Composition MISTAKES to AVOID in Landscape Photography

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

What’s the most frequent compositional mistake that plagues you?

[@KaReEdCa]

Quite frankly... These still bug specially not getting low enough. I often find my self focusing to much on the focus of the image, that I miss the edge stuff... I end up cropping, but loose too much of the in age... Great video.. Oh an BTW.. Continuing our edge distraction conversation... What was that crumpled peice of paper? What's it on purpose 🤔🤔🤔

[@haimtoeg]

Not paying enough attention to edges. But, as far as keeping horizons straight, everybody even remotely serious about landscape should get a bubble level. They sell for a few dollars and are invaluable.

[@amenproducties]

the horizon for sure

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

@@KaReEdCa Thanks Carlos! Super glad to hear you enjoyed this weeks episode!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

@@haimtoeg I agree! Gotta keep those horizons perfectly straight!

[@kptempel]

It's encouraging to know that I'm not alone in making some of these mistakes. While Mark is talking about some of these mistakes I can think of specific photos of mine that I've done it. Also it's good for me to remember that you can still love a photo even if it isn't perfect.

[@waltdurling9487]

Your best idea here is photographing from a portrait orientation! Many of my pics would have been much improved had I changed the orientation. Many thanks!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

walt Durling Glad the video was helpful Walt!

[@biabangardy]

You are one of the rare photographers that is honest and critics their own images. This video helped me a lot. Thanks

[@jstmeknz87]

Agreed with going back thru your old work. Learning and maturing is always an interesting thing to be able to see. I love your perspectives. Glad I found you!!!

[@hailragesh]

Surprisingly these are the exact mistakes I make these days! Thank you Mark, never realised those are mistakes and can affect the whole composition! 🙏🏽

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Ragesh Nair Great to hear the video was helpful!

[@StephenMilner]

Hi, what a fantastic video. Keep up the good work! I look forward to your next video.

[@Tunesmithnw]

Another good video, Mark. Lots of food for thought on shooting in portrait and watching those edges. Thanks!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

D R Smith Many thanks for watching👍

[@photonsonpixels]

Hello Mark. I recently discovered your channel and I would like to commend you for your photography journey following your departure from the corporate world. Anyone can see how much you are enjoying your new career and success. Well done! And thank you for your tutorials. You are an inspiration for many of us.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Jorge Thanks so much Jorge - very kind of you to say!

[@1spitfirepilot]

I made ALL those mistakes over about the same time frame as you! Self criticism is how we learn. Many thanks for these reminders.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

1spitfirepilot Yep! 100% agree with ya👍

[@emekappa]

Awesome video as usual, Mark! Your videos are so pleasant to watch. Thank you for that.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Mike Araujo Glad to do it Mike! Great to hear your enjoying the channel👍

[@erikswenson2659]

Great pearls of wisdom Mr. Denny. In pursuit of avoiding busy edges, I am guilty of a lot a sliver skies.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Erik Swenson Haha! “Sliver Skies” - I like that!

[@frankyvee1]

The portrait mode tip reminded me of something I have started doing which is panoramas using the camera in portrait mode. So five to six shots in portrait mode overlapping at least 1/3 and you will have all the flexibility to crop and keep edges clean.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Yes! I shoot all my panos in a portrait orientation!

[@overlandphotography]

Very good Mark. Thanks mate

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Jim Demetriou Thank ya Jim!

[@janboag8361]

Again a great video Mark. It is always good to go back and look at old images to see what progress you have made. I had a good laugh at some of mine

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks Jan! Yep, it can be great for a chuckle sometimes:)

[@arco4299]

Thank you for all your insights. It helps re-evaluate ones manner of taking photos! Looking forward to more of your videos.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Agapito Rene Conchu Glad to do it and thank YOU for watching it👍

[@AntPDC]

Great advice,thank you. Rigidly centralising a subject can also be bad compositionally, unless symmetry is the intention.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

AntPDC Thanks so much!

[@shanesmithphotography]

I mustve miss this video. I came across some of my older photos I took and you are SO right, I could see the mistakes I was doing back then and how my photos have been changing for the better since then. I have to credit you for a lot of ideas and tips that I've learnt and which is making me tune up my landscape photography :) So once again a HUGE thank you SO much for your time and all your tips and ideas on capturing better photos Mark 👍 Much appreciated 😃

[@Howierams]

I hate a crooked horizons! Subscribed, great vid.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Howard Eaton Thanks so much Howard!

