Photographing the sunset at the Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park in USA.

What is the hardest part about landscape photography? Is it composition? Depth of field? Having the most expansive equipment?

I think not.

I believe that the hardest thing about landscape photography, is “getting there”.

Think about it.

Having the best camera gear is not going to help you if you’re not on location. You can be a self-proclaimed “professor” of photographic knowledge but you ain’t worth a paper clip if you’re not at the right place during sunset.

Photographers queuing up at Maroon Bells, Colorado for the iconic Maroon Bells sunrise shot.

And if you’re like me, getting out of bed in the wee hours of the morning before sun rise isn't easy either.

You have to GET THERE. I don’t care if you only got an iPhone or you’re just there to take a photo “in your mind”. As long as you’re there, you’ve won half the battle.

After you’ve taken your shot, even if your composition could be better, or your highlights are blown, at least you have a shot.

If you’re not there, you don’t even have a shot. (Maybe you got better sleep though.)

So how do we “get there”?

For starters, make it as easy as possible to depart for your shoot location ahead of time. If you know you have to wake up at 4AM for that sunrise shot, don’t plan to pack your equipment when you get out of bed. Do it the night before.

Photography gear for a recent trip to Bali. Nikon D850, 70-200 F2.8, 16-35 F4 & 24-70 F2.8, tripod, remotes, panoramic kit.

Make it easy to “get there”.

You must be well prepared for the journey ahead and familiar with the area you’re going to.

Nobody likes to fumble around in the darkness looking for the right spot.

There’s couple of apps that I personally use to help me out in this regard.

ShotHotSpot helps me find and plan the best locations for photography.

I personally consider TPE to be essential for landscape photography. It tells you where and when the sun will set and rise, amongst a host of other awesome features.

Screenshot of The Photographer’s Ephemeris

Here’s a tip for you sun chasers out there. When you’re in a country that’s not near to the equator, the sun moves more diagonally instead of in a straight line. That means you get more golden light time overseas than in Singapore. One good example is Alaska, during winter when the sun is up for only a few hours each day, you’ll see that the sun travels near the horizon most of the time.

Sun rising over Chena Lakes, Alaska during winter. Photographed in 2012.

Where’s your next big landscape photography outing? Let me know your thoughts.

The Hardest Part About Landscape Photography Isn't What You'd Expect

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