compromised kit bag designed for travel photography.
2). The Pressure is Off
Many landscape photographers put themselves under subconscious pressure when traveling. This is a trip that you’ve planned, paid for and anticipated for months, so you better get that shot when you get there!
I know I’ve been guilty of this sort of mindset in the past, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that pressure kills creativity. The result is a collection of landscape images of the most obvious compositions from the most obvious viewpoints. Basically, you end up shooting exactly what every other passing photographer captures.
Why does this happen? That’s simple: A fear of failure.
It’s understandable. You’ve put a lot of time and effort into getting to this point and this could be your only chance, so playing it safe and getting the obvious shot seems like a good idea.
Those photographers that focus closer to home don’t have this issue. They can return to the location time and time again, so it really doesn’t matter if one of their outings results in abject failure. They can just write it off as a bad day and return to the scene of the crime another time.
This opens up a world of creative potential. You can try out different compositions, viewpoints, perspectives and camera settings without that fear of failure looming over you.
It will come as no surprise that some of my favorite and most creative images come from local areas that I’ve visited countless times!
3). You Learn the Lay of the Land
There are plenty of landscape photography planning apps and websites available, but nothing can compare to personal experience.
By shooting local, you become familiar with the landscape.
You learn about all the different subjects and when they look at their best. Maybe a certain tree looks perfect in the early morning autumnal light, and maybe the view in the other direction is better suited to a summer sunset. These are the important details you learn when revisiting the same location over and over again, and they improve your chances of getting that special image.
Not only that, but they also give you a new understanding and appreciation of the area. This isn’t just another tourist honeypot. It’s a dynamic and complex environment that should be absorbed. Building that connection with the landscape is important when trying to take your photography to the next level.
4). You Can Develop a Project
Having a favorite shooting spot close to home gives you the opportunity to work on a photography project.
After learning all the minute details and intricacies of the landscape, you can start to forge ideas for potential projects in your mind. This could be shooting a certain view in different seasons, exploring the hidden gems of the location, only shooting with a wide-angle lens, or building up a cohesive photographic story. Some of the best landscape photography books out there are centered around locations that hold a special place in the photographer’s heart.
Below you can see a couple of images from an ongoing project centered around a disused quarry, exploring the contrasts between humans/nature and light/dark. Let your imagination run wild. Remember: You have all the time in the world!
5). It’s Cheaper
This goes without saying. Obviously spending thousands of dollars on a photography holiday comes with a host of other benefits, but it’s much cheaper to focus your landscape photography attention closer to home.
Sure, the odd trip away is something to be encouraged, but relying on far-flung locations for all your landscape photography will quickly deplete your bank account!
