Lakeside
Lakeside Photos: Layers, Distance and Room to Breathe
Layers, mountains, space to breathe.
The lakeside shot buys you layers: foreground, water, far shore, mountains, sky. That stacking is what makes a phone photo look like a real photograph, because depth is exactly what phone cameras tend to flatten.
It is also quiet, and quiet is scarce. In a grid of bars and gyms, one calm photo with a lot of air in it is disproportionately memorable.
What to wear
- Layered outdoor clothing with visible depth: a shell over a knit over a collar
- Earth tones, or one strong colour against grey water and blue distance
- Something that looks warm. Lakes read cold, and a t-shirt makes the photo feel wrong
When to shoot it, and the light
Early morning, when the water is still and the far shore is hazy. Wind ruins a lake photo, because the reflection is doing half the work and chop removes it.
The mistake that ruins this shot
Standing in the middle of the frame with the horizon behind your head. Move off-centre and let the water run to one side. A horizon crossing your neck is what makes so many of these look flat.
Where it goes in your profile
Third or fourth. It raises the perceived quality of the whole set even though it is rarely the photo someone messages about.