Nature Photography How To

Are you new to landscape photography and disappointed with your results? If so, the tutorial below will set you straight. Even experienced shooters will pick up a few helpful tips for improving their images.

One of the few mistakes that can totally ruin a photo is failing to achieve precise focus on the primary subject in a scene. There are a variety of camera settings and shooting techniques for increasing your odds of success, and today we’re going to concentrate on one of the most helpful.

Harsh midday sun may be great for working on your tan at the beach but when it comes to photographing birds, well, not so much. We all prefer shooting under more favorable conditions early in the day when birds are more active, or at Golden Hour in late afternoon when the landscaped is bathed in beautiful warm light.

The typical goal of most landscape photographers is to capture an image with a broad range of tonal values, with properly exposed highlights, dramatic shadows, and everything in between. This tutorial from the PHLOG Photography You channel demonstrates a different style that will really make your images stand out from the crowd.

Nighttime is the right time to capture a wide variety of dramatic images, and the Milky Way in the evening sky is one of the most popular and impressive subjects. If you pass up this great opportunity because of a misconception that your gear and skills are insufficient, this video from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel will change your mind.

Clear blue skies may be great for picnics or a trip to the beach, but when it comes to landscape photography not so much. Or as Portuguese photographer Andy Mumford says, "Blue skies without drama are among the hardest conditions for making impactful images."

We all try to shoot outdoor photos in the morning or late afternoon whenever possible to take advantage of the "best light." But that doesn't mean it's impossible to capture stunning images under harsh midday sun—especially if you understand the pitfalls and compensate accordingly.