Online sales of fine art photographs, unique works, and limited edition art prints.
Paul Marnef, contemporary art photographer, creator of the Fine Art series of original photographs: Imaginary Planets.

The Best Landscape Photos – A Guide to Understanding and Appreciating Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is one of the most fascinating disciplines within the art of photography. It allows us to freeze a moment of beauty, reveal the power of nature, or even elevate a seemingly ordinary scene. The best landscape photographs combine a sense of composition, mastery of light, and technical excellence. They can be realistic or poetic, raw or transformed, classic or contemporary. Through my Imaginary Planets series, I reinvent landscape photography to create unique works of art, inspired by real locations photographed in Belgium, Walloon Brabant, and around the world.

What makes a good landscape photograph?

A successful landscape photograph is much more than a beautiful image. It's a photograph that captures the essence of a place and conveys emotion. Several elements are essential for this: good lighting, careful composition, appropriate depth of field, and thoughtful framing.

The rule of thirds is often used to structure the scene. By positioning the horizon or the main subject along the lines of force, the photographer adds dynamism to the image. The choice of shooting time is also crucial. Sunrises and sunsets offer golden light, long shadows, and saturated colors ideal for landscape photography.

Essential Equipment for Landscape Photography

The quality of your equipment plays a crucial role in the success of your landscape photos. Here's the gear I regularly use:

  • A mirrorless camera (I've given up DSLRs) with a full-frame sensor for excellent image quality.
  • A sturdy (yet lightweight) tripod, essential for long exposures or shooting in low light.
  • A range of lenses, from wide-angle, perfect for capturing the vastness of a natural panorama, to telephoto.
  • A polarizing filter, very useful for enhancing contrast and eliminating reflections on water or in the sky.
  • A remote shutter release, or nowadays more often a self-timer, to avoid camera shake.
  • Sometimes, a macro lens for landscape details, such as leaves, stones, or sea foam, and in very rare cases, a fisheye lens.

All these tools allow me to photograph landscapes with precision, while still leaving room for creativity.

