7 SIMPLE photo COMPOSITION TIPS to IMPROVE your photography

Composition is often the area of photography that people struggle with. So I have broken down how I go about composing an image into 7 simple areas. These simple tips and tricks will help you take better landscape photos and aim to dymistify the art of composition. Lets get started!
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[@NigelDanson]

Apologies for the sound at the start of the video. I uploaded a version that hadn’t been sorted. When I discovered this I didn’t then wanted to reupload as had many great comments. Won’t make the same mistake again! Thanks for watching

[@shelleygreenbaum2853]

Thank you Nigel , learned a lot.

[@khanyawar]

Thanks for the great tutorial, will definitely try these tips. By the way I loved the music in your intro. Whats the track name ?

[@nateb9768]

You’re a SF Giants fan as well? Ayee 💪🏻

[@raydudelidoo]

BTW, Nigel, what is that song close to the beginning of the video? Beautiful!

[@davidyanceyjr]

As a new photographer I struggle with composition. It seems so subjective -unlike the technical aspects of the field. My question. Is composition found, created or both?

[@monkiram]

I make notes on Nigel's videos to refer to later and figured I'd share my notes on this video in case others find it helpful (definitely not a substitute for watching, but for review or future reference!) 1. *How do I look for a composition?* (2:48) - Acronym: FLICS (focus, light, interest, corners, simplicity) - Start experimenting with iPhone before pulling out DSLR - Find a point of interest (may not be a person/object, can be an area of the image that draws your eye) - Simplicity is key: try to eliminate distracting elements at the corners 2. *Look for patterns* (6:30) - Patterns are visually pleasing and can help direct your eye to a point of interest 3. *Use lines and shapes* (7:40) - Use lines and shapes to direct the eye to the point of interest 4. *Move from 3D to 2D* (9:39) - Remember that depth & layers are often lost when going from a 3D landscape to a 2D image - help the brain build a dynamic 3D image by conveying layers (eg. using the texture of snow on trees, fog) 5. *Tell a story* (13:24) - The picture should convey the mood, the feeling and the story of when you were there 6. *Use negative space* (15:26) - Have the subject a long way off centre or right in the middle of the image 7. *Remove distractions* (17:10)

[@thecatandthedog7905]

Thank you so much! this helps me save so much time on a class.

[@fightingfitPT]

I find composition vlogs so interesting. They always make me 'think' more when I next go out. I think making sure there is always a focus/point of interest is the best advice

[@NigelDanson]

Thanks Tim

[@scotty4418]

It is always insightful to hear the thoughts of others and one of the aspects Im trying to work harder at in conjunction with taking time and not just be shutter happy. Thanks Nigel it is always appreciated that you share your knowledge and experience

[@NigelDanson]

Thanks again for the really kind words. Makes it all worthwhile

[@whall1971]

Thank you for explaining what composition is. You are the first one I have found that has explained it.

[@shokane7138]

I really love how you are really enjoy g taking pictures and amazed by the view, the way you explain/teach is easy to understand and very thoughtful. Thank you so much Nigel!

[@trdougherty]

Thank you, Nigel, for your easy-to-follow commentary. Your delivery and logic are superb. Photography is about passion, which is an attribute you demonstrate very clearly here.

[@swiftnick3]

To have the Basic Principles of Image Composition so clearly explained and demonstrated by your stunning images is so refreshing. Thank you Mr Danson. I will come back to this excellent tutorial over and over again.

[@CatherineDemski]

gosh, i went to binge watch composition vids, yours was the first one and now it's a lot harder to get myself to click away to the others because this whole video of art and wisdom blew my socks (and expectations) off. I see you, I see your work/effort man. grateful. 🙏✨✨✨

[@Dramnovir]

I just came back from my trip to Iceland and hadn't really taken the time for all the images I shot. So after a slight disappointment I am glad that I have now learned all these things to create better images for the next times I am out shooting. Thank you!

