Digital photography, and digital landscape photography in particular, is very popular these days. Chances are you've got at least one or two landscape photographs in your home right this minute.

Photography, like other arts, is trying to convey a message from the photographer. To create great photos, you must understand that defining that message is integral to the artistic process, and therefore one of your first tasks.

Landscape photography is also every bit as detailed and complex as other types of subjects. Light, sun, shadow, lenses, subject, shutter speed-all of these items are just require as much, if not more attention and skill as other photography, so don't think landscape photos are easy.

The true test of an artist's skills is in black and white photos. Relying only on light and shadow, composition takes on added importance in black and white landscape photography.

If you don't know what composition is, a simple way of thinking about it, or looking for it or at it, is to consider the edges, contrasts, textures and tones of the subject landscape.

It's quite tricky for the novice, trying to gain the skill of conceptualizing in black and white what your eyes see in color. You've really got to direct your attention to the highlights and lowlights, the shadows and bright spots, and try to bring it out with the lens.

Many photographers like to use water and buildings as the subject of their black and white landscapes. This is indeed a good subject for beginners as well, since the water's tones typically contrast very well with both man made and natural structures, while also drawing the eye.

Note that landscape photography isn't just the natural landscape; buildings, bridges and other man-made structures are just as equally part of landscape photography, and are great for beginner's due to their sharp angles and contrasts from the shadows they create.

Black and white landscapes are also an invaluable learning tool for color photographers: they teach the artist to see the contrasts. This skill is just as important when dealing with color landscapes as with black and whites.

Think about it: what is more interesting to the eye, an unbroken swath of blue water and blue sky, or a blue sky with white clouds, and whitecaps atop the blue water? It takes time and patience to be a good landscape photographer, to be able to wait out nature until she gives up a great shot like this, but the wait is well worth it.

Patience is also important in terms of landscape lighting, where you don't have the benefit of artificial lighting to make the shot perfect. You've only got the sun, and sometimes the moon, lens filters, and your shutter speed. Oh, and of course, you need a tripod. Lens filters are indispensable on a sunny day.

Again, patience is a must, as you must invest time in a study of your subject-from all possible angles, looking at the light, the shadows, the contrast, everything, to find that perfect shot.

And, like when Michealangelo brings out the statue from within the marble, you, too, can bring out the perfect shot from a landscape. This is the skill that you must develop and hone, through practice.

Don't be gun shy! Take lots of photos, and experiment. That's the beauty of the digital camera-you can try everything under the sun, and it won't cost you in time, money and materials in developing them, and you can do it right there while onsite. Of course, don't always rely on that little LCD screen-take plenty of pictures regardless.

Even if you are a complete newbie, you, too, can take stunning photos.

All it takes is practice, practice, and more practice, with a healthy dose of patience, and the courage to keep trying different things. And patience doesn't only mean patience during a single session of shooting. If you live in an area that has four seasons, patience also means waiting out different types of weather, each one of which is hiding a beautiful landscape photograph within.

Just remember the photographer's mantra: practice plus patience plus experimentation, and you'll be taking great landscape photos in no time.