Nature Photography How To

There’s no better way to learn than from the successes (and failures) of a top pro, and in the video below you’ll see some awesome landscape images and pick up several helpful tips on what made them so remarkable.

We regularly turn to Danish photographer Mads Peter Iversen for expert advice on shooting better landscape images, and he has a tradition that makes a lot of sense: At the end of every year he reviews his work and selects his favorite photos of the past 12 months.

This episode isn’t just a gallery of Iversen’s awesome imagery, as he explains what made his photos so special. He initially selected 47 images as his best of 2021, and further reduced the selection to 17 for this tutorial. So marvel at his great work, and take advantage of his suggestions.

In essence this is all about critical reflection, and Iversen says, “My personal favorite photos change over time, so this is a representation of how I see my work right now, rather than a conclusion that will last the rest of my life.”

The first image Iversen displays is one he says “really means something to me,” and like with the others on his list he provides exposure and gear information while explaining why he considers it so special and how he made the shot.

Another top pick is a beautiful photo Iversen captured of a little church on the west coast of Denmark during a February storm. This one is so compelling because it combines a number of key variables that contribute to all sorts of outdoor imagery.

As you’ll quickly discern while watching this interesting video, there are a number of ways to make landscape images esthetically pleasing, and these tips represent a common thread running through all of Iversen’s best shots. He explains his method for creating unique compositions, how to take advantage of great light and threatening weather, the importance of an interaction between the foreground and background of a scene, and much more.

You can find more helpful tips on Iversen’s YouTube channel, and in another recent tutorial we posted, explaining the best method for fixing underexposed landscape photos in Photoshop.