Landscape Photography: How to simplify busy landscapes

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There is nothing better than getting out into the landscape tp make some photographs. But how can we simplify the scenes to make more coherent and aesthetic images?
In this video Alister Benn explores his local area on the west of Scotland and uses a variety of means to make images that he both loves and is passionate about.
Video edited by Ann Kristin Lindaas
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[@1964photo]

A skilled hunter for the wonderful views unseen by others, which can be beautiful for this wonderful level.

[@amitanshuv]

the water ripples and the upside down reflection image are surreal.

[@dominikdoubek3550]

I like most the oak tree photo in this video.

[@HoriaBogdan3]

Aaahhh, that last lonely oak tree is just magical!

[@Alister_Benn]

Yeah, very tranquil ❤️

[@keithpinn152]

Hi Alister: It has been several months since I have been an active viewer and participant of your channel. As I watched this video, I recognized that I have missed your inspirational and refreshing approach to the creation of images. Your approach to the creation and appreciation for the 'landscape' seems to be more liberated and freeing. Well done! The images that you have created and shared in this video are very deep and rich in meaning without being cliche. As always, your unvarnished expression of your craft is very uplifting. Warmest regards, Keith Pinn (Barrie, Ontario)

[@petertym422]

Beautiful images that prove you don't have to go too far off places to make them, you can find beauty in your own back yard. Love the video Alister and your approach to landscape photography.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so very much ❤️ I really appreciate that

[@malcolmbenn1051]

I need to start getting up earlier so I can watch a couple of these videos every morning and particularly if I'm going out with the camera gear. Your approach and presentation are so inspirational, thank you for the lift Alister.

[@Alister_Benn]

That’s really kind of you, thanks so very much: at least in winter getting up early isn’t so bad 😅

[@glensumner3425]

one of these days and I'm sure Seamus agrees I'm just echoing every one else here you deserve a meddle!

[@AndyBanner]

A very nice video with a peaceful pace and a great message. I love this kind of photography. Living on The Norfolk Broads with the coast equally as close, I really enjoy capturing reflections in the water and tend to look for these in many aspects of my work. At the beach last night, I was struck by a hypnotic reflection of a low sand bank reflected in the retreating see pool below it. The sun had set and with a perfectly clear sky, there was just pastel colour, the sand bank, the sand bank again reflected in the pool and a gentle curve leading the eye to it. Abstract and beautiful just like your water and reflection shots here. Oh, but that oak tree. Stunning. Keep up the great work.

[@tjcuneo]

The last two videos have brought your books to life and helped clarify the use of language in describing each image. Thanks.

[@Alister_Benn]

Many thanks, I am so delighted to hear that ❤️

[@runninblue9415]

Sublime images and real words of wisdom. Great combination thank you 👍

[@teresababer5310]

Out of all of your videos that I have watched thus far - this one is my favorite. I often struggle with the “chaos” of nature and the woodland especially. So much of this talk resonated with me. And I absolutely love the upside-down. I have shot similarly and love, love, love the result. Thanks for all you share - much appreciated.

[@Alister_Benn]

Hugely appreciate your lovely comment. Thanks so very much

[@Xo1ot1]

In the first example I love the initial uncropped raw image. It looks like a painting and I think the bushes on the bottom left make the photo look more complete.

[@dianevose9655]

Such a lovely joyful vlog Alister, so wonderful to see you so free and creative in the field. Beautiful ethereal mages, I especially love the oak tree with the fog surrounding it. Love the blue colder tones, so very lovely 🌨️❄️🤩

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so much Diane, that’s very kind of you ❤️

[@hughwolfe1176]

Beautiful photos Alister. Sometimes the simplest things can be exactly what we’re looking for.

[@nickshepherd8377]

Alister…great seeing you in such a happy and relaxed mood. It’s seems that you have had a weight lifted off your shoulders! Love the oak tree image…👏👏👏

[@Alister_Benn]

Yeah, I figure I need to enjoy myself more ❤️

[@97hb]

Great video and absolutely beautiful images. I loved the water ripples and the last image of the oak tree.

[@tompetersphotography]

Honestly Alister this is one of the best vlogs I have seen!! And that last shot of the lone oak in them conditions is just stunning. I love your though process about the shots and I love how they’re all completely different!

[@Alister_Benn]

That’s so kind of you mate, I really appreciate that. I’ve had to find a different mindset for making videos as I used to feel a lot of pressure to go out and find something amazing. Thanks again.

