How to create amazing landscape images!

[Shannon]

How to get awesome landscape shots:

1. Always use a good sturdy tripod. The sturdier the better.
2. Always the lowest ISO your camera can give you.
3. Always shoot using F/22, and in Manual mode.
4. Focus 1/3rd of the way into the scene, turn off the auto-focus on the lens, and then recompose.
5. Always use spot metering.
6. Never try to take a shot that exceeds the dynamic range of the camera's sensor. In other words, if the highlights are greater than +2 stops from medium gray, and/or the lowlights are more than -2 stops... wait for better lighting.
7. Compose the scene carefully, and consider EVERYTHING in your viewfinder carefully BEFORE firing the shutter.
8. Use mirror lock-up whenever you can.
9. When focusing, always use autofocus, and always tap the focus button until the camera stops trying to adjust focus when you do.
10. Always use either a cable release, or the 10 second timer.
11. Always shoot RAW, or RAW + Large/Fine JPEG.
12. Do what it takes to get where the best light and vantage point are for the shot you desire. Including waking up at 5 am and hiking miles in the cold.
13. Always use your lens's lens shade.

If you follow these steps... you almost can't go wrong.