10 Beginner Landscape Photography MISTAKES

When I first developed an interest in landscape photography, I made a bunch of mistakes. Things in retrospect I wish I knew earlier, instead of learning the hard way. In this video I share 10 mistakes I made early on and what I now do instead.

📦 PRODUCTS MENTIONED

Fujifilm GFX 100S II

ProMediaGear TR344L tripod

📕 CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro
0:41 Mistake 1
1:49 Mistake 2
4:02 Mistake 3
6:07 Mistake 4
9:12 Sponsor
10:17 Mistake 5
11:34 Mistake 6
12:42 Mistake 7
14:26 Mistake 8
16:18 Mistake 9
18:01 MIstake 10

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[michaelcoleman]

You're so right about over use of tripods. It seems as if every content creator on youtube uses a tripod - have it ready when you need it but look through your viewfinder and move around your subject more often.

[erikgregorie]

'Couldn't agree more on almost all points. I see so many landscape photographs that basically reduce to documentation. Feeling ( emotion? ) is the most critical word in photography.

[markbe]

This list is on point! Your third point is exactly an issue I had on a recent trip to Oregon. I was trying to do too much in too little time. These are some great learning points and quite valuable.

[nancymckay]

Just what I needed to hear at this point in my photography.

[henrimaronen]

The amount of valuable information that you are providing is amazing! I feel that after every single one of your video I have new things to try out next time when I pick up my camera and go shoot. Great work!

[richardbripleyutube]

Thank you Todd for the beginner landscape tips. Much appreciated! The tip about WB was especially helpful given that I have used Auto WB for way too long and gotten a little lazy, at least as far as WB is concerned. 😜

[terrachromatic]

100% agree with this list. I would say shooting in auto WB is a big one as well. Even when shooting raw, it's really best to keep your WB around 5500K fixed. Yes you can always correct it, but Auto WB is really not a feature suited for landscapes. From snow to sea water, it will ruin your pastel colors.

[hardwaterhacker]

I'm definitely guilty of setting up the tripod too early and not moving. Many times, I've been shooting along Lake Superior, so I need one or more filters to help balance the sky, which means I have to shoot on a tripod. But I definitely don't do enough exploring before. This video was a great reminder for me.

[ItsWillLee]

I was guilty of being an auto white balance "sufferer" lol.

Sean Tucker has a video on his "Odd" approach to while balancing (his words not mine lol), I believe he said he shoots at 5400K, his explanation was similar to yours.

I followed his approach and since been shooting at 5500K. I can understand his reasoning, I also find the results are "more natural to what I see".

Cheers,

[snowhiteqazse]

I only use tripod for long exposure or at night, freestyle still the best

[alanm.]

Quality, not quantity: if you listen to some of the pros, you come to understand that 'snapping and hoping' doesn't do it. Ansel Adams admitted that he targeted 12 award winning images per year.
David Yarrow says that he usually comes back from a trip with about 3 game changing images. That's the real value of the tripod: slow down, focus, and get more quality images that don't have to be erased. Today's images are made somewhat easier with camera technology. So even bad compositions look a bit better. But the camera won't save you from acquiring dime-a-dozen, boring images.

[Bobgolf]

Can't say I agree with some of what you say but that's what makes the world go round. I don't like some images that are well received by most people and vice versa. I think you need to shoot for yourself. If you like the image you took then its a good image. Maybe not everyone agrees with you but that's how this works. I specifically disagree about prime lenses. I shoot most of my landscape images with Medium Format and use only prime lenses. For me, the quality produced by primes is quantifiable - not everyone agrees. I guess the point I'm trying to make is there are no rules when it comes to photography, it's a journey, not a destination.

[SingleCoilVoodoo]

Huge thanks for this!

Could you please recommend a few tripods?

[oneeyedphotographer]

1. I don't see stretching and distortion, I see what I should see. I learned about perspective at school, over sixty years ago.
10. Colour accuracy is completely unimportant. Look at what Tony Hewitt and Christian Fletcher do.

Shooting in the middle of the day? I do it all the time, so should you. Take the time to learn how it's done.

Tall tripod? 90% of photographers put their cameras in the wrong place 90% of the time because they extend their tripod to shoulder height so the camera is right in front of their face.

You mentioned the herd. I try to show people things the herd doesn't see.