Product photographers finesse sets and arrange props. Portrait photographers pose models and shape light. Even street photographers play among buzzing urban scenes.
Yet for landscape photographers, the natural world is largely a fixed entity. The most dynamic variable? Planning (or waiting) for dramatic weather.
But that’s far from the full picture. Because creativity, in many pursuits, is a matter of perspective—and perception. And landscape photography can be deeply creative. Plus, when we cultivate and embrace a sense of possibility, it’s much more rewarding too.
So let’s begin by looking at the concept itself—and then explore how you can apply and amplify creativity in your own craft.
What exactly is creativity?
Consider this: Creativity owes as much to how we experience the world as it does to generating fresh ideas.
I encourage you to sit with that concept for a moment. Because it expands the traditional view of what creativity is or involves. Creativity is inextricably linked to how we move through and make sense of the world.
So here’s how we might codify a creative mind. It remains open to the threads of experience flowing around us. It makes connections (both familiar and fresh) to our vast vault of memory and mastery. It perceives projects, problems and works-in-progress as they are now—while considering the possibilities of what might be.
That’s all fine in theory. But when applied in photography, creativity is understandably a more opaque concept. There is no set equation to nurturing or summoning creativity. If there was, and the process was predictable and repeatable, then it would fast become cliche.
At its core, creativity is a way of being. It can’t be formulated, but it can be felt.
My creative journey in photography
This article wasn’t going to be a self-reflective piece. But it may be helpful to share a few thoughts on my development in the hope some perspectives may resonate with you too.
For a long time, I didn’t think of myself as an artist. Far from it. Logic and reason were my default modes.
So when I began to pursue photography, I started by studying the relationship between shutter speed, aperture and ISO. I memorised the rule of thirds to align the horizon 33.3% down the frame.
Yet as I became more competent and confident in my understanding of the craft, a subtle change occurred. Technical considerations, gear details and established rules receded into the background. Once-effortful decisions, like which aperture would be appropriate, were far less deliberate.
Once we gain a foundational understanding of established processes, two traits become more prominent which help to amplify our creative potential.
One, we begin to operate on autopilot. We allocate less conscious attention to how we produce the work—and focus more fully on pursuing sparks of inspiration as they arise and grow.
Two, we begin to go beyond proven principles. We back ourselves as we stray away from the safe, familiar concepts that came before. We’re free to follow our vision and express our point of view—damn the critics.
Firm in our grasp of photography, we can give more space to intuition and feel. The process becomes less organised and more organic.
How to nurture creativity in landscape photography
Practise the art of presence: Meditation isn’t for me. I can’t focus that intently. But I’ve come to appreciate the power of being more present and bringing fewer preconceived expectations. It’s freeing to welcome and accept each environment as it is. So after you hike to a new location, let your senses soak up the space you’re in—before taking out your camera.
Gather seeds of inspiration—and then experiment: Once you’re openly perceiving the world around you, start to accumulate seeds of possibility. (Perhaps some geological features that balance each other, a pleasant repetition of patterns or some soft side light that adds shape and form.) Then, follow those seeds to see where they lead. Wander playfully down that path of discovery. Don’t seek to edit or perfect just yet—simply tinker with what’s possible.
Give yourself permission to fail: When we pursue or produce something new, there’s every chance that fresh concepts will fall flat or wither into mediocrity. Or, just maybe, taking a leap of faith to follow a ‘what if’ idea may blossom into something bold and beautiful. One that you can then prune and polish into the truest expression of your vision.
Bend and break rules that impose limitations: Tried techniques and set norms will speed up your craft. But those shortcuts will also blind you to meandering detours that may be even more bountiful. So back yourself to rebel against standard protocol from time to time. Take a 35mm prime lens to a grand vista location. (One of my favourite images is a tight telephoto seascape with no waves or colourful sky in sight.) Go on a forest hike, but don’t photograph a single tree—focus on leaf litter, bark details or canopy patterns.
Creativity is inextricably linked to awareness, connection and possibility. So collect ideas about what challenges and sparks of brilliance have come before. Notice what’s around you from moment to moment. And remain open to what could still be.
In photography, being creative is far from prescriptive. Because it’s not about replicable end products—it’s the ineffable process that swept you there. To paraphrase Rick Rubin, creativity is about nurturing a way of being that allows space for magic to enter.