This vid should be essential viewing for EVERY photographer at the start of each year! Having learnt recently that Da Vinci deliberately added ZERO sharp edges to his Mona Lisa painting and realizing the stratospheric reach of that work, I'd like to suggest it's the ultimate example of what you challenged us with here. Cheers Martin. -Greg
As a beginner photographer this is refreshing to hear. All the videos talking about having a $5000 lens and $5000 camera can get discouraging. I love how this video inspires me to just go out and try to capture moods with my Olympus E - M1 I just got
Hi Martin, I couldn't agree more. I just don't get this obsession with megapixels and clinical sharpness with current mirrorless camera and lens designs. Having shot film for many years I appreciate the the imperfections, softness and more evocative feel of film vs. digital capture. Love your analysis and content.
Thanks Martin. I hear a few other photographers expressing the same thoughts on ISO and noise and it rings true for me. Thank you for explaining it the best way that I have heard. It is very clear from the examples of the photographs you used for this that what you say is true to me. I respect other peoples views if they do not agree with me but I agree with you. You are a treasure to the photography community and I hope more people discover you and subscribe to you to address the false information about photography, cameras and camera gear.
Martin, your videos just keep getting better. This video is a Mythbusters. I couldn't agree more with you. There has to be some passion exhibited. I used to shoot weddings , my whole focus was to be at ease with the whole family. They used to put me at the head table with the family. That's what you have to project, the emotional poses and shots just came naturally after that. Thanks again, wonderful video.
Great video Martin, I just have one quote from Don McCullin “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.”
Yes, yes, yes. Young photographers should take their cameras out with them on long walks during which they solemnly vow not to take a single picture that doesn't evoke a feeling - no fair cheating with photos that seem smart, stylish, fashionable, design-ey, clever, or heady in any way.
I honestly love your photography philosophy! You're absolutely right about importance of creating an atmosphere and making people feel something when they look at your photograph instead of constantly obsessing about sharpness and ISO! Subscribed!
So I guess Topaz AI won't be sponsoring your videos anytime soon? LOL!! Thanks for making yourself visible to the masses. We're straying away from what moved us in photography from the old days. Love the grainy photos. Thanks for explaining the difference between ISO and sharpness.
No interest in Topaz AI unless they add something specifically of benefit to me but a lot of what they want to remove to me is like saying hey lets take the chocolate out of this chocolate cake, thats what you want right?
Nailed it. Whilst I will never be much of a photographer I realised a few years ago that megapixels don't matter, sharpness doesn't matter and neither does ISO and why - because most of my favourite pictures have been shot on older cameras that have less than 10 megapixels using kit lenses. Kit really is not important.
Brilliant message. Yours is the (rare) psyche I’m always looking for in photography tutorials. The way you approach the art resonates strongly with me and (to me) is the whole draw to photography in the first place. Just found your channel the other day. Subscribed and plan on going through all of your videos as I get the time. Thank you.
I just discovered your channel a few weeks ago, and you have quickly made it to MY Photographer Influencer Lineup. That is the lineup I would recommend Other people study, when they ask me questions about photography. That's the lineup I study. It's hard to get on that list, (I'm not pretending to be a pro here either, because I am not one), but what you consistently speak is truth. I love that. Great vid, like so many of yours, and just a FEW others. Thanks Martin! -Jim, Spring Hope, USA
Completely agree. Much needed video! Really like your content, which I came across after spending days trying to find a new "professional" camera. I'm coming back to photography after about 6 years and moving on from my Canon MK ii which I sadly sold, and I was surprised to discover mirrorless is taking over and everyone is all about the spec! Your videos saved me from too much overwhelm. Bring real photography as an art form back!
this is what matters, photography is photography, the new mirrorless stuff certainly helps those making their main living from photography but it doesnt change what photography is. Looking forward to taking my 5d classic out again soon.
Maritn, I am beyond excited to have discovered your channel. You are a voice of reason, and also a FANTASTIC photographer!!! Your work is genius...I cannot get enough of your videos. I am so thankful to have access to your knowledge and insights! Thank you!!
Spot on, the picture with the most likes on my Instagram page is a grainy soft image taken with a cheap 7artisans 18mm f6.3 cap lens on a fuji X-E1. Focus is slightly off, it breaks normal framing rules. But it does capture a vibe.
This was an awesome watch! Most photographers now a days are more worried about how many megapixels they have in their camera. That their photo has to be sharp. Definitely an awesome video! Thank you for sharing 🙏
Oh Martin, how I enjoyed that. I have been as guilty as most photographers chasing megapixels, sharpness, low light performance. In my old age I now only do Landscapes, and living in Wales have plenty of opportunity. Going back 40 years when I did weddings with the best of the day HASSELBLADS, with their super sharp lenses, BUT to create atmosphere and add a romatic feel to the photographs our best accessories were SOFTAR 1, SOFTAR 2 and SOFTAR 3. These were highly sought after "Soft Focus" magical tools, that sold photographs. IF I were doing portraiture and weddings today, I would pay a king's ransom for a 77mm SOFTAR. All you guys outhere with 500CMs know what I am talking about. Love the channel both informative and entertaining.
David Hamilton used sandpaper to run circles on the front element of at least one of his (pre T* ?) Hassel lenses (to shoot the young blonde girls). There was one camera manuf. (no longer around, but u still see its ghost in G labels & more in light measurements & lenses ) which produced 2 types of softars, the amazing one was wavelength-specific. In a pinch there are cheap stockings (b, w & beige) of different degrees of coarseness & good rubber bands. U can also cut holes in various sizes to your heart's desire. Aside: the early Hassel lenses (as late as the early 70's ) were no match against the Rollei 6x6 lenses (being Deust, Rollei spec better specs on lenses made by other germans, zeiss, schneider & itself ??? was rodenstock there too? no ! ?)
You've raised a subject I'd like to ask all photographers out there , if a photo is perfectly sharp , does it make a perfect photo . If not, why are we obsessed with a photo being pin sharp?
