Most new photographers begin their creative journey by learning a bunch of so-called “rules” to  help them develop their craft. But here’s the deal: while many of these guidelines are great for beginners, they may actually inhibit growth as your skills become more advanced.

If you’re a bit frustrated, and feel like smashing things, today’s your lucking days, as you’ll learn how to fix seven common photography mistakes are caused by following rules to closely. These straightforward tips from Canadian pro Simon d’Entremont are presented in terms of wildlife and nature photography because these are his specialties, but they’re also very helpful when shooting other types of images in the great outdoors.

Simon kicks off the lesson with a silly rule you likely heard before; namely, “only amateurs crop their images.” This is one that you should have ignored from the onset, and Simon puts it like this: “There is absolutely no reason to avoid cropping if that’s what you need to get the composition you want.” As a pro, he has no qualms about cropping photos for maximum impact.

You’ll quickly learn Simon’s techniques for “cropping out the stuff you don’t like and including the stuff you like best.” One simple solution is to shoot photos a bit wider than what you need, leaving room for thoughtful cropping during the editing process—thereby creatively fine-tuning proportions in a way that best guides a viewer through the image. Oher times you may even want to transform a horizontal shot into a vertical one if that’s what it takes.

Another “universal truth” is to always shoot with a sun at your back. This approach can help novices arrive at an accurate exposure, but it will really hold you back if your goal is to capture images that are more interesting and unique than a typical postcard shot (or what was once referred to as a “Kodak Moment.” The idea here is to forget about even illumination and excessive dynamic range and flex your creative muscles.

As Simon says, backlighting can be an amazing photographic tool: “It creates beautiful rim light on your subjects and adds dramatic elements to your scene.” He then demonstrates several helpful tips for maximizing backlighting to get the job done—simply by changing your vantage point in relation to the sun and your subject.

The foregoing is just a taste of what you’ll learn in less 10 minutes, and Simon explains when and how to break rules to significantly up your game. All it takes is the awareness and a willingness to let go of long-held beliefs. After watching the video pay a visit to Simon’s popular YouTube channel where you’ll find much more of interest for expanding your skills.

And don’t miss an earlier tutorial we posted with one rule that’s definitely worth observing; namely, keeping your camera sensor and lenses clean.

One dead giveaway that your skills aren’t quite ready for prime time is when your images display significantly skewed lines that detract from the impact of a shot. Fortunately there’s a simple and effective method for addressing the problem during the editing process as you’ll see in the tutorial below from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel.

Converging lines tend to occur when the camera isn’t held flat to the horizon, like while photographing landscapes with tall trees that require you to point the camera upwards to include the top of these elements in the frame. Street photographers often face the same frustrating challenge when there are tall buildings in a scene.

There’s a way to correct these converging verticals in the camera if you can afford to own an expensive tilt-shift lens, but these are very expensive and of limited utility for general use. The next best option is to follow the simple tips in this quick Photoshop tutorial from German landscape photographer Christian Mohrle.

Keep in mind while watching this nine-minute episode that horizontal lines can also appear skewed, and the rehabilitation process works much the same as when fixing converging verticals. Mohrle’s lessons typically include a few basic adjustments to enhance his demonstration image beyond the specific task at hand, and he takes this helpful approach today.

Mohrle uses two HDR images to get the job done, and you can download them via a link beneath the video and make the changes yourself as they’re explained. The first step is accomplished in the Optics tab and has nothing to do the distracting vertical lines. Rather, this is a preliminary adjustment to remove chromatic aberrations. The task is quickly accomplished in Photoshop’s Optics panel by activating the Remove Chromatic Aberration setting.

With this issue resolved Mohrle jumps into the Geometry tap and walks you the easy step-by-step procedure for straightening the pesky verticals to give the image a more professional look. You can let Photoshop make the fix for you automatically by clicking on a single button. Mohrle also demonstrates a manual approach that provides enhanced control and a bit more precision.

There’s even more to learn once the converging verticals are resolved. The first step is a color grading process the greatly improves the tones. Then comes a bit of straightening to further refines the shot. The transformation is completed by synchronizing and merging Mohrle’s two images to achieve one perfect shot.

You can find many more helpful lessons like this one by visiting Mohrle’s instructional YouTube channel that’s a favorite of landscape photographers interested in improving their skills.

We also recommend watching an earlier tutorial we posted with another accomplished pro who explains 10 “secret” Photoshop features you should start using today.

In the spirit of embracing the allure of nocturnal beauty, we are thrilled to unveil GuruShot’s latest photo challenge: the “Night Photography.” This event beckons photographers to delve into the captivating world of the night and capture its enchanting essence. Prepare to immerse yourself in the timeless charm that the night unfolds, whether it be the celestial wonders of a starstudded sky or the bustling cityscape that comes alive under the cloak of darkness.

The victorious entries have earned their laurels through outstanding composition, mastery of lighting, and their ability to weave the magic of ‘Night Photography’ into their works. The wealth of talent and creativity on display has left us entranced, demonstrating that these photographers possess a remarkable talent for encapsulating the allure of the night through their lenses.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all participants who embraced this challenge with passion, pouring their creativity into their submissions. Each entry underwent meticulous scrutiny and was subjected to a rigorous voting process. As a result, three exceptional champions have emerged, one in each of the following categories: Top Photographer, Top Photo, and Guru’s Top Pick.

Below, we proudly unveil the winning images alongside seven remarkable runner-ups. Additionally, stay tuned for an enthralling slideshow gallery featuring the remaining runners-up in the ‘Night Photography’ challenge, waiting to captivate your senses as you reach the conclusion of this article. Also, check out GuruShots’ newest app AI Art Master.

Winning Images

Runners Up