The landscapes of Africa are well-known for their otherworldly look and for the fact that they are exceptionally beautiful. While the wildlife of Africa is what inspires most photographs and they are certainly the main attraction for coming to the continent, it is the landscapes that make for some of the most interesting images.

Because of Africa’s stunning diversity, the landscapes in every country can look quite different from the next. Some landscapes are characterised by dry sandy deserts, while others are forested wonderlands, covered with emerald green trees. With the right knowledge and the right kind of lighting, the images you capture can be transformed from a boring basic snapshot, into an undeniable work of art.

To start with, when you are travelling to Africa and your goal is to take professional looking photos, it helps to travel with a professional photographer. At Wild Photo Africa, we offer our photographer travellers and those who are amateurs wanting to learn more about creating the best kinds of images, a range of interesting travel packages. Along with guiding our guests and teaching them the ins and outs of wildlife photography, we can also help you out with capturing epic landscape images. To get you going, here are a couple of tips you can use to up your landscape photography game.

1. The camera you use will make all the difference

It is true that you can take pretty amazing photos with a cellphone camera, but if you really want to improve your images, using a high-quality mirrorless camera or a DSLR, is preferable. Your more professional cameras have better sensors and allow you to interchange your lenses, which will instantly improve the landscape image you take.

1. Use a tripod

Image stabilisation is the difference between a crisp and sharp image and one that is blurred and out of focus. A tripod will be able to let you work with a slower shutter speed, which can help you add more detail to your images. Tripods are also a must when photographing at night.

1. Think composition

While getting to know your camera is essential to any kind of photography, composition is what will make the difference between a memorable image and just another photo. The image you take needs to stand out and be unique, and you can only do that if you are composing your images properly. This is something that comes from practice and a little help from a professional.

1. Focus your photos

Everybody wants to have that perfectly blurred foreground and background in their photo, with a solidly focused point of interest. To achieve this, you need to know your aperture, and you need a lens that is capable of giving you a wide open aperture of 2.8 or wider.

1. Include interesting elements

You can capture the whole landscape, but you can capture a section of it that looks interesting and visually appealing. A standout tree, plants, or strange-looking rocks can all make an image go from boring, to extraordinary.