Hi Martin, totally agree on that topic. Stepping out of that constantly having to buy better stuff circle is a reliev. When I bought my Canon F-1 Filmcamera I knew that there were more advanced follow-up models but there was not another all mechanical model like that one. You buy a piece of history which will always have that status and that gives you kind of peace in mind. I am not selling my EF lenses neither. When I look at photos taken with the new RF lenses and compare them to photos taken with EF lenses, I prefer the look and vibe of the EF lenses. I am into audio as well and there are definately parellels. When Digital audio arrived, everybody was so blown away by the clarity. After a few years, everyone missed the warmth of the old analog gear and the prices of analog studio equipment started to rise again, especially tube gear. I can see the same happening in the photo department. I love the shots you took with that Canon 5D classic. Thankx for reminding us that we don't have to follow every latest trend in order to produce meaningful expressive photos !
Thank-you. Brilliant discussion. I'm a septuagenarian an my bias is that digital was technically best used for the microscope and pathology/cell structure. You're not looking for 'mood' in the clinical laboratory. I''m glad I kept my fashion rags from the 90's. I mean the Mamyia 6x7's and medium formats were lauded for the texture their glass yielded. I always felt that CMOS and CCD sensors were brain washing us for market share, they wanted to wow us. Never bought into it. (Loved your treatment on the Nikon D600.)
I think ergonomics in a camera is an underrated feature that people don't pay enough attention to. If the camera feels good to hold, if the settings are easy to change, it makes the process of taking pictures more enjoyable and efficient.
Thank you so much for this talk. I’ve been trying to figure out why I’ve hardly used the modern cameras I’ve had since I sold my D700 more than 10 years ago. I’ve spent so much money on upgrades - high resolution DSLRs and mirrorless systems, only to realise in the past few weeks that it’s exactly the tonal qualities of the D700 (and its simple ergonomics) that I miss. I’ve sold my canon RF gear (that I almost never touch), and have purchased a D700 and D3s - with money left to spend on Nikon glass.
This video changed my glogal way of thinking about photography and made me reconsider some of the gear choices, for real. It's easy to get lost in the details in the marketing hype and forget the genuine fondamentals and the artistic aspect of photography....
I’m sorry I can’t provide some money. Thanks so much for visiting, you seem like a really nice guy and give good, honest information. That helps me a lot.
Martin, I am here thanks to UA-cam, and UA-cam did well! One of the best 10 minutes videos on photography I have seen. I will keep these words as my "personal guide" (or my mantra ?): "We see beauty in the imperfection of things". Many thanks! Sorry for my bad English. Kind regards.
6:20 I disagree. Flaws do not make pictures better, but rather the information overload in flawless pictures makes them worse, because it is too taxing on our brains to process alongside of the story that the picture is meant to convey.
Hi Martin. A knowledge about the history of photographers is, for me, a contributing factor to peoples ability to use the right methods or styles needed to take good pictures. The influence of others makes a difference. The fact that you say a lot of people wouldn't know who, Richard Avedon, was is a tragic indictment of these times. I often suggest to people they get a copy of "The Fashion Book" published by Phaidon in 1998. It embodies all that you're saying about pictures over the decades and how they compare to each other because of the moods created within them (art directors are also a factor from, Alexey Brodovitch, to the excellent Fabien Baron). Louise Dahl-Wolfe's picture in the book from 1950 is a favourite of mine. As for the 1:1 lens you shot with on the video posted today 13/09/23. An affair with flare isn't a bad thing. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Thankful to hear someone saying these things. I started the digital journey with a flip phone. Chased the rabbit and realized that it was the imperfections that added to the image. If there is nothing interesting in the frame it really doesn’t matter.
I couldn't agree more, sir! I bought a brand new "toy" lens for £33 (no I haven't missed any 0's) and stuck it on my Fuji XE3. It's not sharp in the middle, the corners are soggy as hell and with heavy vignetting. The images produced are full of character and get the most response from people I show my photos to. I own 3 very nice Fuji lenses.
I get a lot of compliments on a number of my photos. Some of them are taken with my 6D MKI or other DLSR, some with my little Sony a5000 with kit lenses, and some on my phone. When printed no one looks at them pixel-peeping or commenting on noise or such. What they see and comment favorably are the images themselves. The subject, the composition, the emotion, or the oh-wow response to what they are seeing. It's the images themselves that everyone reacts to. Great of you to address these things in this video. The technical is important only in as much as it assists us in creating an image. Technicals do not make the image. The image, even with imperfections is what communicates with the viewer.
Thank god someone has said it , an image is an image only when it draws the person to it, not how sharp or how good it looks it's the meaning of the image , just picked up a d700 on your recommendation and I have to say thankyou your videos inspire me thanks for that.
I’m an old fart. I grew up looking at those “old” pictures you were showing. I get (quietly) annoyed by photographers who just don’t get it, that a photo can be a great photo even if it’s a little fuzzy, or perhaps the shadow detail is lacking, or any number of technical details are not up to snuff. BTW Richard Avedon is my favorite. The photo you showed, with the woman and the elephants, is a masterpiece. It changed people’s thinking about fashion photography.
This Avedon photo of woman w/ elephants always reminds me of the one photo of a model & a horse shot by a much older lady photographer, Bassman. R.A. did a series of nice portraits of local folks in the southwest inside a white tent ? Saw them quite a # of yrs ago.
I've Noticed of late I wonder have you noticed Martin, both Canon & Nikon are now chasing Frames per second Nikon 125 frames per second, Canon's R3 software upgrade 195 frames per second, one question "Why!!!!!" where I am Canon 50d, and I like the old manual M42 thread lenses with a Canon adapter, I just love it, and mainly Black & White, love your straight approach and thoughts.
I totally agree with you Martin I was brought up using film as my dad taught me he used to develop his own photos and I was always in the darkroom with him.
You are 100% correct. This comment applies to fashion photography and models. Marlon Brando was one of the most photographed celebrities in history. But this is what did he say. "When I come on scene or on stage, I want everybody to stop chewing their popcorn." To me, that sums up good portraiture. Impact and it grabs your attention and does something to you. And with fashion its 80% about the garment and only 20% about the model. But of course it helps if the model is gorgeous, but not so much that its distracting.
