The BEST Tool for IMPROVING COMPOSITION in Your Landscape PHOTOS
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
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In this week’s episode, we discuss the best tool for improving composition in your landscape photos. How many times have you been on-location and captured an image that you're super happy with only to get home and suddenly wish you had composed your photo a bit differently? This happens to me all the time, but thankfully we have access to a very powerful tool called the Crop Tool! This handy little gadget not only allows you to remove unwanted distractions from the edges of your landscape photos, but it also provides you with a second opportunity to recompose your image. Rarely do I ever get a composition perfect while on-location, I usually end up having to crop just about everyone of my images. And, to take it a step further, Lightroom has something called Crop Grid Overlays that can help you determine a much more refined and focused composition.
In this video, I review the five Crop Grid Overlays that I use all the time while editing my landscape photos. These overlays are a great way to spark a bit of compositional creativity when the time comes to crop your landscape photos. For years the only thing I used the crop tool for was to clean up the edges of my images, which is fine, but there is certainly a lot more this could be used for.
I hope the next time you need to crop your images you cycle through some of the grid overlays mentioned in this video to see if there is a way to improve the composition in your landscape photos. This technique has really helped me over the years and hopefully it will help you as well!
If you enjoyed this video, please consider giving it a thumbs up and let me know what you think in the comments below - I guarantee I'll get back to ya.
Thanks for watching everyone!
-Mark D.
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Roughly what percent of your photos do you apply a crop to? I'm at about 99.4%!
Mark,
Because I compose "loosely," I crop everything. Depending on how I'm gonna use the final image, I have different specific crops I employ.
Ever use a Scale o Graph on a polaroid?
Thank-You,
Mike
Pretty much every photo! I mainly try to get the horizons straight when cropping but hearing about all these overlays opens up a whole new world in terms of improving compositions! Thanks for showing this.
@@mikemitchell3889 I do the same thing Mike - shoot for the crop! I always like to give myself some extra room on the sides. No - haven't done really anything on polaroid.
@@DJustmusicMusic Glad to do it Chris - happy to hear it was helpful!
I crop pretty much every image. Obviously with a Sony A7R it's easier don't loose much of information in the shot compared to other cameras, but it's the convenience of havin a 42MPX sensor :) As always it's a pleasure to watch your videos. Greetings from Italy Mark!!
I love the fact that you don't have to talk like the coolest guy on earth in order to make a really educational and yet fun video to watch. Thank you
Thanks Bruno! I'm most certainly not the coolest guy anywhere:)
Mark crying while responding 😂
The honesty and humility on your own journey and process truly shine through.
@1:19 Palms are sweaty , knees weak arms are heavy , he's nerves, but on the surface he looks calm and ready ✌😁
HAHAHH!!!
When I first started, every video I watched said to fill the frame. So I started doing that. That worked great until....I got ready toy start printing my pictures to hang on the wall. When you shoot in 3:2 and you want to print an 8x10 you are going to have to crop something out and it might ruin your composition. Sup I learned to zoom out and not fill the frame. Now I can crop exactly where I need to go either post on social media or to print.
The Golden Ratio on that image just....works.
Fantastic tutorial.
a.ramappa Many thanks!
I've read somewhere that shapes found within nature follow rules similar to the ratios that make up these compositional guidelines. The golden spiral of a snail is an example. So it makes sense then that photographs of things we find visually pleasing follow or compliment these rules found in nature.
Oliver Saxon the Fibonacci sequence is found in music, nature, and photography. It works!
You're exactly right Oliver.
@@MarkDenneyPhoto I have a book called 'Nature's Chaos" which is an absolute verification of this - whether in full scale or macro photography examples. Check it out if you get the chance.
Similar to photographing a group of objects whether it be in nature or man made. Usually an odd number of objects just looks right to the eye while an even number doesn't.
It's a myth.
