What is Considered Landscape Photography?

So, landscape photography.  It’s a staple of a sub-genre in the over-arching category of photography.  We often also consider it a form of fine art photography.  We see landscape photography everywhere.  However, “landscape photography” is a rather broad term.  So, what exactly is considered landscape photography?  Today, we demystify it for you.

Definition of Landscape Photography

Firstly, let’s start with the dictionary definition of landscape photography.  The dictionary is a good place to start when looking for a straight definition of a word or term.

Cramer Imaging's quality landscape photograph of the Palisades reservoir lake at twilight in Idaho
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Landscape photography commonly involves daylight photography of natural features of land, sky and waters, at a distance—though some landscapes may involve subjects in a scenic setting nearby, even close-up, and sometimes at night.

Photography of artificial scenery, such as farm fields, orchards, gardens and architecture, may be considered “landscape” photography as well.  Even the presence of man-made structures (buildings, roads and bridges, etc.) or art (such as sculpture) may be considered “landscape” if presented in artistic settings or appearing (or photographed) in artistic style.

Further, landscape photography is typically of relatively stationary subjects—arguably a form of “still life.”  This tends to simplify the task, as opposed to photography of kinetic or live subjects.  However, landscape photography often overlaps the activity of wildlife photography and the two terms are used somewhat interchangeably; both wildlife and landscapes may be elements of the same picture or body of work.

Cramer Imaging's landscape photograph of windmills or wind turbines in a field at sunset in Ririe, Idaho
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Styles of Landscape Photography

Since our question is what is considered landscape photography, we should also highlight several of the sub-genres falling under the landscape photography heading.  So, we will.  We’ll start off with representational landscape photography.  Then, we’ll progress to impressionistic and finally abstract landscape photography.

Representational

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of the Horseshoe Bend in winter at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
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Representational landscape photography strives to present the viewer with an accurate depiction of the scene in front of the camera.  It is not stylized.  It is not abstracted.  However, the photographer probably enhanced it to better meet his/her vision of the scene rather than what the camera records.  Please remember that what the camera captures is different than what the human eye sees.

Impressionistic

Cramer Imaging's fine art photograph of two hot air balloons taking flight in Panguitch Utah over a farm field and mountains

Impressionistic landscape photography seeks to present the viewer with a particular mood when viewing the photo.  You may find colors altered to be brighter or more muted for example.  It is still somewhat representational of the scene but takes some liberties with the captured scene in order to create the mood the photographer wants to convey with the photo.

Abstract

Cramer Imaging's professional quality fine art photograph of colored water and foam dripping in sheets in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho

You might easily confuse abstract landscape photography with abstract photography if you don’t know what you’re looking at.  Abstract landscape photography uses a landscape but completely loses any representational elements in favor of abstracting to a mood.  You may recognize that an abstract landscape photo is a landscape photo or you may not.  It’s all abstract.

Sub-Genres of Landscape Photography

In addition to the above, there are several sub-genres in the landscape photography header.  They can use any of the styles listed above.  To make things easy, I’m including a photo example of each kind of landscape photography sub-genre I have in my portfolio.

Urban Landscape Photography

Cramer Imaging's professional quality fine art photograph of aerial view of Eastern Idaho State Fair carnival in Blackfoot, Bingham, Idaho at sunset
Urban landscape photography includes buildings and other elements you would expect to see in a major city presented in a wide scene.

Skyscape Photography

Cramer Imaging's professional quality nature cloudscape photograph of a colorful sunset lighting up clouds
Skyscapes heavily feature interesting skies are a common landscape photography subject.

Rural Landscape Photography

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of the sun rising over a green and flowering potato field in Aberdeen, Idaho
Rural and agricultural (or farming) settings are a common landscape photography subject.

Traditional Landscape Scene

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of the sun rising over Bryce Canyon National Park Utah on the summer solstice
The most commonly known landscape photography is a wild scene or natural feature shot at a distance.  Buy Prints

Seascape Photography

Cramer Imaging's quality black and white landscape photograph of the Pacific Ocean under the San Diego California pier
Seascapes are a common landscape photography subject.  Buy Prints

Astrophotography

Cramer Imaging's fine art astrophotography photograph of the Milky Way in the night sky with clouds and light painted trees
Astrophotography, including star trails, is a common sub-genre of landscape photography.