[@mariosnicolaou8770]

Thank you for a great video Mark. Really appreciate the lessons and really admire your humility.

[@SalvatorePisanu]

Perfectly agree, i always start to shoot at all the level, from the ground to where i can reach on high

[@collinanderson3432]

Thanks Mark, great tutorial.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Collin Anderson Thanks Collin!

[@ades.3327]

I struggle with the eye level problem to for the same reasons, an old neck/upper back injury. I've noticed it in a lot of my recent photos that so much of it is at eye level and I realized it was because it's easier and less painful for me to do it that way. I've been trying to find ways to adjust. Prior to my injuries I'd have no issues with getting low to the ground or any other level.

[@notallaboutmeministry3285]

Thanks for the tips. I do look at past photos. Sometimes I think those are good and sometimes I think not so good.

[@MrKetio]

Helpful video,thank you,Mark !

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Nedyalko Ketev Glad to hear it!

[@richardnewland2717]

Really helpful thoughts here. I think just leaving the main thing in the centre was my biggest mistake until I started trying to be more organised in my thinking. Keep up the great work Mark!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Richard Newland Many Thanks Richard! Always appreciate you watching!

[@nevvanclarke9225]

I so agree ....everyone else shoots eye level. Getting lower gives you that “bug” view. Getting lower is so cool ...thanks for the tips. Love the video. I also don’t think we have to be obsessed with 3rds rule either. You made a an interesting point about watermarks. People with big massive watermarks are crazy - it really ruins the pic for me.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Nev Van Clarke Thanks Nev! Appreciate ya watching this week’s episode!

[@Ravindra.Dubey1]

Great learnings Mark! Thank you so much for being this humble and wonderful teacher. These are very thoughtful composition lessons. Keeping this like a checklist for myself..... Sincere thanks, yet again.... Cheers

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much!

[@steveshubert]

Love your videos, Mark...but I actually laughed when you suggested we "go back and look at some of our earlier photography to feel encouraged"; if anything, my earlier photography only depresses me because I don't feel like I'm going ANYWHERE with it. (I know I am, but dang, it's hard to see it most of the time!) Your videos have been such a help and an encouragement to me, and as always, I appreciate the time you invest in the rest of us. Thanks again, Mark!

[@nicholashaile3935]

Absolutely love your old pictures. I was suprised to see the Arthur Ravenel Bridge in SC! I had just edited my own from a recent trip. Absolutely beautiful shot. Mine was taken from the docs seen below. I wish I had found a spot further out as you had.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Nicholas Haile Thanks so much! That’s on of my favorite south east bridges👍

[@whafrog]

Great discussion and examples. Busy edges is my biggest problem lately, as I also try to follow the mantra of "get closer"... :)

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

whafrog It’s certainly something that still trips me up at times as well.

[@RichardUchytil]

Last year I started getting lower on my photos, though I don't always remember to do it and I'm often with my family who doesn't have the patience to wait for me to get everything out and compose a photo so I just take it while walking. But I have seen getting low definitely helps! And I hadn't thought about the edges before. I'm going to go look at a bunch of recent photos I liked to see what my edges are like! Great video, thanks!!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Richard Uchytil Thabks Richard! Great to know you enjoyed the video!

[@minmin-fs1nn]

thank you so much, i dont usually leave comment in youtube, but yours are simple and informative. gotta thanks you properly

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

min min I’m glad you did - thank you!

[@MrGodemi]

Very helpful. Thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences. Hoping to see more.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Bill Xie Great to hear - thanks Bill!

[@ericklindberg8377]

Really really great video this week Mark! Takes some stones to put up early photos and criticize them to the world. I do go through old photos quite often really. And I embarrass myself when I look at them, especially after I remember I put them on social media. I think one of my biggest mistakes would be having busy edges. It's not something I ever really seem to pay attention to. Also, I seem to sometimes forget to actually frame a subject.. I end up capturing the subject but the photo is chaotic because I didn't frame it well. Appreciate another great video my friend! See you next week!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Yeah, busy edges are the one that still gets me from time to time, some scenes it's easy to clean up the edges, but others I wrestle with forever trying to keep a clean frame. Appreciate ya Erick!

[@nickyfoulkes8476]

I had a tip from a pro uk photographer regarding portrait & landscape orientation. If you have a scene with lots of horizontals then turn your camera in portrait orientation which creates an oposite. Then you have a much more powerful image.

