5 STEPS to make POWERFUL 16-35mm WIDE-ANGLE photos

The 16-35mm wide-angle lens is essential for landscape photographers. In this video, I'll share 5 steps on how to make powerful photos with any wide-angle lens. The 16-35mm lens is probably the most famous, but any wide-angle or ultra wide-angle zoom lens works for this. Check out the five steps and I hope you learn something. The video is full of extra small tips and tricks. No matter if you use a Sony 16-35 f/2.8, 12-24 f/4, Canon 16-35 f/2.8 or f/4, Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 or another brand such as Tamron or Sigma there are plenty of wide-angle zoom lenses to choose from. In case you feel it becomes a bit formulaic you can always mix up your compositions. In these five steps, I share how to think, what to photograph, composition ideas, settings and editing ideas.
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[@forrestproductions]

8:10 "puking the landscape out into the viewers face". I will remember that phrase as I compose in the field and ask myself "Is this composition puking enough?" :)

[@gordroberts53]

I had exactly the same thought!

[@seantomlinson3320]

Great description indeed.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Haha, happy you liked that phrase! Was funny when I came up with it :D

[@forrestproductions]

@@MadsPeterIversen I'm going out Sunday with a small group and can't wait to look into someone's viewfinder and say "It's just not puking enough".

[@glitchen]

i subscribed to his channel on 2 things: puking the landscape, and your comment

[@jimwlouavl]

Watching for at least the second time, I’m just amazed at your skills as a photographer and as a teacher. Thanks.

[@vazrulsaltiani]

I really love the tones and contrast of the seascape shot with the background the mountain. Absolutely gorgeous.

[@paulasimson4939]

Wow, this was like a masterclass in improving your landscape photography - thank you!

[@janh6639]

The shot with the moss on the rock in foreground it’s fantastic when you show just how small that foreground was but how much impact it had on the shot including it as a dominant feature, awesome 👍🏼

[@darrenrowley5646]

Im so glad you showed the raw file at the end. I thought for a moment you shot those with minimal editing and was thinking to myself i got a hell of a lot more to learn shooting in raw. Great images and some good tips.

[@rickmears7670]

6 months later... I stumble on this video of yours, the first from you I've seen. Nice how work can live onward. So nicely explained with examples. Thank you especially for including some of your favorites at the end --your works make me feel at home again.

[@austindrawhorn2141]

Incredible photos, simple and powerful tips, great video. Keep up the good work Mads!

[@alexp.4960]

Starting photography and found out 3 or 4 photographers I really like including you. Composition is tough for me and I am trying my best to learn and your videos definitely help. I won't give up, but your work is truly amazing and your tips absolutely great. Keep up the good work, I don't have what it takes to create videos the way you do, but I am glad we can benefit from your advice and experience. Thanks for everything!!! Alex (French) living in Belgium

[@chaitanyaimmaneni7678]

Thank you so much for making this video. Very helpful to understand landscape composition. I have always struggled with choosing the right aperture and thus achieving the right sharpness. This video definitely makes you think in the right direction . And needless to say, the photographs were just stunning !!!!!!!

[@francescad4054]

I was glued to screen. Your pictures are awesome, absolutely stunning. And it's not just that they are technically perfect, it's how you look at the world that makes a difference. You make it look even more beautiful than it is. Wonderful! I'm looking forward to catching up on your older videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you very much for such kind words :)

[@derekmidgley]

There's the world many of us live in and then there's the one you explored when you made these awesome images. Well done!

[@jc-crafford]

Can we have 10 sequels on this, please! I can look at your photos forever!

[@Schroeder3000]

this is soooo beautiful and cool! Thanks for that wonderful 19 minutes :)

[@candicewatson3927]

The wide angle lens is my favorite. There are so many ways to use it, as you have shown here. That road shot was simply killer!!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you very much, Candice! Means a lot :)

[@jeff6660]

Wow...Peter, your work is mind blowing...you are the best I have seen on the internet. Simply brilliant. You are a master at both composition and the technichal aspects of photography. A rare combination indeed.

[@sbrenden]

Thanks for sharing your magic once again, Mads! Love your work :) All of the images shown here is absolutely amazing. Need to visit both, the Faroes and Iceland!

[@jeffdrew625]

Wow! Lavender field & aurora mountain totally captured me! Great tips and well done instructions! Thanks a bunch ... subscribed! Wow!

[@michelpiquet1698]

One of the best videos i have seen about landscape photography composition. Keep up the good work and thank you for all these good tips and advise ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you very, very much, Michael! Much appreciated :)

[@m4roadrunner]

I agree one of the best videos for wide angle composition. You have put it across in the best way I've seen. Great images. Inspirational.

[@michelerampazzo]

I agree! I love your way to speak on the composition. Thank you to share your thoughts.

