Ron Leach

Most beginning photographers are enthusiastic about their new creative pursuit, but sheer passion alone is not enough to get the job done. That's because practice, a firm understanding of the fundamentals, and appropriate gear are essential if one is to develop their skills.

If you’re new to bird photography or dissatisfied with the images you’ve made in the past, this quick tutorial is for you. In just about nine minutes you’ll learn how to avoid five common mistakes that most beginners make.

Whether you edit photos in Photoshop, Lightroom, or another image-editing program, it’s almost impossible to avoid making mistakes on occasion, and this holds true for both amateurs and pros. Robust editing software can be quite complicated, and no one is perfect. Right?

Before you do something you will seriously regret without watching the video below, we need to point out that there’s a filter on the lens that’s being doused with honey in the photo above. As for that shiny, metal claw hammer you see in the third photo below, it’s being used to create interesting reflections—not to destroy a lens.