Knowing you're a good landscape photographer is a mix of technical skill, artistic expression, and personal satisfaction. Here are a few signs you might be on the right track:

Technical Mastery

You understand your camera and its settings well enough that you're able to capture the essence of a scene without being distracted by technical limitations. You can manage exposure, focus, and composition with ease, and you know how to capture the right amount of detail, texture, and light.

Technical mastery is key to becoming a confident and capable landscape photographer. It’s all about knowing how to harness the full potential of your gear to translate your vision into a stunning photograph. Here's a breakdown of the key components:

• You understand the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO) and how these three settings work together. For example, you know when to adjust your aperture for depth of field, when to tweak shutter speed to get the right motion or freeze it, and when to change your ISO for proper exposure while maintaining image quality.
• You know how to use exposure compensation to adjust for tricky lighting situations, like when shooting a bright sky or a dark foreground.

• You understand the difference between manual and autofocus and when to use each for maximum sharpness.
• You know how to properly focus stack (when necessary) to ensure both near and far elements of the landscape are sharp.
• You can master hyperfocal distance, ensuring that the scene from the foreground to the horizon stays in focus.

• Your photos consistently follow good compositional rules (like the Rule of Thirds, leading lines, balance, and symmetry) but also show your ability to break those rules creatively when needed. A good landscape photographer knows how to create images that draw the viewer’s eye and evoke emotion.
• You can recognize and apply compositional techniques like leading lines, rule of thirds, framing, and symmetry to make the scene more engaging and dynamic.
• You understand the power of negative space and use it to give your subject room to "breathe."
• You’re skilled at picking the right perspective or angle to highlight the scene in the best possible way, avoiding clutter or distractions in the frame.

• You understand the importance of lighting (whether it’s golden hour, soft light, or dramatic contrasts) and know how to use it to your advantage. Great landscape photographers are masters of timing and can capture a scene when the light is just right.
• You’re attuned to how light changes throughout the day, from golden hour to blue hour to the harsh midday sun, and you know how to use that light to your advantage.
• You understand how to manage high dynamic range (HDR) situations, whether through bracketing your exposures or using filters like graduated ND filters to balance the exposure between bright skies and darker foregrounds.
• You're aware of the quality of light—whether it's soft and diffused or hard and direct—and how to use it to shape the mood of the scene.

• You know how to capture fine details, whether it’s the texture of a weathered rock or the delicate waves of a distant mountain range, by controlling aperture and focus.
• You’re mindful of depth and how to use light, shadow, and contrast to bring out textures in the landscape, whether it’s the smoothness of a lake or the ruggedness of a cliff face.

• You also have a solid understanding of post-processing to enhance your images. This includes knowing how to adjust white balance, contrast, sharpness, and saturation to make the photo match what you saw in your mind's eye.
• You know how to fix any issues that arise in the field, like lens distortion or chromatic aberration, to preserve image integrity.

Being technically proficient means that when you’re in the field, you're able to make decisions without hesitation. You can focus entirely on the creative side of things, knowing that your technical skills will capture the scene just as you envision it. It's a balance—technical mastery frees you to be more creative.

Emotional Impact: 
Your photos make people feel something. Whether it’s awe, calm, or excitement, a good landscape photographer can translate the beauty and power of nature into an image that connects with others. 

Landscape photography has this incredible ability to evoke emotions by capturing nature's raw beauty. A well-composed image can transport the viewer into the scene, making them feel the vastness of the mountains, the serenity of the ocean, or the warmth of the golden hour light. It's like giving someone a window to another world. 

The emotional impact often comes from the photographer’s ability to capture not just what is in front of them, but also the feelings they themselves experienced in that moment.

Consistency and Improvement:

The growth you see when you look back at your early work is a testament to how much you’ve learned, adapted, and evolved. Each new project is an opportunity to experiment, refine your skills, and push boundaries.The beauty of photography, especially landscape photography, is that nature is always changing—so there’s always something new to learn, whether it’s about lighting, composition, or even new equipment. And it's true—acknowledging mistakes is key. It's through those mistakes that we figure out what works and what doesn't, and that's where real growth happens.

Creativity and Perspective:

You've developed a unique perspective. Creativity and perspective really set a photographer apart. It’s easy to fall into the trap of capturing what everyone else sees, but when you take the time to look for something different—whether it’s an unusual angle, a fleeting moment of light, or an overlooked detail—that’s when your work starts to feel truly unique.

Your photos reflect your personal connection with the landscape. This connection with the landscape makes all the difference. When you’re invested in the scene and your emotions are tied to it, that energy can come through in the photo. It's almost like telling a story, not just documenting a place. Your creativity allows you to show something beyond the obvious.

Recognition or Feedback:

Positive feedback from others (whether through social media, critiques, or even exhibitions) can indicate that your work resonates with people. It doesn't necessarily mean you’re "perfect," but it means you're on the right path.

Ultimately, you’ll know when you're a good landscape photographer when you feel that your work is reflective of both your technical growth and personal artistic expression. And, of course, when you’re proud to show others what you’ve captured!