[@MrPhilbautista]

LOL. I actually liked your initial batch of "high & wide shots and preferred them over the succeeding examples you shot closer to the ground.

[@earavichandran]

I do only mistakes. All kind of mistakes. I personally thanks to you for sharing a wonderful experience of mistakes. Especially in bridge image, after cropping, the image looks much more pleasing to view. Shadows are becoming Nice natural leading lines. Great.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Ravi Chandran Many Thanks - great to hear you enjoyed it!

[@aminmotamedi5971]

Thank you so much Mark. one of your best videos so far.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

amin motamedi Oh wow!!! Really appreciate that👍

[@deanhallberg3340]

Helpful video Mark. I'd like to see you offer a critique class where students could sit with you and you provide guidance on their photographs. On site photography with someone like you clearly is fun. Thinking of something different.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much Dean! I actually offer something very similar to that: markdenneyphotography.com/1-post-processing-session

[@scottmentink3720]

Great information, Mark

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Scott Mentink Thanks Scott!

[@sergioc.p.7845]

Like a amateur photographer, glad to see that I’m over all these kind of things, what it means that I’m on the right way! Thanx Mark!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks for watching Sergio!

[@sergioc.p.7845]

@@MarkDenneyPhoto You're welcome. By the way ... I was watching yours videos from 2 years ago, and ... what a change.. Bro! ;-). Better now. Keep on pushing!!

[@raewebb6365]

OMG. I have 14 images in my living room TWELVE...12....are Landscape Orientation!!!! Definitely going to try more Portrait orientation...your sand/water/sky horizontal to vertical was a very powerful example. Thank you

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Rae Webb Thanks for checking out the video Rae - happy to hear it was helpful!

[@jehoshaphatjoses]

Omg 😱. I really liked your old photos

[@drum4life42]

Great advice. I like the tip on the edges. Ive found that to be the case is some of my photos as well and it doesnt look right.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

drum4life42 Thanks so much!

[@wesbaynham1634]

Great video Mark. Such simple traits to work on. Keep up the good work.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Wes Baynham Thanks Wes!

[@jefferyhudson8483]

I have learned a crazy amount of info from watching your videos, only one thing that I would suggest, could you possibly do two videos a week? ;)

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Jeffery Hudson Glad to hear the videos are helpful Jeffery! I’m not sure if two videos per week are in the cards anytime soon😀

[@cruishall]

Hi Mark. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am new to proper photography, and I am trying to learn how to better compose and take good pictures in general. I also find myself in those situations where I try to cut the items off the composition, (1) they are not so pleasing to the eye to be part of the picture, and (2) choice of lens -- I usually have my 24-70 attached to my camera, but sometimes, I wish my lens was a 14 or 16mm. This happens when I cannot move back or move up from where I am taking the photo to include other parts of the composition, hence I just focus more on the subject. Doing those things always leave me with a not so positive feeling about the composition.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad to do it Luisito! I appreciate you watching with weeks episode!

[@TheMoodyPhotographer]

Thanks a lot dear Mark, it's always amazing to hear from the experts

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad to do it friend!

[@ericb.photography735]

Very helpful! I need to go back and look at some of my old photos again. Thanks for the tips!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad to do it Eric! It's such a worthwhile exercise!

[@GGGG-zy3yn]

Hi Mark, I'm so glad I found you on you tube. I'm a landscape artist. I'm currently enjoying pastels. However, I've always been interested in photography and have captured many great images . All your tips correlate directly to painting landscapes scenes! That's why I'm so glad I found you. My question is how do you go about selling your photographs?? I'm not a professional photographer so I don't have a clue. ...(I know...clueless ) thanks, Cindy

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

cindy meares Hi Cindy! I’m so glad you found me as well😀 I sell all my prints via my website.

[@maurice.meerten]

Very helpfull video about compositions... In the past I also didn't look at busy edges, but the last few years I always try to have enough room on the edges, also for straightening crooked buildings etc. That room also should be present after straightening (the upright function) objects. so I try to leave as much room as possible.... too much room can be cropped, but too little room cannot be repaired.... The photographing-at-eye-level I try to avoid too, but my bad knee sometimes prevents me from going more to the ground....but thank God there are flippy LCD screens which are a big help in that....

