Hey all! This video has drawn much more interest than I ever expected! Thank you all for watching and for your comments. My newest video is all making great travel photos under natural light, even under so called "bad light". Check it out! ua-cam.com/video/iBvZ4vyuA3Y/v-deo.html
as a wedding photographer I shoot up to a 1000 photos at a wedding. Fifteen years ago we stopped using film, at that time I was taking 5 rolls of 120mm film, 60 shots. It kept me disiplined but the benefit of being able to evolve my style and vary my shots has certainly improved my photography. It's not spray and pray, It's constant learning and evolving and improving my skill. So I agree with you vary your angles and exposure until you get what you want.
Well, that's one style, and works better in the digital age, not "wasting film." But... I prefer the Ansel Adams approach: Visualize what you want and set it up to happen. Yes, I still take more than one "sniper" image, but not more than 7 or 8, usually fewer than that. Sometimes, yes, just one, if I got what I wanted. And yes, I learned and mostly practiced photography using film, often medium format and even 4x5. Did my own darkroom work, too. So I guess my habits involve being frugal.
Hey, it does make total sense for stationary subjects and medium format film cameras. Perhaps I should have emphasized more that my approach is particularly aimed at dynamic subjects or when you can be dynamic around the subject itself, like with the drone. Nothing against Ansell Adams or the great portraitists, but I shoot different type of stuff. The main lesson was that - it's ok to take more shots, but with intent and purpose.
Everyone has their own approach. - In my case, I get one or two shots of a given moment of inspiration and it usually works out. If there's nothing of interest, I don't shoot as if I'm digging for something in the hopes to captures something (and yes, despite what is said in the video, of course it's fishing for results). - I'd rather indeed see the image already and then capture it instead of waiting or hoping for it. I stare into the world and through the viewfinder a lot, otherwise I might as well just shoot video and select a frame afterwards. - I now shoot film, which kind of forced me to do this, but I already did the same with digital cameras automatically. - Just my approach...
KutWrite I have no doubt you get the shot you wanted with all your skills and practice. I'm curious though if you are limiting your creativity to thing that are familiar. I often find new creative ideas I haven't explored before when I take the restrictions off myself.
This to me at least seems like one of those tips where it's so obvious and seems like something that everyone should already automatically do, but for some reason I don't think I do it properly and this simple tip will really help me. I look back at some of my favourite pictures and think 'if only I got slightly different angles or slightly different lighting... So thanks.
I call it working the shot. I frequently explore a subject from a variety of angles and perspectives. My best image is often one I hadn't originally seen in my minds eye.
Yep, sketching with the camera, working the shot and yes - that's the beautiful thing about photography - sometimes it's the little nuance, which you never expected that makes for the best image.
Yes, “working” the scene is a good description. Being curious and willing to adjust location, perspective and camera controls are the means to creative results. Patience and curiosity are key. Plus lighting and local environment situation may be constantly evolving. Exploring and working a situation is the excitement!
Back years ago when I took a photography class, digital photography was only just becoming accessible to the regular consumer and I was still shooting with film. The rule of thumb back then was that you probably will only get one good image per roll (24-36 images). So there was the cost of a roll of film, then there was the cost of developing and if you did black and white photography in a darkroom it was time consuming to produce each print, so it was more likely to just give up a subject if you couldn’t find an interesting way to frame it. Today, you can snap several dozen images and see them immediately and delete the ones you don’t like or transfer them to a flash drive and you don’t have to go buy another roll of film. Some of the gear can still be expensive, but you don’t have the ongoing cost of film, special batteries or developing. It is easier not to be a “photo sniper.”
Having an interest as a child I grew up with film. Observation and timing were key. Old habits die hard. I’ve increased the number of shots, my sons shoot many multiples of my number. My gear is much more capable than I am.
Thanks for making this. I used to do photography back in the film days and I have to admit, I was a photo sniper simply for economic reasons. Photography was not my job, so I had to shell out personal funds for film, travel (to shoot), developing and printing. I would always try my best not to waste a single frame, though--without immediate feedback--I did end up wasting a lot of them. Then I put it away for a very long time, but now I am getting back into it. I have digital cameras and I know that taking more shots is free and it gives me a much higher success rate, but I am having a really hard time changing my mind set. This video helps with that. I will start making a conscious effort to take more shots.
Digital really has changed the game. When I started out as a kid with my handed-down Rollei, I had to save up for weeks to afford a 12 exposure roll. The chemicals and paper were costly too. Clicking the shutter became a major investment, and each exposure was carefully considered. Digital enables a much more carefree, experimental approach.
This is the proper philosophy of a pro photographer. Actually the title of this video should read 'Don't be a machine gunner'. A sniper is a shooter who picks and does not waste a shot. You are living the dream.
People who think a photographer should shoot one, perfect shot is stupid. Your process (same as mine) is immensely better. I love the shot of the old man. Wonderful!
I have mixed feelings about this. In one hand you are ABSOLUTELY right, you shouldn’t just take a couple of photographs. On the other hand I mainly shoot film, so I can’t do that I have to think about the composition and take one or two photographs at most and they come out really good because I took a moment to think about the shot.
Thanks for commenting. If you're dealing with still subjects, it's totally manageable to get the shot in 1-2 attempts. The main reason why I shot the landscape with the drone many times is because I could and I was curious to see it from different angles later. However, if you're dealing with dynamic subjects... 1 or 2 frames, well, it's still possible, but basically you have to get incredibly lucky to get something great.
i'm shooting film as well. I always only take a single shot of a subject. it makes it way more special and valuable, as, just like you said, you invest so much more into the shot before pressing the shutter
I think shooting with film makes you slow down. You know you have limits with film; so you tend to be more thoughtful before you press the shutter. One of the benefits of going back to film from time to time.
@xavpaw -I think this is a great point for hobbyists, but if you're a pro and you're showing an editor your photos, no one cares about how special you think the shot is, if it's not actually special. :) And no one cares how many shots it took you to get it.
Totally agree with you, the the great shot should be searched and the right moment should be waited, but the knowledge you should already have, because is pointless to wait and to search because you won't find. I have the same technique and I'm so happy to see that you do the same. Thank for your videos, was very useful!
this man is living my dream, i was in Georgia last summer it's a great country, i however didn't have a 4 by 4 as a car / home / office therefore i didn't fetch good unique pictures. sadly i ended up with dull pictures taken from the most popular places where every Tourist got.
Thank you for traveling to Georgia! My home country is very small so not a lot of people know about it but when I find stuff like this on the internet it warms my heart to see people viewing the wonders of my small country ❤️
I've always wondered how do people get their living expenses while traveling in SUV like these? How about internet? It looks really awesome, but I never figure out how...
Expenses can be super cheap. Gas and... depends on where you eat. Internet - Georiga is a bit special in that sense they have amazing 4G mobile internet almost everywhere. About 60 USD per month, unlimited. :)
Dang, that's awesome, may I ask how do you charge your gadgets like phone and notebook? Built-in car charger port? Do you cook or eating out? I really appreciate your reply man
Finally, shoot as many images as possible with as many composition variations as fast as possible. Not everyone thinks the same way, so it's normal that some people tend to hunt for that moment they imagine while the others need to actually see the moment to realize what they need. In the end, it's both that you need, the one leading to the other.
In the midst of the argument about being an Ansel Adams purist and whether digital encourages people to "waste" shots, people seem to have missed your point about shooting with a purpose. To me, that's the point. I do some wildlife photography, and I get as many shots as I can while the subject is in front of my lens. I never know what movement is going to work, particularly with birds. With human models, there's a little less surprise because the model should have already bought into the vision for the image. With landscapes, I'm a little less inclined to shoot a bunch of images. Once I see what I want to capture, I know pretty quickly whether I've gotten the shot.
