Outdoor Photography How To

Today's quick tutorial from German pro Benjamin Jaworskyj explains what he considers to be the most effective composition techniques for inexperienced photographers, and he kicks off the lesson with this promise: "You'll learn how use lines, balance, depth, and perspective to transform your images from average to awesome."

Ben is a self-taught German photographer and educator who travels the world capturing compelling images with a unique, polished look. He also posts straightforward videos that share his experiences, technical tips, and rare mistakes to help other shooters elevate their skills with whatever gear they own.

This nine-minute tutorial builds on Ben's previous installment of a two-part beginners guide to composition, and we recommend watching the introductory episode first if you're absolutely new to our craft. Just visit his popular YouTube channel and scroll through the videos. The first session discussed the Rule of Thirds, explained the power of grids, where to set the horizon within the frame, and more.

Ben acknowledges the importance of camera settings and other technical matters, but he insists that thoughtful-and-precise framing is what enables you to showcase your creative vision. In fact, "a very slight change in vantage point can lead to a very different and more captivating composition."

The trick involves what is basically a more advanced way to employ the familiar Rule of Thirds, in which the frame is divided by two vertical and two horizonal lines. But instead of concentrating on regions within the frame, this time it's all about the "crossing points" identified by four yellow dots where the lines intersect in the center of the screen.

Ben put's it like this: "I try to move myself and the camera position to where these crossing points occur." He demonstrates the concept with a landscape scene that includes a prominent church in the background, and Ben begins by precisely positioning this key element atop the lower right crossing point.

Then he experiments by moving the church to the top right, top left, and bottom left crossing point to demonstrate the impact of each composition on the final result. Ben continues with more photos and other key considerations, and his claim is not that one approach is always better than the others, but rather that it's up to you to determine the specific look you prefer depending upon the specific scene at hand.

There's much more to learn about basic photography techniques on Ben's popular YouTube channel so pay a visit and explore.

We also recommend watching an eye-opening a tutorial we featured with a professional travel photographer who shares his seven favorite techniques for capturing "authentic moments" of your journeys.