Totally agree with you. I shoot 35mm and medium format (up to 6x9) as well as digital and I still love the look from my 5D M1. Keep up your great work 👍
Many decades ago I was taught in photography school the an image that has impact and makes the viewer stop and spend time looking at it far outweighs technical perfection. Capture the moment and the mood always wins over everything else. Thanks for this video and passing along this message Martin.
Great video martin. Its important to understand that photography shouldnt be about noise or sharpness. Its way more deep than that. The moment I stopped giving a crap about those aspects is when my photography improved. This is why i still use my 5D classic today.
One of my favorite portraits is a "candid" shot of my sister on 200 speed Arista black and white film with an Olympus EM-10 with a 50mm 1.8. Whoa, the grain, but wow. Just cannot duplicate the look with digital. That's why I have film cameras as well as digital.
I think I figured out that noise is not that much an issue when I started printing my photos. Especially when I have printed some of the photos from metal band gigs - the noise is a MUST on those photos, because without them photos looks too clinical and they do not carry the mystic atmosphere what some amount of noise does. The emotion is all what matters in many cases on photos and in art in general.
Brilliantly put m8! Today’s pixel peepers get too obsessed over pixels and sharpness. I like subject stories and character. Even that vintage charm of old glass that tells you it’s different. They don’t even know why they like it but they do.
Massively interesting, and so refreshingly true. Every young photographer should study your channel. I thought immediately of UK photographer Mark Shearman whose b&w athletics photographs in the 1970s set the standard - they were wonderfully moody and expressive, but very grainy and filled with character - I was fortunate to enjoy hundreds of them when I was a staff photographer for Runner's World. I remember a day when Mark visited the office - he was a driven, very focused and intense young man. Of course his photos were sharp. Alas, none of them are viewable online today. In the mid-1970s I had conversations with Haanel Cassidy who had been chief photographer for the Conde Nast publishing empire. He talked about tonal gradations and the technical aspects of exposure and printing but didn't give a damn about grain unless it might detract from what a photograph wanted to say. You can find examples of his work with a Google search.
@@MartinCastein No well deserved Martin. Totally agree with your sentiment. Bought a D600 last week on your experience and recommendation. Adding to my D300 and D700. Just to let you know I was unable to open your link for workshop information? Cheers Tom
Thanks Tom glad it’s working for you! Links are working again now I think but it’s www.martincastein.com/workshops or find the link on my website. Thanks again Tom
When our local paper publishes its nostalgia section the images of the past have much more impact than the recent images in the paper , I think although digital is far quicker and much cheaper than film something has been lost.
The only way camera manufacturers can survive from here on in is to introduce new models with settings and new functions that really are useless.The way they do this is by marketing.To put it simply.Camera manufacturers are marketing companies,simple as that. Thanks for this one Martin. Cherrs
Thanks for this! this comment got held for review for some reason so ive only just seen it so sorry for late reply! A lot of the new features just arent adding anything I think you have to wait 2 or 3 generations for any difference and even then its debatable if it makes any difference.
Brilliant. I was out yesterday shooting with my 6D MK1 and a vintage 135mm and got some absolute beauts. I have the Sony's with their ridiculous specs, but a vintage lens on the 6D is the kinda thing that speaks to me. Great video, have an awesome weekend 🖖
I like noise/grain. That's also why I don't have any issues with my secondary cam which is micro four thirds. I despise clinically clean images. They're just so boring and have no character.
Excellent points! Another reason why I'm loving shooting with my Nikon Zf and Voigtlander manual lenses! I'll need to take my work to the next level with your thoughts in mind. Thank you.
Excellent, Martin. I stumbled on your channel only several weeks ago and have already watched quite a lot of your videos. I really enjoy your perspective on image-making, as well as the value of not falling into the trap of feeling a need to constantly upgrade gear. The old photographs by Cartier-Bresson, Erwitt, Penn, Avedon, and so many others will stand the test of time because of their vision and humanity-they make the viewer feel something and tell us something about the experience of being human. Curious your thoughts on this related "sharpness" question: someone I met recently who owns a brick and mortar camera store and who has been in the camera store business for almost 3 decades explained to me that when Canon and Nikon both started making digital cameras, Canon made the decision to have a slightly less sharp image but less noise in the shadows/higher ISO, while Nikon made the decision to have a sharper image with a bit more noise in the shadows/higher ISO. (I'm speaking here about the internal processing algorithms and possibly sensor design, not about lens design.) As someone who has shot many iterations of Canon and Nikon bodies, do you think there is any truth to this distinction? Thanks and best regards!
I think that id feel its almost the other way around with canon prioritising sharpness, Nikon grain if you can call it that is monochromatic so tends to not show up or disturb as much. i dont think it matters though ultimately, there are excellent cameras and lenses from both.
@@MartinCastein That's an interesting perspective. I've more experience with Canon than Nikon (mainly through my 6D, which was my entry to full frame before picking up a Sony A7IV last year-though I still own and enjoy shooting the 6D), but have been curious to pick up an older full frame Nikon DSLR for a good price at some point, partly as a way of being able use the few vintage Nikkor AI-S lenses that I have (without using an adapter such as one would on an A7). But in general I've been curious about the different rendering and features on these various cameras, and have enjoyed your videos on the older Canon and Nikon bodies.
Bang on! Have learned to embraced digital noise. Especially when shooting live events. I find that the noise adds character and dynamism. No noise and ultra sharpness just makes everything look too shiny and it can be very boring.
Excellent video, just taking a break from editing an engagement shoot, stressing because we were in woodland and the images are grainy. This has made me feel better about them, hopefully the couple will be happy with them.
Just embrace it, dont fight it, nothing to be stressed about, is there emotion in the pictures, thats ALL you need to worry about. Dont fight what youve got other than that.
I think taking good pictures is about the relationship between the photographer and the camera. If a camera makes you feel good (and you spend enough time to get to know its strong and weak points), then it's more likely that you will take beautiful photos with impact. I still have my Olympus E-5 with only two lenses (14-54 and 50-200) who gave me such pleasure although its high ISO performance is by no means great. It's only 12 megapixels also. But that's even enough to print 40x60 cm. Nobody on the net will ever know which camera I used unless I include the EXIF data. That said, I really like the character of the ISO 1600 images it produces, especially in black and white. This machine is like an old, loyal friend. One reason is it's sturdyness and another it's reliability. I have had a few times where I forgot to turn the camera off and it lay in the drawer for months. When I took it, the battery was still the same as when I left it. You know, after 4 hours it shuts down and that is a thing I would like my Nikons to do... But actually it comes down to how a camera makes me feel. The same thing is true for lenses. Using my (very) old Canon 5D with that even older Helios 58mm f2, is a joy. It has its restrictions and it's that kind of thing that stimulates creativity.