You’ve hit the nail on the head with being out there and taking photos in those situations. When you get back all is calm and so you have more time to analyse the composition. I didn’t realise that the crop tool had those options.
Light and Composition are the essentials of photography. And you are correct, one should use the Crop tool to refine their compositions. For my part, once I’ve crop my photos I continue on to highlight the elements that coincide with the chosen composition (where the lines meet) and then reduce the intensity (mainly light) of what tries to overcome it (corners and unwanted strong highlights).
BTW your original photo of the road taking from above with your drone wasn’t bad - although you chose to crop it to eliminate the bottom part of the road which you thought distracting. Sometimes, a composition goes beyond what a photo shows. A composition can go beyond the initial frame - and this is a good example. We must not forget that it’s not the eye that sees but how our brain perceives vision. In this case, the brain was filling the blank by automatically completing the missing segment (of the road). Here a spiral composition that went beyond the frame would have shown that the focus point would have been the missing segment - which usually you want to avoid. But here, not only do you have an outward point (exit of the road) but your brain creates an entry one to come back within the frame (back to the road). Many painters have use that technique, mainly cutting down mountain roads in such a way for you to progress out of the frame to then return into it.
Nice video!
One “duh” thing that’s helped me tremendously is to keep those dang grid lines switched on in the viewfinder!
His palms are sweaty, speed's weak, ISO heavy / he keeps forgetting to check file quality settings /
Hahaha!#truth
LOL!
Or in the old rangefinder camera days, the lens cap....
Eminem of photography lol
nice
I've found that one of the quickest ways to find a good crop is to download the image to my iphone/ipad and pinch/zoom. Often a crop you wouldn't have thought of will appear instantly
Gosh, I'm loving your video series! So much real talk, so much practical advice. Yay!
my first lens ever to shooting was a 70-200... my back was against the wall the whole time but after a year shooting with it it really made me learn a lot !
Yeah, that's the issue with photographing Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park as you showed in the early part of the video. When shooting from the shore toward the twin peaks in the distance (they're called The Bubbles for those not familiar with the park) the rocks add a great feeling of depth, but you do have to decide where to crop in that foreground. BTW I appreciate the material you presented--nicely done.
I use the crop tool in about 90% of my images and almost constantly. It is a great tool and as you mentioned, you can go back to an image at a later date and re-style your work so that it becomes more pleasing to the eye
So overlooked, yet effective. Now I'm re-doing photos!
Pam Walz Thanks for watching Pam!
Thanks for putting out your work! It's very educational and pleasant to watch and listen! Keep up the good work Mark!
Love watching all your videos. goes directly right to the point...
Amocha Sagolsem Thanks so much!
Great to see others using the crop tool as much as I do. My heavy use of it has made me question how good my field eye actually is. But sitting in a quiet room and revisiting a site via the image does give new insight into composition corrections. Thanks so much for reminding us of the crop tools value.
Glad to do it John! Thanks for watching it!
In general, I feel shooting to allow for some measure of post-process cropping is fundamental when composing the shot. As you stated frequently, what you visualized during the exposure was not always what felt right when you finalized the image. Plus, the proportion of the sensor is often, not that of the final image. Still, with a cropped-sensor camera like a D500, one sometimes hedges on the crop allowance because we're reluctant to sacrifice pixels in post processing when an image will be enlarged. A mistake because an improved final image is better than simply saving pixels.
jimrb67 Well said! I agree with it all👍
I think composition, along with light, are the most important factors in photography. And composition is often the most challenging aspect of photography IMO.
Great video Mark.
Much appreciated Leandro!
Why do people give thumbs down to Mark's videos? He is one of the few photographers who gives his heart to his followers. Shame on you .
TheRedrusso Always appreciate the support friend🙌
One of the absolutely best Lightroom videos on youtube! Thank you and congratulations!!
This is a great video Mark, so insightful. Love the golden spiral seascape. Amazing motion in it! Thanks for creating!
