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How to get perfect long exposures the easy way with a 10 stop ND filter

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One of the things I was a bit confused by when I first started out in photography was the subject of filters. What, when and how to be precise. When should I choose a polarising filter over a neutral density filter? What grade of neutral density filter do I need? Circular or square? And don’t even get me started on those gradient neutral density filters. It all seemed so confusing! Luckily I had the sense to enrol in a landscape photography workshop when I was travelling around New Zealand and all became clear. It really isn’t so complicated after all.

One of the things I enjoy about using filters is the ability to get it right in camera. There are some effects and techniques that you simply cannot do in post, and long exposure photography is one of those. In this video, Mike from Perea Photography takes you through his process of creating beautifully smooth long exposure landscapes using a 10-stop ND filter.

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How to take great landscape photos in boring weather

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It’s a tough time of year for landscape photographers. We are eagerly waiting for Spring to arrive with its fresh new regrowth, blossom and slightly warmer weather, and we are so over Winter, but it’s just dragging on. The snow has gone slushy, the sky is a permanent grey slab of nothing. Should we just put our cameras away for another month? Not according to Mads Peter Iversen who has some great ideas to create magical images in even the most uninspiring time of year.

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It is possible to photograph in the rain, here’s how

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How many times have you gone out to shoot landscapes and found yourself hiding from the rain, having the quintessential car-picnic? Depending on where you live it could be pretty often. Childhood holidays were usually spent in Wales or Devon for me so I’m pretty used to wet weather.

A Spanish person actually once asked me how was it possible to live in such a wet country? Not only that but so-called bad weather can often yield some of the most beautiful and moody images. So for those of you used to inclement weather you can move along, nothing to see here. But for the rest of you, you might want to check out this video from Mads Peter Iversen on how to photograph in the pouring rain.

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10 landscape photography mistakes you don’t even know you’re making

As I said a gazillion times before, we all make mistakes, and that’s totally cool as long as we learn from them. But oftentimes we may not even be aware that we make them, even if we’re already experienced photographers. In this great video, Mads Peter Iversen talks about landscape photography mistakes you may not even be aware of, and you’re still making them at least occasionally. I sure know I do.

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Avoid these 7 common beginner landscape photography pitfalls

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Landscape photography is such a joy. It was probably the thing that got me into photography in the first place and since the lifting of the lockdowns I’ve been having an absolute blast getting outside and rediscovering my love of capturing epic scenery and sunsets (I’m definitely more of a sunset person than sunrise, particularly if I haven’t had coffee!). But it’s not easy.

Two weeks ago I found myself at the top of a mountain lookout in the Pyrenees with nothing short of breathtaking views, and I found it very difficult to come up with a pleasing composition. The scenery was just too much to take in, there was nothing to put in the foreground. What I really needed was to watch this video by Photo Tom so that I could have avoided these 7 common mistakes that he sees in his landscape workshops.

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This simple composition advice will completely change your approach to taking photographs

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The best kind of advice is usually the simplest, like “when spending time with others put your phone away” and “soggy cereal is never as good as last night’s takeaway curry so have the curry for breakfast.” In this latest video, Mark Denney tells us the “best composition advice he’s ever heard” and follows up by saying that it’s so simple that he wished he’d known this earlier.

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7 ideas to take your Autumn landscape photos to the next level

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Summer is finally over (for those of us who live in hot countries and hate hot weather this is a definite yeah!) and it’s pumpkin spice latte season again, otherwise known as Fall. In this video Toma Bonciu, or Photo Tom as he’s known, gives us a few tips on how you can take advantage of this time of year to take beautiful Autumn landscapes. And there’s not a decorative gourd in sight.

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The secrets to great long exposure photography

I remember the first time I saw an image captured using the long exposure photography technique. It blew me away. The skies were stretched across the sky and the water as soft as silk. How was it even possible?

Little did I know that this technique would become a game changer for me. Not only did learning this technique help me understand the fundamental camera settings, it helped develop my creative vision.

A decade later I’m still fascinated with long exposure photography. My approach has changed during the years but it’s still part of who I am.

It’s fair to say that there’s been many ups and downs during these years. From learning the very basics to tackling more complex and creative approaches. Many lessons are learned the hard way and that’s part of what I want to help you avoid.

So, read on and I’ll tell you the secrets of great long exposure photography.

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Stop making these seven mistakes when using a wide-angle lens for landscape photography

Mistakes, mistakes… I love writing about them, and I’ve made my fair share of them and learned something from most. If you’re a landscape photographer and relatively new to this, you should watch this video about mistakes.

Mads Peter Iversen guides you through his shoot at the iconic Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse in Denmark and shares seven mistakes landscape photographers often make when using a wide-angle lens. But also, he’ll teach you how to overcome them and what to do for a better shot.

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Develop these four habits to help take your landscape photography to the next level

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There are a lot of tips and advice out there for all kinds of different genres of photography. Most of them involve technique or buying more gear. Very little is about our behaviour and mindset. This video from Mark Denney, though, is a little different. In it, he presents four habits he’s developed over the last few years that have helped him with his workflow to improve his landscape photography.

While Mark freely admits that everybody’s workflow is different and not every tip is going to help everybody, these are some great suggestions. I follow a couple of these myself and they’ve made a big difference to my photography over the years. Maybe they’ll help yours, too.

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