Videos

Most photographers turn to wide-angle lenses when shooting landscape photos. But every so often, depending upon the situation, it makes more sense to pull out the big guns. And if you’re new to telephoto nature photography, it’s easy to make mistakes that can spoil an otherwise great shot.

Landscape photography is challenging enough, with ever-changing light, weather concerns, and complex scenes, that the last thing you want to do is to spoil your effort by making unnecessary mistakes. In the tutorial below you’ll learn how to confront errors that limit your chance of success.

Cropping is a simple and effective way to fix poorly composed images, turn a horizontal shot into a vertical one, or get rid of distracting elements. And if you’re caught out in the field without a telephoto lens, cropping is an effective way to get in tight on a distant subject—especially if you’re using a hi-res camera.

We often turn to Joe Edelman for simple lighting tutorials, and in the video below he’s a bit perturbed because photographers often mess up outdoor portraits by not using their reflectors properly. Follow Edelman’s simple advice and you won’t make this mistake.

We often turn to Danish pro Mads Peter Iversen for expert advice on exactly what to do when shooting landscape images. While Iversen is a cheerful, positive guy, he takes the opposite approach in the tutorial below by explaining what NOT to do when making nature photos.

There are plenty of camera settings to consider for capturing the best possible landscape photos, depending upon the specific look you’re after. And one of our favorite pros insists that, “aperture is the most important stylistic instrument of all.”

Editor’s Note: The imaging world has lost a spark of brilliance with the passing of legendary photographer and beloved friend Douglas Kirkland at the young age of 88. In his memory we’re re-posting our 2017 article with a selection of Douglas’ iconic images and a video revealing the secrets behind his photos of the rich and famous.