6 handy apps for landscape photographers

Monday 22 March 2021, 20:10 by Nando Harmsen | 9,324 views | 7 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

You don't need much equipment to take good landscape photos. A camera, lens and tripod will usually do the job. Then you can head out.

But when should you go, and where? Apps can make those questions easier to answer. Here are six handy apps for landscape photographers.

An app certainly isn't essential for photography. But they are very useful for taking specific photos. They provide all the information you could need anywhere in the world. As long as you have a data plan, of course. In many cases, that is a requirement.

I've put together a list of apps that landscape photographers can benefit from greatly. It is certainly not a complete list, just a selection. There are many more, both free and paid.

Which one you prefer to use is entirely personal. Choose what you need or what seems useful. If you think another app is more suitable, that is fine too. The most important thing is that you have the information you need at hand.

1. Photopills

This is the app of all apps for photographers. It offers more options than you will ever need. You can look up sunrise and sunset times, or moonrise and moonset. It also shows you the direction in which they occur.

You can make plans, view meteor showers and solar eclipses, and the augmented reality feature also gives you a great indication when you arrive at your destination. That way, you are always in the right place.

You can check the depth of field and hyperfocal distance. The length of star trails, and much more. The app isn't free, but it is well worth the one-off purchase.

2. Google Maps

You can use Google Maps as a route planner, but also as a map where you mark important sights and photo spots. When you are logged in, you can tag locations, plan routes and save them at home. That way, you can view them directly on your smartphone.

3. Maps.me

This is similar to Google Maps, but more focused on walking routes. At least, that is how I experience it. You can see the most unlikely walking paths on it, and you can also use it as a route planner.

The app is free, and you can download a map for each area. When you visit a new area, you can download that area as a map too. It may not look as fancy as Google Maps, but it is a great addition for walkers and landscape photographers.

4. LightPollution Map

If you want to photograph a starry night sky, it is best to stay away from areas with a lot of light pollution. LightPollution Map is a worldwide map showing light pollution.

The app gives you a reasonably good and detailed view of the amount of light pollution at each location. You zoom in on the place where you are, and the colour coding tells you how much light pollution there is.

5. Yr.no weather app

There are many weather apps available. I use the Norwegian weather app Yr.no a lot. It works all over the world, not just in Scandinavia. It provides a clear view of the weather conditions, shown by the hour several days in advance.

Like other weather apps, its accuracy is not always perfect. But which weather app is?

6. Tide app

Do you enjoy photographing by the sea? Then a tide app is essential. It prevents you from being surprised by high tide, or even getting cut off. It also makes it possible to plan your time by the sea.

There are many tide apps, and not all of them are free. Those suitable for nautical purposes often cost money. I use the Tide app from 7th Gear, which is free.

You can easily find every app I've mentioned here by searching for its name in your app store. Of these apps, only Photopills is paid. The others are free, with the necessary adverts in between.

Do you have any apps that you consider essential for landscape photography, or photography in general? Or do you have alternatives? Feel free to share them in a comment below this post.

Also say what you use them for and why. That way, you can help other photographers make a good choice too.

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