How to use Texture Effectively in Landscape Photography

Texture is an element that occurs naturally in a landscape setting, so it's easily incorporated into the composition of a photo. Texture can be found in clouds, landscape elements like mountains or sea stacks, trees, shrubbery, ice, water, rocks, and sand. 

Impactful use of texture in a photo can help bring a photo to life and create a more life-like, almost touchable visual scene that is more relatable to those viewing your image. 

There are many ways in which a photographer can use texture effectively in a landscape setting to increase the overall visual impact of an image. Here are a few ways you can think about using natural texture to enhance the visual strength of your photos. 

1. Infuse contrast

Contrast in texture, such as smooth flowing water against a rugged and rocky landscape, can add visual interest and depth, creating a more compelling photo. Look for opportunities in a landscape setting to combine smooth and textured contrasting combinations. This variation in contrasting texture can often be created through the use of longer exposures in moving elements like clouds and water.

 ISO 31, 16.5 mm, f13, 1/13 sec

2. Look for complimentary textures

A second way a photographer can use texture effectively in a landscape photo is to look for complementary textures. Complimentary visual scenes feel cohesive and comfortable. In the example image below, I found myself drawn to the texture in the foreground and the complimentary texture in the sky. I purposely left the cloud texture instead of using a long exposure because I enjoyed the opportunity to capture complimentary textures in the foreground and sky. There's a mirrored visual look in the textures throughout this image.   

ISO 64, 15mm, f6.3, 1/25 sec

3. Use texture or lack of texture to help tell a story

Visual storytelling in landscape photography is a topic in and of itself; however, using texture in a photo can help tell the story about the photographer's experience in the setting. When capturing an image, think about how texture or removal of texture, like in a long exposure, can help tell a story about what you are seeing and experiencing while you are capturing your photo. For example, in the image below, I wanted to enhance the feeling of peace and calm over time, so I created a long exposure smoothing out the clouds in the sky. 

ISO 100, 16mm, f13, 123 seconds

Next time you are out in nature, consider how you can use texture effectively in your photos for maximum visual impact.