Thank you for bringing this to peoples attention. I’ve been talking about it for some time, usually to no avail. Detail and sharpness isn’t what makes a picture. It can be good, but it doesn’t makes the picture so by itself. Sometimes it even makes it worse. There are cameras and lenses that produce less detail, but gives you better pictures. The early 5D’s and the 1Ds cameras do. Also lenses like the Canon 35/1.4 (first version) and the 135/2. I see on forums people recommending cameras like the R5 to amateurs (wanting to upgrade from their 80D, because they don’t get good pictures…), and I feel absolutely disgusted by it. Will they learn photography better by spending €3-4000 on a camera body? Wouldn’t it be better to buy a 6D (or 6D2 if they insist on buying new) with a 35 or 50mm instead? IMHO you will learn more about photography with a short to medium prime than you will do with a zoom. The whole thing about the effects of large aperture will rarely be understood by fiddling with a short focal length f/4-5,6 zoom.
Fantastic Martin, thank god someone is talking sense, we want more real world vids and this is it, loving your vids they are so inspiring, the gear vids that are out are total misleading the world of creative photography, thank you Martin.
How very true. If you use Rodinal developer, your negatives will appear to be grainy but they are certainly very sharp. I often use my 5D mk1 at iso 1600 and the results are grainy, but they are SHARP!
Very well said and shown! What's interesting about a perfect image of a test chart? What we would benefit from though, is low ISO. Then we can both shoot wide open in bright light, and get long exposures without ND filters.
Valuable information in these videos! I took time out to study those old photographers. Many like these fashion pics for demonstration were taken by guys like Richard Avedon with an old twin lens Rollei Rolleiflex. They said Richard used an assistant to keep three cameras loaded with film because he didn't want to stop a session to load film. The only automation on a Rollei Twin and I have a few was the photographer turning a knob. Still they managed to create masterpieces that still hold up today.
This video should be compulsory viewing! Not sure if Sony and the major manufacturers would appreciate it though. Love your attitude. I got a 5D based upon your ideas and I will always appreciate your advice. Amazing.
Just because it is new doesn't necessarily mean it's better. Whilst I shoot a lot on medium format, both film and digital, for 35mm format I find my self drawn time and time again to the Canon 5Dmk2 and the Nikon D800 for portrait work. Both have their strengths, both have their weaknesses. It is all about understanding your camera and which camera will best deliver your intent for the shoot. Whilst I have a mirrorless system I am not a fan of the EVF, particularly as the vast majority of my work is done with strobes. I agree with you, with truly modern cameras it is more about marketing hype than improved IQ. The fact that I still have my Hasselblad V System after all these years speaks volumes!
Thanks Martin, spot on. The bulk of my work is with a D700 with Ai-Ais lenses in order to achieve what to me is a more pleasing image than with a modern super clean high MP sensor. I spent many years with ISO 25 rated Kodachrome as my standard film with it's massive dynamic range of 7-8 stops. The upside was you either learned proper exposure or wasted a lot of film. I'm not opposed to the latest and greatest when it makes sense, such as my D850, which is used primarily for aerial work where it definitely shines.
We’ve sacrificed pictorial beauty in the pursuit of optical perfection. Well done sir. Explains why I like shooting vintage glass. Takes the edge off.
Thank you Chris, yes vintage glass helps remove some of the clinical look we often get with the latest glass.
This vid should be essential viewing for EVERY photographer at the start of each year! Having learnt recently that Da Vinci deliberately added ZERO sharp edges to his Mona Lisa painting and realizing the stratospheric reach of that work, I'd like to suggest it's the ultimate example of what you challenged us with here.
Cheers Martin.
-Greg
Thank you Greg! I might put it as a link in my description a few people have said this.
Yes! Deeply enjoyable, it touches inner truths while issuing a correction to the "measurebating" tendencies of today.
As a beginner photographer this is refreshing to hear. All the videos talking about having a $5000 lens and $5000 camera can get discouraging. I love how this video inspires me to just go out and try to capture moods with my Olympus E - M1 I just got
Same here 😊. D810 in my case..
So true. You are brilliant with very unique perspective. Thanks
Hi Martin, I couldn't agree more. I just don't get this obsession with megapixels and clinical sharpness with current mirrorless camera and lens designs. Having shot film for many years I appreciate the the imperfections, softness and more evocative feel of film vs. digital capture. Love your analysis and content.
Thanks Martin. I hear a few other photographers expressing the same thoughts on ISO and noise and it rings true for me. Thank you for
explaining it the best way that I have heard. It is very clear from the examples of the photographs you used for this that what you say is true to me. I respect other peoples views if they do not agree with me but I agree with you. You are a treasure to the photography community and I hope more people discover you and subscribe to you to address the false information about photography, cameras and camera gear.
Spot on. The same goes for megapixel count. That's another manufacturer marketing myth that's been pushed on us.
Martin, your videos just keep getting better. This video is a Mythbusters. I couldn't agree more with you. There has to be some passion exhibited. I used to shoot weddings , my whole focus was to be at ease with the whole family. They used to put me at the head table with the family. That's what you have to project, the emotional poses and shots just came naturally after that. Thanks again, wonderful video.
This video is gold, Sir. Your historical perspective on the beauty of imperfection is brilliant. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it! I’m
Great video Martin, I just have one quote from Don McCullin “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.”
Oh that’s perfect
@@MartinCastein Thank you, I just love to study the old master and other worthy photographers. Every day is a school day there is so much to learn.
Yes, yes, yes. Young photographers should take their cameras out with them on long walks during which they solemnly vow not to take a single picture that doesn't evoke a feeling - no fair cheating with photos that seem smart, stylish, fashionable, design-ey, clever, or heady in any way.
Your viewpoints are a refreshing breath of fresh air! I'm learning from your channel that the latest and best gear is not needed.
