8 BEGINNER Landscape Photography MISTAKES That’ll HURT You the MOST!!

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In this week’s episode, we discuss 8 beginner landscape photography mistakes that'll impact you the most! I talk about mistakes rather often on my channel for two very important reasons. The first is because I'm not afraid to admit that I'm human and I make mistakes, I'm not the world's best landscape photographer - far from it in fact, but I am a better photographer this year then I was last year and I am better today then I was yesterday. The second reason is because I don't believe there's a better learning opportunity that exists today than that of making mistakes - understanding what Not to do is just as important as understanding what To do.
In this video, I'll walk you through the 8 mistakes that I made when I was a beginner that ended up teaching me the most about landscape photography. I committed many of these mistakes over and over for the first few years and I hope some of these mistakes will resonate with you so you'll be able to correct them much quicker than I did. I believe if I could have solved for many of these mistakes much sooner than my rate of improvement would have been drastically increased when I was a beginner. I hope you enjoy this week's video and are able to get some helpful information out of it that you can apply to your landscape photography moving forward.
Thanks for watching! - Mark D.
VIDEO CHAPTERS:
🔘Introduction: 0:00
🔘Mistake #8 Always Landscape: 1:32
🔘Mistake #7 Disjointed Compositions: 3:15
🔘Mistake #6 Shooting From The Eye: 5:26
🔘Mistake #5 Low Shutter Count: 7:37
🔘Mistake #4 Exclusionary Art: 8:39
🔘Mistake #3 Bad Timing: 11:03
🔘Mistake #2 What am I looking at? 12:16
🔘Mistake #1 Gear Matters: 14:45
🔘Closing: 16:52
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[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

What’s the one photography mistake that has taught you the most?

[@thebusbums2825]

The biggest mistake i make is definitely not having my camera with me all the time.. also file management.. dump your card frequently and organize NOW not later. these aren't exactly shooting tips but are very important. Remember you will need space to store your photos so invest in external hard drives.

[@madriver11]

Always not checking all my camera settings before clicking that shutter button. Workflow in the field is something I am always trying to improve upon.

[@wimscheenen3535]

My biggest mistake is also not always having my camera with me

[@markdeguara2959]

Very helpful! Thanks Mark ✌️

[@uk7195]

Do you ever regret for switching from sony to fuji ??

[@AdventureDriver]

Leaving home without memory card and/or battery in the camera.

[@feewaybilz]

That's a big one for me I need to start putting an extra card in my bag after I've left the one I usually use in the computer

[@feewaybilz]

multiple multiple angles third Sky 2/3 land, third land 2/3 sky ...Move the camera left to right, right to left horizontal shot than vertical shots, as many different angles that you can angle view, down by the ground angle View. then you're not going to be disappointed at the end if you only took one composition photo. I typically shoot about 40 shops of one nice did you and pick the best two or three out of it

[@SesimaTV]

Facts..

[@larryfitzpatrick4673]

Getting low: Easy to say when you are young. I can still get down low, getting back up is the issue.

[@catclick16]

This is where I find my tilt screen so useful. I was going to upgrade my camera but it didn't have this option so I decided to stick with what I had.

[@dragonguise]

Can you link with your phone to view?

[@gregorychard]

When I'm on the ground and trying to get up(from the ground) I need Viagra! Greg

[@floydbrown2142]

Thats funny! Totally understand, yet age is bliss

[@ashleysadauskis2241]

As a beginning photographer, it was great to hear about not getting caught up in the gear! This is something that I have caught myself getting sucked into instead of spending the time to take more photos. Thanks for the great advice!

[@yuxuanhuang3523]

Me too! I felt limited by gear so I invested time into getting a good deal, when I could be on the streets with a old camera in hand. Just got a brand-new looking second-hand camera a few days ago and finally learning about photography it self.

[@metalmick99]

I had to chuckle at the spending big on equipment segment, and also the advice that basically said, take more shots (Low Shutter Count). It seems that there are a multitude of pursuits where people attempt to buy success. I coach archery and shake my head at some club members who buy bows sometimes as often as twice a year; and I tell those I coach that the quickest and cheapest path to improved success is meaningful practice to develop better technique (I guess the equivalent of increasing shutter count).

[@danielr.branco5813]

That reminds me of a story I heard from a friend: he went to a wine store and found that a very expensive and famous wine was anounced for a third of the original price. Even then it was an expensive price to drink, but he went for it just to conclude that, for him, after X amount of money he was not able to diferenciate the nuances of each wine, he does not had the knowledge and taste for it. And mind that here, in Brazil, when something is expensive, it's REALY expensive!

