Over the years I’ve received much great advice that has contributed significantly to my growth as a photographer. While guiding a photographer last week who was only bitten by the photo bug a few months ago, I offered a simple piece of advice: “Sweep the edges of your viewfinder before making an exposure.” It was something I learned ten years ago while reading a “how-to” book published by Arizona Highways. At the end of the day I was happy to hear her say that she learned more during our few hours together than she had in several months on her own. I always find it rewarding to help other photographers learn and grow as artists.
On the drive home I began to reminisce about all the little nuggets of wisdom I’ve learned in the past eleven years. Some came from books, others from magazines and even more from other photographers. Regardless of their origin, each one has benefitted me in some way. Like many of you, I never want to stop learning. No doubt, the advice below is only the beginning of what will surely be an even longer list in another eleven years.
Sweep the Edges - Since I mentioned this one in the introduction to the article I thought I’d start off with it. It’s also one of my favorites and something I do every time I compose an image without even thinking about it. Very simply, once you have composed a scene in your viewfinder do one final visual sweep of the edges of the frame before depressing the shutter button. You’re looking for little distractions. It might be a branch intruding into the frame, a bright spot in a corner or even the foot of your tripod creeping into the bottom of your composition. This will also force you to slow down and spend more time crafting a deliberate composition.
Don’t Forget to Turn Around - I read this very early in my career in a “how-to” book published by Arizona Highways that seems to have been discontinued. The author’s point is simple: no matter how awesome the scene before you is, always remember to glance over your shoulder because it just might be even better behind you. I follow this advice on nearly every photography outing and it has netted me some of my favorite images.
Don’t Forget to Look Down - I learned this lesson while viewing Tom Till’s image of colorful desert wildflowers pushing through cracks in mud. The placard next to it explained that while Tom was photographing a grand landscape he happened to look down and found a scene far more original and interesting than the one he had intended to photograph. You just never know what you’ll find if you keep an open mind!
Include People in Your Photos - This one certainly won’t apply to everyone. However, it’s a valuable tidbit of advice that has certainly been favorable to my bank account. My good friend Todd Caudle, who has been one of the most generous and inspirational pro’s for the entire length of my career, is responsible for this one. While photographing wildflowers at Lost Dutchman State Park about ten years ago, Todd suggested that I consider including people in my photos. Todd suggested that photographing my girlfriend at the time while hiking, climbing, canyoneering and mountain biking would open doors to some of the outdoor magazines. I didn’t take his advice seriously until I met my wife, Melissa, a few years later. It’s a shame I waited. Had I immediately began following Todd’s advice I surely would have been published much sooner.
Look For and Exploit Reflected Light - We’ve all seen photos of Antelope Canyon’s sculpted walls glowing neon with reflected light. Until I gathered this piece of advice from uber-talented photographer and friend Guy Tal, I wasn’t aware that reflected light was so prevalent in nature. And, it even happens on a grand scale. Clouds reflect light back down on to the landscape and massive cliffs bounce light all the way across the Colorado River canyon near Moab. Snow reflects light into shadows. Once you learn to identify reflected light you can easily use it to your advantage – even when photographing in mid-day.
Don’t Immediately Set Up Your Tripod - I can’t remember where I learned this but it’s made a huge difference in the quality of my compositions. Upon arriving at a location spend some time exploring the area before you plant your tripod. Experiment with different vantage points. Try getting low to the ground or finding an elevated perch. Maybe you’d originally intended to go wide angle but a more interesting scene in the distance demands a telephoto? Even a few steps to the left or right of you’re standing could make a dramatic difference.
Bad Weather = Good Photography - Another great piece of advice whose origin escapes me. Bad weather often creates the most dynamic conditions for photography. Menacing clouds, storm light, fog, rain and snow can all contribute to amazing photography. Or they can flat out suck. That’s the chance you take when you wander out on a stormy day to make photographs. But instead of bemoaning the fact that rain is in the forecast, get excited by it. Overcast? You couldn’t ask for better light for intimate landscapes. Fog? If it’s winter you might find hoar frost. Summer? Look for features in the landscape playing hide and seek behind a veil of fog.
