Unlock Your Photo Composition Potential with ONE QUESTION!

Great topic. I agree that composition is definitely one of the biggest areas of both challenge and potential growth. Camera settings really don't matter all that much beyond a certain point of understanding, but composition and editing always seems like something I can improve. For me at least, I usually start with the end aspect ratio in mind & required focal length and then try to balance the elements. Then, waiting for the right light. I find that if I run and gun a scene when the light is good and try to force crop to the right aspect ratio or zoom later, those images always turn out lacking somehow. I'm admittedly not a huge rule follower, so I don't do the rule of thirds, etc much, at least deliberately. I'm with ya on the heat and smoke though. This summer has been rough

My back hurts just watching you carry all that gear. Oh, to be young!! 💪 To be honest, I pay very little attention to composition. Instead, I focus on whatever I find interesting or cool. That usually revolves around light and shadow. I try not to overthink it and just fire away. I don't plan trips around photography, but I do have a camera with me whenever I travel (or just leave the house). I've taken some great shots from my car window waiting at a red light simply because I had my camera with me.

My biggest hurdle is composition. Tech is easy for me but I've been excercising the left hand side of my brain for so long... Watching you helps me to excercise the RHS of my brain. Thanks Jude.

Hey Jude. Thanks for putting yourself out there. It’s a tough gig.

From only seeing this one video of yours, I’d say 2 things:

1. Get closer. You’re standing up on the tops of these hills shooting at the “out there”. Stick your 50 or 80mm lens on, leave the rest in the van, and get up close and personal with the trees. Who was it said, “If it’s not good enough, you’re not close enough”? I feel like you’re not close enough physically, or connected closely with a subject.

2. Turn around often. Watching the background of the talkie walkie vids I can see multiple compositions that you’re walking past.

Keep going. Be well. Drink lots of water.

I'm not a giant fan of heat either. Probably why summer is something I never look forward to. Gotta give it to you though for getting out in these conditions. Always enjoy your videos.😀

With the midday sun the way it was, how do some of your images look in black and white? Would you be able to get the dead tree to separate better from the background?

Awesome video!

Great video!