[@JordanCait]

Mark, Bravo! Many photographers only want to show their best work. I applaud you for "opening your kimono" and sharing your mistakes so that we can learn from them. Thank you.

[@michaeltorluemke3322]

Shutter count is one of the hardest things to overcome when you first learned to take photos with actual film. I’m trying not to worry about the count anymore and try to shoot several shots of the same item, maybe just changing things a little and choosing the ones you like best. It’s a lot easier when you don’t have to pay cash for every mistake.

[@digitaliphotography]

Another great video, Mark. I've been a photographer for almost 40 years, since 1982 and I STILL make some of these mistakes. I'm particularly guilty of "low shutter count" which I think is probably a hangover from film days - I used to shoot almost exclusively on slide film, expensive to process, and expensive to print.

[@rickhughesprints]

A friend of mine was the head of PBS for Wyoming. In five minutes, he taught me most of the points you made in your video. I didn't follow what he taught me at times, but he saved me a lot of bad shots. It was good to hear that advice again from you, and happy others heard it as well.

[@VickyElmo]

Definitely, "what am i looking at?" Is the mistake that I've made for the longest time... Big part of the learning process were your videos, so thank you very much for that!!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

That means a lot - thank you Vicky!

[@mr.pavone9719]

Don't ask yourself "What am I looking at?" Instead, try asking yourself "What do I want my friend to see?"

[@ksnmurthy4476]

I appreciate Mark for your honest confession about the mistakes you made in helping us to aware and improve and avoid those same mistake. That’s a great spirit of a tutor. We respect your opinions in this video. Great 👍 commitment to help us. 💐. You are choosing the subjects of unanswered questions and the ignored community of beginner photographers where we don’t find the solutions. Great work.

[@matthewacri5607]

I find not being patient is a big mistake of mine. I sometimes rush to get my shot and I miss steps like edge patrol.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Absolutely! I do the same

[@wecantstayput4958]

YES! Why do I do this? Ugh

[@JonStallings]

My big issue also, I feel I am going to miss something further down the trail.

[@matthewacri5607]

@@JonStallings Agreed! We need to block out the noise and focus on what we have in front of us.

[@mozzamhosein6476]

That’s one of my biggest mistake.

[@jlm3124]

Volume is definitely one of the best teachers. I had a friend who took his camera everywhere with him, but spent more time polishing his lenses than actually taking photos. He had to decide in his head if it would be a good photo, before he would take the camera out of the bag.

[@ceaabe]

My worst mistake was shooting at eye level for a long time, combined with the lack of depth in 99% of my photos.

[@mariobaert8346]

I think for me the most common mistake is to not take enough time to analyse the image I shot and if needed (most times) to take an adjusted position or setting and try a few more. Good tips in this video!

[@robertking893]

Another great video Mark. Thanks for being transparent and sharing with us your past mistakes to help us all become better photographers.

[@dougdunlop6716]

Hi Mark, I have been a photographer since back in the 70's after I got out of the military I was very depressed so when my cousin gave me a Yashica TLR, I spent a lot of time walking in the woods, taking pictures. I don't make much money but it's cheaper than a psychiatrist. Happy New Year!

[@joebailey8328]

Another fantastic video Mark, you explain everything so clearly and in a way that resonates with me. Love your numbered approach too. Keep up the fantastic work. 👏🙏

[@nellielodders785]

Thank you for sharing your learning experience. Showing your “first” pictures and explaining with those along side really helps and also encourages to grow.

[@jimwlouavl]

You’re a good guy to show the images you’re not proud of. They’re better than you may realize. It’s clear to me that you had good instincts all along. I’m glad you now have the chance to focus on your art.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks Jim! Kind of you to say.

[@derekcox6531]

Something I learned the hard way in my photography career,(even though I heard it over and over from very respected photographers)....always WORK the shot. Work the shot from every angle you can think of and safely shoot from. Work the shot until you can decisively say to yourself “yes there is something here” or “no,this is a nice or exciting scene to see...but there’s no photo here” in the old days of film,we had to think about every shot,but these days of digital? There’s no excuse not to fill a card if you really think there’s a composition. Imho AND YES! You are bang on when you say your gear doesn’t matter! your ability to see and just take the shot. That’s what matters.

[@delpher1983]

I started with landscape photography just several months ago. It is so exciting and encouraging to see exactly same "bad' beginner photos taken at the early days by a good photographer who you admire and learn from. Many thanks for sharing this.

[@pedrodesousa7128]

Keep these videos going Mate. Great work!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks Pedro!!