[@sayantanmandal3654]

Thanks so much Nigel for the tips.. this is so very helpful and inspiring at the same time. Please keep sharing your work, absolutely love it.

[@jrmakawoody]

I really enjoy photos where I can look at them and imagine myself exploring the area. Most of the landscape photos you take really do that for me. Thank you for the tips, great video as always.

[@kayo2711]

Thank you for so generously share your years of learnings with us, being a beginner photographer I cannot appreciate this enough!!

[@JamieGillies]

Just when you thought you had a good understanding of composition, you've gone and re-written the rule book. Some great info and thought process to creating compositions. Much appreciated. Keep it coming 😀

[@TheRedrusso]

I call Nigel "The Poet of Light"! Cannot get enough of his Videos. God bless you my brother!

Thumbs up ere' Nigel, another great inspiration of going out and taking photographs. Great set of tips and tricks. Many thanks for passing on the info :)

[@leonaldobrum]

THANK YOU for joining me for tea!... Oh, and for the EXCEPTIONAL explanation 🙏👏👏👏👏👏 The best I've seen so far - and also for drawing from your own catalog of wonderful photos.

[@markkujantunen8298]

When you talked about taking your time finding a great composition at a scene, one thing crossed my mind and that was the idea of looking for compositions out there even when you're not out shooting (except when you're driving or something, of course).

[@LPNewsomPhotography]

Thank you, Nigel, for the straight-forward tutorial. Good stuff. Much appreciated, Mate.

[@alanwoods8]

Hey Nigel, thank you for sharing your experience and insights on compositions, helpful and useful.

[@rosiesamuel8562]

Everything you do is so beautiful and insightful. Thanks, for teaching us...

[@matthewbishop5176]

This has got to be one of the most helpful explanations of how to achieve good landscape composition. Gonna save this one for later when I can actually go out in the world.

[@celinemorisset5533]

Great tips and really easy to follow. Love the way you deliver the message with such perfect examples. Bravo!

[@MiguelACoronaDM]

Great tips Nigel. Always helpful to get additional perspectives on strategies to compositions. Really enjoyed the the tips and illustrations.

[@dylanwnorman]

This is the best video about composition that I have seen.

[@ThePandagirl05]

I absolutely love this channel. Thank you for providing examples for all of your different key points. I took notes the whole time.😊

[@yitzchallevi8208]

Bless you... love your excitement and passion!

[@markharris5771]

Another superb video Nigel, thank you very much.

[@ShakeelNaim]

Nigel - a great video, really enjoyed it. I always struggle with composition so this will really help. Please keep up the good work.

[@NigelDanson]

Thanks. Appreciate that

[@jillya8289]

This is what I needed to hear! I'm very right brained, so looking for patterns comes naturally, but I was struggling with making my photos look more 3D. Thanks so much for this video

[@thomasb4717]

Excellent video again, Nigel. Always such a pleasure to watch your channel. It was very easy to follow your analysis. While watching the first presentations of image 1, 2 and 3 I liked the second one over the first for highlighting the heather and seeing the trail much clearer. And my favourite was the third for the zigzagging of the trails and the depth created by the mist. I feel that the workshop in the spring gave me a better understanding of composition. Hopefully, after a very busy work summer I will be able to apply some of it this autumn. While being more of a late riser, my intention really is to get out early for some coastal sunrises this autumn....

[@dr.house.md.3969]

Those music and scenery are blessing to eye and ears. Thanks.

[@bobcat6653]

You have great insight, AND you share that insight. Thank You so much!

[@azalbalushi]

Thank you Nigel .. sometimes when I arrive at a location I easily get desracted by certain aspects of the scene and the technical stuff .. and forget about composition. great tips !

[@nrsphg]

This is a great video for those of us who rush the scene. I am guilty of rushing which I have to overcome fast. I have been also focusing mostly on technical stuff and now I feel like my photos have become too generic. I am going to make a list of creative projects based on the tips you shared and try to slow down while shooting. Thank you for this clearly articulated video.

