Live View advantage

When it comes to composition, Live View has a number of advantages over taking pictures with the viewfinder (and some disadvantages, we’re obliged to point out, such as increased battery drain and being difficult to view in bright light).

First, many camera viewfinders don’t show the entire scene that will be recorded. The D3300’s only shows 95 per cent of the picture, for example. Because Live View streams the image direct from the sensor, it gives you 100 per cent coverage. What you see is what you get with Live View, and this means that you can spot unwanted elements creeping into the edge of the frame which you may have missed when looking through the viewfinder.

Helpfully, a grid made up of horizontal and vertical lines can be superimposed over the Live View image too. This is useful for ensuring horizons are level and for positioning the key feature of a photo off-centre according to the classic ‘rule of thirds’. Many Nikon cameras also offer this grid overlay as a viewfinder option, too.

Some images work with the subject in the centre, but try placing them where the grid lines cross for more interesting results