Improve your landscape photographs by reaching new heights – literally!

landscape photography tips
(Image credit: Andy Alcock)

I've been an amateur photographer for just over two years. I have always enjoyed nature and being surrounded by beautiful landscapes, so for my 30th birthday I asked for my first camera (a Canon 1300D) to start capturing the places I visited, hoping to share that beauty with others.

I began going out locally to understand the fundamentals of photography, but it was after a visit to the peak district, where I experienced my first cloud inversion and felt the peacefulness of an early morning sunrise, that I realized this was more than a hobby – it was my passion. 

• Read more: Best standard zoom 24-70 lenses

I have recently upgraded from my standard camera kit to a Canon EOS R and a 24-70mm L series lens, and I have really seen an improvement in the quality of my images. I now enjoy looking back from where I started two years ago and seeing how I have far I've come – and I can’t wait to see where the next few years will take me.  

(Image credit: Andy Alcock)

01. Stanage, Peak District

A cold February morning, sunrise up at Stanage Edge in the Peak District, I captured this wide at 10mm. I shot this low enough to ensure that the millstones in the foreground were pulled through, so that the image linked to the purple skyline.

(Image credit: Andy Alcock)

02. Mam Tor, Peak District

After making the short walk up to Mam Tor, I saw a ewe and lamb grazing on the hillside overlooking the inversion that was forming with the diffused golden sunrise  taking place. I instantly set my tripod up and focused on the ewe. 

(Image credit: Andy Alcock)

03. Winnats Pass, Peak District

This image was taken using my drone, which I like to use in order to get a different perspective of a landscape that cannot be seen with a camera on foot. The conditions of the morning, and the subject of the nearby Winnats Pass, meant that I didn’t have much to do in Lightroom

• Best camera drones

(Image credit: Andy Alcock)

04. Tryfan, Snowdonia

This was taken on a trip to Wales, just before the first lockdown, and I was lucky enough to find the mountain tops covered in snow. I set up this composition by the stream to give a leading line, and with a slow shutter speed to blur the water. I’m hoping to go back in the near future to explore more of Wales.
`

Read more:

Canon EOS R review
Best cameras for landscape photography
Best lenses for landscapes
Landscape photography tips

DCW team

Digital Camera World is one of the leading authorities on camera and photography news, reviews, techniques, tutorials, comparisons, deals and industry analysis. The site doesn't just specialize in cameras, but all aspects of photography, videography and imaging – including camera phones, gimbals, lenses, lighting, editing software, filters, tripods, laptops, printers, photo books, desks, binoculars and more. 

Whether you're using, looking to buy or trying to get the most out of a compact camera, action camera, camera drone, cinema camera, beginner camera or professional camera, Digital Camera World has a roster of experts with combined experience of over 100 years when it comes to cameras, photography and imaging. 

Meet the DCW team

Read more
Mountain valley during sunrise. Natural summer landscape
9 landscape photography tips I think every photographer should know
A misty morning at Glastonbury Tor with cows heading home and the sun rising
I got up at 6am to capture this landscape – and the misty conditions made it totally worth it
Frosty and misty landscape of the Peak District, with a church spire in the far distance surrounded by layers of open fields and forest
I don’t often shoot with a telephoto lens and had only purchased my Sigma 100-400mm a couple of weeks before this frosty landscape was taken
A panorama squeezing in all of the detail of the American Falls up close
"To photograph Niagara Falls from the air I ensured that my shutter speed was high enough to counter the vibrations caused by the chopper"
A landscape photograph of waves crashing against craggy rocks during a storm on the County Kerry coast in Ireland.
"I photographed a fierce storm raging along the rocky coast of Ireland with my Nikon Z9 and a super-telephoto lens"
A tall power line tower stands against a dramatic, cloudy backdrop, with multiple power lines extending from it. The lines are adorned with illuminated insulators, adding a subtle glow to the scene. Dark silhouettes of trees are visible on the left side, contrasting with the lighter sky above.
"The direction, shape, and type of guiding lines contribute to the mood of a photo"
Latest in Landscape Photography
Black-and-white landscape photograph of Porthcawl Lighthouse being battered by crashing waves during a storm
"The wind was ferocious and the sea spray was relentless, making it difficult to keep my lens clean," says photographer caught in one of Britain's wildest storms
A landscape photograph of waves crashing against craggy rocks during a storm on the County Kerry coast in Ireland.
"I photographed a fierce storm raging along the rocky coast of Ireland with my Nikon Z9 and a super-telephoto lens"
Mountain valley during sunrise. Natural summer landscape
9 landscape photography tips I think every photographer should know
Colourful trees frame a small river, photographed with a long exposure
I love to shoot long exposures in the rain – here’s why I head to the woods!
Frosty and misty landscape of the Peak District, with a church spire in the far distance surrounded by layers of open fields and forest
I don’t often shoot with a telephoto lens and had only purchased my Sigma 100-400mm a couple of weeks before this frosty landscape was taken
A misty morning at Glastonbury Tor with cows heading home and the sun rising
I got up at 6am to capture this landscape – and the misty conditions made it totally worth it
Latest in Features
Black and white image montage, three images showing scenes from the streets of Barcelona
“If you want to photograph a dynamic scene, you have to make do without a tripod”, I just love this cinematic night shoot!
Jacob Watson-Howland's image of a snowdrop in low-light, captured with a slow shutter speed to create a painterly abstract effect
“I didn’t bring a tripod. Big mistake.” Second attempt at low-light plant portrait lands young photographer prestigious award
A monochromatic image, showing a girl that looks through a door or window with an obscure view
These are the winners from Digital Photographer's captivating portraits contest
Fujifilm X-T5 with lens attached
If the Fujifilm X-T6 launches with this one feature, I’m going to be the first in line
Meta AI suggesting comments for Instagram image
Instagram is testing AI that analyzes photos and generates comments… but isn't that the opposite of solving the bot problem?
Kalum Carter
Can you actually tell the difference between images taken on the Fujifilm X100F and GFX 50S II?