I appreciate that!
I honestly love your photography philosophy! You're absolutely right about importance of creating an atmosphere and making people feel something when they look at your photograph instead of constantly obsessing about sharpness and ISO! Subscribed!
So I guess Topaz AI won't be sponsoring your videos anytime soon? LOL!! Thanks for making yourself visible to the masses. We're straying away from what moved us in photography from the old days. Love the grainy photos. Thanks for explaining the difference between ISO and sharpness.
No interest in Topaz AI unless they add something specifically of benefit to me but a lot of what they want to remove to me is like saying hey lets take the chocolate out of this chocolate cake, thats what you want right?
Nailed it. Whilst I will never be much of a photographer I realised a few years ago that megapixels don't matter, sharpness doesn't matter and neither does ISO and why - because most of my favourite pictures have been shot on older cameras that have less than 10 megapixels using kit lenses. Kit really is not important.
Brilliant message. Yours is the (rare) psyche I’m always looking for in photography tutorials. The way you approach the art resonates strongly with me and (to me) is the whole draw to photography in the first place. Just found your channel the other day. Subscribed and plan on going through all of your videos as I get the time. Thank you.
Thank you Jeffrey!
Completely agree.
I just discovered your channel a few weeks ago, and you have quickly made it to MY Photographer Influencer Lineup. That is the lineup I would recommend Other people study, when they ask me questions about photography.
That's the lineup I study.
It's hard to get on that list, (I'm not pretending to be a pro here either, because I am not one), but what you consistently speak is truth.
I love that.
Great vid, like so many of yours, and just a FEW others.
Thanks Martin!
-Jim, Spring Hope, USA
I noticed the older photos have a 3d pop to them, very pleasing
Completely agree. Much needed video! Really like your content, which I came across after spending days trying to find a new "professional" camera. I'm coming back to photography after about 6 years and moving on from my Canon MK ii which I sadly sold, and I was surprised to discover mirrorless is taking over and everyone is all about the spec! Your videos saved me from too much overwhelm. Bring real photography as an art form back!
this is what matters, photography is photography, the new mirrorless stuff certainly helps those making their main living from photography but it doesnt change what photography is. Looking forward to taking my 5d classic out again soon.
Maritn, I am beyond excited to have discovered your channel. You are a voice of reason, and also a FANTASTIC photographer!!! Your work is genius...I cannot get enough of your videos. I am so thankful to have access to your knowledge and insights! Thank you!!
Thank you so much, im glad you are enjoying my videos so much and getting something out of them!
Spot on, the picture with the most likes on my Instagram page is a grainy soft image taken with a cheap 7artisans 18mm f6.3 cap lens on a fuji X-E1. Focus is slightly off, it breaks normal framing rules. But it does capture a vibe.
This was an awesome watch! Most photographers now a days are more worried about how many megapixels they have in their camera. That their photo has to be sharp. Definitely an awesome video! Thank you for sharing 🙏
Thanks for calling this out. Really love your channel. I’m just a hobbyist in my 60’s but still love learning from seasoned artists/pros like you.
Hi from one photographer to another, you aren’t “just a hobbyist” 🙂 photography is photography.
Oh Martin, how I enjoyed that.
I have been as guilty as most photographers chasing megapixels, sharpness, low light performance.
In my old age I now only do Landscapes, and living in Wales have plenty of opportunity.
Going back 40 years when I did weddings with the best of the day HASSELBLADS, with their super sharp lenses, BUT to create atmosphere and add a romatic feel to the photographs our best accessories were SOFTAR 1, SOFTAR 2 and SOFTAR 3.
These were highly sought after "Soft Focus" magical tools, that sold photographs. IF I were doing portraiture and weddings today, I would pay a king's ransom for a 77mm SOFTAR. All you guys outhere with 500CMs know what I am talking about.
Love the channel both informative and entertaining.
glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the Hasselblad details!
David Hamilton used sandpaper to run circles on the front element of at least one
of his (pre T* ?) Hassel lenses (to shoot the young blonde girls).
There was one camera manuf. (no longer around, but u still see its ghost in G labels & more in light measurements & lenses ) which produced 2 types of softars, the amazing one was wavelength-specific. In a pinch there are cheap stockings (b, w & beige) of different degrees of coarseness & good rubber bands. U can also cut holes in various sizes to your heart's desire.
Aside: the early Hassel lenses (as late as the early 70's ) were no match against the Rollei 6x6 lenses (being Deust, Rollei spec better specs on lenses made by other germans, zeiss, schneider & itself ??? was rodenstock there too? no ! ?)
You've raised a subject I'd like to ask all photographers out there , if a photo is perfectly sharp , does it make a perfect photo . If not, why are we obsessed with a photo being pin sharp?
exactly Graham, very good question!
What a great video. I agree 100%! Keep going Martin. That’s a wonderful contribution to the photography community!!!
Thank you!!
Amazing video. I really love to listen to you. This is like a mini lesson. Greetings from Nicaragua.
Hi Martin, totally agree on that topic. Stepping out of that constantly having to buy better stuff circle is a reliev. When I bought my Canon F-1 Filmcamera I knew that there were more advanced follow-up models but there was not another all mechanical model like that one. You buy a piece of history which will always have that status and that gives you kind of peace in mind. I am not selling my EF lenses neither. When I look at photos taken with the new RF lenses and compare them to photos taken with EF lenses, I prefer the look and vibe of the EF lenses. I am into audio as well and there are definately parellels. When Digital audio arrived, everybody was so blown away by the clarity. After a few years, everyone missed the warmth of the old analog gear and the prices of analog studio equipment started to rise again, especially tube gear. I can see the same happening in the photo department. I love the shots you took with that Canon 5D classic. Thankx for reminding us that we don't have to follow every latest trend in order to produce meaningful expressive photos !
Thank-you. Brilliant discussion. I'm a septuagenarian an my bias is that digital was technically best used for the microscope and pathology/cell structure. You're not looking for 'mood' in the clinical laboratory. I''m glad I kept my fashion rags from the 90's. I mean the Mamyia 6x7's and medium formats were lauded for the texture their glass yielded. I always felt that CMOS and CCD sensors were brain washing us for market share, they wanted to wow us. Never bought into it. (Loved your treatment on the Nikon D600.)