[@MaternalUnit]

One thing I'm changing is that I'm actually getting slightly farther back rather than closer when I take some photos. In my zeal to go in close, especially with the foreground, I wasn't leaving myself enough space for cropping later. You don't want to go back too far and lose resolution and detail, but leave some room for cropping after you have a chance to study the image on a big computer screen. If you need to correct for parallax, you'll need extra margin for that, too.

[@celinemorisset5533]

Thank you Mark for sharing good sense on the 8 mistakes. As always great learning!

[@seanfagan6727]

Outstanding tips, and well articulated. Great work 👍

[@mr.pavone9719]

I'd make 2 more suggestions 1. Take an art course that isn't directly related to photography. Something like graphic arts or painting. You'll develop composition and "eye flow" skills since you're more focussed on them. 2. Get into miniature photography. There are a lot of instagram accounts that compose all kinds of scenes; action, romance, suspense, landscapes, portraits, close-ups and big scenes. Lots of people pick their favorite toys and put them in all kinds of situations. Star Wars, Masters of the Universe, GI Joe, etc. Other people are into doll collecting and put them in all kinds of fashion shoots. Miniature photography will really focus your efforts in creating a scene and getting in super close to get great pictures. It can also improve your technical skills as you'll find yourself turning off the auto features and experimenting with manual settings.

[@MaternalUnit]

Totally agree! I'm building a 1:6 scale collection and really enjoy the planning scenes like puzzles. Lighting is very important for such photos, too.

[@rob9386]

Love these mistake videos they are so helpful and how you can give examples is just the best!

[@eiremic]

This was a great video Mark. Lots of helpful tips.

[@Goalieswede]

Excellent video, love to see critiques of old "bad" photos as they help amateurs like me better understand our own mistakes.

[@larryholdercoolsolutionsllc]

Thank you so much. I'm just getting into the hobby and see myself going down the same road in mistakes.

[@victoriaelledge9837]

I like that you are clear and concise.

[@patrickfototirol]

Great video again Mark. You have been a real guide for me. Thank you

[@craigbartschi4990]

I'm very good at making all these mistakes! My biggest challenge and the one I think makes most of the difference in taking a good photo is slowing down and taking more time to concentrate on the subject at hand, I find myself rushing to the next great scene to get that perfect photo when in reality it's in front of me or I just left it. Great video Mark, Thanks

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks for checking out the video Craig!

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

"I just left it" -- yeah that happens to me all the time! :D I take some shots, pack up my gear, move on and within less than 100 meters I see something else and - dang am I going to stop to get this shot as well? Unpack everything again for this potentially great shot? Or should I just forget it and come back another time?

[@vincentcrow8992]

Thank you Mark - as usual I learned a lot. Excellent info.

[@rlfisher]

Great tips, you nailed it again, Mark.

[@johnnykim1870]

Spending time searching for the best gear will never end... I'm so into photography these days and glad that i found your channel 😎

[@SundayRacers]

Always enjoy your videos Mark. Never watched a video of yours that wasn't time well spent

[@danieljames1196]

Great video Mark 👏🏼

[@soumyajyotidas595]

Room, lights, background arrangements... a different level of setup. So pleasant to eyes

[@jeffmanser2345]

Great tips. I was laughing at so many of your older images used to illustrate problems because they look like too many of my current photos! I really enjoyed the video. Thanks for doing these!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

You bet and thanks for checking it out!

[@mozzamhosein6476]

Excellent video as usual. Great theme this week. All your points are reminders that is valuable. Your sincerity is truly appreciated. Have you considered doing a video on setting up your photo for printing?

[@tanweercaa]

Great great video Mark, what a nice compilation. Thanks so much.

[@louiebodenstaff6772]

Thank you Mark, brilliant advice ... especially #1 around the gear!

[@VonGuller]

I’m learning so much from your content. Thanks.

[@bonnieleefowler3206]

Thank you for another excellent tutorial. Love starting my day with your videos.

[@naturesmagicphotography2829]

Perfect video. Needed it

[@JohnDennery]

I hope people realize how important the point about gear is. I recently met some professional photographers who do a LOT of work that people have seen and they are exclusively using the Sony RX100 - a camera with a fixed lens and small sensor. That really shifted things for me as I realized it's the person using the camera which is far more important than the gear. Now my goal is to be someone who can take excellent photos with ANY gear! I think that is a very useful attitude for any photographer to take. Thanks for the video!

[@keithshenkin3674]

Really enjoy the soft, gentle delivery of helpful information. Thanks.

[@RSX28]

Very good points Mark and much needed reminders to improve my photography.

[@GeoscienceImaging]

These resonate for sure, it's a learning process.