[@mericseker5430]

That is the one of the best photography video, that i have seen till now! Thank u so much👍

[@VABrowneMDPhD]

Fantastic balance of technical and artistic approaches to create compelling images! Excellent teaching skills!

[@davidarthur99]

I discovered your youtube site recently and I am so happy to have done so. Your images and your presentation are just outstanding. I have subscribed and hit the bell to get notifications. You are one of my top 3 landscape photography personalities on youtube. Thank you so much for sharing and educating me.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you very much, David! I'll suggest to check out my Britain series. There I am much more on location :)

[@andrewkift6746]

Love this video mate, your presentation and approach have the aroma of authenticity.

[@modusponen1447]

Wow. Thank you for the before and after images in the editing section. The befores are how my photos look so it’s nice to know that there’s hope.

[@edwins5804]

Hahah

[@alistaircassidy]

Lovely, clear guides and some spectacular photos. I'm a brand new subscriber but I look forward to seeing much more.

[@bikerdave1967]

Hi Mads, I love your work but that photo with the wave and the mountains in the background is just amazing. Wow.. I could look at that for an hour and it wouldn’t be enough.

[@jonnypiehair]

Really cool to see the photo showing how you set up the shot (mossy stone in Faeroe islands). Would be great to see examples of compositions you think do not work.

[@donhuff3795]

Thanks Mads. Your love of photography and teaching are very evident in this video. I enjoy your videos and this one sums up a lot of what it take too produce great images.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you very much, Don! I guess my education wasn't in vain then ;)

[@rasesh4u]

Amazing images and I love the way you're explaining in detail. Great content. Greetings from British Columbia, Canada

[@GhostDancerMA]

I am really impressed by your composition skills. This is what really separates the good from the great. Not camera or lens or processing. It’s all about composition. Great vid, thanks for sharing.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you very much, Bernhard!

[@michaelcoffey8382]

Well done Mads. Landscapes and skyscapes inspire you and in turn your photos inspire others. Good choice of soundtrack too

[@simonpetitt1329]

Thanks for a superb tutorial. I use both the 16-35 and 70-200, and both of your videos have been enlightening.

[@fijiimages]

Superb as always Mads, a real help in getting those exceptional compositions. Thank you.

[@jaspervanberkel766]

Mads, you are a High Master of Landscape Photography, I sucked in every information you gave us for 'free'! Bless you! This is inspiring, motivational stuff. Your images are stunning BTW. Tak min ven!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

You're very welcome, Jasper! Det var så lidt :)

[@jasonlight8813]

You are, in my humble opinion, by far the most educational of photographers in respect to the content you put out. You're hugely talented too. I had to sell all my photography gear, including my editing computer recently, after a massive change in circumstances, that required me to raise money. I currently have a borrowed Nikon D700, a 60mm prime lens and a 70-300... I'm not deterred. I'll build this back up. First thing will be a new tripod, to get the camera stable... no point in mice glass before this. Your videos are inspirational, keep up the awesome work

[@TarrelScot]

👌A stunningly good masterclass in wide-angle composition, supported by some really beautiful images. Very inspiring. Subscribed!

[@912582]

Wow, this is real top stuff made to look easy! The question "out of the camera vs edited" comes up a lot, this video more or less cancels the question when the results are so good and sensitively prepared. This is the best I've seen and I look forward to what comes next. Thank you very much.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you Andrew, editing does make a big difference. Check my before/after from Stokksnes, there's like 20 b/a examples from the same location :)

[@chrisburgess9919]

Another great video Mads, interesting, informative and something that makes me want to get out with my camera. Keep up the good work.

[@gordroberts53]

Love the closing statement "...press like and I hope you learned something...". Press like, an automatic reflex action at the end of all your videos. Learned something, no learned many things and will review the entire video several times. Thank you for sharing!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Hehe, yeah it has kind off become my closing statement :) Happy the video worked :)

[@elisaventurini8447]

That DXO graph for sharpness, so useful! Thank you for showing us, I'm doing research on it now:)

[@andyallard5990]

Absolutely amazing you are very clever and very talented young man glad I found your channel thank you for taking time out to explain it to us may mortals.

[@mlalescu]

Brilliant! Excellent video, I have learned a lot about composition and enjoyed the beautiful images.

[@shirishpathak689]

really a practicle knowledge. The best video .Incidently, I got the same lense i.e. 16-35 with my Nikon D800. Becoming a member. Shirish Pathak. India.

[@parthnalinvakil2105]

Excellent delivery and information. Appreciate you discussing focus stacking, example of pre-edited and post-editing photos. Excited to use my 17-40 F/4L more.

[@kirk0831]

It is literally the best wide-angle lens tips on KZbin. Great work!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you very much! :)

[@robertmcdaniel7788]

Your videos and photo are remarkable. Amazing. Beyond awesome. Inspirational. Thank you.