Panorama Photography

Cramer Imaging's professional quality landscape panorama photograph of the sky and moon reflecting in Henry's Lake at dawn with blue and golden hours

Common Landscape Photography Subjects

The amount of subjects for landscape photography is as wide and numerous as the kinds of landscape available for photographing.  Here I’ve tried to list off the main subjects you will see in common landscape photography.

Forests/Jungles/Trees

Cramer Imaging's landscape photograph of a quaking aspen grove of trees near Alta, Wyoming with a sunburst or sun star

Canyons

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a slot canyon with a tree at the end in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

Mountains

Fine art landscape photograph of Teton mountain range of Grand Teton National Park Wyoming and Snake River flood plane by Cramer Imaging

Clouds

Cramer Imaging's professional quality landscape photograph of a farm field and equipment with colorful clouds in Rexburg, Madison, Idaho
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Rivers/Streams

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a moody summer evening view of the Virgin River and Watchmen peak at Zion National Park Utah
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Cliffs

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of Inspiration Point at sunrise or dawn at Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
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Lakes

Cramer Imaging's quality landscape photograph of the tranquil waters of Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park Wyoming
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Deserts

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of sunset over a sand dune at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park Utah

Rock Formations

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a cotton candy pink sunset behind Delicate Arch at Arches National Park, Utah
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Flowers

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of the Teton mountains with wild sunflowers in front at sunset in Wyoming

Waterfalls

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape black and white or monochromatic photograph of a waterfall cascading down in Twin Falls Idaho
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The Ocean

Cramer Imaging's quality black and white landscape photograph of the Pacific Ocean under the San Diego California pier
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Winter Wonderland

Cramer Imaging's professional nature landscape photograph of a blue toned solitary tree standing against the snow in Pocatello, Bannock, Idaho

Geysers

Cramer Imaging's black and white landscape photograph of Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
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Aurora Borealis or Australus

Audrey Cramer Photography's fine art landscape photograph of an Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights appearing in the night sky above Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
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Volcanoes/Lava

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of lone pine tree on a barren lava plain dappled with wildflowers at Craters of the Moon National Monument Idaho

Other common landscape photography subjects also include icebergs, grasslands, lightning, tornadoes, islands, and more.  However, I don’t currently have these kinds of photos currently or I would be showing them.

Other Elements of a Landscape Photograph

Now we’re on to the next natural point of discussion in what is considered landscape photography.  This topic is what elements may a photographer include in a landscape photograph and it still be a landscape photograph.  Here, we’re displaying several examples of elements you may find included in landscape photography.

Animals

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of horses grazing in a field against the Teton Mountains of Wyoming
Animals can be included in landscape photography.  Buy Prints

Rainbows

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a broken rainbow with light streaks against moody storm clouds over a field in Panguitch, Utah
Rainbows, when conditions are right for them to appear, are favorite additions to landscape photography.  Buy Prints

Weather and Seasons

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of Snow covering Thor's Hammer hoodoo, a tree, and Bryce Canyon National Park Utah and mist
Weather and season can add interest to landscape photography. Buy Prints

Tighter Views

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a waterfall cascading down onto rocks with moss and plants in Twin Falls Idaho
A tighter scene can be a landscape photo too.  Buy Prints

Man-Made Objects

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of Kanarra Falls near Kanarraville Utah with silky water and the ladder
Buildings and other man-made objects can be included in landscape photography.  Buy Prints

Celestial Bodies

Audrey Cramer Photography's fine art landscape photograph of the Milky Way and the C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet over a slightly snowy Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah
The sun, moon, Milky Way, and other celestial bodies (including eclipses) are often included in landscape photos. Buy Prints

Silhouettes

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a fiery golden sunset peaking out from a hole in clouds with Utah trees in silhouette
Silhouettes are common in landscape photography containing lakes and other reflective bodies of water.  But they may be used in other ways too.

Fireworks

Cramer Imaging's fine art photograph of three fireworks in the night sky on the 4th of July
Fireworks, when in season, are added to urban landscape photos.

Conclusion

In conclusion, what is considered landscape photography is a wide and diverse range of subjects.  It can include a wild, rural, or urban scene.  It can be day or night in a landscape photo.  You’ll also find man-made elements and animals common in landscape photography.  It is a wider and relatively stationary scene which the photographer captures.

I actually found it difficult to try and define “landscape photography” for myself.  I found that it’s more of “I know it when I see it” kind of situation.  Still, I hope this helps you better understand what is considered landscape photography.  Perhaps now, you’ll better recognize it when you see it.