The Art of Exclusion

Professional landscape and nature photographer Ian Plant discusses using a telephoto lens to exclude extraneous visual elements and simplify compositions, which he calls the “art of exclusion.”

He also talks about using a wide-angle lens, which requires mastery of the “art of inclusion,” where the photographer must find a way to successfully work with more visual elements and complex scenes. Ian demonstrates how he uses his 70-200mm short telephoto lens to simplify complex compositions and to zoom in on distant landscape details and patterns. Ian also discusses how light reveals textures of the landscape.

See all videos in our Photographing the Badlands Course:

Photographing the Badlands – Course Preview
Photographing the Badlands: Course Introduction
The Best Lens for Landscape Photography
Photo Scouting in Landscape Photography
Advanced Scouting in the Badlands
Assessing Your Scene
Working the Scene to Get the Best Shot
The Importance of Clouds in Landscape Photography
Photographing a Sunrise Landscape
Lighting Direction for Your Photos
Midday Photography Light
Photographing a Sunset in the Badlands
This video: The Art of Exclusion
Identifying a Visual Anchor for Your Shot
Photographing Rain and Lightning in the Badlands
Using Leading Lines to Create Compelling Landscape Compositions
Photographing the Badlands: Wrap-Up