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"Towards another world" by Paul Marnef, a surreal photograph of a beach with a gateway in a spherical composition, part of his "
Towards another world
A surreal beach scene with a partially assembled beach cabin named "Pauline" on a miniature sandy planet, part of Paul Marnef's
Pauline
A circular beach scene with weathered wooden breakwaters covered in green moss, part of Paul Marnef's Imaginary Planets series,
Proud!
Whisper of the Waves, a black-and-white fine art photograph by Paul Marnef, capturing the swirling motion of waves in a hypnotic
Knokke
A circular river landscape with a bridge and trees reflecting on calm water, part of Paul Marnef's Imaginary Planets series, ble
Bridge over Calm Water
A spherical landscape of trees reflecting on calm waters, part of Paul Marnef's Imaginary Planets series, capturing the peace an
Serenity
"Garden of Dreams" by Paul Marnef, a surreal photograph of a circular road and trees framed by swirling clouds, part of his "Ima
Garden of Dreams
"Team Building" by Paul Marnef, a surreal photograph of a circular beach with wooden posts, part of his "Imaginary Planets" seri
Team Building
Singularity, a surreal black-and-white fine art photograph by Paul Marnef, depicting a lone tree standing at the edge of a vorte
Singularity
A surreal artwork by Paul Marnef showing a seagull on the sea with swirling skies, part of his Imaginary Planets series.
The Eye of the Sea
Monochrome Alsatian Sphere, a fine art photograph by Paul Marnef capturing the Petite France district in Strasbourg in a surreal
Monochrome Alsatian Sphere
A spherical cityscape with modern buildings reflected in water, part of Paul Marnef's Imaginary Planets series, blending urban r
Thoughtless World
A surreal beach world with a 'No Swimming' sign and a distant cargo ship, part of Paul Marnef's Imaginary Planets series, blendi
Day Cargo
Bridges’ Ballet – a black and white poetic tiny planet view of Strasbourg from Petite France, with bridges and buildings swirlin
Bridges’ Ballet
Two Souls in the Universe, a creation by Paul Marnef from the Imaginary Planets series, showing two silhouettes meeting on a sur
Two Souls in the Universe
The Dance of the Branches, photographic artwork by Paul Marnef, showing bare trees dancing in a perfect circle on a miniature pl
The Dance of the Branches
Kayak and Resonance, a creation by Paul Marnef from the Imaginary Planets series, depicting a lone kayaker peacefully gliding ov
Kayak and Resonance
Artistic photograph "Emerging from the Vortex" by Paul Marnef showing a seagull in flight in a cloudy and geometric swirl, from
Getting out of the Vortex
The Gate of Silences, a surreal miniature planet with a solitary tree, created by Paul Marnef as part of his Planètes Imaginaire
The Gate of Silences
La Grave Forever, a colorful tiny planet photo by Paul Marnef showing the Garonne, La Grave dome, and Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Jacques i
La Grave Forever
Harbor Swirl
Harbor Swirl
A lone kite surfer in a golden sky reflected on calm waters, part of Paul Marnef's Imaginary Planets series, blending serenity a
Zen KiteSurfer
A surreal image by Paul Marnef showing a lone cyclist on a green planet with radiant beams of light, part of his Imaginary Plane
Astral Champion
Folded – fine art photography for sale showing an imaginary planet composed of Elounda beach with closed yellow parasols, sea, s
Folded.
The Soul of the Landscape, a surreal landscape composition by Paul Marnef, depicting a dreamlike vision of nature with a unique
The Soul of the Landscape
Artistic photograph by Paul Marnef showing flip-flops placed on a sandy beach with waves and a tranquil sky.
Flip flops sandals waiting
Eternity of Bonds, a creation by Paul Marnef from the Imaginary Planets series, showing two figures standing close, symbolizing
Eternity of Bonds
A surreal tiny planet image by Belgian photographer Paul Marnef, featuring a woman standing in a field surrounded by sky.
Incognito
'All Arround' by Paul Marnef from the 'Planètes Imaginaires' series, featuring a surreal spherical view of a field and sky.
All Around
"The Guardian of the Prairies," a mesmerizing spherical landscape featuring a lone tree standing tall on a green planet under a
The Guardian of the Prairies
Artistic photo by Paul Marnef showing hay bales in a field with a church tower in the background.
Land of Harvests
A surreal green field with a single winding path under swirling clouds, artwork by Paul Marnef.
Is this path going somewhere
"The Colorado Provençal" by Paul Marnef, surreal digital artwork of a red rock formation on a tiny planet, symbolizing nature's
The Colorado Provençal
"Am I alone on this planet?" A spherical image by Paul Marnef showing a solitary figure walking on a green path in Walloon Braba
Am I alone on this planet ? Walloon Brabant, Belgium
"Alone!" by Paul Marnef, surreal digital artwork of a small brick building on a green planet under a blue sky.
Alone!
"The Sentinel," a spherical composition by Paul Marnef, featuring a lone tree guarding a serene green field.
The Sentinel
"Big and Small" by Paul Marnef, surreal digital artwork of a tiny planet with trees of various sizes under a bright blue sky.
Big and Small
"My Little Cow," a surreal spherical composition of a cow grazing in a circular green pasture, captured by Belgian photographer
My Little Cow
"Hypnotic Countryside" by Paul Marnef, surreal digital artwork of a green field surrounded by trees, creating a hypnotic effect
Hypnotic Countryside
"Almost Tomorrow" by Paul Marnef, surreal digital artwork of a green planet with wind turbines under a bright blue sky, symboliz
Almost Tomorrow
"Breathe" by Paul Marnef, surreal digital artwork of a green planet with wind turbines, symbolizing renewable energy under a bri
Breathe
"Fertile Sphere" by Paul Marnef, a green planet surrounded by a forest, with a water spray symbolizing growth and fertility.
Fertile Sphere
"Baby Lighthouse" by Paul Marnef, a surreal photograph of a red lighthouse on a circular breakwater in a swirling sea, part of h
Baby Lighthouse
"The Geese" by Paul Marnef, a surreal photograph of geese flying over a spherical landscape with bare trees, part of his "Imagin
The Geese
A spherical landscape with bare trees on a vibrant green hill against a swirling blue sky, part of Paul Marnef's Imaginary Plane
Balance
Love Dandelions by Paul Marnef, featuring a poetic representation of a dandelion in vibrant natural tones.
Tribute
"Two Souls, One Line - surreal photograph of two figures connected by the horizon on an aquatic planet by Paul Marnef.
Two Souls, One Line
"Stay, Leave or Return - an evocative and surreal photograph by Paul Marnef, depicting two paddleboarders navigating an expansiv
Stay, Leave or Return
"The Sailboat of the Worlds - poetic photograph of a sailboat on a reflective surreal planet by Paul Marnef."
The Sailboat of the Worlds
Towards the Horizon by Paul Marnef, a stunning image of two paddleboarders exploring the endless ocean, blending serenity with t
Towards the Horizon
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Techniques Used in Landscape Photography