I went to a dog beach recently with a friend and her dog. My purpose was to capture the playfulness of the dogs, and although I took heaps of photos, I still came away with a lot of good photos, because I used this awesome method.
I think you make a good point there. Shooting many pictures but definitely with a purpose is a great strategy and I think the three photos you showed were perfect examples for when it's very useful. However, I also think it depends on the purpose of the shoot. For a professional job I would take as many shots as I could, no question. However, I started shooting film around two years ago and what I found is that by limiting myself to the essential compositions I had a much better learning effect. It was of course extremely frustrating at times but I got to know myself and what I can and cannot do. In a way I take fewer steps forward because film slows me down but the steps are bigger because I get angry at myself when I didn't capture what I wanted and only find out two weeks later in the darkroom. ;)
Good tip. Back in the days of film, most pro photographers would say that if you get one good shot out of a roll of film, you're doing well. With digital, there's no reason to hold back.
It's funny how I hear a lot of people saying "you shouldn't spend so much time with a single subject, just take a couple and move on". I never agreed with that and this video confirms my point.
One of the real joys of digital - can take a few photos and choose best without the fear (or cost) of using / running out of film. Great topic - and vehicle.
I'm trying to get the best image, but also by having taken photos from different angles, I do have some to choose from later as well. Works well when sending work to editors.
Love the sentiment here. I know almost all of the great photographers of all time have contact sheets with MANY variations of a shot. Koudelka, HCB, Capa, Daido, Eugene Smith often used more than one roll of film on a single scene. That's where I learned this. That said, I think that you manage to dilute the information and present your argument very effectively with some great examples. I'm trying to mentor a friend of mine in photography, and this video has been one of the most helpful ones in terms of him improving his photography. Thanks!
100 percent agree. I have people making fun of me all the time while others understand they have to wait five minutes while i find the one shot i chose to post or show them.
exactly ! Im in Bali for 3weeks now and got over 4000shots (most of them is same shots with different expo to do stack and get long expo effec as i dont have an nd filter and still 1week left) . i plan each shot so not really randomly shooting and i think i end up with max 20-40images which actually alot , but eventually i want to be able to get only few shots out of thousands and i think thats the key of been good photographer. Thank you for great point Subbed 👍🏼
Sometimes I "snipe" or "shoot from the hip" by intent, even then I will probably take multiple shots of a subject, from a tripod, it's a no-brainer. This is a well-planned photography tip, not just for travel, given by a professional in a clear methodical manner. Well done by Mitchell. Some will certainly disagree with this approach, I doubt you will find a good professional photographer that does. Watch it, like space on a memory card, you have nothing to lose, a lot to gain from 11 minutes..
When you do not work in studio, but outside you should shoot like this, you never know until you try. You can not control the nature, the light, but you can work with it. Look at all angles, think outside the box. I do agree with you.
Back in the day before digital photography when every photo you took meant paying for processing (unless you were processing your own photos and then you could be a little more selective) photos sniping was probably a lot more common. He wanted to make sure that you were really clear and certain about the photo you were going to take before you actually snap the picture. I still have this mindset unless I’m photographing flowers which I’m super passionate about. Then I just take massive photos and them and and left with thousands of photos to go through at the end of the day. But Bob Ross used to say there are no mistakes, just happy little accidents. 😊
EXCELLENT!!! I just love how you make your van as your moving home and office at the same time. I've always want to do the exact same thing like this T_T
Ok, now I know that I am a photosniper. That's really useful to improve my photography. I usually shoot 1 to 3 photos of a given subject. I don't double expose, I don't HDR, I don't focus stack. I feel, think, compose, set and shoot. Sometimes the shoot is bad (micromovement, wrong exposure, flares). I accept it. It's like going hunting with a bow. You have one shot. That puts much more meaning in what you are doing. Not much as going hunting with an AK-47.
As a pro, I can't afford to take 1-3 photos and go on. I need to explore all possibilities and make the absolute most out of any situation. If it's for fun - then sure, you can approach it as hunting or however else. No rules. Whatever makes one happy. 🙂 This was just a suggestion to help people get more out of each situation.
@@mitchellkphotos I respect your point. But my point is: do you want to improve as a photographer? Of course anyone wants, most of all if he/she is a professional photographer. Do you wanna be able to take out the most out of any shooting? Of course, as above! So, learn the discipline of shooting the lowest number of shots that you can. Your way seems ideal to get the most from every situation, mine seems ideal to get the most out of yourself as a photographer. And investing in ourselves is often the wiser investment.
@@Nessunego That's the thing, I don't consider taking two, three shots and being happy with the image an improvement. It's not archery and a lot depends on what you're shooting. It might be that the scene is developing and different opportunities appear. I just don't think that one ever MUST stop. You think you got the image, but the actual image might be something that happens in a minute. It might happen in reaction to you taking a photo. There are so many nuances.
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The analogy of hunting and photography does not work.
Sure - many options - many variations. Respect that style but its not for everybody. I tend to work on variations on a theme in a lot narrower range to get the one shot that works. Each to their own.
As someone who frequently switches between shooting film and digital, this is pretty much exactly how I shoot when shooting digital. Of course with film I have to snipe because I don’t want to waste exposures, and even then, it does help add a different perspective to my composition because I have to take the time to stop and make sure I get the perfect shot. This idea of shooting more on a single idea has been a huge help to me on learning how to use my camera and understand what kind of composition I like, which in turn translates over to composing shots with film. Great video!
I stumbled upon this, im new in photography world and its true im one of those photography sniper... And i notice what actually i want in my photos...and now while watching some photography lesson i saw this, thank you for sharing this to us, iit helps a lot to me and to others😊😊😊
Mitchell Kanashkevich do the series man, i think there are lot of videos about journey out there, but an actual video about journey doing photograph is rarely seen.. could you just strap some 360 camera on your car and do some amazing timelapse journey video? maan i just hope you can make it..
Haha. Yeh, I mean I partly made the video because of that. Many are enamoured with the idea, this romantic notion of just "nailing it" with one shot. Why? Is that some heroic feat? And yes, I'd say - show me what you got over the past 10 years. I mean, if you can get something in 1-5 shots - in an action scene or even a portrait that's beyond someone just standing still for the camera - great. But, most often that's not the case. Thanks for watching. :)
I partially disagree because I shoot more film than digital and can't afford to just keep taking photos. Your attitude claiming that people can't take good photos if they don't take a lot is incredibly short sighted.
Been to Cartier Bresson's retrospective. From the contact sheets that were there it was clear that he didn't settle on a single image, or two. It wasn't 20, but maybe that's just because he was limited by the amount of film he could carry on those long journeys. :)
There are a lot of photographers who spray and pray. I think your 100 % . Have an idea. Talk to your subject. Some areas it is a lot of work. Sometimes good. That man's face told a story. Love the background of the fog.
Different, depends on road, wind etc. Goes from 600km - 1000km. Remote in Georgia is like 50km from a gas station. Over winding roads of course, but in actual distance - not so far. I think Mongolia itself will be the only issue from what I heard.
Took me a moment to appreciate what you meant by “photo sniper” - I got fed up yesterday with a photographer spotting where I was shooting, and literally running in front of me to steal my shot, but I really get your message - thank you. Great shots, and the trip looks amazing!
If you're using a digital camera with a big enough or multiple storage cards, then that's actually a good method of photography. Things happen once and your ideal shot is more likely to be one of many photos. But if you're using film, then its much harder because you have to wait for film to advance, or hand crank it yourself. 35mm film has 36 frames and 120 only has 12 so more planning goes into how this shot is composed, and not a lot of people are going to be willing to go through a whole roll of film for 1 or 2 photos, which is why people snipe to maximize cost per roll. You simply can't delete a frame once you've taken it, and it costs to buy and develop film. That being said, its good to use both methods. Sniping helps you think about photo-taking more and it helps if you're a beginner and/or testing out a different camera, and mini-gun it if things if you don't have the time to think much about it because either you're moving or what you're trying to shoot is. All depends on your style or chosen format. I personally use a Canon 7D and a Yashica 635.