I think ergonomics in a camera is an underrated feature that people don't pay enough attention to. If the camera feels good to hold, if the settings are easy to change, it makes the process of taking pictures more enjoyable and efficient.
Like you said, the camera companies need sales, so they'll naturally want to push photographers into pursuing tech, rather than art.
Thank you so much for this talk. I’ve been trying to figure out why I’ve hardly used the modern cameras I’ve had since I sold my D700 more than 10 years ago. I’ve spent so much money on upgrades - high resolution DSLRs and mirrorless systems, only to realise in the past few weeks that it’s exactly the tonal qualities of the D700 (and its simple ergonomics) that I miss.
I’ve sold my canon RF gear (that I almost never touch), and have purchased a D700 and D3s - with money left to spend on Nikon glass.
This video changed my glogal way of thinking about photography and made me reconsider some of the gear choices, for real. It's easy to get lost in the details in the marketing hype and forget the genuine fondamentals and the artistic aspect of photography....
By the way, your portrait work is superb. Thank you.
I’m sorry I can’t provide some money. Thanks so much for visiting, you seem like a really nice guy and give good, honest information. That helps me a lot.
dont be silly, you dont have to give money, im just glad it was useful for you!
Your commentary on the Art of Photography is phenomenal. Thank you for sharing your beliefs on photography. Truly inspiring!!
Thank you I’m glad you found it useful
Martin, I am here thanks to UA-cam, and UA-cam did well! One of the best 10 minutes videos on photography I have seen. I will keep these words as my "personal guide" (or my mantra ?): "We see beauty in the imperfection of things". Many thanks! Sorry for my bad English. Kind regards.
6:20 I disagree. Flaws do not make pictures better, but rather the information overload in flawless pictures makes them worse, because it is too taxing on our brains to process alongside of the story that the picture is meant to convey.
Hi Martin.
A knowledge about the history of photographers is, for me, a contributing factor to peoples ability to use the right methods or styles needed to take good pictures. The influence of others makes a difference.
The fact that you say a lot of people wouldn't know who, Richard Avedon, was is a tragic indictment of these times.
I often suggest to people they get a copy of "The Fashion Book" published by Phaidon in 1998. It embodies all that you're saying about pictures over the decades and how they compare to each other because of the moods created within them (art directors are also a factor from, Alexey Brodovitch, to the excellent Fabien Baron). Louise Dahl-Wolfe's picture in the book from 1950 is a favourite of mine.
As for the 1:1 lens you shot with on the video posted today 13/09/23. An affair with flare isn't a bad thing.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
So true! Thank you for this video ❤
"we see beauty in the imperfections"
indeed.
You are so right. Photography is about emotion and ability, not the latest, greatest tech.
its great seeing other photographers that agree!
Hi Martin, your absolutely spot on. Well said.
Thankful to hear someone saying these things. I started the digital journey with a flip phone. Chased the rabbit and realized that it was the imperfections that added to the image. If there is nothing interesting in the frame it really doesn’t matter.
EXCELLENT INFO as you take us back to basics with ISO and sharpness connections! Thank you
I couldn't agree more, sir!
I bought a brand new "toy" lens for £33 (no I haven't missed any 0's) and stuck it on my Fuji XE3.
It's not sharp in the middle, the corners are soggy as hell and with heavy vignetting. The images produced are full of character and get the most response from people I show my photos to. I own 3 very nice Fuji lenses.
One of the best educational videos on photography I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
I get a lot of compliments on a number of my photos. Some of them are taken with my 6D MKI or other DLSR, some with my little Sony a5000 with kit lenses, and some on my phone. When printed no one looks at them pixel-peeping or commenting on noise or such. What they see and comment favorably are the images themselves. The subject, the composition, the emotion, or the oh-wow response to what they are seeing. It's the images themselves that everyone reacts to. Great of you to address these things in this video. The technical is important only in as much as it assists us in creating an image. Technicals do not make the image. The image, even with imperfections is what communicates with the viewer.
Amen, Martin.
Great message, my friend.
Antoine.
Thank god someone has said it , an image is an image only when it draws the person to it, not how sharp or how good it looks it's the meaning of the image , just picked up a d700 on your recommendation and I have to say thankyou your videos inspire me thanks for that.
I’m an old fart. I grew up looking at those “old” pictures you were showing. I get (quietly) annoyed by photographers who just don’t get it, that a photo can be a great photo even if it’s a little fuzzy, or perhaps the shadow detail is lacking, or any number of technical details are not up to snuff. BTW Richard Avedon is my favorite. The photo you showed, with the woman and the elephants, is a masterpiece. It changed people’s thinking about fashion photography.
This Avedon photo of woman w/ elephants always reminds me of the one photo of a model & a horse shot by a much older lady photographer, Bassman.
R.A. did a series of nice portraits of local folks in the southwest inside a white tent ?
Saw them quite a # of yrs ago.
I've Noticed of late I wonder have you noticed Martin, both Canon & Nikon are now chasing Frames per second Nikon 125 frames per second, Canon's R3 software upgrade 195 frames per second, one question "Why!!!!!" where I am Canon 50d, and I like the old manual M42 thread lenses with a Canon adapter, I just love it, and mainly Black & White, love your straight approach and thoughts.
Thats some intense spray and pray at that speed!
I totally agree with you Martin I was brought up using film as my dad taught me he used to develop his own photos and I was always in the darkroom with him.
Thank you Bob, thanks for sharing that!
You are 100% correct. This comment applies to fashion photography and models.
Marlon Brando was one of the most photographed celebrities in history. But this is what did he say. "When I come on scene or on stage, I want everybody to stop chewing their popcorn." To me, that sums up good portraiture. Impact and it grabs your attention and does something to you. And with fashion its 80% about the garment and only 20% about the model. But of course it helps if the model is gorgeous, but not so much that its distracting.
Wow, you were speaking truth 2 years ago. I wish your words fell on my ears sooner. Very refreshing to hear, Thank you!
Totally agree with you. I shoot 35mm and medium format (up to 6x9) as well as digital and I still love the look from my 5D M1. Keep up your great work 👍
Thank you Ken!
