From Beginner to Professional, These Tips Can Improve Your Images

It doesn't matter if you are a hobbyist or a professional photographer; everyone needs to reset and remind themselves of some simple truths of the genre from time to time. This video offers excellent advice that every photographer should consider whenever they pick up a camera. 

Arnulfur Hakonarson, aka That Icelandic Guy, offers five tips that mix physical practices, thought processes, and mental edits for when you are shooting. All of them have real impact and are things that, if you include them in your mental checklist, will improve your work and probably your enjoyment as well.

The video offers practical advice that is both informative and helpful. Hakonarson doesn't just tell you to do A or B; he discusses why making certain changes or examining a scene for longer than you may think necessary can not only improve the photo you are taking at the moment but also build a practice that will improve every photo you take. 

The first point he discusses is one that I still have to constantly remind myself of when I am shooting. It is easy to get into a rhythm and not realize that every shot you've taken has been from your normal standing position. When I photograph landscapes or street scenes, I can get wrapped up in the subject and forget to adjust my shooting height. It is such a basic thing to do, but it is easy to forget in the heat of the moment. A "boring" scene people walk past every day can become a photo that makes them stop and stare simply because of the angle at which it was taken.

The video also goes into aspects of framing and how to think about crafting a scene's elements while you are shooting. He discusses the importance of, and how to use, the foreground, midground, and background components in your image. It may sound obvious when reading that statement, but how many times have you been shooting something you thought was a great subject only to find your photo to be a bit flat? 

Doing some self-editing while you are shooting will dramatically improve your results. His approach to photography is fun, and his enthusiasm for it can be contagious. Overall, this is an excellent reminder of the small but important things you can always work to improve every time you look through your viewfinder.