Adapt to the Conditions - This one ties in nicely with the one above. Most of us have probably taken a trip to a far off location with the intent of photographing our hearts out only to find lousy weather upon our arrival. There is always something to photograph. It may not be what you came for, but if you stay positive and learn to adapt you will be able to make images. I don’t remember where this one came from but it’s advice I’ve learned to follow. Bonus: Not only do I get to make photos regardless of the conditions, but I’m much happier and less stressed out, too.
A Bad Day in the Mountains is Better Than a Good Day in the Office - This one comes to us from Todd Caudle. And you know what? He’s right. Wouldn’t you rather hike ten miles into the mountains to photograph sunrise at an alpine lake only to be defeated by a dull gray overcast than spend one stinkin’ minute staring at your computer monitor? I would. I will add one small caveat: A bad day in the mountains is better than a good day in the office – so long as you don’t have to cut off your own arm!
Certainly you’ve all received some sage advice over the years. Why not share it with us in the comments section below? I, for one, am always open to good advice!
32 Responses to “The Best Photography Advice I’ve Ever Received”
Connie says:
That is such good advice, I will keep it all in mind, Thanks connie
Russ Bishop says:
Great selection of tips Bret. Simple and true.
Heather says:
“A Bad Day in the Mountains is Better Than a Good Day in the Office” {AMEN}
Eric Leslie says:
Adapting to the Conditions really resonates with me. I have a little tradition everyday on my lunch break. I love to go out and shoot and I have captured much of my portfolio. Midday light is a time many togs refuse to go out and it doesn’t always net me a keeper, but it really forces me you to grow and look for images. You don’t have to have some epic sky or perfectly even light to find great photographs.
I enjoyed the list!
Bret Edge says:
Thanks for the comments, everyone.
Eric: Adapting to the conditions has made one of the biggest impacts on my photography. If you can adapt, you can almost always find something to photograph. It leads to a much happier place for me!
Andrew says:
Good stuff. I haven’t quite mastered the all-weathers notion. I’m certainly learning to stop and look before I do anything else. Thanks for the good advice.
Kirsteen says:
Great advice, I’m still venturing into landscape photography and I’ll be printing this off to keep in my camera bag!
Jeff Colburn says:
There comes a time to stop reading, and start shooting.” Al Belson
Bret Edge says:
Jeff: I’ve never heard that one but I love it! So very true. The more time you spend making images, the better. It’s good to read and learn from books to a point but you’ve GOT to get outside and press the shutter button. Thanks for the comment!
Gary Crabbe / Enlightened Images says:
Biggest take-away I got from Galen was “Shoot what you like.” Sounds simple, but he wasn’t talking in general, he meant every element in every frame; meaning if you didn’t like it, get rid of it.
Bret Edge says:
Wonderful advice, Gary. Very true and it’s advice I certainly follow. I’m not interested in shooting weddings so I don’t. I love landscape and adventure. It gets me outside, where I most enjoy being. Speaking more specifically, I once read somewhere that the best photographers don’t cram as much into a composition as possible. Rather, they subtract and subtract until only the only elements left are those that need to be there. Thanks for passing along Galen’s great advice!
Bill Bean says:
“You can’t make a great print from a bad exposure.” I was told this the very first day of Photography School many decades ago. Despite the versatility we have in the digital darkroom, it still holds true. Proper exposure is the key to everything.
Randy says:
Nice list of tips Brett, I know that I have used some of these over the years, and will make a mental note for the future. I know that I have several of my best images of flowers and cascades that were taken minutes before being hailed on. And, while hiking through rain and hail may not be the most fun, you certainly have a story when you get home. It is often the trials and tribulations that make the experience that much more memorable, and if you have a great image to show for it……… well you know, that’s icing on the cake!