[@AlynWallace]

Top quality mate. A subject which is so difficult to communicate yet you did so both eloquently and with great insight

[@NigelDanson]

Cheers Alyn - appreciate that mate

[@Livingwildpics]

Excellent presentation! and No distracting background music! Thank you! Learnt a lot.

[@natekong3596]

This is very informative tips! When I started learning photography, the very first thing I learned was how to see light. Understanding quality and mood of light greatly improved my photography in general.

[@filip1491]

Excellent video, thanks for uploading Nigel, you're an inspiration.

[@general_crap]

Love your videos and super inspiring. Great tips and content as always. Thanks for making them.

[@matsfotografi]

Great video, as always! I've just read two e-books on composition. Perfect timing with you confirming what I've learnt so far!

[@IrondragonGamingYouTubeChannel]

What a great video! Very well done. So many people have such a hard time articulating what composition is especially in photography, but you gave much more depth and explained beyond 4 or 5 rules. Very impressive

[@josephstanski5180]

Great video Nigel - I'll watch it at least 10 time before it all sinks in and becomes second nature. I like the phone (live view) and/or moving around with the camera on live view to find a starting point composition. Kind of like what Ansel Adams used in workshops and his framing tool he used to find compositions. Thanks so much for all the reminders.

[@NigelDanson]

Thanks! Appreciate that

[@HawkeScream]

That was so fantastically thorough. Super excited to get out and shoot!

[@vanessarealrose5919]

Beautiful dog I love how in the beginning they are looking to see who you are talking to

[@jenniferfairbanks9729]

I found your KZbin channel today after searching for composition tips. I must have watched about 20 of your videos already! I find them all really useful, especially when you explain why a photo looks good and include lines on top of your images. I look forward to getting my first ever dslr camera tomorrow so I can put what I have learned from your channel so far into practice.

[@Gijz74]

14:00 What a sublime image! Hope to shoot something this beautiful some day. Fog indeed is a photographers best friend.

[@niniko582]

Really great and informative video. Thank you so much for sharing your tips! Also the music is totally awesome 😍

[@winstonbrady6129]

Thanks Nigel! We used this in our photograph unit at my school. Great work!

[@NoEggCraig]

Massively helpful, thanks so much for the video, also the drone shots in the beginning were amazing.

[@BessieYoungPhotography]

I thought the sound was just fine at the beginning :) This is awesome. Thanks!

[@zorcbar]

where you're talking about photography sounds like you're telling a poem. ^^

[@robertomule2739]

Very helpful and intereesting. Thank you Nigel

[@acidsnow5915]

another great video with great tips! composition is so important but i forget it to often, thanks for the reminders!

[@matthewschembri9301]

Hi Nigel thank you for sharing this was very helpful.

[@alanlamont9255]

Very helpful Nigel ! Giving me loads of ideas for Glencoe and Skye next week weather permitting .

[@martinjn2920]

Another excellent video Nigel, thank you.

[@tompetersphotography]

Great job nigel.... very informative and helpful!

[@sookhiangoo1330]

Great info. I always shoot wide at 21mm on nikon d800 but I think I will lug my long zoom with me. The Swiss photo says it all. Great tip. Thanks so much

[@jmntrunks]

These shots are just breathtaking! Awesome tips, and I love the video.

[@digitalm100]

Learning so much from these videos, thank you so much.

[@RossCollicutt]

You are very good at breaking down your images Nigel. Keep it up.

[@andrewsgray]

Good to hear it put into words. I've always been able to look at scenes and know immediately that it does/doesn't work, but to explain why is something I can never do. Good video again Nigel!

[@NigelDanson]

Thanks Andy - appreciate that. Actually help me to do this video and got me thinking about a few things.

