Bored Panda got in touch with Erin Sullivan—travel photographer, outdoorswoman, and the person behind the fun little (literally) project where she recreated stunning natural scenery using household items and miniatures whilst stuck in lockdown, which we covered here—to elaborate on all things beautiful scenery in photography.
"I should preface this by saying I am a huge believer in creative freedom, and that what makes a photo 'good' is often subjective, but I do think that the common denominator for a nice landscape image is a compelling composition," elaborated Sullivan on the main factors in scenery photos.
"Whether you are shooting wide or close up, a straight horizon line, an interesting foreground element and a purposeful background element set the foundation for a beautiful capture."
#4 View Outside The Window In Positano, A Hillside Village On The Amalfi Coast, Campania, Italy
Now, when it comes to snapping the perfect picture of nature at its finest, some may argue that it's the photographer doing all the heavy lifting, while others might say you can't really do more than what nature already did. So, we've asked Sullivan about her take on it, and she said this:
"In my opinion, nature leads, but we are always in constant collaboration. As the photographer, you are working with nature to communicate its beauty (or whatever you are highlighting) through an image. Nature creates first, and we create from (and with) that."
#5 The View From My $9 A Night Hostel In The Mountains Of Peru, Featuring A Very Good Boy
#6 Hiked From Mexico To Canada This Year Via The CDT. This Was One Of My Favorite Shots. Big Sandy Lake, Wind River Range, Wyoming, USA
#8 Visited Sørvágsvatn In The Faroe Islands And Proceeded To Have My Socks Knocked Off
We also asked Sullivan whether there any aspects, parts or themes in nature that she thinks are under-represented in photography these days, or what has been, on the other hand, over-represented and hence has become cliché.
She explains that when it comes to representation, her thoughts focus around the question "who's behind the lens?" She explains that it isn't necessarily some sort of theme that is under-represented here, but rather people's perspectives—people's from communities that have been historically marginalized.
"More and more people are gaining access to photography as smartphones become more and more used throughout the world, and I think this is a good thing for photography overall. Humanity misses out when we don't see perspectives from a range of experiences and cultures."
#11 Skipped Torres Del Paine In Patagonia And Camped Near Fitz Roy Instead – This Was Our View, And Barely Anyone Else Was In The Campground
#12 In The Process Of Building My Dream Home. This Is The View From The Kitchen Today
Lastly, we've asked Sullivan what is one thing she hopes people learn about natural landscape photography, and she had this to say:
"Photographing natural landscapes can be incredibly calming and meditative, and a beautiful way to connect with Nature and Mother Earth, when done with intention. I would encourage anyone to try it."
You can keep scrolling to see more spectacular imagery from people online, or you can alternatively check out Erin's website, Instagram, Facebook, or other social media, or even check out an article about her realistic landscape photography taken right from her home here.
But before you dash off to new horizons, why not let us know your thoughts, ideas, and spectacular landscape spots in the comment section below!
#14 After 4 Days Of Trekking Over The Salkantay Pass To Get To Machu Picchu, I Woke Up Around 3:30 Am To Try To Get There Before The Rest Of The Tourists
#20 I Just Hiked To The Second Tallest Waterfall In The World, Tugela Falls In South Africa