[@EnjoyLaughing]

Thank you so much for the brilliant video and photos. The clarity of thought and the examples are really really good. It’s given me a lot to think about and inspired me to go out and photos. My teenage son also loved your photos.

[@agnieszka2991]

Your photos are so amazing!!! Really beautiful wide angle work, thank you for uploading! Recently I couldn't decide which 16-35 to choose and Canon Live Chat has been very helpful. Thanks again for uploading :)

[@rvboondocker2559]

Well done Mads! So inspirational. Really looking forward to my Faroe trip in August.

[@brianphillips6062]

I'm in the hunt for a WA Lens, the f4 , 16 - 35 is on my list and so I've been viewing quite a few videos on WA photography. I sincerely thank you for posting this highly informative video.

[@brandonclevert3173]

I watch a lot of videos about photos. Your pictures are impressive.

[@JeevesTCW]

Great images and advice. Its so easy to be lazy about the foreground details in landscapes and you have really clarified the best approach. I always shoot in raw and post process but relatively quickly & with a global approach to the pic ... I am begnning to realise I need to up my efforts in this area & prob upgrade from PS Elements software, Rich.

[@ashstubbings2603]

That Lavender field shot is absolutely breathtaking! In fact every photograph is breathtaking!

[@JohnHight3270]

Very informative video! I liked the way you went into you thoughts on composing the shot. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@michaelespeland]

The picture of the church with the flowers was so good! You should post some editing videos, where you show how your workflow is, step by step

[@MadsPeterIversen]

I have posted a few editing videos, but they tend to always do badly. I have my big editing course you can enroll in though :)

[@rosiesamuel8562]

que belleza. Thanks, so much for this video. All of your work is truly amazing and inspirational.

[@josephstanski5180]

Great instructional video Mads - nicely done.

[@ronleach5512]

Thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video, as well as your many other videos. I have had the good fortune to spend time in Iceland and we were very lucky with the weather. I was able to obtain some of my best photos ever. Thank you again.

[@derekperkins7343]

I've watched 'A LOT' of landscape photography videos, this was one of the very best. Thank you. I've learned a lot and been inspired.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Very glad to hear that, Derek :)

[@fatbaldandhappy]

What a library of places and images you've assembled! That was a pleasure to take in. Not to mention the marvelous instruction and counsel to go with it. Thanks Mads!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you very, very much and for the continued sweet comments :)

[@ungavaproductions]

Absolutely amazing works ! So great, the way you see and take parts of our world is unique ! Congratulations

[@malcolmpierce825]

You definitely have skills! I look up to you! Thank you for your great advice!

[@kaivankhan]

You make a lot of interesting points, thank you. Just because a scene looks pretty, doesn't mean the picture will be pretty too. Thank you!

[@julieseiler1252]

Love this lens. It's so tack sharp. Your video encourages me to use it more.

[@DreamBig]

Great educational work Mads ! And so pleasing to look over so many of your great photos...

[@dennycarroll1314]

Fantastic video,it's great getting tips on how to improve your photos and learn how to use the lens to its full potential.Keep up the great work

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot! I will :)

[@joekelly9369]

Love the compositions . Lack of the rule of thirds , ( were brainwashed to use) your leading lines are awesome fitting them perfectly into your photos , thanks for sharing

[@davec28]

Perfection in the craft is the goal of all of us with the 'eye'. With guides & tutors such as yourself, the path is straighter and the learning curve smoother. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

You're welcome, Dave! Happy you liked it and get something from it :)

[@olivierwhite2451]

I learned so much in these 18 min, thank you!

[@fredpreston7658]

Brilliant photography here Mads! Love the style, expertise and commitment.

[@SuperNashwanPower]

These are stunning shots, Mads. A great watch. Thanks.

[@PhilipDurkin]

Brilliant video Mads and as always some awesome images, the ice beach with the foreground above and photographer was just nuts! Thanks for sharing.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Phil. Yeah, it's kinda my braggin' photo :D

[@duaneparker5070]

Man, with the quality level of your videos, and especially your photography, you should have a million subscribers.

[@Wolf-6567]

An awesome presentation which has greatly assisted my understanding of some of these elements, beautiful, and very powerful images too. Thank you for your time in creating this and your other tutorials.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you for the kind words! :)

[@dezfoto7534]

The point about including foreground just for the sake of including foreground, is a huge pet peeve of mine. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@davidharle8794]

A masterful video by a master craftsman. Thank you.

[@richardcprovost]

mads, thank you for another great and informative video. As always your photos and comments bring your concepts to live.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you, Richard! :)

[@fujimanxt-3420]

You have mad skills and a great vision for your final product. Your photos are breathtaking!

