It stands to reason that if you’re visiting a legendary landmark (e.g. the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, etc.) you’re going to want to photograph it for prosperity sake. However, capturing the grandeur of natural wonders can be a challenge.
It’s happened to me. From seascapes to rolling hills and massive mountain ranges—-the vast open spaces of each leaves me breathless, but trying to capture it on film in order to elicit the same response from others is easier said than done. I have found that in most cases landscape photos leave the viewer wondering just how sprawling these locations really are (especially if they have never visited themselves). In these cases I find using a reference point from which a comparison can be made that shows a size relationship can be quite helpful. Doing so provides a scale, which a viewer can use to put things into perspective. It also helps illustrate the immensity of the scene.
To incorporate scale into a shot, first find a common point of reference. For example, if you are shooting in nature, trees are good reference points. If you are trying to photograph the vastness of a desert trees might not be an option. In that case look for bushes, grasses or other vegetation. Including these elements into your shot allows the viewer to make a mental size comparison of the subjects and draw a conclusion as to their grandeur.
Another option is to use a person in the shot (especially if you are not able to find something in nature to use as a reference point). The human figure easily allows viewers to establish size relationships. I personally shy away from using loved ones in a landscape shot (unless it’s to document that he or she was really there) because I find the end result makes the person look like a stick figure and it does nothing to enhance the greatness of a particular vast natural space. If natural scale options are not available look for man made ones. For example, most waterfalls include bridges that can be incorporated into shots. And if you are taking a seascape shot look around for boats or windsurfers.
What creative objects have you used as points of reference?
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