The PHOTO MISTAKES Beginner Photographers Make

Composition isn't easy and I was never naturally good at it but when I understood why my images didn't work it help me improve. In this video I share 7 composition mistakes that I have made as a photographer.

NIKON GEAR (Main STILLS camera)

FILM GEAR

OTHER PHOTO GEAR

[DubYahJohn]

It's lovely to hear you talk about Negative Space and explain that empty space is different to neg space. It really frustrates me to hear photographers and judges, not understand this. I've come to photography from an Art background and was taught that negative space defines the subject. It is a common exercise to draw something ie a pair of scissors, by drawing the shapes around them. Great video today. For me, composition is King, everything else is secondary.

[pgtips]

Photography to me is quite a strange subject to try and analyse, more often than not you get images that seem to break all the rules but still somehow work. I honestly have learned more out of my flukes than intentional compositional study.

[clockWorks]

Even the pictures that you use as examples of what to avoid look amazing, the the good ones look stunning. I think what puts them over the edge for me is the lighting. I recently got into photography, and I find it's fairly easy to forget to consider the shapes the light make, and the pictures you showed here are just amazing.

[metalmick]

Nigel, this is one of "those"clips to me: so full of useful advice and examples that it warrants watching again, and making notes. And the way you explain things makes so much sense. I immediately understood and related to the points you were making. I think taking time at a location is something everyone *can* do. Even me. 😉So thanks so much for this.

[richardrutte]

This is one of the best talks about composition I’ve seen, and I’ve watched a lot of them! Thank you so much.

[jiffijoff]

wow, excellent. Composition in a nutshell - 23 minutes of video consisting of about 23 years of analysis, experience and development in photography. As impressive as it is helpful. Thank you!

[darthnoxious]

You're BEYOND helpful, your photos are so beautiful, absolutely captivating. I am so grateful for your tips, these videos are so encouraging and helpful!

[seb]

Very useful info about needing to know WHY your photos are unsuccessful to be able to improve. one thing I would add, if your struggling to figure out the why, trying comparing the bad photo to one of your good ones. Or someone else's good photo. This way you can look at the differences to identify elements that make an image look good or bad.

[scotty]

Review stage definitely a key component to the learning cycle. In the Fire Service, the process was called structured debrief and same principal as photography i.e. what went well, what didn't and what you would do different the next time. Hope you get your MRI soon Nigel and you can embark on your journey of recovery

[SkullCollectorD]

Thanks Nigel, super useful tips! Breaking the cycle with a 'why' question is so important as you say, because talent and flukes can only make so many good photos. This is where I think you need a foundation in theory to be able to evaluate, and you do such a wonderful job presenting theory without making it feel like theory.

[Pixelpoppy]

Thankyou Nigel..great revision and reminder to be intentional when viewing potential landscape scenes.

[dylanevans]

One of your best yet in my opinion This video really resonated and deals so well with issues that will be common to so many of us. It takes real discipline to avoid being 'lost' in the experience, slow down, and really think hard about the compositional elements. Great piece of work. 👏

[endevorarya]

This is my first time watching, experiancing your video. This is wonderful. It works for anyone to see and learn and not only for starters, it is very very good for experienced ones as well. Thank you.

[adventurecoalition]

Great presentation, it’s awesome to learn while viewing stunning photos. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise with examples of what to do and not do, much appreciated 🙏

[rauberdaniel]

Great advice! I should definitely take more time evaluating why some of my images work or don't work. The feeling of being in an incredible landscape but not figuring out a working composition really is a tough one.

[andrewfuller]

I think to have the mindset of "how will that look from different perspectives/angles?" is a good one to carry with you whenever you shoot landscape images. This allows for the creative arrangement of the elements within your shot(s). For those who may struggle with getting good shots, it is often a good idea to actually shoot a bunch of images from these different viewpoints/angles and to then critically analyse them once you get back into your editing software back at home. This gets you into the "Why?" area much quicker and as a matter of course.

[ok_marcussharcus]

I value your opinions on composition very much and learn the most when you hop on your ipad and use the pencil to draw out the elements in the photo and really break it down for us in your videos. Thank you for doing that. I don’t see any other photographers on youtube doing that. Great work, as always.

[niceshotsph]

Very generous to share your experience to all of us. Thank you with feelings..🙏

[sifux]

You really help me with what I think is the hardest part in photography!!! You videos are not only inspiring but soooo informative!!!!

[brentharrop]

I would like to thank you. your videos have helped tremendously. have slowed down and started to observe more and I am now noticing small things in my photos that I found myself going back to the location to correct the composition by repositioning my camera then comparing the photos to pin point my errors. once a gain thanks