What is a landscape? Part II - by Graham Wiffen

Thanks to everyone who's added to the discussion this week, so let's take it a step further and be a bit more specific.

Can a landscape include the sea? or does it just become a seascape?

My own view is that Landscapes can include the sea, without it losing its 'landscape' status and becoming a 'Seascape'. Using this approach 'Seascape' become a subset of the larger 'Landscapes' category.

It seems from the comments here and the discussions I have been having with fellow photographers, that this is the generally accepted view. Landscapes can and in some cases, need to include buildings, to demonstrate scale and to enhance the overall image.

Seascapes can be enhanced by including more of the shoreline, the coastal scenery, or some of the inland imagery too, so they become a mix.

The term 'Landscape' should be seen as a flexible terminology and it should be up to the user to clearly define what they mean by it.

Down here in Dorset we have the Jurassic Coast which runs along the South of England for 95 miles, encompassing some of the most amazing, dramatic and beautiful scenes, which are captured regularly by photographers and artists alike. Can these images be entered into 'Landscape' competitions?

Well, last year I entered a number into the 'Landscape Photographer of the Year' along with many fellow photographers, as they stipulated the rules could include such images. Other competitions have said no, and want to see land-only images.

So, it's up to the organisers of the competitions, galleries, collection to let us know. In the mean time, we'll keep taking them and using them as we all see fit.

- Graham Wiffen

Thanks for your contributions this week Graham, it's great to have a discussion about this, and to get everyone's thoughts. 

Please do let us know what you think, and join the conversation, by commenting below! And to see Graham's own work, please visit his Shed Profile.