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We all make mistakes, and this week I run through 6 common mistakes photographers make and talk through how to handle them:

1. Poor Composition

Centred subject: Placing the subject in the centre of the image. Try the rule of thirds as a way of creating a more interesting image.

Cluttered backgrounds: Distracting elements in the background take attention away from the subject. Be a ‘Visual Storyteller’ and look at the whole scene before pressing the shutter button.

2. Over- or Underexposure

Failing to adjust for lighting conditions can result in overly bright (blown-out) or too dark (underexposed) images. Look at how and where your camera is measuring light levels.

3. Ignoring Focus

Out-of-focus subject: Understand what your camera is using to set the focus and what is most suitable for the photography you are doing (e.g. central spot focusing, or a zone).

4. Overediting

Editing is a key part of digital photography, but it is very easy to over-edit and ruin a great photograph. As a general rule, keep edits simple and use easy references (such as grass) to provide a benchmark for how saturated an image should be.

5. Using the Wrong Lens

Lenses have their own characteristics and introduce distortions. This might be enlarging elements close to the lens in the case of a wide-angle lens, or compressing perspective if you are using a longer telephoto lens.

6. Poor Lighting

Photography is about using light. Bright light can upset exposure and create a lot of contrast. Golden hours and blue hours can produce very atmospheric effects, but light levels can change rapidly.

Look at the kinds of photography you do and understand what the ideal lighting conditions are, and what you can do to compensate for lighting problems.

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