Improving your photography involves understanding the nuances of composition, light, subject and timing. These elements combine to create compelling images. Nigel Danson shares insights from his experience shooting over 250,000 photos and reflects on his journey from his early, less successful attempts to his current expertise.
Coming to you from Nigel DansonThis informative video highlights key lessons learned over years of photography. Danson emphasizes the importance of four essential elements: light, composition, subject, and timing. He shares examples from his earlier work where he struggled with these aspects and contrasts them with more recent successful images. This video is valuable because it breaks down these elements and shows how mastering them can enhance your photography.
One important aspect discussed is lighting. Danson recalls his early days in Iceland, where he often photographed in suboptimal lighting conditions. Understanding how to use light effectively, whether it be the soft glow of a sunset or the dramatic darkness of a stormy sky, can transform an ordinary photograph into something extraordinary. He illustrates this with examples of good lighting, but his early compositions did not take advantage of it. Over time, he learned to anticipate and use light to highlight his subjects.
Composition is another important area that Danson explores. He talks about the mistakes he made when he didn’t understand how to place elements in a frame. For example, including too much foreground or background that is not relevant can distract from the main subject. By focusing on simplifying the scene and using elements like leading lines, balance, and symmetry, he improved his compositions significantly. His examples show the difference between a cluttered, unfocused image and a well-composed, impressive photograph.
Danson also discusses the importance of understanding your camera. Knowing how to use your camera intuitively allows you to focus on creativity rather than technical details. He suggests practicing in a variety of settings until adjusting your camera settings becomes second nature. That way, you won’t miss important moments while fumbling with the controls.
Timing is crucial when capturing dynamic scenes. Whether it’s waiting for the perfect wave or the right moment of light, timing can make or break a photo. Danson shares that patience and anticipation are essential skills. His experience has shown that sometimes it takes multiple shots to get the perfect shot, especially in changing conditions.
Another helpful tip Danson shares is the advantage of using long lens. While wide-angle lenses are popular in landscape photography, they can be difficult to compose. Long lenses allow for greater control over what is in the frame, making it easier to isolate subjects and create impactful images. He gives examples of how using a long lens helped him capture detailed, intimate scenes that a wider lens would not have been able to capture.
Danson also emphasizes the importance of simplicity. The best photographs often have clean, uncluttered compositions that draw the viewer’s attention to the main subject. He illustrates this with examples of how simplicity in color, pattern, and form creates powerful, memorable images. Watch the video above for Danson’s full summary.