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With a digital camera I agree totaly, but clearly not how a film photographer should think.
Yes, this is aimed at digital photography. If one shoots film, there are certainly going to be fewer photos, but not 2 or 3 either. In documentary photography, it's well documented that the Nat Geo photogs would come back with hundreds of rolls from assignments. No idea how much that would cost these days. :)
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Yes Robert, with digital you get biased on the try and error method. Who shoots film already know what the photo looks like when point the camera to subject, because you can´t see what you got until de film development. Don´t get me wong, I´m not telling one way is better than the other, both are valid upon your photography strategy. Who shoots film today must think like Besson, wait for the decisive moment, and would never use a motor drive.
Film has become such a "romanticised" medium. Now we are steering towards film vs digital and that's a whole different topic. Also, what I'm talking about is similar to "knowing" what a photo looks like, in your mind. But, I'm talking about going beyond that and experimenting. That's what I love about digital photography, we can know, but without the limit of frames, we can let spontanity take over, shoot and see what happens. And not go broke. :)
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mitchellkphotos yes, I agree, digital is very good to bust the learning process. I started shooting in the beginning of digital era and with my DSLR I made all the try and error I needed to learn the basics. As I got older I started using film again, more and more, it's not so expensive if you know what your doing, I live in the 3rd world and my goods are all shiped from us. I'm not rich and I don't live from my photography, but it's still possible. The big difference is the mind set you have to achieve your goals. You could say rangefinders are better than SLR, you could say medium format is better than 35mm or silent is better than louder camera. But we see amazing work done with every medium. The think is, there are several strategies and styles, I completely understand you work process, I would do the same if I shoot only digital. But in my case, on daily basis I try the opposite, less is more. And I can't say it's better or worse, just a different strategy.
Hey Michell. Great video and an important lesson. I have a small question you might be able to answer as a panasonic expert, I have a GX7 and have a load of dust thats apparently between the low-pass filter and the sensor, so it can't be cleaned with normal techniques and panasonic quote triple the value of the camera to fix out of warranty. This means photos like those you're showing at 4:31 would show up with loads of artifacts in the fog if taken on my camera (maybe only if above f/4). It makes me aprehensive to change to another panasonic camera. Is this something you ever had to deal with with your GX7? Has it ever been an issue with your GX8?
Hey, I am not too much help here. But, a friend of mine did have her GX7 cleaned in a normal place. If it's some weird kind of place, as you say in-between the low pass filter and sensor, it may be an issue. Perhaps try other places. I find that just because someone says it can't be done, it's not always the case.
I have a scratches on the sensor of my camera (bought second hand...), but really with a bit of cloning in post I can remove it all. Obviously doing it do every image would take ages, but just doing it on the ones you actually like isn't too much trouble
yep, thats my thought too. I upgraded to a new camera but ended up returning it because I thought it wasnt worth paying a lot of money just to get around this minor inconvenience
It's a balance. You can't try to get it right on the first try, but spray and pray is a great way to ignore the process of discovering the composition and replace it with random chance. This is why I encourage people to learn on film, then step up to digital.
About the photo of the horse ... why I love this picture : the raindrops, the edge of the door and the horse watching you, make the photographer enter the picture. The point of view is no more anonymous ...
Finding the composition you want is personal preference and your artistic preference isn’t what I would have chosen. Watching this has taught me to be less opinionated about others work.
STD -TV sure. It is a personal preference. Nothing wrong with being opinionated - that's what makes your photography style different to others. Though the video is not about choosing composition. It's about giving oneself more chances and shooting and more choices. I don't see a choice of photo as a definitive one forever and if an editor like another angle - great. They can use that.
Wow. Of the many videos I’ve watched on beginning photography, I have gained so much from this one video. Each video ive seen, they always focus on making the image good after effects. But I’ve always liked taking photos of the natural landscape. And this is exactly the kind of help I was looking for. Definitely earned a sub
I love the focus on the artistry of photography and less on the technical jargon of it all. Don't get me wrong. The techy stuff does turn me on but there is a limit to learning that stuff. And the more mature of a photographer i get i realize that there is limitless possibilities to explore when it come to the artistic side of it all. Please make more such photo analysis videos sprinkled with a little tech dust , like when you talked about the aperture settings and the lens flare. It helps us amateurs get an idea of the thought process that goes into a shot
Love this video. I never understood why so many people say that you should try to limit the number of photos you take or that if you give yourself only 30 shots then you will take better pictures. You should be thinking and planning like you said but it makes no sense to only take 1 frame of the image you carefully composed. This makes perfect sense. If you take 12 photos of the shot you want there is a much better chance that 1 of the 12 will come out the way you like it. Even when I or most of the skilled photographers I know shoot film, they will still shoot 6 frames in a minute to get one shot. Now, with digital photography, there is no longer any financial restraints on the number of photos you can take so why not embrace that. I can take 1.7k RAW images on camera's SD card so I don't know why I should try to take as few photos as possible. I embrace the theory you are espousing. I set up a shot, compose it, think about the setting and then take 5 photos, change the f stop and take another 5 photos just to have the options available if I want them. Also, I am a strong believer in bracketing when shooting handheld, but not because I care about the exposure because with RAW .3 ev in either direction is easy in post and doesn't hurt the image. I believe in bracketing for focus purposes. A lot of times when shooting handheld I could miss a great shot because my AF focused to the wrong thing or there is camera shake but bracketing means that my camera is shooting 3 photos almost at once so there is a better chance 1 of the 3 will be in focus or not have camera shake. I don't understand why this isn't a common practice for everyone. I'm excited to get my Arsenal Camera assistant mainly for its ability to shoot landscape shots at every focal length so you have all the possible options available. I know RAW files are big, and I'm always running low on disk space myself so I do a quick edit straight off the SD card when I plug it in. If you take the extra shots and have 300 instead of 100 you can widdle the 300 down to 100 or less by doing a quick review on the SD card before transferring photos to your computer or hard drive. So that was a really long winded post but basically, your video made me feel vindicated in my theory and today when I go out to shoot I'm not going to be a photo sniper. I'm gonna take the extra frames and not feel guilty about it.
Right now it is pouring rain outside my window and I am inclined to stay put ... but after watching your video, I will go out and experiment in the rain. :) Thank you for your video and the ebook on travel photography is great.
I was not sure what a photo sniper was but when I searched for it I found something named that. Zenit Photosniper is actually gun that attaches to the camera and lens, it's designed for military use decades a go i guess, it has a shoulder butt.
Just to put it in perspective, old film shooters like me spent a LOT of money on developing back in the day. Out of one roll, you will get 3 good shots. Composition, composition, composition.
is strange that people think that a photographer just points and shoots, when i show people my shots I always get the same response of " why is there so many of the same picture? " then i have to explain to them how photography works in reality, they still think after that i am just strange and a real photographer is a super hero that can catch a image first try everytime. I wish people would learn that a professional learned about lighting and composition, and not about speed photography. is is not a race it is a piece of art captured by a artist, a trained artist at that for most part. what you are talking about is how a photographer sketches a scene, like a painter before he starts painting, they always make a sketch first. in the end the people who take more photos get the better pictures, end of story.
I think everyone is different, I generally feel that if I can’t get the shot in 5 shots then I’m just not good enough at the moment for the shot. Usually by the third shot I get what I want. I feel that most of my imagination plans well enough to get the shot I was going for. Still everyone works differently and I would never judge anyone for it.
