How to Take a Scenic Picture

Set your camera to aperture priority mode by turning the settings dial to "AP." The settings dial is usually located on top of the camera. Turn the aperture ring located on the back end of your lens to set your aperture to a small setting ,such as f16 or higher. (Remember, the higher the f-number, the smaller the aperture.) This will give your photographs a deep focal length so that the background is in focus as well as the foreground. Aperture priority mode is a semi-manual mode. You set your aperture and the camera will set the appropriate shutter speed.

Attach your camera to the tripod in your desired location, then attach the shutter release cable to your camera. On most SLR cameras, the shutter release cable screws into the shutter release button. If you are using a DSLR, there will be a plug outlet on the front of the camera near the lens to plug in the shutter release cable. This will help eliminate camera shake and blur when taking the photograph.

Look through the viewfinder and set up the composition of your photograph. Assure that the scenery takes up the entire frame. Keep the one-third rule in mind when framing the view: Your photograph should consist of three different but equal parts: one-third water, one-third, mountains and one-third clouds. Focus on the scene using either manual or auto-focus.

Press the button on your shutter release cable to expose your scenic photograph.