For CNNGo: Shanghai

It is hard to understate the allure of China’s most famous mountain. According to the Chinese saying “五岳归来不看山，黄山归来不看岳,” after Huangshan there is little need to visit another mountain. The UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its towering granite peaks, pine forests, hot springs and ‘cloud seas.’ Since the Tang Dynasty, the mountain has been immortalized in art, literature and religion, for instance the mountain and water style (山水) paintings of the 16th century. With such a rich history, photographing the mountain can be an intimidating experience for the casual visitor, so I offer some tips for bringing home a better album from the famous mountain.

Huangshan - mountains and plants, foreground and background

The Rules of Photography : Foreground and Background

Huangshan is not a single mountain but really a whole range of mountains with several peaks reaching more than 1800 meters above sea level. It can be hard to communicate in a photo the sense of scale and grandeur that the peaks inspire in person. One way is to use foreground elements, such as flowers and people, to introduce a sense of scale into the picture. In this photo, the branches and flowers in the foreground provide a contrast with the ranges of mountains extending into the background.

The Rules of Photography: The rule of thirds, repetition and leading lines

One of the basic principals of photography is the rule of thirds. If the photo was divided into nine equal parts with two horizontal and two vertical lines, the focal point (or the main point of interest) should fall on one of the four points where the lines cross. Here, the face of the closest porter is located, approximately, at the lower right third.
Other ways to make photos interesting are to use repetitive elements, such as these two similarly dressed porters, and leading lines, like the line of stairs to draw the viewer through the frame.

Use the light

Huangshan is famed for its ‘cloud seas,’ which surround the peaks creating islands from mountains. By exposing for the sky, a photographer can throw the peaks into darkness, silhouetting the mountains and creating a dramatic image of the clouds.

Show the crowds

While, most often, photographers want to replicate the ancient Chinese paintings, portraying a peaceful and serene scene, crowds are an integral part of the tourist experience. Popular landmarks, such as Welcoming Guest Pine, can be just as crowded as the Shanghai metro at rush hour and it is important to preserve this part of the Huangshan experience as part of your photographic memory.

Look for textures and details

It is tempting to always be looking toward the heavens, but sometimes interesting photos can be found down at your feet. Look for small detains in flowers and stones, and textures and patterns in roots, leaves and shadows for a different take on Huangshan’s scenery.

Slow it down

While in general, you want to photograph with a shutter speed of at least a sixtieth of a second in order to freeze the action, sometimes blur can provide a sense of movement. If you photograph a waterfall with a lower shutter speed, using a tripod or other form of stabilization, you can produce a picture with a dreamy flow of water rather than tack sharp droplets.

Focus on your memories

Many Huangshan visitors bring a lock in order to leave something permanent behind at one of the mountain’s peaks. However, the hikers motto is: leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories. Modern portable cameras make it easier and easier to preserve your unique memories of the mountain without impacting the beautiful scenery. Rather than simply trying to replicate what you imagined Huangshan would look based on other people’s pictures, the most important photography rule is to follow your own instinct and photography what is important to you.