Bear Wanderer Like you say. Everyone is different. The point here is not to shoot 20 shots. It's just not to stop at 1 or 2 or 3. There's no prize for nailing it in fewer attempts.
mitchellkphotos there definitely is no physical prize really, but it’s more of a personal growth challenge. It helps me nail exposure, and composition easier as I grow. It’s not that I don’t do this, it’s just that personally I just prefer to get it done in fewer shots. Like I said though, I’m not judging anyone. Because I most of the time leave feeling that I captured the best moment I could. I could easily see how people would want to take as many planned shots as possible so they don’t go back and regret not trying a specific shot out. Still I go for what I feel is what I want to get and generally I’m pretty happy with it. Always room to grow honestly.
Not that I'm a great photographer, but Yes I have always believed in taking multiple shots. Exploitation is key just to get that one nice shot, or at least choosing the greatest one of the series. Great video!!!
Brilliant video. Especially like that you talked about how you talked to the carpenter to get him out of his forced expression. That is the kind of nuance that beginning photographers need to understand. It is nothing to even do with the gear, if you can't get the subject to feel natural whether that mean making a human subject comfortable with your camera near them or exploring different angles with a landscape.
One of the best photography videos and recommendations I ever seen. Thanks. I was a photo sniper. But now I know I have to get rid of that purist sensation and shoot plenty with a purpose. Thanks again. An also I loved your edition and the way of explaining it. Excellent
This is a spray and pray mentality and is very common with new photographers. It took me years to get away from this bad habit. Wait for the shot, then take a good one EVERY TIME.
This is the best photography educational approach I’ve seen on UA-cam. Thank you so much for being a great photography ambassador and opening up your approach to make us all better. Looking forward to my purchase of your full package video course. You’re awesome! 👍🏻
Back in the days, the best photographs like Cartier Besson often choose in between 30 images. One of my friend (who shot my profile pic) Vincent Marchessault, can shoot a couple hundreds images in one event - 500 pics is not unusual. Imagine for a moment how much the old masters of the past spent in film rolls to shoot around 30 images every time. Crazy :0
About the $ on rolls of film - absolutely! That's why photography was so much more exclusive back then. Now the playing field is equal, hence some amazing photographers are coming out of some of the "poorer" nations, from less well-to-do families. I think it's great. More fascinating stories for us to enjoy.
At first I thought this was going to be about not copying other photographers by creeping over their shoulder taking the same photo... that would be awkward to experience. Pleasantly surprised I watched the whole video and connected with your message and very much enjoyed your story. Great job!
Usually when trying to get it right, I take 3-5 images until i know i have one that i'm satisfied with. I'm not a sniper, but i'm not using the machine gun approach like you. Like any good marksman, I don't always hit what i'm aiming for the first time, so i follow it up with a few more shots until i've hit the heart of my target. If i still feel like i'm missing, I restrategize and move to a different vantage point. The only reason to ever stick to one "birds nest" and keep firing from the same angle is if its not a problem with my marksmanship, but a matter of getting the timing right on a dynamic target. Sometimes the expression is wrong, sometimes the pose is wrong, sometimes the waves arent crashing in the right pattern or the wind isnt blowing with the right force or all my targets aren't lined up in the right way. And sometimes, my target notices me, their positioning and relationship with my camera is all wrong, and the moment is lost. Those who have not been properly trained as models make for very poor subjects when they know they're being photographed. That's why its important to get it right the first time. Even if you are going to take a lot of photos, be deliberate, be specific, don't just spew them out. Shoot each shot like its the only one you have left before your battery dies.
On the other hand, it's a good practice to limit yourself, to train your eye and being minimalistic in your approach. I saw so many photo machine gunners who don't come across a good pics for a reason.
I mean, yes, various things can be a good practice. I'm just sharing what I've learnt over a decade of shooting as a pro. As I say in the video "I never, ever in all my years said - I wish I shot less." I'm not very idealistic, I'm practical. Results over technique.
wow, you are right, I was making that mistake, thinking that if I'm getting good, I shouldn't take that many pictures, but thanks for this advice! Will keep up
Interesting sometimes I feel I take to many photos on my travels. You’ve made me realise there’s no harm in taking lots of photos to decide what works later :)
This is a great video because this subject is not addressed by other photographers. i am an international humanitarian worker and photographer and always struggle with this question should i take so much photos of the same subject or not, because i felt like it makes me a bit bored during the post processing period. But this video has helped get into the right mindset :)
Never heard this term but I'm photo sniper. At the end of a shoot ill have less than 100 shots while other guys shooting with me will have thousands. I learned on film and feel like setting up the shot is a big part of photography. Spray and pray shooting takes a lot less skill.
Subscribed! This is the first video I have ever come across from you. Fantastic. I love the pictures. I love your home/office/car and that you get to travel! Awesome video. Thank you for sharing!
This is the first video I've seen from you and it made me subscribe your channel. I still don't know what photography means to me but I feel like shooting things help me to explore and unterstand better and show me the different points. And what I actually understand from your video is to see and approach the different aspects of the people and the things we come across on our way. Thanks for that and have a great journey.
Although I focus primarily on video work, when I do take photos I notice I am often what you call a photo sniper. I need to be much more mindful of this habit.
Hey all! This video has drawn much more interest than I ever expected! Thank you all for watching and for your comments. My newest video is all making great travel photos under natural light, even under so called "bad light". Check it out! ua-cam.com/video/iBvZ4vyuA3Y/v-deo.html
mitchellkphotos did you shot those photos in raw? Btw, nice tip!
yes I did
mitchellkphotos great advice. I do the same damn thing.
Haha. Thanks. :)
This video is very well put together. I like your calm and down to earth way of narration explaining through many examples. 👍👍
as a wedding photographer I shoot up to a 1000 photos at a wedding. Fifteen years ago we stopped using film, at that time I was taking 5 rolls of 120mm film, 60 shots. It kept me disiplined but the benefit of being able to evolve my style and vary my shots has certainly improved my photography. It's not spray and pray, It's constant learning and evolving and improving my skill. So I agree with you vary your angles and exposure until you get what you want.
Well, that's one style, and works better in the digital age, not "wasting film."
But... I prefer the Ansel Adams approach: Visualize what you want and set it up to happen. Yes, I still take more than one "sniper" image, but not more than 7 or 8, usually fewer than that. Sometimes, yes, just one, if I got what I wanted.
And yes, I learned and mostly practiced photography using film, often medium format and even 4x5. Did my own darkroom work, too. So I guess my habits involve being frugal.
Hey, it does make total sense for stationary subjects and medium format film cameras. Perhaps I should have emphasized more that my approach is particularly aimed at dynamic subjects or when you can be dynamic around the subject itself, like with the drone. Nothing against Ansell Adams or the great portraitists, but I shoot different type of stuff. The main lesson was that - it's ok to take more shots, but with intent and purpose.
Everyone has their own approach. - In my case, I get one or two shots of a given moment of inspiration and it usually works out. If there's nothing of interest, I don't shoot as if I'm digging for something in the hopes to captures something (and yes, despite what is said in the video, of course it's fishing for results). - I'd rather indeed see the image already and then capture it instead of waiting or hoping for it. I stare into the world and through the viewfinder a lot, otherwise I might as well just shoot video and select a frame afterwards. - I now shoot film, which kind of forced me to do this, but I already did the same with digital cameras automatically. - Just my approach...
KutWrite yeaa.....i shot film too..and i'm not gonna use 3 rolls of 120 film for 1 photos...
KutWrite I completely agree. Learnt sodium thiosulphate as a kid in 60s....
KutWrite I have no doubt you get the shot you wanted with all your skills and practice. I'm curious though if you are limiting your creativity to thing that are familiar. I often find new creative ideas I haven't explored before when I take the restrictions off myself.
i've often been chastised for taking 'too many' photos, appreciate the words of wisdom
Thanks for watching. Makes sense, right? :)
This to me at least seems like one of those tips where it's so obvious and seems like something that everyone should already automatically do, but for some reason I don't think I do it properly and this simple tip will really help me. I look back at some of my favourite pictures and think 'if only I got slightly different angles or slightly different lighting... So thanks.