Many decades ago I was taught in photography school the an image that has impact and makes the viewer stop and spend time looking at it far outweighs technical perfection. Capture the moment and the mood always wins over everything else. Thanks for this video and passing along this message Martin.
Great video, sir. Thank you and greetings from Czech Republic.
Thanks for watching!
Great video martin. Its important to understand that photography shouldnt be about noise or sharpness. Its way more deep than that. The moment I stopped giving a crap about those aspects is when my photography improved. This is why i still use my 5D classic today.
Thanks for the comment, you are spot on!
One of my favorite portraits is a "candid" shot of my sister on 200 speed Arista black and white film with an Olympus EM-10 with a 50mm 1.8. Whoa, the grain, but wow. Just cannot duplicate the look with digital. That's why I have film cameras as well as digital.
what a talented man.....thankyou for your thoughtful videos, they are inspiring
I do agree with you. But I do wonder what it would be like to capture a image and have a display that looked just like a mirror.
Great points and comparisons 🙏 so true 💯
Thank you for this. Great eye opener for me.
Glad it was helpful!
I think I figured out that noise is not that much an issue when I started printing my photos. Especially when I have printed some of the photos from metal band gigs - the noise is a MUST on those photos, because without them photos looks too clinical and they do not carry the mystic atmosphere what some amount of noise does. The emotion is all what matters in many cases on photos and in art in general.
Brilliantly put m8! Today’s pixel peepers get too obsessed over pixels and sharpness. I like subject stories and character. Even that vintage charm of old glass that tells you it’s different. They don’t even know why they like it but they do.
Even on my Fuji XT2 I sometimes put it to ISO 5000 during the day and it gave me some incredible grain/noise patterns that added emotion to the image.
and why not, its giving you better results, its not always about getting super clean is it. thanks for your comment!
Enjoying your talks
A good reminder for us all. Thank you Martin for keeping the flame alive for what matters in photography.
Thanks Aleksi!!!!!!
Massively interesting, and so refreshingly true. Every young photographer should study your channel. I thought immediately of UK photographer Mark Shearman whose b&w athletics photographs in the 1970s set the standard - they were wonderfully moody and expressive, but very grainy and filled with character - I was fortunate to enjoy hundreds of them when I was a staff photographer for Runner's World. I remember a day when Mark visited the office - he was a driven, very focused and intense young man. Of course his photos were sharp. Alas, none of them are viewable online today. In the mid-1970s I had conversations with Haanel Cassidy who had been chief photographer for the Conde Nast publishing empire. He talked about tonal gradations and the technical aspects of exposure and printing but didn't give a damn about grain unless it might detract from what a photograph wanted to say. You can find examples of his work with a Google search.
Found my "soul mate" photography channel!! Great stuff and reassuringly inspiring!
Awwww man, thank you!
@@MartinCastein No well deserved Martin. Totally agree with your sentiment. Bought a D600 last week on your experience and recommendation. Adding to my D300 and D700. Just to let you know I was unable to open your link for workshop information? Cheers Tom
Thanks Tom glad it’s working for you! Links are working again now I think but it’s www.martincastein.com/workshops or find the link on my website. Thanks again Tom
When our local paper publishes its nostalgia section the images of the past have much more impact than the recent images in the paper , I think although digital is far quicker and much cheaper than film something has been lost.
The only way camera manufacturers can survive from here on in is to introduce new models with settings and new functions that
really are useless.The way they do this is by marketing.To put it simply.Camera manufacturers are marketing companies,simple as that.
Thanks for this one Martin.
Cherrs
Thanks for this! this comment got held for review for some reason so ive only just seen it so sorry for late reply! A lot of the new features just arent adding anything I think you have to wait 2 or 3 generations for any difference and even then its debatable if it makes any difference.
@@MartinCastein no problem Martin.We think alike i feel.
Cheers
Sniper Photography
Australia
At last a down to earth approach to photography. Greetings from a colleague in The Netherlands.
Thanks Peter, * waves from UK *
Such an important hurdle for modern photographers to leap!
Brilliant. I was out yesterday shooting with my 6D MK1 and a vintage 135mm and got some absolute beauts. I have the Sony's with their ridiculous specs, but a vintage lens on the 6D is the kinda thing that speaks to me. Great video, have an awesome weekend 🖖
i love the 6d mark 1 its a great camera for sure, thanks for your comment David!
I like noise/grain. That's also why I don't have any issues with my secondary cam which is micro four thirds. I despise clinically clean images. They're just so boring and have no character.
Great video Martin. Timely and appropriate. Telling it like it as, much appreciated.
Excellent points! Another reason why I'm loving shooting with my Nikon Zf and Voigtlander manual lenses! I'll need to take my work to the next level with your thoughts in mind. Thank you.
Love this video. Have watched it several time. Keeping it real. Thanks 🙏 🙏
Thank you! Glad you liked it
Excellent, Martin. I stumbled on your channel only several weeks ago and have already watched quite a lot of your videos. I really enjoy your perspective on image-making, as well as the value of not falling into the trap of feeling a need to constantly upgrade gear. The old photographs by Cartier-Bresson, Erwitt, Penn, Avedon, and so many others will stand the test of time because of their vision and humanity-they make the viewer feel something and tell us something about the experience of being human.
Curious your thoughts on this related "sharpness" question: someone I met recently who owns a brick and mortar camera store and who has been in the camera store business for almost 3 decades explained to me that when Canon and Nikon both started making digital cameras, Canon made the decision to have a slightly less sharp image but less noise in the shadows/higher ISO, while Nikon made the decision to have a sharper image with a bit more noise in the shadows/higher ISO. (I'm speaking here about the internal processing algorithms and possibly sensor design, not about lens design.) As someone who has shot many iterations of Canon and Nikon bodies, do you think there is any truth to this distinction? Thanks and best regards!
I think that id feel its almost the other way around with canon prioritising sharpness, Nikon grain if you can call it that is monochromatic so tends to not show up or disturb as much. i dont think it matters though ultimately, there are excellent cameras and lenses from both.
