The Making of Landscape Photographs: A Practical Guide to the Art and Techniques

by Charlie Waite

Using his own photographs to illustrate the text, Charlie Waite explains the basis of his success as a landscape photographer. From the choice of camera and lens to the subtleties of lighting and composition, from manipulating the image to extracting the essential elements of a scene, he brings his years of practical experience to bear on the subject. The book contains many practical tips for the budding landscape photographer, but technical mastery is only one part of the story. The author aims, above all, to instill in readers his own love of landscape, and to encourage them to respond to, and capture, the world around them. Charlie Waite's prize-winning books include Landscape in Britain, Landscape in France, and Landscape in Italy.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 1992

About the author

Charlie Waite is firmly established as one of the world’s leading Landscape photographers. His photographic style is often considered to be unique, in that his photographs convey an almost spiritual quality of serenity and calm. Charlie's photographs are held in private and corporate collections throughout the world, and he has held numerous solo exhibitions at prestigious venues in the UK, Japan and the USA.

With over 30 books to his name, Charlie's images are recognised around the world. Charlie was recently featured in Amateur Photographer Magazine's series Icons of Modern Photography, and his images have received wide critical acclaim over many years. A recent article in Royal West of England Academy Art Magazine featuring Charlie's work commented “Waite’s landscapes are rare perfections of light, colour and composition, and offer the viewer a luxuriant portrait of a planet at peace”.

In 2000 Charlie was awarded the prestigious honorary fellowship to the British Institute of Professional Photographers and in early 2007 was presented with Amateur Photography’s Power of Photography Award, which is given to a photographer whose work is deemed to effectively demonstrate the powerful and memorable images of which photography is capable. Also a sought after writer, public speaker and television presenter, Charlie has featured in numerous photographic and broadsheet publications, DVDs and television programmes on photography.

- from his website

Reviews

[Timothy Neesam · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! As well as a meditation on the pleasures of landscape photography, Waite discusses how many of his favourite images could be improved, or what was needed to to elevate the picture from an average scene, showing variations in order for us to see what works and why. It's a unique opportunity to have a photographer critique his own work. The book is getting on a bit (it was published in 1992) and it's striking how, since its release, our view of landscape images has altered with the extensive use of Photoshop. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and found myself going back and forth, section to section. Outstanding and well worth reading if you're interested in landscape photography.

[Sinead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple but practical guide to making fantastic photographs. Great photographer passing on his skills.

[Roy McDine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated with clear guidance of how and why Charlie took the images.

[Fogovonslack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good examples of what works and what doesn't in landscape photography.

[Map23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book I read on landscape photography - a must read for anyone wanting to move beyond point-and-shoot 'snaps'.