[@elainenick]

Nigel, thank you for taking the time to explain Lightroom and then to give a composition class, it was awesome. I have been taking photos for years, and just love it. Now, I really have some work ahead of me to organize and choose the photos that I can edit and enhance. I live on a farm in California and love to travel to the mountains, most of my photos are Landscape photography. I love the thought of telling a story with passion and being able to communicate it through photography.

[@NigelDanson]

Thanks for the kind words. A farm in California sounds great

[@a.s.6505]

Thank you for the video. Great explanation, simple yet effective. You are generous about sharing your knowledge, thank you for that too. You've got a new sub.

[@danaschulz8441]

Your compositions are spot on!!

[@ShawNshawN]

Great points for taking photos. Thanks Nigel

[@Leffe49]

Great tips and lovely images as always Nigel!

[@piyushchahar]

This is a wonderful video man! A lot of valuable information and insights. Thanks a lot!!!

[@JustAnAverageAsian]

Fantastic tips. Thanks for sharing this.

[@pauljoslyn154]

Another very informative and useful video Nigel - great work.

[@takodalee7214]

thanks, your tips have helped me improve so much within my Landscpe Photography Career 😊

[@badgercreek]

Looking in to videography and wanted to learn more about composition. This was a great help! Signed up for the news letter and ebook. Thank you for such great information.

[@RockLakeMama]

Thank you for the great tips, Nigel!

[@glennmostert7248]

Hi Nigel, your video's are very good, informative and easy to grasp, just signed up for your newsletter. hello from South Australia.

[@OhCrazyEggs]

Wow! Excellent composition advice! Your examples are very helpful too!

[@lamkaz810]

Loads of great information! 🌟🌟🌟

[@hughnorth7547]

Another fantastic video. Many thanks from Canada, Nigel!

[@Artoffrozentime]

Nigel, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I've subscribed!

[@marcelzwart3527]

Very helpful video Nigel. With these tips I hope to improve my future photos.

[@esanford]

These are all good tips to be included in my thought arsenal.

[@yujinlandscapephotography.7787]

I have found good composition. Great tips. Thank! Nigel.

[@slumbass]

Thanks for this channel mate, you’re videos are great. I’m from Macclesfield so a few of your locations I recognise from my dog walks in the peaks etc. Very useful!

[@gmt6103]

Hi, Photo's within the photo... Brilliant tip! Thanks 💚👍

[@RetroHoo]

Your content is amazing! I've been interested in composition theory since I started making photos (roughly 20 years ago... Don't tell anyone), you manage to concentrate the information and keep it interesting. Thanks

[@gilsaturnino5129]

I love photography and have a nikon D5100... And more, i learning english an your videos are very good for my learn... Thank you very much.

[@nhamty599]

Your enthusiasm explodes from the screen with this Wonderful presentation. Thank you.

[@NigelDanson]

Thanks

[@duncanwp]

Great video! You have given me some great tips/advice that I will look to use in the future. Thank you for posting this video

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Great tips, thank you

[@benhayes8891]

Absolutely brilliant video, really really good, has helped me a lot

[@Badger220455]

Excellent tips, lot to work on there. Have signed up for the newsletter as well. Thanks

[@benvanboom8907]

Nigel, i love the way you work yourself up in this (creative) business. My respect 👏 Thanks for this interesting video about compositions. regards, Ben 👍

[@tommybennett307]

Very informative video, thanks! Looking forward to learning to apply these techniques.

[@chauminhcao2229]

Great Nigel, thank you so much! it's really helpful. From Vietnam with love

[@MTNPANTS]

Amazing illustration at 12:40. Great info all around- thanks for creating great content Nigel!

[@jamesclark1152]

Thanks again Nigel, excellent tips to inspire me

[@russellcombs6380]

This is solid mate. Thank you!

[@JTMinnesota]

This is tremendously useful. Thank you.

[@MrFotodrilo]

Great video!! Great images!! Thanks

[@pkschossau]

Inspiring examples--beautiful stuff!