#edwinmartinez

The basic of landscape photography, although I can't really say that it was the very basic of landscape, however, I got the gist of it.

I never really understand the technicalities of a landscape photographs but I'm always at awe at how magnificent the shots are.

Its like they're magnifying what's already big, and they add more vibrancy and a timelessness in a scene. Although they are just capturing a moment that will never happen again. 

From the talk that Sir Edwin Martinez did last Thursday (6th of August), organized by Camerahaus and sponsored by Canon, he laid out some concepts that I have been noticing before, but doesn't have a clue as to what they are called.

The minor tips like how to create the rays or the burst of the sun, the right aperture when shooting landscape, the filters etc., are things that I already knew. I guess its a common knowledge for people who are already shooting for at least 2 years.

But the concept of layering the elements in the scene, the high point and the low angle points, the negative space, using colors -vivid colors-, and realizing that almost all landscape photography is anchored at the universal theme of beauty, are some new stuff for me. 

To be able to capture a stunning landscape photo, it needs to encompass the sense of beauty, the sense of simplicity, yet striking that when you see it makes you feel that it is larger than life, and lastly, the viewer shouldn't have to guess where it was taken.

The way i see it, successful landscape photos are those that offers a new look of a common, ordinary place. As much as what a photography now a days. Its a common subject, common scene, but what takes them apart is how they are presented in a new perspective, a new angle, a new scene. 

Just like the example used by Sir Edwin, Mayon Volcano's most iconic landscape shot was the one where Cagsawa Bell tower served as the anchor (foreground) of the photo. it has always been shot that way, but in his recent landscape in Bicol (see photo below) he offers a new look of the scenic Mayon. 

photo credits from traveltothephilippines.info and Edwin Martinez' 500px account.

The night was very fruitful. I really enjoyed and learned so many things that I want to incorporate with my own shots. Plus, I won. Twice!