Thanks Mark, this video is one that I have been waiting for, excelleent
Great video !! brilliantly explained... the composition techniques... Your photographs and locations are too good !!!
Great video Mark, I love the way you explain using examples.
Awesome advise on crop tool. I hope to put my edge cropping methods behind me and learn these new methods from your video.
I've known about the rule of thirds forever, but I've been using it wrong. My photography/journalism teacher had just taught us everything should be like even throughout. Really appreciate the new knowledge about putting interest in the intersections!
Amills50 Glad to hear the video helped!
Awesome content Mark! This video was highly informative. Actually would love to see more of your thoughts on composition. Thanks for your great content!
Anders Askasen Thanks Anders!
Oooh I’ve been waiting for this one. Thank you so much!
Thanks Jeremy! Glad to do it!
Thank you for taking the time to make such great and informative videos. I've been learning so much and can't tell you how much I appreciate it!
Mina Chung Thanks for taking the time to let me know - I really appreciate it👍
Thank you so much Mark, your tips and explanations are extraordinary, look forward to your future tips.
F Farag Glad to do it and great hearing that you enjoy them as well!
Definitely one of your most important videos IMO. I usually am really confident with an image when it fits more than one crop grid.
Thanks Moises! That means a lot!
That’s a good point. You can always test fit more than one grid.
Loved this tutorial simple easy to follow and makes sense Thanks Mark
Great to hear - thanks Mark!
omg i used LR for HOURS and i never knew about the crop grid overlay :o!! thank you so much for this
Thank you! Really enjoyed you sharing your thought process on how you cropped your photos.
kapurar Glad you enjoyed it👍
Started using the various crop grids and they have made a difference. I trust my compositional eye in the field but I can already see that in processing my images I can get my final image to be much stronger. Nice one Mark
A very informative video. Quite an awesome line of tips & hints. Didn't know those were the compositional options when using the crop overlay. Nice stuff! Will try these soon.
Congratulations on the channel, your videos are precious lessons. I have been fortunate enough to find photographers of his quality and didactics that are contributing a lot to my growth in photography. You can be sure that people like you do a great job of good photography ... congratulations
I am always afraid to crop too much, your video makes me that I should perhaps rethink this. Thanks
Thanks for watching Denis! Great to hear the video was helpful!
Great video. I really like the way you explain photographic theory using practical examples
Aaron Haußmann Thanks Aaron! Glad you enjoyed it👍
Omg, I never knew you could use the crop tool in such a way. Thank you for showing me how to use it😊
Another great video Mark, presented in an interesting way using good examples of your pictures. Thank you
Robert Harrison Thank YOU Robert!
I never knew about these overlays in LR. Loved the info and your video. Thanks.
mzeeshan Thanks so much!
Wonderful tutorial. I immediately went and cropped several of my photos (I use GIMP which also offers grid lines). Couldn’t believe the difference. Not bad’ suddenly became ‘wow!’ Thank you so much for sharing this powerful information.
P AR Glad to do it and many thanks to you for watching it!
excellent presentation with powerful examples. Thank you.
Great video, thank you for the info and you hard work!
I’m mostly shooting on film these days. I like to get the right perspective to my eye balls first, before I look thru a viewfinder. I then compose the shot to the best of my ability. If I like it, good if not, the image is scrapped. Pretty straight forward. I don’t have 40+ megapixels to work with, I like the challenge. And I’m not trying to sound pretentious in any way. Nor am I anti digital. I have a Sony A99II. It’s great, I’m just in love with film right now. This is some great advice that I’ll be doing when I get back to the 21st century, haha!
I appreciate the way you have selected a topic, taken examples and explained it differently to others on CZcams. Absolutely brilliant. This video was convincing enough for me to hit the subscribe button. All the best for your channel
Thanks so much for subscribing - very much appreciate that!