Kieron I know what you mean and yeh. That's the aim of the vid. ☺️
I call it working the shot. I frequently explore a subject from a variety of angles and perspectives. My best image is often one I hadn't originally seen in my minds eye.
Yep, sketching with the camera, working the shot and yes - that's the beautiful thing about photography - sometimes it's the little nuance, which you never expected that makes for the best image.
Yes, “working” the scene is a good description. Being curious and willing to adjust location, perspective and camera controls are the means to creative results. Patience and curiosity are key. Plus lighting and local environment situation may be constantly evolving. Exploring and working a situation is the excitement!
Back years ago when I took a photography class, digital photography was only just becoming accessible to the regular consumer and I was still shooting with film. The rule of thumb back then was that you probably will only get one good image per roll (24-36 images). So there was the cost of a roll of film, then there was the cost of developing and if you did black and white photography in a darkroom it was time consuming to produce each print, so it was more likely to just give up a subject if you couldn’t find an interesting way to frame it. Today, you can snap several dozen images and see them immediately and delete the ones you don’t like or transfer them to a flash drive and you don’t have to go buy another roll of film. Some of the gear can still be expensive, but you don’t have the ongoing cost of film, special batteries or developing. It is easier not to be a “photo sniper.”
Shoot with purpose, intent and idea and don't "spray and pray"... excellent advice!
Having an interest as a child I grew up with film. Observation and timing were key. Old habits die hard. I’ve increased the number of shots, my sons shoot many multiples of my number. My gear is much more capable than I am.
Thanks for making this. I used to do photography back in the film days and I have to admit, I was a photo sniper simply for economic reasons. Photography was not my job, so I had to shell out personal funds for film, travel (to shoot), developing and printing. I would always try my best not to waste a single frame, though--without immediate feedback--I did end up wasting a lot of them. Then I put it away for a very long time, but now I am getting back into it. I have digital cameras and I know that taking more shots is free and it gives me a much higher success rate, but I am having a really hard time changing my mind set. This video helps with that. I will start making a conscious effort to take more shots.
Digital really has changed the game. When I started out as a kid with my handed-down Rollei, I had to save up for weeks to afford a 12 exposure roll. The chemicals and paper were costly too. Clicking the shutter became a major investment, and each exposure was carefully considered. Digital enables a much more carefree, experimental approach.
Yes, and I do love that possibility.
This is the proper philosophy of a pro photographer. Actually the title of this video should read 'Don't be a machine gunner'. A sniper is a shooter who picks and does not waste a shot. You are living the dream.
Hey, can't argue about living the dream. :) Thanks for watching.
BURN 🔥
Indeed!
People who think a photographer should shoot one, perfect shot is stupid. Your process (same as mine) is immensely better. I love the shot of the old man. Wonderful!
I have mixed feelings about this.
In one hand you are ABSOLUTELY right, you shouldn’t just take a couple of photographs.
On the other hand I mainly shoot film, so I can’t do that I have to think about the composition and take one or two photographs at most and they come out really good because I took a moment to think about the shot.
Thanks for commenting. If you're dealing with still subjects, it's totally manageable to get the shot in 1-2 attempts. The main reason why I shot the landscape with the drone many times is because I could and I was curious to see it from different angles later.
However, if you're dealing with dynamic subjects... 1 or 2 frames, well, it's still possible, but basically you have to get incredibly lucky to get something great.
mitchellkphotos
I’m glad I found your channel!
i'm shooting film as well. I always only take a single shot of a subject. it makes it way more special and valuable, as, just like you said, you invest so much more into the shot before pressing the shutter
I think shooting with film makes you slow down. You know you have limits with film; so you tend to be more thoughtful before you press the shutter. One of the benefits of going back to film from time to time.
@xavpaw -I think this is a great point for hobbyists, but if you're a pro and you're showing an editor your photos, no one cares about how special you think the shot is, if it's not actually special. :) And no one cares how many shots it took you to get it.
Video starts at 2:49. You're welcome.
Totally agree with you, the the great shot should be searched and the right moment should be waited, but the knowledge you should already have, because is pointless to wait and to search because you won't find. I have the same technique and I'm so happy to see that you do the same. Thank for your videos, was very useful!
this man is living my dream, i was in Georgia last summer it's a great country, i however didn't have a 4 by 4 as a car / home / office therefore i didn't fetch good unique pictures.
sadly i ended up with dull pictures taken from the most popular places where every Tourist got.
Haha, yeh, Georgia is THE place for 4X4 driving. Armenia too.
Thank you for traveling to Georgia! My home country is very small so not a lot of people know about it but when I find stuff like this on the internet it warms my heart to see people viewing the wonders of my small country ❤️
An enjoyable, simple and not pretentious watch for a change! Have to agree that this channel deserves more subscribers, count me in!
Thanks a lot. Appreciate it. Hopefully there will be more, as I post more videos. :)
Thank you! My ratio now is 1000 pictures taken, 100 kept, 10 posted, 1 printed. I appreciate the validation!
Haha, no worries.
I want to travel around in my SUV like you. :)
Why not? :) It's very doable!
Mitchell Kanashkevich July 2018 I may just have to do it for the rest of 2018!
I've always wondered how do people get their living expenses while traveling in SUV like these? How about internet? It looks really awesome, but I never figure out how...
Expenses can be super cheap. Gas and... depends on where you eat. Internet - Georiga is a bit special in that sense they have amazing 4G mobile internet almost everywhere. About 60 USD per month, unlimited. :)
Dang, that's awesome, may I ask how do you charge your gadgets like phone and notebook? Built-in car charger port? Do you cook or eating out? I really appreciate your reply man
Finally, shoot as many images as possible with as many composition variations as fast as possible. Not everyone thinks the same way, so it's normal that some people tend to hunt for that moment they imagine while the others need to actually see the moment to realize what they need. In the end, it's both that you need, the one leading to the other.
In the midst of the argument about being an Ansel Adams purist and whether digital encourages people to "waste" shots, people seem to have missed your point about shooting with a purpose. To me, that's the point. I do some wildlife photography, and I get as many shots as I can while the subject is in front of my lens. I never know what movement is going to work, particularly with birds. With human models, there's a little less surprise because the model should have already bought into the vision for the image. With landscapes, I'm a little less inclined to shoot a bunch of images. Once I see what I want to capture, I know pretty quickly whether I've gotten the shot.
Agreed and yes, sadly some people missed that key point.
I went to a dog beach recently with a friend and her dog. My purpose was to capture the playfulness of the dogs, and although I took heaps of photos, I still came away with a lot of good photos, because I used this awesome method.
Great to hear! 🙂
So refreshing having somebody actually explain things step by step, awesome video!
I couldn't agree more with you. Whenever i came back from travelling, i always regret that i didn't shoot enough photo.
I think you make a good point there. Shooting many pictures but definitely with a purpose is a great strategy and I think the three photos you showed were perfect examples for when it's very useful. However, I also think it depends on the purpose of the shoot. For a professional job I would take as many shots as I could, no question. However, I started shooting film around two years ago and what I found is that by limiting myself to the essential compositions I had a much better learning effect. It was of course extremely frustrating at times but I got to know myself and what I can and cannot do. In a way I take fewer steps forward because film slows me down but the steps are bigger because I get angry at myself when I didn't capture what I wanted and only find out two weeks later in the darkroom. ;)
Oliver agree with you 100%
Good tip. Back in the days of film, most pro photographers would say that if you get one good shot out of a roll of film, you're doing well. With digital, there's no reason to hold back.
A voice of reason! :) Thanks for watching!
