Early morning and late evening are the best times to photograph scenic landscapes. The colours are richer and the long shadows can provide some wonderful dramatic effects.

Keep the camera steady. Invest in a tripod if you don’t have one already. Take your time – landscapes change very slowly. Experiment with slower shutter speeds to get more through the lens.

Remember the Rule of Thirds. Frame your shot with the horizon in either the bottom or top third. Having it smack in the middle can look unbalanced. Try and keep the horizon level unless of course you want to make a statement.

Be aware of cloud patterns. They can help emphasise your composition.

Avoid shooting directly into the light. Your pictures will look flat. If that is the only direction available to you don’t include the sky. This will give the cameras metering system a chance to adjust itself correctly.

Feature something in the foreground. An interesting tree or rock formation. This will give a point of focus for the photograph and add perspective to the composition.

Turn your camera to a vertical orientation occasionally. This will add variety to your landscapes.