[@tompetersphotography]

@@Alister_Benn well it shows because you seem very at ease

[@andrewherbert9938]

Wow ! What an exceptional set of images Alister must have been an absolute joy to be out on a morning like that

[@Alister_Benn]

Yeah, just had so much fun ❤️❤️❤️ thanks for the kind words

[@johnpotter4394]

I really enjoyed this thanks for posting.

[@MKennyPhotos]

I adore how well you articulate yourself, awesome video. totally ate up every word!

[@Alister_Benn]

Wow, thank you! I really appreciate that.

[@TheNeffen]

Very informative and I enjoy your subtle quotes of positivity in the top corner of you LR=) Wishing you a lovely holiday season with loads of love and happiness

[@hillelbrandes1488]

Great video, Alistar! ‘Keep ‘em coming! 😊👍🏻 HNY!

[@dentom1954]

Thank you Alister for another wonderful and inspirational video.

[@Alister_Benn]

You are most welcome ❤️

[@BentRasmussen]

Wow, what a beautiful set of images. Looks like water color on my phone. And cool moves. Also uplifting excitement in this video.

[@Alister_Benn]

We had a lot of fun making this one, really glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@andyjsmith1981]

Another belting inspirational vlog Alistair, loved the picture of the water ripples! Creates an instant feeling of inner calm for me that image! 👍🏻

[@Alister_Benn]

That’s brilliant, really pleased to hear that ❤️

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Nice to see you outside making art ;-)

[@Alister_Benn]

Yeah, it’s been good mate. Of course the weather has turned wild again, so more office work this week.

[@rickgovek2715]

Alister - Loved this video, as expected, and I’m really enjoying the e-book that I bought from you. Thanks for all the great content!

[@Alister_Benn]

Awesome, thank you! really happy too hear you are enjoying all the content, it means a lot...

[@susanfirth2279]

Really enjoyed this vlogg. Great images....can't decide which I liked the best, they were all so good. The abstract of the ripples - the more I looked at it, the more I saw different things/shapes within. I wanted to walk into that river - what a beautiful scene. I also loved the last image of the tree with fog in the background.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so much! 😊 They are all favourites to me for different reasons. Each moment was different, and each image reflects a different side of me. That is the true passion of expressive photography. Acceptance of diversity.

[@MarkRomine]

Oh that first image @ the 3:38 mark, the one that you cropped to remove the lower left hand corner, amazing before the crop. What is happening in the background behind those two trees is gorgeous. I think I would try and work a way to retouch the lower left hand corner so as to not have to crop that image. The last image was stellar too! Great video, loved all the images! I so want to come to Scotland!

[@charlesnewsholme2808]

Wow what a magical location. Lovely images, you certainly have the knack of finding natures more hidden gems. Atb.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks, yes, we live in a beautiful place. Being open and non-judgemental is a great approach to finding things others miss.

[@brianbeattyphotography]

I love using my 100-400 to isolate scenes in the woods and while hiking. Changing my mindset on landscape photography from being heavily wide angle to more balanced made a huge improvement. I always try to at least carry a 70-200 to really come away with great landscape photos

[@Alister_Benn]

I’m the same, after shooting wide for ages I became a real long lens specialist.

[@esanford]

Thanks Alister, that was special. As I go through the challenge, simplification is an important concept of which I must be mindful of.....

[@Alister_Benn]

Wonderful! - I am delighted the video is being so well received.

[@supermix0]

Beautiful Work!!

[@ChrisSmith-gf3ge]

Great vlog Alister, the frosted oak was superb with such a beautiful background.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks for that- much appreciated

[@klaus_s]

Beautiful video as always. Stunning pictures, so I be a bit jealous about your environment/landscape. Hopefully I can travel to Scotland next May. Greetings from🇩🇪😎

[@mickyp3357]

I'm embracing having just found a photographer who sees through eyes similar to mine. As every photo presented in this video reflects the way I see natural beauty also. Thank you ever so much.

[@Alister_Benn]

Brilliant, so delighted to hear that

[@howardrankin7119]

Really strong video, great mixture of in the field and the edit suite. Beautiful message and beautiful imagery

[@Alister_Benn]

Brilliant. Happy it resonated ❤️

[@johnbeattie1225]

Enjoyed these using the long lens. I use the sigma 150-600 for wildlife and often when nothing is about shoot landscape isolated areas , Shows you can pick out images from anywhere if you look 👍

[@melissam731]

Beautiful work and a very helpful tutorial. I love winter photos but can't handle the icy cold temps. Thank you!