@@MartinCastein That's an interesting perspective. I've more experience with Canon than Nikon (mainly through my 6D, which was my entry to full frame before picking up a Sony A7IV last year-though I still own and enjoy shooting the 6D), but have been curious to pick up an older full frame Nikon DSLR for a good price at some point, partly as a way of being able use the few vintage Nikkor AI-S lenses that I have (without using an adapter such as one would on an A7). But in general I've been curious about the different rendering and features on these various cameras, and have enjoyed your videos on the older Canon and Nikon bodies.
Bang on! Have learned to embraced digital noise. Especially when shooting live events. I find that the noise adds character and dynamism. No noise and ultra sharpness just makes everything look too shiny and it can be very boring.
Martin I agree completely
Excellent video, just taking a break from editing an engagement shoot, stressing because we were in woodland and the images are grainy. This has made me feel better about them, hopefully the couple will be happy with them.
Just embrace it, dont fight it, nothing to be stressed about, is there emotion in the pictures, thats ALL you need to worry about. Dont fight what youve got other than that.
@@MartinCastein Thank you for speedy reply, I needed to hear that, yes I think there is enough emotion. It is forever a learning curve.
thats all that matters, people will love pictures of them together. Dont worry about grain just leave it there.
@@MartinCastein Thank you, appreciate that.
I think taking good pictures is about the relationship between the photographer and the camera. If a camera makes you feel good (and you spend enough time to get to know its strong and weak points), then it's more likely that you will take beautiful photos with impact.
I still have my Olympus E-5 with only two lenses (14-54 and 50-200) who gave me such pleasure although its high ISO performance is by no means great. It's only 12 megapixels also. But that's even enough to print 40x60 cm. Nobody on the net will ever know which camera I used unless I include the EXIF data.
That said, I really like the character of the ISO 1600 images it produces, especially in black and white. This machine is like an old, loyal friend. One reason is it's sturdyness and another it's reliability. I have had a few times where I forgot to turn the camera off and it lay in the drawer for months. When I took it, the battery was still the same as when I left it. You know, after 4 hours it shuts down and that is a thing I would like my Nikons to do...
But actually it comes down to how a camera makes me feel. The same thing is true for lenses. Using my (very) old Canon 5D with that even older Helios 58mm f2, is a joy. It has its restrictions and it's that kind of thing that stimulates creativity.
Your video triggered me into instant subscription !
Welcome aboard!
Thank you for bringing this to peoples attention. I’ve been talking about it for some time, usually to no avail. Detail and sharpness isn’t what makes a picture. It can be good, but it doesn’t makes the picture so by itself. Sometimes it even makes it worse. There are cameras and lenses that produce less detail, but gives you better pictures. The early 5D’s and the 1Ds cameras do. Also lenses like the Canon 35/1.4 (first version) and the 135/2.
I see on forums people recommending cameras like the R5 to amateurs (wanting to upgrade from their 80D, because they don’t get good pictures…), and I feel absolutely disgusted by it. Will they learn photography better by spending €3-4000 on a camera body? Wouldn’t it be better to buy a 6D (or 6D2 if they insist on buying new) with a 35 or 50mm instead? IMHO you will learn more about photography with a short to medium prime than you will do with a zoom. The whole thing about the effects of large aperture will rarely be understood by fiddling with a short focal length f/4-5,6 zoom.
i agree with you completely! Id have beginners on a 5d 1 or 2 and a 50mm 1.8 and get on with that for a year.
So depressing when he said, You probably don't know the photographer, he's Richard Avadon.
Fantastic Martin, thank god someone is talking sense, we want more real world vids and this is it, loving your vids they are so inspiring, the gear vids that are out are total misleading the world of creative photography, thank you Martin.
Thank you! love reading feedback like that!
Well done! Very intelligent opinion.
Bravo! Brilliant. I love your take on it all.
Great video Martin.
Thanks Adrian!
How very true. If you use Rodinal developer, your negatives will appear to be grainy but they are certainly very sharp. I often use my 5D mk1 at iso 1600 and the results are grainy, but they are SHARP!
Thanks Ian, appreciate your comment!
I completely agree. Creating impact and atmosphere in your photos must be the hardest skills to master.
Very well said and shown! What's interesting about a perfect image of a test chart? What we would benefit from though, is low ISO. Then we can both shoot wide open in bright light, and get long exposures without ND filters.
Yes if we could get to ISO 25 or something like that would be great
Valuable information in these videos! I took time out to study those old photographers. Many like these fashion pics for demonstration were taken by guys like Richard Avedon with an old twin lens Rollei Rolleiflex. They said Richard used an assistant to keep three cameras loaded with film because he didn't want to stop a session to load film. The only automation on a Rollei Twin and I have a few was the photographer turning a knob. Still they managed to create masterpieces that still hold up today.
This video should be compulsory viewing! Not sure if Sony and the major manufacturers would appreciate it though. Love your attitude. I got a 5D based upon your ideas and I will always appreciate your advice. Amazing.
Its ok if they dont like it! haha, thanks Cliff! Hope you enjoy your 5d!
Just because it is new doesn't necessarily mean it's better. Whilst I shoot a lot on medium format, both film and digital, for 35mm format I find my self drawn time and time again to the Canon 5Dmk2 and the Nikon D800 for portrait work. Both have their strengths, both have their weaknesses. It is all about understanding your camera and which camera will best deliver your intent for the shoot. Whilst I have a mirrorless system I am not a fan of the EVF, particularly as the vast majority of my work is done with strobes.
I agree with you, with truly modern cameras it is more about marketing hype than improved IQ.
The fact that I still have my Hasselblad V System after all these years speaks volumes!
LOVE THIS ! THANK YOU!
Great video! I completely agree! Imperfection is what's making things beautiful. We are human beings after all.
Thanks Martin, spot on. The bulk of my work is with a D700 with Ai-Ais lenses in order to achieve what to me is a more pleasing image than with a modern super clean high MP sensor. I spent many years with ISO 25 rated Kodachrome as my standard film with it's massive dynamic range of 7-8 stops. The upside was you either learned proper exposure or wasted a lot of film. I'm not opposed to the latest and greatest when it makes sense, such as my D850, which is used primarily for aerial work where it definitely shines.
Thanks for that, love the d700 for sure!
Thank you. This was fantastic.