[@timnightingale4325]

Top vid, really valuable, thanks Mark.

[@jamesquinn8958]

This is a great video. Thanks for the tips, they are definitely gonna come in handy the next time I do landscapes!

[@murofirenze]

I've started to take notes watching your videos. They are like a little big course. Thank you.

[@TheOnlyGuess]

We always hear the famous saying to learn from our and others' mistakes. Not knowing what's wrong won't prevent us from doing mistakes. As a teacher I agree with you on knowing the mistakes so that we can improve our photography level. Besides your videos helped me a lot over the last year. Learning from others' mistakes will just shorten the way for us for reaching our learning objectives. I encourage to carry on with these videos. I really appreciate that.

[@ronkathyballard5923]

Another great video ! I have definitely spent too much time over the past year making mistake #5. I have been doing photography for many years but lately have spent way too much time watching KZbin, reading blogs and photography books and not enough time outside finding great photo opportunities. Thanks to you bringing this too my attention. I will be going out this evening with my camera and get back to what I always loved to do.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks for checking out the video Ron - it’s great to hear you enjoyed it!

[@ga9d]

Great advice Mark, many thanks.

[@tgchism]

Thank you for sharing you experiences with us.

[@eduardomachado489]

Totally resonates! 👌🏻

[@Cheyenne07]

What a great photo learning video, probably the best I've seen. You explain everything in easy to understand english. It is getting me interesting in photography again. Thank you! By the way I've just subscribed.

[@RTD3]

Spot on tips and great video!

[@elcioferreiradf]

Thank you for teaching landscape photo. Your videos help me so much to improve my Photos.

[@hanajanca]

I’m not really into landscape photography any more (my walking and alpinist days are gone). Nevertheless, your advices and tips are so applicable to many other types of photography as well. I applied your advices on several of my nonlandscape photos and got unexpectedly good results. Thank you, Mark!

[@andrewinglis45]

Great tips Mark, thanks.

[@chrisfor]

Good stuff Mark, thanks.

[@mchume65]

When I'm on a photo trip, I'll often engage in conversation with young adults, (I'm 66), and I'll point out to them how much photography has improve by the advent of the digital age. Naturally they take it for granted. I started out back in the 35mm film days and I explain to them the limitations of shooting with film. The ISO is set, slide or negative. Set number of shots per roll. Cost and time for processing. Almost no editing without extra costs. Every photo is a hard copy. Photography has come a long ways and it is so much more versatile now.

[@MaternalUnit]

It's such a fun, free feeling to be able to take 1K photos on a trip and then dump 95% of them!

[@matssandquist9258]

Thanks for sharing. Many wise words there. If I'm allowed to disagree in one thing it would be about the timing part. Don´t let harsh light be a reason to not going out with the camera. You can always bring the macro or a long lens for close up and use the light to you advantage or finding places there it is cool shadow effects and if nothing works that day you had at least a nice day out, fresh air and some exercise. 😊

[@sroy9023]

Very good tips! Look forward to more such videos.

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Handy reminders. Especially #5.

[@donnapezzulli3088]

Wow, like hearing myself when training staff, it's all about knowing what you don't know and learning from it. Thanks again Mark, always informative and makes me want to get out there!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Many thanks Donna! Great to hear you enjoyed it

[@homecinemax1]

Thank you. Very Very Useful Advice !

[@massdistraction6169]

Great stuff, thanks a million 👍

[@fattony527]

Recently picked up a camera to learn again, been a good decade. Found your channel, thanks for the detailed videos! Definitely been a great help with getting back into photography.

[@kennyyarbrough4150]

Its very refreshing to see someone openly showing their failures or short comings. Thats very encouraging to a duffer like me. I have thousands of photos that are near misses that i could never quite figure out what the problem was. Many look just like your examples and now i have some really good ideas how to correct it. thanks

[@ravikanagasabey285]

Very well presented. Great advice. 👍 Thanks

[@carolinezaramati9193]

Very useful tips! I enjoy watching your videos and the clarity of your explanation. As a beginner in photography I sure am going to remember and use those points.

[@markconkling4223]

This was the most important video I have seen over the last 3 years, after I retired, and have been learning exclusively on KZbin to improve my photography (passionate amateur). My big mistakes are not seeing everything in frame (I corrected that by using a tripod for almost everything, it gives me time to see everything), worrying more about gear than taking images (I corrected that be being happy with my Nikon D300s and 28mm AiS, 55mm micro AiS, 85mm AF, and 180mm AiS lenses, and I have stopped dreaming about "what if"), shooting at eye-level (I can not do anything about that, arthritis has taken that away from me). You are putting out GREAT material. Thank you.