[@Alister_Benn]

Lol, yeah the cold can get a bit much 😊

[@garypearson9756]

Wonderful images Alister, especially the oak tree toward the end. I personally liked the warmer rendition, but that's just my opinion, for what it's worth. Very envious, as I am still waiting for the first snowfall here in Minnesota, USA.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks for that lovely feedback ❤️

[@janeberrisford8555]

Stunning images, thank you for sharing

[@Alister_Benn]

Many thanks! I really enjoyed this one.

[@jurigcubluk]

i had always use my wide angle lens before but now most of my pictures are on long lens and its quite fun to isolate the main subject from the background

[@Professor_Internet_PhD]

Great video. Your preference on that final image was on the cooler side (as was mine), but I already knew that because you were shooting it with sunglasses on😜

[@Alister_Benn]

Haha, lol, yes, photosensitive glasses 🤓😎

[@Fessoid]

I love all of these: 4:00 Very Misty! 11:15 Calm & playingfull, joyness. 16:40 Sure Delicate & light! 21:55 Second image in sequence (square one): more colorfull. and final panoramic excellent too. Fulfilness - is what i feel when looking on this arts.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so very much ❤️ really pleased you’ve enjoyed it

[@BucNasty32]

First time seeing your videos and I love it mate. Definitely will subscribe to your channel. Keep up the amazing work and love the tips. I recently bought a 200-600mm for my camera and love the versatility of that lens whether it be landscapes, astro, wildlife etc. I love the detail shots!

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so much ❤️

[@catherinetremerryn]

Wonderful, thank you

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so very much ❤️

[@davidskinner274]

Love your work, closed landscapes, some bordering on abstract are wonderful. Sadly some judges are lacking in the aesthetics and beauty and understanding of this artform, and I do not do well in competition, but their loss, not mine. Thanks for sharing, I am learning a lot and you work is inspiring me to kep going.

[@hubertantoni]

Wow, Your channel is amazing. Fantastic images. A lot of things for inspiration. Another subscribe. Thank you.

[@Alister_Benn]

😀 Thanks so much, I appreciate that

[@amritgurung1473]

Wow, so fantastic episode.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thank you, we are enjoying the process of sharing them.

[@gordonbrunner9429]

...your photos are wonderful..your attitude, amazing...be well

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so very much! 😀

[@MiguelACoronaDM]

New subscriber. Good discussion on expression and meaning in our photography. Looking forward to future videos!

[@Alister_Benn]

Great, you may get some value from surfing past content. I’ve been making videos about expression for a couple of years. Welcome

[@kevinroberts1888]

Just discovered your channel. Good video and beautiful shots! I'm really looking forward to doing some snow-scapes myself when the snow reaches my area.

[@Alister_Benn]

Excellent, a warm welcome 😀

[@samsargdong1135]

Hi,thanks for the interesting video. You have a great visual sensitivity and that's not available to everyone!

[@TiagoNatanael]

I'm new to your channel! Enjoying your landscape photography! Five stars of five!

[@Alister_Benn]

Welcome, I’m really happy to hear that.

[@bunthufood3068]

Waooooo..... It's very nice !

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so very much

[@williamneill8839]

Good show! Got to get over there...

[@Alister_Benn]

We should do a workshop! ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@andyallard5990]

Excellent and beautiful thank you

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so very much

[@SimonWillig]

When I went out somewhere on a trip, I always felt i 'had' to document the trip. Not until recently I realized I was limiting myself that way. Finding and creating order in the chaos is what we do as humans don't we? Thank you again.

[@Alister_Benn]

Many thanks again, I really appreciate all your positive feedback...

[@homeinguelph]

Thanks for this brilliant video. I found it very inspiring...particularly the water shots. I live in a beautiful area of Canada (mainly rolling farmland and forests) but struggle with those epic shots. Lots of leading lines that lead nowhere! I started recently shooting waves in Lake Ontario and am thrilled with what I am getting. Your video inspires me to

[@homeinguelph]

Oops. Inspires me to work more on this type of photography.

[@Alister_Benn]

Lol, leading lives leading nowhere, I have said that so many times on workshops :-)

[@alanm.4298]

Wonderful work... I especially liked the first and final images where you were playing with the fog. I also enjoy using isolation with longer focal lengths, but I have to say that when you were introducing the 3rd image, standing in the middle of the stream and also again in the closing scene, I would have been reaching for a wider lens to capture more of the scene... The converging lines of tree and the banks on either side leading to the sunlit hill and its reflection in the water. I also would have broken one of my own "rules" (more a guideline, I suppose) and made a very symmetrical shot with the sunlit area/reflection very centered. I probably would have moved to one side or the other to make an asymmetrical shot too, but the centered shot just called out to me! I'm not getting to be critical or argumentative, because I definitely see what you were going for, too. However you mention the serendipity of landscape photography and how some things just grab you, and that's what struck me the moment I saw that scene. (It also reminded me that I need to buy a new pair of waterproof boots. ☺) After those wider shots were taken, I may well have switched back to telephoto for more isolated shots like you were doing.

