Nature Photography How To

Landscape photographers walk a fine line when heading into the great outdoors, when it comes choosing the gear to pack. On the one hand, it’s important to be prepared for whatever you encounter. Conversely, it’s nice to minimize your load, especially if you plan a long hike.

In addition to a camera, most of us carry a tripod, several accessories, and a selection of glass. But how many lenses do you really need to pack for shooting epic nature and landscape photos? The video below helps answer that question.

Mads Peter Iversen is a Dutch pro known for evocative, minimalist landscape images. He’s also popular among Shutterbug readers for his inspirational and easy-to-follow tutorials. In the video below he explains that he often carries an entire arsenal of lenses, and why you should carry at least three.

As you’ll see in this behind-the-scenes sunrise adventure, not only did Iversen find a beautiful scene to photograph, but he also had to deal with swarming flies, midges, and mosquitos—hence the hooded jacket he wore even though the day was warm. He begins shooting with a 12-24mm wide-angle zoom, as he moves in close to a rock formation while including blooming heather in the foreground and a big moody sky in the background.

As the shoot continues, Iversen demonstrates the other lenses he considers essential for capturing a varied selection of images. He provides helpful tips on composition, depth-of-field, camera settings and more. So watch the video, pack your bag carefully, and don’t forget to bring a jacket even if the weather is warm and clear.

After watching the video, head over to Iversen’s YouTube channel for more helpful tips. And be sure to check out another video of his we posted recently, explaining why a telephoto lens is often better for landscape photography than a wide-angle lens.