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Myron Standret \ Alamy Stock Photo

In the spotlight: Landscape photography

Welcome to the first of our ‘In the spotlight’ series. We’ll be highlighting some of our favourite images that have been uploaded to a particular category to inspire your next shoot. Without further ado, let’s start with landscapes – a firm favourite for contributors on Alamy.

Landscapes are all around us, so you don’t have to travel far to capture amazing scenes. The images can be so rewarding, even if it means getting up super early to capture a sunrise!

There are a few things you can do when photographing landscapes to ensure your images don’t look the same as every other landscape shot. Here are a few images that stand out to us.

Framing

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mauritius images GmbH \ Alamy Stock Photo

The way the landscape in this image has been framed by the stone arch is a really effective way to elevate your imagery. The arch is also a great way to draw customers into your image – in this case, your eyes are immediately drawn to the trees and mountains.

Reflections

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Scott Wilson \ Alamy Stock Photo

We love how the landscape scene is reflected so clearly on the water. This image also uses the complementary colour harmony of green and blue which makes for an aesthetically pleasing image.

Top tip: Photographing during sunset or sunrise will help you to create water reflections

Neutral colours 

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Cavan Images \ Alamy Stock Photo

Neutral colours in this image helps to create a calm mood. The rippling texture on the sand is also a great focus point your eyes are drawn to. Editors love copy space and the blue sky is a great example of how a customer can use this image and add text.

Warm colours and storytelling

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Cavan Images \ Alamy Stock Photo

The yellowy-orange hues that are present in this image make for an amazing sunset shot. Adding in the male figure adds depth and human interest to the landscape. In this case, showing the tent alongside the mountain biker tells a story within the image.

Winter scenes

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gre jak \ Alamy Stock Photo

Who doesn’t love a snowy winter landscape? This mountain scene is a stand out image as the aerial view makes for a different and interesting perspective. The varying tones of blue hues running through the image also helps to create a cold feeling, almost as if you’re present within the landscape.

Equipment top tip: Invest in a good quality tripod. You may find yourself in an awkward angle, or if you’re working with long shutter speeds it will be beneficial to use a tripod.

We currently have several picture needs under the category of ‘Landscapes’ on our ‘What should I shoot’ tool. Check out the tool to see if you have any images in your collection that we’re in need of.

Stay tuned for the next category…

Ellie joined the Alamy content team in 2018 and has a passion for fashion and travel. This means has Ellie developed an eye for images with a modern aesthetic that's popular in the latest fashion trends along with enticing travel images.