Ansel Adams was my first thought as an essential Landscape photographer and also the founder of Group f64. (A photography group containing 7 San Francisco photographers who shared a style of photography that was best known for its members creating sharp-focused and carefully framed images of natural forms and found objects from a westerners viewpoint.)
A lot of the best landscape photographs contain vast depth (now understanding the meaning of 'Group f64!') and detail up close and at a distance there are also unspoken rules such as straight horizons. As far as photography goes landscapes seem to work well when following simple rules of photography such as the rule of thirds. Of course breaking these rules also create interesting results.
Ansel Adams was an important photographer to look at as he contributed highly towards the recognition to photography as an art form, especially landscapes.
His Images are very beautiful containing an unbelievable amount of detail. His work also reminds me of landscape painters. Of course early landscape photography always strived to mimic the qualities of traditional painting and I think the majority of Adams images do this.
In technical terms things I've picked up on are:
I must keep the cameras plane straight, preferably in line with the horizon.
Exposure is important and difficult to achieve as the sky will often be brighter than the ground so this should be taken into account.
The more interesting shots seem to be either where there is very little in the shot and one main thing to concentrate on or if there is something in the foreground as well as the distance, both in sharp focus.
The image must portray a vast feel for the area.