That's an excellent video and it deserves many more views! keep it up, cheers
Thanks very much. Just starting out with UA-cam. Hopefully some more people will come along eventually. :)
Couldnt agree more!!
great video subscribed!
Michael Breitung true!
It's funny how I hear a lot of people saying "you shouldn't spend so much time with a single subject, just take a couple and move on".
I never agreed with that and this video confirms my point.
Thank you for creating this. A good reminder for me to take more shots and to more carefully consider what story I am trying to tell.
One of the real joys of digital - can take a few photos and choose best without the fear (or cost) of using / running out of film. Great topic - and vehicle.
moke1310 haha. Thank you very much. :)
I completely agree with trying to get as many photos as possible! It also works very well in landscape photography! :)
Mads Peter Iversen he is not trying to have many photos he is trying to have the best image
I'm trying to get the best image, but also by having taken photos from different angles, I do have some to choose from later as well. Works well when sending work to editors.
Is usefull if u shoot so many but still dont have purpose, i already do that back in the past. The result i got so many photos but no one i like it.
You deserve more than views man. And just so you know, you uploaded this video with a purpose! Thumbs up! 👍🏻😊
Haha, thanks man.
Love the sentiment here. I know almost all of the great photographers of all time have contact sheets with MANY variations of a shot. Koudelka, HCB, Capa, Daido, Eugene Smith often used more than one roll of film on a single scene. That's where I learned this. That said, I think that you manage to dilute the information and present your argument very effectively with some great examples. I'm trying to mentor a friend of mine in photography, and this video has been one of the most helpful ones in terms of him improving his photography. Thanks!
Boreas97 Awesome. Great to hear that. ☺️
I think you meant to use the word "distill" instead of "dilute"
100 percent agree. I have people making fun of me all the time while others understand they have to wait five minutes while i find the one shot i chose to post or show them.
exactly ! Im in Bali for 3weeks now and got over 4000shots (most of them is same shots with different expo to do stack and get long expo effec as i dont have an nd filter and still 1week left) .
i plan each shot so not really randomly shooting and i think i end up with max 20-40images which actually alot , but eventually i want to be able to get only few shots out of thousands and i think thats the key of been good photographer.
Thank you for great point
Subbed 👍🏼
I see you've been to Iran! Might be my next location! :)
Sometimes I "snipe" or "shoot from the hip" by intent, even then I will probably take multiple shots of a subject, from a tripod, it's a no-brainer. This is a well-planned photography tip, not just for travel, given by a professional in a clear methodical manner. Well done by Mitchell. Some will certainly disagree with this approach, I doubt you will find a good professional photographer that does. Watch it, like space on a memory card, you have nothing to lose, a lot to gain from 11 minutes..
Thanks for watching and for your comment.
Your old man is beautiful !
When you do not work in studio, but outside you should shoot like this, you never know until you try. You can not control the nature, the light, but you can work with it. Look at all angles, think outside the box. I do agree with you.
Gorgeous photography and informative content, good job my friend
Back in the day before digital photography when every photo you took meant paying for processing (unless you were processing your own photos and then you could be a little more selective) photos sniping was probably a lot more common. He wanted to make sure that you were really clear and certain about the photo you were going to take before you actually snap the picture. I still have this mindset unless I’m photographing flowers which I’m super passionate about. Then I just take massive photos and them and and left with thousands of photos to go through at the end of the day. But Bob Ross used to say there are no mistakes, just happy little accidents. 😊
Beautiful intro! Great comments on how to think photography :)
This man's voice is ridiculously soothing...
EXCELLENT!!!
I just love how you make your van as your moving home and office at the same time.
I've always want to do the exact same thing like this T_T
I love it. There's always potential for something bigger and better, but, when does one stop? :)
I don't know.
people are never get satisfied, right?
maybe it's not when they are satisfied so they would stop, they will when they have to.
Ok, now I know that I am a photosniper. That's really useful to improve my photography. I usually shoot 1 to 3 photos of a given subject. I don't double expose, I don't HDR, I don't focus stack. I feel, think, compose, set and shoot. Sometimes the shoot is bad (micromovement, wrong exposure, flares). I accept it. It's like going hunting with a bow. You have one shot. That puts much more meaning in what you are doing. Not much as going hunting with an AK-47.
As a pro, I can't afford to take 1-3 photos and go on. I need to explore all possibilities and make the absolute most out of any situation. If it's for fun - then sure, you can approach it as hunting or however else. No rules. Whatever makes one happy. 🙂 This was just a suggestion to help people get more out of each situation.
@@mitchellkphotos I respect your point. But my point is: do you want to improve as a photographer? Of course anyone wants, most of all if he/she is a professional photographer. Do you wanna be able to take out the most out of any shooting? Of course, as above! So, learn the discipline of shooting the lowest number of shots that you can. Your way seems ideal to get the most from every situation, mine seems ideal to get the most out of yourself as a photographer. And investing in ourselves is often the wiser investment.
@@Nessunego That's the thing, I don't consider taking two, three shots and being happy with the image an improvement. It's not archery and a lot depends on what you're shooting. It might be that the scene is developing and different opportunities appear.
I just don't think that one ever MUST stop. You think you got the image, but the actual image might be something that happens in a minute. It might happen in reaction to you taking a photo. There are so many nuances.
The analogy of hunting and photography does not work.
@ nothing works, everything works
Sure - many options - many variations. Respect that style but its not for everybody. I tend to work on variations on a theme in a lot narrower range to get the one shot that works. Each to their own.
As someone who frequently switches between shooting film and digital, this is pretty much exactly how I shoot when shooting digital. Of course with film I have to snipe because I don’t want to waste exposures, and even then, it does help add a different perspective to my composition because I have to take the time to stop and make sure I get the perfect shot. This idea of shooting more on a single idea has been a huge help to me on learning how to use my camera and understand what kind of composition I like, which in turn translates over to composing shots with film. Great video!
Thanks a lot for your comment! :) Agreed.
That's exactly how I shoot when I travel, too. Good video!
I stumbled upon this, im new in photography world and its true im one of those photography sniper... And i notice what actually i want in my photos...and now while watching some photography lesson i saw this, thank you for sharing this to us, iit helps a lot to me and to others😊😊😊
Tina Lim Glad to be of use. 🙂
Hi, great video. You should do a series on your mobile home and life as a photogrepher on the move.
Considering it, but that would mean that I won't actually be photographing and will spend all my time on the series. :)
Mitchell Kanashkevich do the series man, i think there are lot of videos about journey out there, but an actual video about journey doing photograph is rarely seen..
could you just strap some 360 camera on your car and do some amazing timelapse journey video?
maan i just hope you can make it..
Haha, good ideas.... I'll think about it :)
Great little peak into your thought process, and well articulated reasoning. It's funny how many people ask why I'm taking so many photos.
Thanks.
there are so many people who would disagree with this video and its actually quite annoying, those are the same people who dont take good photos
Haha. Yeh, I mean I partly made the video because of that. Many are enamoured with the idea, this romantic notion of just "nailing it" with one shot. Why? Is that some heroic feat? And yes, I'd say - show me what you got over the past 10 years. I mean, if you can get something in 1-5 shots - in an action scene or even a portrait that's beyond someone just standing still for the camera - great. But, most often that's not the case. Thanks for watching. :)
lol
So you think that, for example, Henri Cartier Bresson didn`t take good photos? :D
I partially disagree because I shoot more film than digital and can't afford to just keep taking photos. Your attitude claiming that people can't take good photos if they don't take a lot is incredibly short sighted.
Been to Cartier Bresson's retrospective. From the contact sheets that were there it was clear that he didn't settle on a single image, or two. It wasn't 20, but maybe that's just because he was limited by the amount of film he could carry on those long journeys. :)
There are a lot of photographers who spray and pray. I think your 100 % . Have an idea. Talk to your subject. Some areas it is a lot of work. Sometimes good. That man's face told a story. Love the background of the fog.
