props in landscape

[batch]

I have been trying to think how make shots of landscape a little bit different from what i have done in the past. I started to go through books of landscape paintings from well known artists. One of the things i noticed in a lot of these paintings were people interacting in the landscape scene which gave it a added interest to the scene. There are a LOT of photos of nice landscapes out there but does anyone know of any photographers who use people as props as part of there landscape scene, like the old artists of the past.

[fletch]

There are plenty of good landscape pics that have people in them. Sillhouttes are a good way of including people as they don't distract from the scene.

Including people is a balancing act though, too prominent and the photo becomes a portait with a busy background, to distant and the people become too small and are a distraction rather than a feature.

[batch]

Thanks for your reply Fletch. I think you are right in what you have said, there could be a fine line of a picture being a portrait instead of a landscape. But i think there is something to be learned by looking at how the old masters painted landscapes and us taking photos of landscapes. I haven't found the answer but might try experimenting with my family if i can get them out of bed early enough to get the best light.

[fletch]

The only issue I can see with trying to learn from paintings by the old masters is the issue of style. A lot of the interest in the shot comes not from what the painting is of but how it was painted, whether it be the type of paint or canvas, the realsim or lack of it or the colours used. With photography you don't have that degree of freedom, you do have various processing options such as black and white, cross processing, HDR, etc. but the photo will still be realistic to what is actually there. There is definatley something to be learned but its not as simple as recreating a particular painting.

Give it a go though. No harm in trying and with digital its free. People well placed can really enhnace a landscape. The photo of mine you commented on, on flickr, is one of my favourite landscape shots where the people feature very prominently and without them it wouldn't work as well.

[batch]

I have an imagination, a camera, a reluctant son who hates his photo taken and a loyal obedient dog, I'll see what i can come up with.