[@Alister_Benn]

Totally valid observation and I agree that we all see and feel the landscape and how it speaks to us. Thanks for the great comment

[@briannicholson2971]

Thank you for another enspiring video and such a beautiful location, love your approach and content , looking at the membership options you have on offer 🙂👍📸

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks Brian, really pleased to read your feedback ❤️ the Expressive Photographers Forum is a fun place to be 😎

[@gillesporlier4828]

a very nice presentation

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks so very much ❤️

[@boardriderz]

Love you videos! They have really allowed me to approach “my own” photography with a new and different perspective.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thank you so very much

[@arthurmorgan5937]

Thank you for the tuition, but since I shall not travel to Scotland the feelings of your environment are more important to me than the specific lessons. The sounds are another stimulus to be appreciated. If you really do not like the noise consider a good quality (expensive) throat microphone.

[@Alister_Benn]

I understand - my main mike didn't record for the final clip, which was why it was different from all the rest.

[@howardallen5390]

I was a tad disappointed this week because when you announced that you were out in the snow, I expected you to be wearing your kilt, obviously, in the traditional way. However, the image at about 3:34 of the trees with the fog didn’t disappoint, super image and thanks for explaining what you liked about it. Ditto with the oak tree. Will we ever see another dark and moody image from you?

[@Alister_Benn]

😂😂😂 I’ll do that next time ❤️ oh you will see dark and moody alright, I’m taking a brief foray into light- hearted ness 😀

[@martinoberstein8431]

Hallo Alister, thanks again for beautiful pictures and Inspiration! I apologize for being that curious but would you reveal where you took the pictures in the river? Could it be it´s river Tay? Extremely beautiful location in winter whereever it is.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks very much. It's not the Tay, but most of Scotland's shallow rivers look like this in the winter. This one is our local river a few minutes from home, and for obvious reasons I don't advertise that :-) Thanks for your understanding.

[@martinoberstein8431]

@@Alister_Benn Thank you Alister - I do understand (though it would take ME two days from Germany to get there😉). I would do the same and was not aware of this risk…

[@nigelroberson8911]

Great work. Do you refer to yourself as an artist or a photographer?

[@Alister_Benn]

These days I consider myself an artist

[@grahambush3226]

Love your work Alister, both the images and your story telling. And I especially love the images produced in this video. One thing about this video I would like to comment on. You spent a good deal of time working on a couple of tight reflection images. You appear to be in a beautiful winter scene. Why would you not concentrate on compositions that captured the winter scene and its unique atmosphere instead of of the tighter images of reflections which showed nothing of the winter scene? Are you often in this kind of winter scene? Each of us marches to a different beat and you certainly have to follow your muse. Anyway, just some thought I wanted to pass along. Thanks again for your unique interpretations.

[@Alister_Benn]

Valid point. I engage with what appeals at the time. I could have shot wider, but would then have missed the intimacy. I think we have to be content in the moment and not feel pressured to do one thing or another. This is the basis of all my teaching. I let the landscape speak to me and this is what I photographed. Thanks for your great comment.

[@grahambush3226]

@@Alister_Benn Completely agree. I indeed could learn from "not feel pressured to do one thing or another".

[@robaire.b]

Very much enjoyed your video Alister. Can I ask what is the image processing software you were using?

[@Alister_Benn]

Hi, thanks for that. I use Lightroom Classic by Adobe for most of my processing

[@robaire.b]

@@Alister_Benn Many thanks

[@markgreensabroad]

Hi, It’s not clear from the information on the Expressive Photography community which platform is used. I’m not on Facebook so was wondering if that or another platform is used? Unfortunately I’m not able to post this on your website. Thanks in advance.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks for the message, the forum is run on Discourse but has been customised.

[@dwrisdon2487]

So it would appear that any wannabe landscape photographer needs a good pair of "wellies" whether they are in Scotland or the US, right?

[@Hankboomer]

hi there, excellent content, as a new subscriber may i suggest a point of improvement ? I wonder if you shouldnt consider moving your thumbnail text higher in order for the visitor to read the text without being blocked by the youtube automatic time mention.

[@Alister_Benn]

Welcome, thanks for the suggestion, I’ll amend that for future content ❤️

[@steveeb9567]

Alister, I like your videos and content but 27 minutes. Really ? Respectfully I suggest you keep them under 10 minutes.