Thanks for watching and thanks for your comment. :)
How do you keep all you gear charged!?
Kantan Japan have a power socket in the car. :)
Well, then how do you have enough gas to keep the car going over such long, remote distances?
Uh, I refill it. Haha. There's 110 litres in the tank. Lol
How many miles does 110 litres give you? It seems like you're going places without any gas stations for a while.
Different, depends on road, wind etc. Goes from 600km - 1000km. Remote in Georgia is like 50km from a gas station. Over winding roads of course, but in actual distance - not so far. I think Mongolia itself will be the only issue from what I heard.
Took me a moment to appreciate what you meant by “photo sniper” - I got fed up yesterday with a photographer spotting where I was shooting, and literally running in front of me to steal my shot, but I really get your message - thank you. Great shots, and the trip looks amazing!
Thanks for watching. Glad you got something out of it. :)
If you're using a digital camera with a big enough or multiple storage cards, then that's actually a good method of photography. Things happen once and your ideal shot is more likely to be one of many photos.
But if you're using film, then its much harder because you have to wait for film to advance, or hand crank it yourself. 35mm film has 36 frames and 120 only has 12 so more planning goes into how this shot is composed, and not a lot of people are going to be willing to go through a whole roll of film for 1 or 2 photos, which is why people snipe to maximize cost per roll. You simply can't delete a frame once you've taken it, and it costs to buy and develop film.
That being said, its good to use both methods. Sniping helps you think about photo-taking more and it helps if you're a beginner and/or testing out a different camera, and mini-gun it if things if you don't have the time to think much about it because either you're moving or what you're trying to shoot is.
All depends on your style or chosen format. I personally use a Canon 7D and a Yashica 635.
With a digital camera I agree totaly, but clearly not how a film photographer should think.
Yes, this is aimed at digital photography. If one shoots film, there are certainly going to be fewer photos, but not 2 or 3 either. In documentary photography, it's well documented that the Nat Geo photogs would come back with hundreds of rolls from assignments. No idea how much that would cost these days. :)
Yes Robert, with digital you get biased on the try and error method. Who shoots film already know what the photo looks like when point the camera to subject, because you can´t see what you got until de film development. Don´t get me wong, I´m not telling one way is better than the other, both are valid upon your photography strategy. Who shoots film today must think like Besson, wait for the decisive moment, and would never use a motor drive.
Film has become such a "romanticised" medium. Now we are steering towards film vs digital and that's a whole different topic.
Also, what I'm talking about is similar to "knowing" what a photo looks like, in your mind. But, I'm talking about going beyond that and experimenting. That's what I love about digital photography, we can know, but without the limit of frames, we can let spontanity take over, shoot and see what happens. And not go broke. :)
mitchellkphotos yes, I agree, digital is very good to bust the learning process. I started shooting in the beginning of digital era and with my DSLR I made all the try and error I needed to learn the basics. As I got older I started using film again, more and more, it's not so expensive if you know what your doing, I live in the 3rd world and my goods are all shiped from us. I'm not rich and I don't live from my photography, but it's still possible. The big difference is the mind set you have to achieve your goals. You could say rangefinders are better than SLR, you could say medium format is better than 35mm or silent is better than louder camera. But we see amazing work done with every medium. The think is, there are several strategies and styles, I completely understand you work process, I would do the same if I shoot only digital. But in my case, on daily basis I try the opposite, less is more. And I can't say it's better or worse, just a different strategy.
Agreed. I have considered going to film, but, I am too impatient. I need to see what I have the same day. :)
Mitchell, the effort you've put into making this video is greatly appreciated. Thank you, it really helps novice people like myself!
Really glad to hear that. Thank you. 🙂
Hey Michell. Great video and an important lesson.
I have a small question you might be able to answer as a panasonic expert, I have a GX7 and have a load of dust thats apparently between the low-pass filter and the sensor, so it can't be cleaned with normal techniques and panasonic quote triple the value of the camera to fix out of warranty. This means photos like those you're showing at 4:31 would show up with loads of artifacts in the fog if taken on my camera (maybe only if above f/4). It makes me aprehensive to change to another panasonic camera. Is this something you ever had to deal with with your GX7? Has it ever been an issue with your GX8?
Hey, I am not too much help here. But, a friend of mine did have her GX7 cleaned in a normal place. If it's some weird kind of place, as you say in-between the low pass filter and sensor, it may be an issue. Perhaps try other places. I find that just because someone says it can't be done, it's not always the case.
If there is dust between low pass filter and sensor, it is a manufacturing issue. You should return the cam to panasonic to let it fix.
Rainer Büsching I tried this but the cost of Panasonic repairing the GX7 is twice its current value
I have a scratches on the sensor of my camera (bought second hand...), but really with a bit of cloning in post I can remove it all. Obviously doing it do every image would take ages, but just doing it on the ones you actually like isn't too much trouble
yep, thats my thought too. I upgraded to a new camera but ended up returning it because I thought it wasnt worth paying a lot of money just to get around this minor inconvenience
This is great. The decisive moment doesnt exist. shoot shoot shoot until you think youve gotten and image you like, and then shoot ten more.
Awesome video!
I was expecting something like "dont be afraid to get close to your object " or "stop using that tele lens" but I was nicely surprised
Haha. Thanks. On this channel I'll try to cover things that not many talk about.
It's a balance. You can't try to get it right on the first try, but spray and pray is a great way to ignore the process of discovering the composition and replace it with random chance. This is why I encourage people to learn on film, then step up to digital.
As I said in the video - I disagree with spray and pray - it's useless.
About the photo of the horse ... why I love this picture : the raindrops, the edge of the door and the horse watching you, make the photographer enter the picture. The point of view is no more anonymous ...
Thanks, that was exactly the aim, and to give you a sense of place, mood etc.
Finding the composition you want is personal preference and your artistic preference isn’t what I would have chosen. Watching this has taught me to be less opinionated about others work.
STD -TV sure. It is a personal preference. Nothing wrong with being opinionated - that's what makes your photography style different to others. Though the video is not about choosing composition. It's about giving oneself more chances and shooting and more choices. I don't see a choice of photo as a definitive one forever and if an editor like another angle - great. They can use that.
Wow. Of the many videos I’ve watched on beginning photography, I have gained so much from this one video. Each video ive seen, they always focus on making the image good after effects. But I’ve always liked taking photos of the natural landscape. And this is exactly the kind of help I was looking for. Definitely earned a sub
Glad to be of use. :)
Love hearing an Aussie say the word "Sniper"
I love the focus on the artistry of photography and less on the technical jargon of it all. Don't get me wrong. The techy stuff does turn me on but there is a limit to learning that stuff. And the more mature of a photographer i get i realize that there is limitless possibilities to explore when it come to the artistic side of it all.
Please make more such photo analysis videos sprinkled with a little tech dust , like when you talked about the aperture settings and the lens flare. It helps us amateurs get an idea of the thought process that goes into a shot
Love this video. I never understood why so many people say that you should try to limit the number of photos you take or that if you give yourself only 30 shots then you will take better pictures. You should be thinking and planning like you said but it makes no sense to only take 1 frame of the image you carefully composed. This makes perfect sense. If you take 12 photos of the shot you want there is a much better chance that 1 of the 12 will come out the way you like it.
Even when I or most of the skilled photographers I know shoot film, they will still shoot 6 frames in a minute to get one shot. Now, with digital photography, there is no longer any financial restraints on the number of photos you can take so why not embrace that. I can take 1.7k RAW images on camera's SD card so I don't know why I should try to take as few photos as possible. I embrace the theory you are espousing. I set up a shot, compose it, think about the setting and then take 5 photos, change the f stop and take another 5 photos just to have the options available if I want them.