This video came up in my feed today. Great information. You are very easy to listen to. Subscribed because you’ve motivated me to get my gear out and do what I love
Steven Crowley Photography Awesome! Many thanks Steven!
Learned so much. Thank you for such wonderful content. Cheers mate!
I just found your channel and I love it! You deserve so much more subscribers.
Useful tutorial and clear explanations. Thank you.
PS is so complex that is easy to forget some of its features and I had completely forgotten about the crop toll overlays, thanks for the reminder, I shall try to make more use of them.
Thanks for watching Sid - happy to hear the video was helpful!
Such a great video. I literally learn something on each of your videos. I was using original and 5x4 crops but I will start using the overlays and keeping the original size. Thank You
Thanks so much Vito!
Thank you, your videos are extremely helpful!
Been using Lightroom for about 2 years and always used the crop tool for my images. I did not know about the overlays, thanks Mark. I've used the rule of thirds for in camera composition for the last 40 years, but there's always room for improvement.
Thanks for a really helpful video. Just keep finding out more and more amazing things that Lightroom can do.
Glad to do it! Happy to hear the video was useful!
Many compositions discussed in this video are new to me. Good video.
Thank ya Ravi - glad to hear the video was helpful!
@@MarkDenneyPhoto Definitely sir. I struggled lot in composition. This video gives some new ideas. Thank you.
just getting into photography and have watched hours of youtubes the last few days your vids are among the best. thanks dude.
Admin Many thanks - really appreciate it!
Great video as always. Very helpful, thanks
good stuff mark, really helped me out finding new compositions in older photos. keep it up
Really helpful video Mark! Thanks! Keep up the great content!
Thanks Steve - great to hear you enjoyed it!
one of the best composition videos ive ever seen. Thanks Mark OK 👌
Thanks so much - that's great to hear!
Learned something new today. Great vid as always.
Thus far two tuts under my belt with you Mark, and both enjoyable, educational and delivered at a even pace.. I would like to add one more element in the mix to the crop, and that's flopping it, as an old timer friend calls it, or as we call it today, flipping your image either horizontal or vertical depending on the image. Keeping in mind we read from left to right horizontally or from top down vertically..and then the next step, shaping your light to draw the viewer to the high light of the image ..
Thanks Mark! I recently flew to Bend Oregon from Seattle and captured some really cool highway shots (like yours). Your composition tips really helped me explore different techniques to give the images even more pzazz!
Excellent video and tips thanks Mark - really clear and great communication style - thanks!
Graham Gall Many thanks Graham!!
Mark, your tutorials are quite enjoyable and pleasant to watch, as you seem so sincere in how you share what you have learned with others -- and the information is very helpful as well. Thank you for your contribution to the community. :)
Lamont Gilliland Many thanks Lamont - I really appreciate that!
Great video Mark! Really very helpful. Thanks.
Daniel Bastos Thanks Daniel!
Didn’t know about the different crop overlays! Thanks for great video
My pleasure! Thanks for watching it!
Don't use them.
Thanks again for a well produced and informative video. I've used LR for years and was not aware of the overlays other than the rule of thirds. I especially appreciate that you showed us your uncropped images and how you got to your final version. I have felt the disappointment that you described when I get home and look at my frames on a larger screen. Even through I've been cropping for years, I can see the benefits of the diagonal and triangle overlays to fine tune my pictures. Thank you!
Thanks Michael! Glad to hear you enjoyed the video!
Excellent! I never give second thought to the other overlays
Ugly Duck Thank ya! Glad you enjoyed it👍
Another great video Mark! I only recently learned about the other crop layouts and am really excited to start using them.
Thanks David!
Mark, thanks again! kudos from Mexico!
Thanks Mark, learnt a lot from this. Big hi from Australia!
The JW Channel Thanks so much!!
What a useful tip; cycling through the overlays to find the best "formal" composition that works with the image, then cropping to fine-tune and make best use of that compositional tool! Thanks very much.
