Insider Secret #1 - Professional Fine Art Landscape Photography Revealed

Learn How to Take Your Photography to a Whole New Level by Learning What Professional Photographs Do that Most Photographers Do Not Do

About a year ago I had a professional photographer friend over for dinner. That night I showed him some of my photographs and asked him for his input. What he shared with me that night ended up taking my inspirational photography and fine art landscapes to a whole new level, and I would now like to share that wisdom with you.

Key #1 – Learn how to properly and creatively “crop” your photographs.

For decades, the standard photograph sizes have been 3 x 5, 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, 11 x 14, 16 x 20, etc. In the old days, you would take your negatives to a shop and choose which sizes you wanted. You had the choice of various sizes, but you never really had the choice to change the dimensions and proportions of the sizes. In other words, if you had a nice wide landscape, you couldn’t crop out some of the top and bottom and get a print with an unconventional size such as 14 x 5. The point here is this: those old traditional sizes and proportions have been limiting your creativity of expression as an artist.

It’s time for you to start cropping your photographs differently and in such a way as to maximize your creative expression of the scenes in your photographs. For example, when my friend looked at one of my photos of a beautiful harbor in Maine, he suggested that I crop out a lot of the somewhat boring sky, as well as some of the uninteresting foreground. He taught me that these areas are often wasted space because they contain elements that are uninteresting and that do not add to the overall composition of the photograph. He was right!

That very night after my friend left, I jumped on my laptop and started immediately re-cropping a lot of my nature landscapes. I couldn’t believe what a shocking difference it made. What had been a good photograph suddenly became a great photograph because the dynamics of the composition had changed to be more artistic and creative. Now, a year later, I automatically crop all of my photographs in this more free and creative way, and I have never looked back at the traditional dimensions and proportions.

One challenge I have had to learn to overcome has to do with framing my newly cropped photographs. As you can imagine, the standard pre-made frames do not match the dimensions of my creative photographs. I have found two solutions to this problem. The first solution is to simply have custom mats and frames made to match the dimensions of my creatively cropped photographs. This is quite a bit more expensive than using the old standard sized pre-made frames, but it is worth it when you’ve got a great photograph. The second solution is to create an electronic mat in Adobe Photoshop that fits the standard dimensions. In other words, if your image is 12 x 6, then you can create a 14 x 11 mat by adding one inch to the top and bottom and 2.5 inches to the left and right sides.

I encourage you to start cropping your photographs from now on from an artistic creative perspective rather than staying confined to the limitations of the traditional dimensions. Start applying this professional photographer's insider secret to your photography.

Inspirational Photography and Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Christian Friberg

Peeking Out - Inspirational Photography & Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Christian Friberg

I took this inspirational photography image at the base of Stone Mountain in Wilkes County, North Carolina. There is a historic homestead there made of wood, mud, and stones. This isn't quite a fine art landscape, but it does capture the high quality natural materials that were used to build this homestead. The child peeking out of the window communicates to me a curiosity towards the outside world and the beauty that lies beyond that window; i.e. Stone Mountain and the state park that now encompasses it. It's truly a beautiful place to go hiking, fishing, bird watching, and camping.

Mountain Solitude - Inspirational Photography & Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Christian Friberg

I've always loved fog in the mountains and by the seashore. When I saw how foggy it was a few mornings ago on my way to work in Boone, I decided to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to see what I could find. I came upon this scene and just knew I had to capture it and share it with the world, so here it is for you to enjoy and be inspired by.

Inspirational photography and fine art landscapes by Josiah Christian Friberg.

Thanksgiving - Inspirational Photography and Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Christian Friberg

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ON THIS SPECIAL HOLIDAY!

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His lovingkindness endures forever."

I hope this inspirational photography image and fine art landscape inspires you to give thanks to God for all of the blessings He has given to you. This is a special time to "count your many blessings, and name them one by one," as the old hymn says.