Cheers!
Randy
Gary Crabbe / Enlightened Images says:
Now that I’ve shared one from Galen, let me add one of my own: “A boring subject in great light will always make a better photo than a great subject in boring light.”
Bret Edge says:
Wow, some more awesome tips and advice. I knew I could count on y’all to share your advice. I appreciate all the great comments!
Elisha Frey says:
Advice given to me- Always ground your shot, especially in landscape. Meaning to always have some sort of base to your photo. The other advise that I learned on my own is always bring your camera with you, always. I learned that the hard way when a great shot presented itself and I didn’t have a camera. Great advice Bret, thank you for sharing.
Greg Russell says:
On the way to a photography club meeting one night, one of my mentors said to me, “Even the least expensive gear can make fantastic images.” Sometimes, I’m afraid we (myself included) get so caught up in the technical end of things that we forget what its really about. I haven’t forgotten that advice.
Beth Wode says:
This is the best article I have seen on Landscape photography. There is something here for everyone, whether you are a beginner or professional. You can never know it all and every little tip will help to make you a better photographer. The thing that I have found with landscape photography is that no one day is the same. You can think that you have photographed a local scene a thousand times but everytime it is different.. different lighting, different cloud formations, different point of view. With new tips you can go and photograph that same scene and get something different yet again.. hopefully something better than the last time. Thank you once again Brett, I am now going out to photograph a sunset but this time I am going to sweep the edges!
Carl D says:
Hey Bret
In line with Gary’s “Galen quote”, more simply .. “shoot your passion”.
Cheers
Carl
Gil Riley says:
Your “advice” list and this list of blog responses is the best consolidated piece of helpful information I’ve ever come across. Thank you Brett
Richard Wong says:
I like the sweep the frame advice. That is probably the best compositional advice one can give. When looking at most snapshots from tourists, you see a certain amount of images that have potential meaning that everything about it works except for something major creeping into the edge of the frame. That is certainly the most frustrating thing to see when evaluating others’ photos.
Harold R. Stinnette says:
Brett,
Great article. I’ve been a photographer for many years and I hear a lot of the same advise many times but I enjoyed the way you worded each of these. Having said that, no matter how long anyone has been shooting, it never hurts to hear good advise over and over. This list and maybe some added advise, should be printed and hung on our walls as “commandments” to shoot by, and read it daily. Hmmmmm an idea!
Mike Langford says:
Excellent post!
I would add to the advice to look down with: get on your knees – for macro studies and…look up…when in the rainforest!
Also, I always keep my cam ready to shoot when on the move, constantly changing settings to match changing conditions – to be ready for that moment that never repeats itself.
Chris Kayler says:
Adapt to the conditions really resonates with me. There IS always something to photograph! Having goals is great, but don’t get so caught up in it that you can’t bring yourself to make any other photographs.
Awesome picture BTW … reminds me of when a certain photographer and I broke down up on top of that lovely, lovely plateau. Wow, the mosquitoes are bad at dusk!
Bret Edge says:
Wow…go away for a day and all kinds of great advice gets shared here. Awesome. Just awesome. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read the post and leave a comment. I’m glad so many of you are finding value in this advice.
WernerPriller says:
“filling the frame” is my favorite – heard from Art Wolfe;
that means putting the motive that´s interesting to the edges of the frame and leave everything that´s distracting;
Derrald says:
Some great advice for sure. I can especially relate to the tripod one. I have instances when I have scouted so many possiblities that I almost don’t have enough time to get the tripod setup before the lightshow begins (or ends!).
Mark says:
Missed this great post while I was away…. great advice Bret. Something I will save and refer back to constantly.
Sarah Fischler says:
This is a great post, Bret. I would add “get off the beaten path and explore” as the one of the best pieces of advice I have received. Photographing icons is a great way to build photographic skills, but exploring beyond the beaten path is often better for creativity and connecting with nature.
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