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Maurice Meerten / Erop Uit! ahhh yes - the floppy screen is crucial for those of us that are a bit banged up👍

[@rosaliebischof1171]

Always good to be reminded of composition tips. I often cringe when looking at images I took 5-10 years ago. I often say to myself : what was I thinking, or actually what was I NOT thinking about! Thank goodness for the crop tool saving some!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Yes! The crop tool!

[@roysheets4159]

Excellent description of mistakes to avoid. Great communicator.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Roy Sheets Thanks so much Roy!

[@JCouv52]

Superb material as usual. Practical and well presented. Thx

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

John Couvaras Much appreciated John!

[@photo161]

Excellent teacher, very generous with his very valuable knowledge and experience

[@Spiros_Pandis]

Great content as always, Mark! Thanks!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Spyros Pandis Many Thanks!!

[@nchakravarthy1]

Wonderful video Mark. Appreciate your honesty. If I could add to your list of three, I probably would say that I over edited my earlier images.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

naveen chakravarthy Ahhh Yes! I think we’ve all been there for sure👍

[@ruzzim]

Thanks for the tips, I'm one of those who still doesn't know what style I like the most, so, I made mistakes on a bunch of pictures, I started at mid 2017 so, one of my biggest at landscape photography was that in those beginner pictures i constantly had the crooked horizon, my god, so many, I didn’t consider it that at all, the good thing is that most of them I can correct them in Post now, but depends on the picture, lots of them I can't even fix without "losing" the composition, so now I pay really attention to the horizon. Great videos Mark, love the way you teach and explain everything, any advice to someone that doesn’t know what style likes the most, I always loved portraits and landscapes, Portraits because when I was like 12 years old (29 years ago) my father let me use is Olympus OM-G - Film of course - and cause I took good pictures at home at family parties to my family relatives I got the taste for that, and I love Landscapes because nature is beautiful and I live in São Miguel - Azores - Portugal ( islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. my Business IG @memoriae.photo - IG from the islands IG: @visitazores (sorry the long comment :)

[@teresamay3773]

Great video Mark. These are great tips to look for. I know I'm very guilty of most of my photos being at eye-level. However, one thing I always check when editing is my horizon...LOL. Thanks again!!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Teresa May Many thanks for watching Teresa!

[@lovemycity420]

Great video! I have to be sure to get lower and also start using the portrait perspective more in my landscape images!

[@AlexRoyster]

Thank you for these videos Mark, just going down the rabbit hole with photography and your story is very inspirational. I've just gotten started on your massive trove of excellent looking content and I am very grateful that you have shared this incredible real world experience you have to offer.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Alex Royster Glad to do it Alex! Many thanks for checking out the videos!

[@sukiokido5393]

Thank you for the helpful tips. I have been told to work more on composition and it does help seeing your examples

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Suki Okido My pleasure Suki!

[@vinstyles]

Always a pleasure watching your vids. So much to learn. Thank you.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much!

[@janeandrew2636]

Excellent advice again. Thanks for sharing your mistakes.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Jane Andrew Glad you think so Jane🙏

[@codymontgomery429]

Mark, I am absolutely loving your videos man! Teaching me a ton of stuff! Thank you so much! You are making me stoked to get started taking landscape photos of my own! If I can capture some shots that look even half as good as yours on my travels, I will be so happy. Excited to binge-watch the rest of your vids.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Cody Montgomery Thanks so much Cody! Pumped to hear the channel is helping ya👍

[@valdiskrebs566]

Great insights... very common beginner’s perspectives. Thanks!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks Valdis!

[@siralexander5042]

Great video, just subscribed!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much for watching and subscribing!

[@grat2010]

Great tips and examples. No better teacher than experience so I can't wait to go out and put these tips to work.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks! I agree - nothing beat experience!

[@timl.b.2095]

Fascinating presentation, working from your own mistakes.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Tim L.B. Many thanks Tim!

[@TomGrubbe]

Looking through old photos is always interesting. I have slides that I scanned back in 1998 that are hilariously bad. I'm just glad I thought to back them up in the cloud as well as a second HDD.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Indeed! They're like little time capsules!

[@harmanbeing]

Great video, I went back and saw a lot of busy edges in my photos. Keep up the good work!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Much appreciated - thank you!

[@stefanhansen5882]

Amazing advice! Thank you Mark!

[@submission62]

Great and honest work. I find myself in it a lot. Thank you for helping to get better photos

[@ryanirvine8996]

Great video Mark! Great T-shirt too. Now I understand the back issues (from an old paratrooper). I cringe every time I dig into the old folders, but maybe it’s time to learn some more lessons. Thanks for sharing Mark!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Much appreciated Ryan! I saw the shirt online a few weeks ago and just had to have it - great movie!