Every landscape photographer develops their own approach. Here are the main techniques I use to create my images:

Depth of Field and Hyperfocal Distance

To achieve perfect sharpness from the foreground to the horizon, I use a large depth of field. This often involves an aperture of f/11 or f/16. Focusing at the hyperfocal distance optimizes sharpness across the entire scene.

Long Exposure

Using a tripod and an ND filter, I take long exposures that transform water into a silky surface or make a cloudy sky more dramatic.

HDR

For high-contrast landscape photos (such as a bright sky and a dark ground), the HDR technique allows me to combine multiple exposures and capture all the nuances.

Post-Processing

After shooting, I use software like Lightroom or Photoshop to adjust the light, contrast, white balance, or apply light retouching. This post-processing work is essential in contemporary landscape photography.

Where to take beautiful landscape photos?

The beauty of a landscape depends less on its fame than on how you look at it. I've taken landscape photos in:

  • Walloon Brabant, particularly around Chaumont-Gistoux, Ottignies, and Villers-la-Ville: gentle countryside, lines of trees, rolling hills, often bathed in soft light.
  • Belgium: the beaches of the North Sea, the Ardennes forests, the banks of the Meuse River, and Brussels parks.
  • Spain: in Catalonia, on the Costa Brava, with coves, rocky outcrops, and shimmering seascapes.
  • France: sunflower fields, the Colorado Provençal, rivers, and luminous panoramas.
  • United States: particularly in Utah and Arizona, with deserts, canyons, and striking red and ochre landscapes.
Each landscape photograph I create is the result of an encounter with a place, a particular light, a suspended moment.

My Landscape Photographs – Between Contemporary Art and Nature

With my Imaginary Planets, I go beyond traditional landscape photography. I start with panoramic or spherical shots (360° x 180°), taken precisely on location, then I transform them to create a circular landscape, a floating tiny planet.

These photographic works tell the story of a parallel world. Reality becomes poetic. A classic landscape photograph becomes a contemporary work of art. The sky encircles the earth. The horizon curves. Everything shifts into a kind of weightlessness.

Some works are very colorful, others more minimalist. Some are in black and white and or piezography to enhance the graphic aspect of the landscape. These photographs offer a new, unexpected perspective on natural landscapes.

Formats, Finishes, and Sales of Landscape Photographs

I offer all my landscape art photographs as fine art prints in various formats, finishes, and framing options:

  • Fine art paper: such as Hahnemühle Metal Rag or Baryta, perfect for a matte or satin texture.
  • Alu Dibond: for a contemporary, lightweight, and durable finish.
  • Plexiglas (Diachrome FineArt Plexiglas): for stunning image depth.
  • Chromaluxe: a glossy and vibrant finish, ideal for vivid colors.
You can choose a small landscape print for a gift, or a large format (up to 120 cm) for an immersive effect indoors. The prints are available framed or unframed, often with a black or white american box. All are limited edition, signed, numbered, and come with a certificate of authenticity.

Conclusion – Why choose a limited edition landscape photograph?

The best landscape photos aren't necessarily those of the most famous places. They're the ones that move us, transport us, and tell a story. A well-executed, well-printed, and well-presented landscape photograph can transform a room, inspire, calm, or make you dream.

  • If you love nature, the beauty of lines, natural colors (although I sometimes heavily manipulate the colors in my photos), or minimalist landscapes, you'll find a piece in my collection that resonates with you.
  • If you're looking for an original landscape print, a contemporary piece, or an artistic creation, I invite you to explore my tiny planets.
  • If you're an art collector, photography enthusiast, interior design professional, or simply someone who appreciates art, I offer unique fine art prints, delivered throughout Europe.

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