Mobile masterclass

You don't need a fancy camera to take stunning images of nature. Build up your skills with these 10 tips from Sussex photographer Mike Kus and you could take pictures worthy of the Countryfile Calendar

- Mike Kus

Magazines and books are full of beautiful landscape photographs that many of us could only dream of capturing ourselves, because we lack the technical knowledge and the camera equipment to achieve such impressive, professional results.

But is this really true? The short answer is ‘no'. Cameras don't take photos - people do. Ninety-nine per cent of what makes any photograph a success is you. It is the creative decisions you make that will have the greatest impact on the photographs you take, and not the equipment you use.

Which means that you don't need an expensive camera and you shouldn't be put off by a lack of technical knowledge. With a few simple tips and a bit of creativity, anyone can take beautiful photographs of their surroundings.

All you need is yourself and your phone, and you'll soon be submitting images to the Countryfile Calendar competition. countryfile.com/countryfile-tv-show/countryfile-calendar

1. LANDSCAPE COMPOSITION

It's the arrangement of objects and elements in a photograph that gives a picture a sense of depth and balance. To create a genuine sense of depth, we need to create a composition that has multiple layers: a foreground, mid-ground and background.

To achieve a sense of depth, try placing a foreground object - such as foliage, a fence or signpost – into your frame. This will help accentuate the distance between the foreground and background. Then use the mid-ground area of your picture to tie it all together and bring balance to the image.

2. FIND A NEW VANTAGE POINT