[@precision_aerial]

Thanks for the tips. Im going to go through some of my old work this weekend.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Eric Lash Glad to do it Eric👍

[@stevek8829]

Good for you reminding that there is no landscape format. Vertical and horizontal are equally valid.

[@madhumenon]

Thanks. Very useful video.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Madhu Menon Thanks for watching!

[@Drsef50]

Another terrific video. Thanks Mark. Do you print your own prints? I apologize if you've already addressed this topic in another video. Thanks, Dave

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks Dave! Yes I print my images on a Canon PRO-1000.

[@solsticephotoworks1883]

Great Tips!!! Def. guilty of these in my work, I like your style Mark. Keep up the great content!!!!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Solstice Photoworks Thanks so much!

[@robertnelson3179]

Thanks Mark will look into the points made over my mini trip. Btw way tried the blue light other day and I really think it will be a larger part of my shots in moving forward thanks

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Robert Nelson Awesome to hear Robert! I’m glad you stopped by to let me know!

[@roblove9976]

Thanks, really useful. I love your honesty and humility as well.

[@michaelmcphee2930]

Similar experiences. I changed out my screen into a grid pattern in rule of thirds which stops me and makes me think about composition firstly and avoiding shotgun shots where POI is in the middle of shot. If carefully positioned sometimes those extraneous items on the edge can help frame shot and lead viewers eye to the POI. I like your tutes a lot. Thank you

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks Michael! Great to hear the videos are helpful!

[@82300sd]

Lately, it has been not leaving enough room to crop. Trying to make an 8X10 portrait, and when I crop afterwards, the stuff I wanted when I composed the shot on the edge of the frames, go missing or get chopped in half

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Yes, that happens to me as well from time to time.

[@markryanoklahoma]

Great tips, thanks!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad ya think so! Appreciate you watching!

[@MrSammie81]

Great advice for me to follow for sure as I move into more landscapes. Thx

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Pace Clyncke Glad to do it Pace! Thank YOU for watching it👍

[@paulmetdebbie447]

Good tips with great examples to show what you mean. I subscribed.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Paul met Debbie Many thanks for watching & subscribing🙏

[@ttk0139]

Rightly pointed out!! Same thing is happening to me.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

I think it's fairly common!

[@BartRos1980]

This is a lovely video Mark. Thank you for it. I find youtube has become way to much aimed at gaming the algorithm and camera reviews. Your channel is one of the few exceptions.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Bart Ros Thank ya Bart! Really appreciate that!

[@framed-tales]

Great tips and thanks for sharing your past pictures and experience!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad to do it! Appreciate you watching this week!

[@TheGlockGuy17]

Excellent video! Very good content with great advice. Keep up the great work. Just discovered you today and your now at the top of my list for photographers videos.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Awesome to hear - thanks so much, you made my afternoon!

[@StefanMalloch]

Thanks bud. Good stuff.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Hypnotik Photography Many thanks!

[@lasmyth9656]

I feel your pain. Bad back here, and yes, it limits me considerably. Thanks .... love your vids, and pick up something with most.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

LA smyth Thanks so much! It’s great to hear the videos are helpful!

[@MSmith-Photography]

Again. Awesome video.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Mike Smith Many Thanks Mike!

[@musabinho]

Love your videos, very entertaining and very helpful. 👌

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Musab Al Rawahi Thanks so much - that’s great to hear👍

[@martchaka]

Great video. Keep up the good work

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Martin Westberg Much appreciated Martin!

[@MrParadoxia1]

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Glad to do it! Thank YOU for watching it!

[@WandererByNature]

Excellent tips!! Thank you so much for putting this video together 🙏🙋‍♂️👌💯

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Aurimas Peseckis Much appreciated- thank ya!

[@acraftman2823]

Really enjoyed your self-critique for some reason I always have more willingness to listen to people when they are saying this is what (I) do, did ,as opposed to this is what you should do. On a side note about composition probably because I am old but I kept staring at that sony walkman I used to haul to the gym back in the 90's!lol.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Acraftman Glad to hear it! Loved the Walkman - the original iPod.

[@freequest]

Yeah, tell me about it. You should see some of my early event photography horrible photos. But still, I do enjoy having a look at them to remind me.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

FreeQuest Yep - always good to see where you started!