GuestBlog - Peter Eastway

Landscape Photography Tips

By Peter Eastway

Hi FotoTV User,

Landscape photography today comes in two basic flavours: straight and manipulated. There are many landscape photographers for who the natural world is wonderful enough. Their aim is to record what is really there, perhaps waiting for days or months to capture the perfect light.

Other photographers prefer to use the landscape as inspiration for their images. Rather than capturing 'creation', their images are creations which use their imagination. I generally fall into this second group.

It's not that one approach is better than another, they are just different. I greatly admire the work of legendary photographers like Edward Weston, Franco Fontana and Peter Dombrovskis. Their photography was ground-breaking at the time, their skill and imagination second to none, but I think technology today allows photographers to quite easily match and even exceed their prowess. Personally, capturing reality isn't as satisfying as creating something new.

(Above: Monte Fitz Roy, a mountain in Patagonia, aregion between Argentina and Chile)

Although my work is based on reality, it's hopefully a little interpretive as well. Over the years I have used a variety of cameras and software and currently I'm shooting with an Alpa TC, a Phase One P65+ medium format digital back, and using Capture One and Photoshop for post-production.

(Above: Steeple Jason- a remote island to the north west of the Falkland group)

My technique is quite simple. I add adjustment layers so I can play with colour, tone and contrast. I use the adjustment layer masks to control where these changes are made. I feel like my technique is really just an extension of the work I did in the darkroom, but with much more finesse.

(Above: Storm in Pilbara a region in western Australia)

However, it's not about the equipment, it's about ideas and inspiration. I think this is what the next generation of photography is all about – and it's incredibly exciting to be a part of it.

Cheer!

Peter

Peter Eastway (picture below) is an award winning photographer from Australia. In addition to his commercial work, he publishes Better Photography magazine and the Landscape Photography MasterClass which can be found at www.betterphotography.com. He wrote the book Landscape Photography for Lonely Planet and has been the Australian Professional Photographer of the Year twice. FotoTV asked Peter for a couple of words about his approach to landscape photography.

Peter has also provided a movie from his Landscape Photography MasterClass for FotoTV subscribers to view. There is a complete MasterClass available for free at www.betterphotography.com.

You will be able to watch this movie soon on FotoTV. Keep an eye on our blog section in the coming days!