[@TimTrim]

Your compositional videos are a divine treat, kudos and gratitude abound.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you very much, Tim! :)

[@newenergyawakening]

Wow!! I'm inspired...love your photos and your style of teaching. Just what I needed to inspire my photography to the next level.

[@hotjazzbaby]

I learned a lot, great tutorial. Thank you so much. Your breathtaking landscape photos are among the absolute best I have ever seen 🔱

[@noname0858]

Amazing stuff, the second video of yours I've seen and I'm hooked!

[@orgue3461]

Fabulous - thank you! This is the first video of yours which I have watched, & I can see that I will learn much from you. Superb presentation! 👌

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks, I have a huge amount of educational videos available :)

[@ianmcclelland2524]

Thank you, first video of you're that I have seen and subscribed right away.

[@MakingImagery]

Bro, your content is incredible!! Thanks for putting in the effort to make these, 100% enjoyable!

[@sinetwo]

Fantastic video, and great tips. I'm really keen on the 16-35 because it's easier to work with filters on that, compared to the 14-24. I also wish I could visit the Faroe islands but until they sort out their whaling issue, sadly I can't support that.

[@GlennMarcus]

Thanks I appreciated your breakdown into key steps. Beautiful skilled work.

[@cesarecannavo1134]

Wow! So great is this Lens. Congratulation your picture are very beautiful. Thanks for your great explication.. I waited just this lens for buy.. Good day to you.. Cesare.

[@jimtipton8888]

Thanks Mads! Great video, and as always stunning images. I really enjoy your soft spoken style of teaching. Warm regards!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Jim! Happy to hear that :)

[@lolabanky3305]

The golden nugget in this video alone took my breath away! You are a master photographer and post processor! You give me hope. Your pictures are a masterpiece. Subscribed! The best I can say is THANK YOU! I will be back to add a better word than thank you when I find one! Gratitude! My wish is to take masterpiece like yours! someday, I HOPE!

[@davidseals2939]

This is one of the best videos I have seen on this topic. Your format is much more engaging than most KZbinrs. I liked how you narrate while showing your examples. I hope more KZbinrs will follow this example.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you very much for those kind words David!

[@andrewcraven7552]

Great video Mads - love your work. Don't know if anyone else has commented but the fungus you refer to is actually lichen. A defn : A lichen is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship. The combined lichen has properties different from those of its component organisms. Lichens come in many colours, sizes, and forms. The properties are sometimes plant-like, but lichens are not plants. So now you know!!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

And that right there is why I love the internet and a community like this! Thanks, Andrew :) Very interesting. I'll remember that!

[@barryroberts2474]

Thank you. So amazed at some of your locations.

[@valk-photography]

Again an awesome educational video ...... the first time i see someone give tips for a wide-angle on this level, in a simple way with examples !!!!! Thank you Mads !!!!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thank you, Mario! Means a lot :)

[@SethPay]

Excellent vid Mads! Really enjoying seeing more of your photos and the thoughtful process behind creating them.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Seth - as always! :D

[@rosaliebischof1171]

Great video for me to see a week before my upcoming first time visit to Iceland! The more I delve into fine art landscape photography, the more I realize that my raw capture is only a starting point for my final image; and that I need to learn more about editing in Lightroom. I also realize that images I see from my favorite photographers (you are one of them) were a work in progress from capture to print! Like life, photography is a process!

[@jamesscarborough9545]

I am in the same boat Rosalie, I need to work on post production but also remember that you need the raw images to work with. Remember while you are in Iceland to bracket your exposures use different apertures and focal points of same images in the event you wish to learn Focus stack process. Shoot a lot and take a lot of memory cards. The work begins when you get home and you need the raw photos as your base to work from. I am sure Mads will agree.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

What James said ;)

[@WuschelofDespair]

That’s the Beauty. I went to Iceland last year in September and I had photo I really liked but I couldn’t get it to look good In the edit (blue sky in the mid day, I hate that). Just 2 days ago I revisited it, completely changed the editing style (I blue out the sky in purpose into a dreamy white) and it turned out to be one of my favorite photos ever 🙂 It’s an ever ongoing journey

[@joelwexler]

So how was Iceland ?

[@andyoaf]

Excellent video, your explanations are always clear and make sense.

[@Burrator]

This is the first video of yours I've watched. Great stuff. Sigh. Now I'll have to go watch all your other videos!

[@kingweddingmedia]

many absolutely stunning images in this video! Great job!

[@anurag1789]

As I've mentioned earlier, excellent content but what makes it even better is your whole vibe. I'm pretty you must be a fun to chill out with plus the photography. Love from India ❤️

[@jan-hendrikbussmann4644]

This video is worth watching over and over again just for the beautiful pictures in it. Your explanations are very interesting and easy to understand! But I still had to skip back several times because my attention always got lost in the pictures. :-)