This fine art landscape of the autumn leaves and an old fence was taken at the base of Stone Mountain in Stone Mountain State Park, North Carolina.

inspirational photography by Josiah Christian Friberg of Moravian Falls, North Carolina

Blessed Children - Inspirational Photography & Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Christian Friberg

I am so thankful to God and my wife for my precious children. Here are my two youngest out for a walk in the fresh autumn air up on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. I ran ahead of them, set up my tripod, and then waited for them to come around the corner. I wanted to get an action shot because I'm getting tired of posed photos. I was happy with the result as they came walking around the corner hand-in-hand with their beautiful mother. You may have heard the hymn, "Count your many blessings, name them one by one." Well, here are three of my biggest blessings, with one missing. I hope this inspirational photography image and fine art landscape inspires you to count your many blessings and to name them one by one.

Inspirational photography and fine art landscapes by Josiah Christian Friberg of Moravian Falls, North Carolina.

Flaming Forest - Inspirational Photography and Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Friberg

While driving around the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in the fall, there's one song that continually comes to my mind. Actually, it's an ancient hymn that most of us are familiar with. It's called, "How Great Thou Art." Each verse ends with the chorus, "Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art!" These are the words that rise in my soul when I survey the awesome beauty of God's creation and all of the flaming colors of the autumn landscape.

When I first saw the above scene, the brilliantly colored trees seemed to be so alive and flaming in all their beauty. I hope that this fine art landscape and inspirational photography image sparks a sense of wonder and awe in your heart at the glorious beauty of God's unfolding autumn artwork. This photograph was taken at the base of Grandfather Mountain, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, about 5 miles southwest of Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Morning Frost - Inspirational Photography & Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Friberg

I just love the autumn more than any other season. There's something very precious about all of the leaves changing such brilliant colors, the cold windy days, and the early morning frost that covers the grass and plants. I took this inspirational photography image of a frost covered plant up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. My goal is to help others see the awesome beauty and splendor in God's creation through my fine art landscapes. I hope viewing this photograph inspires a new sense of wonder in your heart towards your Creator and towards His awesome creation. God bless you!

Grandfather Mountain Bridge - Inspirational Photography and Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Friberg

This is a different view of Grandfather Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway that shows the famous high suspension bridge at the very top. I took this photograph from about 5 miles southwest of Blowing Rock, North Carolina. I hope that this fine art landscape and inspirational photography image sparks a sense of awe and wonder at the absolute beauty of God's creation in it's full autumn colors. May God bless you through this photograph.

Autumn Pine Needles - Inspirational Photography & Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Friberg

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven."

This close up autumn inspirational photography image was taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway about two miles southwest of Deep Gap, North Carolina. This fine art landscape speaks to me about the beauty of God's creation and about the life and death cycle that is such a part of nature and the changing of the seasons. To me, autumn is the end of one season with all of its glorious colors, and the reminder that death will be followed by resurrection life in the spring.

Autumn Parkway - Inspirational Photography & Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Friberg

This inspirational photography image was taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway about two miles southwest of Deep Gap, North Carolina. This fine art landscape speaks to me about the beauty of God's creation and how He uses fog to paint an impressionistic masterpiece. I love being in fog up in the mountains when you can't tell if you're in the clouds or just in fog. I hope this autumn photograph inspires you to go for a long walk in the fog and to enjoy the fresh outdoor fall air and brilliant colors.

Autumn Solitude - Inspirational Photography and Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Friberg

"Solitude is good for the soul."

This inspirational photography image of a kayak crossing Price Lake was taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway about three miles southwest of Blowing Rock, North Carolina. I hope this fine art landscape inspires you to get out into nature and enjoy the solitude that awaits you. I just love the autumn with all of the brilliant colors, and there's no better time to get alone and enjoy the scenic and panoramic beauty. Taken by Josiah Friberg of the Blue Ridge Photographic Society of North Carolina. P.S. This was the winning photograph in our monthly Blue Ridge Photographic Society photography contest on the theme of "autumn."

Grandfather Mountain - Inspirational Photography & Christian Fine Art Landscapes by Josiah Friberg

This inspirational photography image of Grandfather Mountain was taken up on the Blue Ridge Parkway, about 10 miles southwest of Blowing Rock, North Carolina. I hope this Christian fine art landscape inspires you and causes you to experience a sense of wonder at the beauty of God's autumn artwork. I was so blessed to be up on the mountain with my family on the peak weekend in October 2007. The views of the fall foliage were spectacular! Taken by Blue Ridge Photographic Society photographer, Josiah Friberg, of Moravian Falls, North Carolina.