Landscape photography is often synonymous with serene mountains, valleys, and seascapes. Gear-wise, we often associate it with wide-angle lenses. However, William Patino makes an unexpected lens choice for his photos. With a 100-400mm lens, he captures “portraits” of waves and mountains, and in his latest video, he shares some behind-the-scenes footage and useful tips for capturing these unique landscapes.
“There’s nothing like a good mountain portrait using a telephoto lens,” says William. “Well, the same principle applies to the sea. We can use a telephoto to zoom in and capture a portrait of the ocean, just like we would a mountain.” This approach allows you to isolate specific elements and create dramatic, intimate compositions.
Gear and technique
As I mentioned, William relies heavily on his 100-400mm lens. When it comes to shooting, William adopts a rapid-fire approach for these ever-changing waves. “You shoot a lot of frames in these types of scenarios,” he says. “It’s almost like wildlife photography.” He’s on the lookout for abstract shapes, textures, and details rather than perfectly formed waves. After all, this is precisely what photographing them with a telephoto lens gives you.
There’s also a matter of safety. The ocean can be unpredictable, and taking a step back and shooting with a long lens makes sure that you’re far enough from the waves.
Post-processing and selection
After shooting, William faces the daunting task of sifting through hundreds of images. However, he says that his selection process is rigorous. He’s used to running through photos quite quickly, looking for “any composition or shape that just obviously stands out from the rest.”
Once he’s narrowed down the selection, William moves on to post-processing. He emphasizes the importance of contrast and tonal range in bringing out the drama of the ocean. “Let’s create some contrast essentially,” he says. “If you look at the histogram it’s one big midtone there’s no darks there’s no brights.” By adjusting contrast and midtone contrast, he can transform a flat image into a more visually striking one.
Make sure to watch the video for complete insight and more detailed tips—and to pick up some of William’s contagious enthusiasm for seascapes!
[Seascape Photography With The 100-400mm Lens via FStoppers]
