Nature Photography How To

We regularly feature tutorials from Danish pro Mads Peter Iversen who typically avoids discussions of gear, in favor of artistic considerations that will enable you to capture stunning landscape photos in the field with whatever equipment you currently own.

This episode concentrates on what Iversen calls "the seven biggest mistakes I see from amateur photographers." After explaining what you may be doing wrong he provides straightforward solutions for getting things right when shooting in the field.

This lesson is all about capturing compelling images in the camera, so suspend your post-processing concerns for the next 16 minutes and see how you can elevate your "pre-processing" skills. What you'll learn will prove immensely valuable for every image you shoot in the great outdoors.

The first mistake sounds simple (and there's very easy compositional fix): "Not leaving enough breathing room for the elements in a photo," particularly those near the edges of the frame. Iversen provides a few examples of "cramped" images, and he illustrates how much better they look with a slightly looser composition.

The second mistake occurs when you include too much "irrelevant" mid-ground when framing a shot. There are several ways to correct this common problem, including changing your vantage point, moving in closer, compressing perspective with a longer lens, or simply shooting with the camera low to the ground. Iversen's images illustrate this mistake as well as a variety of other solutions.

The third mistake is a strange one, especially from a committed and long-time landscape photographer, but here it is: "Using a tripod too much, especially when it's not needed." Iversen says that while a tripod is a fantastic tool, there are times when it can slow you down and keep you from finding the best possible composition.

Using a tripod in low light situations is a no-brainer. It is also important once you found a composition and you want to steady the camera while bracketing exposures. Other times, not so much.

There are still four errors and solutions to go, so be sure to watch this lesson until it concludes. As the video progresses you'll quickly realize that there's nothing complicated about the fixes that Iversen provides. In fact, all that's required is a few simple tweaks in how you perceive the landscape and adjust the manner in which you compose and capture the scene.

Iversen instructional YouTube channel is full of great advice like this for outdoor photographers, so be sure to take a look.

And if your post-processing concerns become palpable, be sure to watch the tutorial we posted from an image-editing expert who explains when to use Contrast, Clarity, and Texture (or all three together) when editing your landscape photographs in Lightroom.