Mark Janes Thanks Mark! Great to hear the video was helpful👍
A very helpful tutorial, Mark. Thanks for sharing.
Jane Andrew I’m glad you think so - thanks so much Jane!
Fantastic videos. Really enjoying your series
Great tutorial! I always have shot with a the rule of thirds for my landscapes, but using this crop tool, I've gone back and looked at a lot of my work and found ways to refine some of them. I will be using this feature a little more than before.
Thank ya Buddy!
Another great video Mark. I'm a regular follower of your work and they surely help me to improve my landscape photography. Thanks a lot :)
That's great to hear - thanks for letting me know:)
Superb masterclass and thanks a lot for such an honest opinion,enjoyed.👌🙏
Best video about how to improve composition. Thank you!
Awesome to hear - thanks David!
Thank you Mark. Learned a lot
Vellu Nadeson Great to hear - thank you!
Great vlog Mark! You’re killing it! Keep up the great work! It’s exactly what happens too. You’re so excited what you see on the camera just to open it up on the computer and it’s like the wind stalled in your sail. The crop tool in Lightroom is the best tool in LR in my opinion. Keep on keeping on!
Chuck Hultberg Thank ya buddy! How’s the bag workin out for you?
Broke it in and took it to Vancouver Island. It hauled most of what I wanted to take ( which was too much 😂) and it was heavier than what I wanted to hike with. It made a great on location portrait pack that fit a light stand, tripod, small light modifier, flashes, bodies and lenses. However for longer hikes I noticed it would probably be a bit much on the weight side. I love all the room and all the pockets. Sometimes not knowing the unknown we tend to overpack, I feel that's probably what I did. So it's another learning curve. Thanks again!
As soon as I saw the old school Gameboy on your desk I totally zoned out and started looking on eBay for Gameboy games. Now I have to re-watch the video.
Mike Hines Haha! Those were the days!
Amazing tips & tricks, love your honesty. Keep up the good, great contant. Thanks.
MThebean Much appreciated - thank you!
As always, great advice. I learn something with every video of yours that I watch. Thank you!
Great to hear Jason! Thanks man!
Definitely one of the most educational landscape artists out there!
Awesome video! Finally somebody who talks about photography and not about pen pressure tablet and gear! Thanks a lot for the video and keep coming up with similar content!
Miloš Grujić Haha! Thanks Milos!
Thanks Mark didn't know about the crop overlay toggle, will put that to use now. Thanks. 👌
Great demo of how to play around with the different grid overlays. Even if I don't ultimately crop, I always play around with images to make sure the original composition still works for me, like looking at the image with fresh eyes.
grat2010 Thank you!
Thank you so. Mucfh fur this Fidel in croping. It gave me tips I. Can start practicing with immediately. I used the rule of thirds for years. I was aware of the other overlay by not educate in how they work. Your vid will make a big difference. Thanks for the post
Mark DeMarte Glad to do it Mark and I appreciate you watching it👍
Thanks Mark really helped will start using some of the other overlays
Wayne Robinson Great to hear Wayne!
Found this to be very help helpful. Was always leery of messing something up. Thanks for enlightening me.
Thanks for watching William - happy to hear it was helpful!
I just found your channel and I'm glad I did! I love the way you explain stuff, very easy to understand.
mujahid rabiu zakariyya Thanks so much - very good to hear!
wow, thank you. I have not looked at the crop tool in that much detail but I am. thank you,
Lynn Johnson Great to hear the video was useful Lynn!
I am a first time viewer, great video. Thank you for your time and expertise. I did subscribe, looking forward to the next one.
Jim Bembinster Awesome to hear! Thanks Jim!
Thanks! It’s these sorts of tips that can lift photos to the next level. I also have the rule of thirds grid on in my viewfinder so I use it in field. Helps to get the horizon straight too.
Many thanks Georgia! Glad to hear the video was helpful.