Travel Photography: Landscapes, Landmarks & Wildlife—Course Preview
Layne KennedyJoin pro photographer Layne Kennedy as he travels to Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota. In this course, Layne Kennedy spends time in these well-known South Dakota locations, explaining as he goes in the sessions about photographing large details in landscapes, capturing unique landscape elements, enhancing colors and creating a panoramic, photographing historical landmarks, animal portrait techniques, photographing large herds, shooting solo animal portraits, and switching your optics.
See all of the videos in our Landscapes, Landmarks & Wildlife Course:
- Landscapes, Landmarks & Wildlife—Course Preview
- Preparing for a Photography Adventure
- Photographing Large Details in Landscapes
- Capturing Unique Landscape Elements
- Enhancing Colors and Creating a Panoramic Image
- Photographing Historic Landmarks
- Animal Portrait Techniques
- Photographing Large Herds
- Shooting Solo Animal Portraits
- Switching Your Optics
Leaving home and hitting the road is probably one of the single most enjoyable things I think shooters can do. One common denominator in landscape, you know, for the most part, is light. It's always light. All right, Sun's coming out a little bit now. I've just changed to another zoom.
This particular zoom is probably my favorite piece of glass, because it's the 14 to 28. Suddenly, a bison just ran across the road, and it was a great opportunity, one, to get a wildlife shot, but mainly he was by himself and he wasn't running away, and it was close to us. And the unique thing is every once in a while, when something like that happens, it wasn't a hill where there was debris or erratics behind him. It was a nice, clean ridge. And so immediately, you know, the concept of silhouette popped out in my mind.
Keeping the mind open to all of the various opportunities that you get is always such a treat. And the wildlife here in Custer was absolutely perfect. Dynamic. Got the park to myself. We're here in early spring, and we were able to nail it.
Watched your video, regarding photographing in Custer State Park. I've photographed in the park for many years and could tell actually where each place you were in the park. I have learnt to be very respectful of the buffalo in the park, watching the video was very concerning of your position of choice to photograph the buffalo and especially the part where you were photographing our state flower the Pasque flower. The buffalo were very close to you in that part. Personally, I always have an escape plan before stepping out of a vehicle to photograph these magnificent creatures. Every year there is one tourist that gets too close to a buffalo and suffer injuries as a result. Google the gal who lost her pants to a buffalo, true story, and one of our ambulances in Custer, SD sport a picture of a buffalo on the side of the ambulance with a pair of pants hanging from its horn. Just saying, always caution, one of the animals I totally do not trust, if they want, they can take you out in seconds. Anyway, happy shooting, and if you are ever in the area would love to show you the park and the many scenic views of our beautiful Black Hills.