The essential guide to mountain photography

Basic techniques for mountain photography

Let’s start with the basics. When photographing in the mountains, you absolutely need to pay attention to composition. For example, use the rule of thirds to give your images balance, placing the mountains along the guide lines and the most interesting rock formations at the points of intersection.

Make sure your framing has a good balance between sky and الأرض to prevent one from overpowering the other.

Watch the light — experts’ advice

Anyone who knows photography will tell you to pay close attention to the light — mountain environments can present extremely variable lighting conditions.

Sunrise and sunset offer the softest and most colourful light, making them ideal for emotional photographs with strong dramatic impact. And here’s one tip: don’t forget to use a polarising filter to reduce glare and increase the saturation of the sky and green foliage in your photos.

And if the lighting conditions are really terrible — for example under a bright sky — remember that HDR mode is on your side!

How to photograph sunrise in the mountains

Capturing sunrise in the mountains takes dedication and a bit of planning. Wake up early and find a high spot that gives you a clear view of the eastern horizon. Fortunately, most modern smartphones have dedicated modes for low-light photography that are perfect for sunrise shots. As mentioned earlier, turn on HDR mode — High Dynamic Range — to make sure your phone can capture both the areas lit by the first sunlight and those still in shadow without losing detail.

Then do your best to keep your phone as steady as possible, and if you can, use a tripod to avoid blurry photos. Finally, be creative: there are endless angles and shooting possibilities to experiment with!

Photographing the stars and the magic of the night

Night photography in the mountains offers spectacular views of star-filled skies, free from the light pollution of the city. The perfect opportunity to photograph a starry sky!

For stellar shots, use a long exposure, a stable tripod, and an app to track the moon phases so you can plan the best moment for your photos.

⭐️ BONUS: your smartphone is incredibly powerful — did you know you can even use it to photograph the Northern Lights?

A few tips on equipment

When heading into the mountains, it pays to be well equipped, and investing in good gear can make all the difference. Alongside a sturdy tripod and a few filters, consider getting wide-angle lenses to capture vast mountain landscapes. And don’t forget a good waterproof, shock-resistant case to protect your smartphone or camera from the elements.

Now that everything is ready for your next high-altitude photography adventure, it might be useful to know that you can turn the phenomenal photos you’re about to take into fun sticker collectibles. Discover our themed albums.