[@NiclasRhein]

I really like your videos! You're the only youtuber i know which is explaining all the details based on examples. This is very helpful! :)

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Thanks so much - really appreciate that!

[@ottosun12]

Just getting into this hobby and totally relate to these mistakes, especially no. 1. Thanks!

[@BigWillSD]

Outstanding lesson. As I'm becoming aware of much of what your discussing, I'm and to understand and hone the ideas, alleviating what doesn't feel right and focus on essentially everything you mentioned. Thank u

[@RiskyBizness33]

Very helpful video Mark 😊 I’ve been a culprit of number 1. I’ve been made redundant from work recently and now have time to make my photography hobby into something more. I have spent the last few weeks though researching equipment to see which would be the best for me. My camera is a canon M6 mkii so not at all a bad camera. I have a 50mm 1.2 prime lens and a 22mm 1.4 prime. I have just bought a used canon 22-75 L lens thinking it will improve my photography. Watching your video has put my mind at rest to just stick with what I have for now and just practice more with composition and the other techniques I am learning from you and the other great photographers out there. Very inspiring videos. Cheers Rob

[@xThe3xecution]

With mistake number 5 you totally got me. I bought a mslr back in 2017 and barely used it Till mid of 2019. I Was so concentrated of getting the theoretical aspects that I never went out and practised them. Since i finally Do i feel much more confident and can See a lot of improvements ive made with my composition and General editing. Great Video and very good Tips that every one should know. I Just would add like to not only get loser whole shooting but sometimes try to get higher. Helped me out in a few comps as well.

[@cii1072]

Great discussion and examples that illustrated the mistakes you pointed out. I'm afraid I'm guilty on all 8 counts. Like you, I can look at photos I took just a few short years ago and identify a mistake or an error or something that I did or didn't do that impaired or downgraded the composition. As time passes, I try not to repeat the same mistakes. I'm getting better, but still have a lot of room for improvement.

[@andre12362]

Great tips. Probably one of your best videos

[@vickennedy3923]

Great Tips, I'm just starting to learn, gonna get out and Shoot and try to learn from my mistakes!!

[@bernardsaumier5384]

Great tips as usual, well done

[@dave0992]

Love the yellow sony waterproof walkman!

[@shaunosborne9579]

Hi there I've only watched a couple of your videos so far, as just found you but I must say i do lie how you explain things well. So thanks I really enjoyed this one.

[@stufromoz8164]

Yeah that's basically it in a nutshell, the only thing I would add to this is double checking you have everything you need each time you go out for a shot, just double check everything is in your bag. Great vid mate, cheers from Down Under.

[@ramblingG]

Great tips, thank you!

[@billhumphrey3238]

Mark, low is so important ! It gives a look of magnificence to your photos. Nature is grander than we are.

[@sainemaful]

Amazing work! Encouragement, tips to get between and a bit of be careful but do enjoy wrapped in on session! Nice!

[@josteinrasmussen1233]

Thank you, I learned so much in such a short time from this video.

[@Savgrace729]

Thank you so much! I am a beginner photographer(a teen) and your videos are very helpful. You make them easy to understand, and engaging to watch. Thanks again!😁

[@wlacalle]

Great information, thanks 🙏

[@sergiopenteado]

Basically the first minute of the video is a lesson for life, not only for photography. Thanks for that Mark! I still find myself struggling with composition, “read the room” before taking the shot is very hard. Normally, I identify some distractions and I still leave them in the frame. The exercise in post is to know how to crop the photo to train the eyes for the next shot. Probably this is a baby step to get to the next one. Only time will tell! Cheers.

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

Great to hear you enjoyed it Sérgio!

[@stevew7779]

Great video, instructional and inspirational

[@andychandler3992]

I'm subscribing to this. You have some very good points. the light part actually helped me because as I am in the "not beginner, slowly creeping into novice" the point about the lightest part being where you focus your composition, was something that helped. And thank goodness, you're not trying to sell equipment!!! Breath of fresh air.

[@RyandeMilliano]

This was a very helpful video, I appreciate the tips! Thank you.

[@michaeljenner1795]

These are all excellent tips. I took so many photos that looked like a background waiting for a subject. I would often be looking at two subjects on either side of the shot. Shooting from eye level I've certainly been guilty of as well, and using landscape orientation. Another one I might add is setting up the camera before going out for the shoot. I spent one afternoon getting some really good shots, but I wasn't aware that I had my camera set for smaller images. I was so bummed when I came home and transferred the images to find they had low resolution.