Nature Photography How To

Skillful composition is an essential attribute of all amazing photographs; especially when shooting complicated scenes in the field. Do things right and you're headed for success, but thoughtless framing will ruin an otherwise great scene.

Today's tutorial from pro Steve Arnold explains what he says are "five huge composition mistakes that that are easy to fix." And it only takes him eight minutes to demonstrate his remedial steps. Arnold is an Australian landscape photographer and post-processing expert who specializes in quick-and-easy tutorials for inexperienced shooters.

Arnold begins with a stark warning that these unfortunate errors "can lead to a devasting feeling of disappointment and regret." Got your attention? He explains what they are, illustrates how each one can spoil different types of photos, and provides his recommendations for taking a more thoughtful approach.

At the top of Arnold's list is a problem that's most likely to rear it's ugly head during stunning sunrise and sunset conditions, although it may crop up when there's dramatic light of any kind. Arnold admits that he was guilty of this faux pas earlier in his career, until he realized the importance of using the foreground of a scene to advantage when framing up a shot.

The last thing you want to do when coming upon a spectacular golden-hour scene is waste even a second "scurrying around trying to find a solid composition" before the fleeting magic disappears. Thus, you need to understand how to skillfully frame the scene quickly. And that's the secret to fixing the four remaining composition mistakes on Arnold's list.

Tip number two involves a familiar composition problem that may occur when photographing expansive vistas with a wide-angle lens, and sometimes the remedy is as simple as switching your camera angle and perspective or the vantage point from which you shoot.

The other composition tools you'll learn in the remainder of the video are equally destructive and avoidable. Best yet, Arnold's recommendations are easily achieved with whatever gear you own and don't require any advanced skills. The key is a difference in the way you perceive the natural world.

There's much to learn, especially for inexperienced shooters, on Arnold's very popular and informative YouTube channel, so make it a point to pay a visit and explore.

And on a related note, be sure to watch the tutorial we featured with a post-processing expert who demonstrates seven common Lightroom mistakes that will compromise the quality of photographs and slow down your workflow.