BetterPhoto Instructor Insights

Photographing People in the Landscape

Fisherman at Sunset; Morro Bay, CA © Kerry Drager

Hi Everyone,

Although many scenic shots can stand on their own, others can come alive with a human presence. Pictured small in the scene, a person or two can show scale, boost energy, and create mood and depth. A hiker, bicyclist, tourist, or even a fisherman can add a sense of being there, by helping viewers relate to what they're seeing. And a tiny figure set amid a towering backdrop makes a nice twist on classic landscape photography.

In his exciting new book - Understanding Digital Photography - BetterPhoto.com™ instructor/photographer Bryan Peterson has this to say on the subject:

"The human shape is perhaps the most unmistakable shape in all the world. As a result, when you include its shape in any large and expansive landscape, an obvious sense of scope and scale results. This happens regardless of whether that landscape is a nature scene or something more urban or industrial. But I often tell my many nature landscape students that if they one day hope to make money with their camera, they would be wise - whenever possible - to shoot another exposure with a lone figure in that same landscape."

That's just one of countless tips and techniques in Bryan's fine book, which is Book of the Month at BetterPhoto - order it and receive U.S. shipping!

That's it for now. Have a great week of photography!
Kerry Drager

Subhankar Banerjee's Alaskan Adventure

Subhankar Banerjee, New York Copyright 2005 Jeff Wignall

At one time or another most of us have fantasized about tossing aside our everyday lives and diving headlong into a life of total adventure and creativity--just throwing caution to the wind and following our dreams. Fortunately, most of us come to our senses before we jump off the deep end, spend away the retirement fund and wait for our families to have us committed (and, no doubt, justifiably so). But occasionally one of us slips through the cracks and not only lives their dream, but finds a new life even wilder and more successful than their daydreams. One such person is photographer Subhankar Banerjee.

I first met Subhankar Banerjee this past autumn when I was assigned by Outdoor Photographer magazine to write a profile on him. All I was really told in advance was that he had shot a book on the Alaska Arctic National Wildlife Refuge--little did I know that this was (sorry for the pun) just the tip of the ice berg.