Also, I am a strong believer in bracketing when shooting handheld, but not because I care about the exposure because with RAW .3 ev in either direction is easy in post and doesn't hurt the image. I believe in bracketing for focus purposes. A lot of times when shooting handheld I could miss a great shot because my AF focused to the wrong thing or there is camera shake but bracketing means that my camera is shooting 3 photos almost at once so there is a better chance 1 of the 3 will be in focus or not have camera shake. I don't understand why this isn't a common practice for everyone.
I'm excited to get my Arsenal Camera assistant mainly for its ability to shoot landscape shots at every focal length so you have all the possible options available.
I know RAW files are big, and I'm always running low on disk space myself so I do a quick edit straight off the SD card when I plug it in. If you take the extra shots and have 300 instead of 100 you can widdle the 300 down to 100 or less by doing a quick review on the SD card before transferring photos to your computer or hard drive.
So that was a really long winded post but basically, your video made me feel vindicated in my theory and today when I go out to shoot I'm not going to be a photo sniper. I'm gonna take the extra frames and not feel guilty about it.
Well. I guess all I can add is that we're on the same page. 🙂 Amazing how worked up some people get about this though.
Now this is truly a lesson not for photography, but a lesson for photographer. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing the tips and showing those unpublished shoots where I find most professionals not very much willing to share theirs.
Right now it is pouring rain outside my window and I am inclined to stay put ... but after watching your video, I will go out and experiment in the rain. :) Thank you for your video and the ebook on travel photography is great.
Lol, I love the spray and pray reference. Great video!
Sharad Haha. Thanks for watching.
I was not sure what a photo sniper was but when I searched for it I found something named that. Zenit Photosniper is actually gun that attaches to the camera and lens, it's designed for military use decades a go i guess, it has a shoulder butt.
Just to put it in perspective, old film shooters like me spent a LOT of money on developing back in the day. Out of one roll, you will get 3 good shots. Composition, composition, composition.
is strange that people think that a photographer just points and shoots, when i show people my shots I always get the same response of " why is there so many of the same picture? " then i have to explain to them how photography works in reality, they still think after that i am just strange and a real photographer is a super hero that can catch a image first try everytime. I wish people would learn that a professional learned about lighting and composition, and not about speed photography. is is not a race it is a piece of art captured by a artist, a trained artist at that for most part.
what you are talking about is how a photographer sketches a scene, like a painter before he starts painting, they always make a sketch first.
in the end the people who take more photos get the better pictures, end of story.
SingingintheDark Amen. Haha.
This is one of the best lessons in photography
Thanks :)
I was trying to come up with a way to explain exactly this while on vacation with my brother recently. This demonstrates my view perfectly!
I think everyone is different, I generally feel that if I can’t get the shot in 5 shots then I’m just not good enough at the moment for the shot. Usually by the third shot I get what I want. I feel that most of my imagination plans well enough to get the shot I was going for. Still everyone works differently and I would never judge anyone for it.
Bear Wanderer Like you say. Everyone is different. The point here is not to shoot 20 shots. It's just not to stop at 1 or 2 or 3. There's no prize for nailing it in fewer attempts.
mitchellkphotos there definitely is no physical prize really, but it’s more of a personal growth challenge. It helps me nail exposure, and composition easier as I grow. It’s not that I don’t do this, it’s just that personally I just prefer to get it done in fewer shots. Like I said though, I’m not judging anyone. Because I most of the time leave feeling that I captured the best moment I could. I could easily see how people would want to take as many planned shots as possible so they don’t go back and regret not trying a specific shot out. Still I go for what I feel is what I want to get and generally I’m pretty happy with it. Always room to grow honestly.
Not that I'm a great photographer, but Yes I have always believed in taking multiple shots. Exploitation is key just to get that one nice shot, or at least choosing the greatest one of the series. Great video!!!
Thanks very much and - yes, I agree, of course. :)
Brilliant video. Especially like that you talked about how you talked to the carpenter to get him out of his forced expression. That is the kind of nuance that beginning photographers need to understand. It is nothing to even do with the gear, if you can't get the subject to feel natural whether that mean making a human subject comfortable with your camera near them or exploring different angles with a landscape.
Ben Hollis Thanks for your thoughtful comment. Agreed. I try to sprinkle some details in there. :)
tell you what, thank you for this Mitchellkphotos. the way you talk and present your information is so refreshing compared to the usual UA-cam poster.
One of the best photography videos and recommendations I ever seen. Thanks. I was a photo sniper. But now I know I have to get rid of that purist sensation and shoot plenty with a purpose. Thanks again. An also I loved your edition and the way of explaining it. Excellent
This is a spray and pray mentality and is very common with new photographers. It took me years to get away from this bad habit. Wait for the shot, then take a good one EVERY TIME.
This is the best photography educational approach I’ve seen on UA-cam. Thank you so much for being a great photography ambassador and opening up your approach to make us all better. Looking forward to my purchase of your full package video course. You’re awesome! 👍🏻
Thank you so much, Chuck! Appreciate your support.
Back in the days, the best photographs like Cartier Besson often choose in between 30 images. One of my friend (who shot my profile pic) Vincent Marchessault, can shoot a couple hundreds images in one event - 500 pics is not unusual.
Imagine for a moment how much the old masters of the past spent in film rolls to shoot around 30 images every time. Crazy :0
About the $ on rolls of film - absolutely! That's why photography was so much more exclusive back then. Now the playing field is equal, hence some amazing photographers are coming out of some of the "poorer" nations, from less well-to-do families. I think it's great. More fascinating stories for us to enjoy.
At first I thought this was going to be about not copying other photographers by creeping over their shoulder taking the same photo... that would be awkward to experience. Pleasantly surprised I watched the whole video and connected with your message and very much enjoyed your story. Great job!
Haha, I wasn't really aware that this is something that happens. Does it? :) Thanks for watching! :)
Usually when trying to get it right, I take 3-5 images until i know i have one that i'm satisfied with. I'm not a sniper, but i'm not using the machine gun approach like you. Like any good marksman, I don't always hit what i'm aiming for the first time, so i follow it up with a few more shots until i've hit the heart of my target. If i still feel like i'm missing, I restrategize and move to a different vantage point. The only reason to ever stick to one "birds nest" and keep firing from the same angle is if its not a problem with my marksmanship, but a matter of getting the timing right on a dynamic target. Sometimes the expression is wrong, sometimes the pose is wrong, sometimes the waves arent crashing in the right pattern or the wind isnt blowing with the right force or all my targets aren't lined up in the right way. And sometimes, my target notices me, their positioning and relationship with my camera is all wrong, and the moment is lost. Those who have not been properly trained as models make for very poor subjects when they know they're being photographed. That's why its important to get it right the first time. Even if you are going to take a lot of photos, be deliberate, be specific, don't just spew them out. Shoot each shot like its the only one you have left before your battery dies.
On the other hand, it's a good practice to limit yourself, to train your eye and being minimalistic in your approach. I saw so many photo machine gunners who don't come across a good pics for a reason.
I mean, yes, various things can be a good practice. I'm just sharing what I've learnt over a decade of shooting as a pro. As I say in the video "I never, ever in all my years said - I wish I shot less." I'm not very idealistic, I'm practical. Results over technique.
wow, you are right, I was making that mistake, thinking that if I'm getting good, I shouldn't take that many pictures, but thanks for this advice! Will keep up
Interesting sometimes I feel I take to many photos on my travels. You’ve made me realise there’s no harm in taking lots of photos to decide what works later :)
I did this when selfies but not when travel photography, I didn't realize that. Thank you for the tips! ^^
This is a great video because this subject is not addressed by other photographers. i am an international humanitarian worker and photographer and always struggle with this question should i take so much photos of the same subject or not, because i felt like it makes me a bit bored during the post processing period. But this video has helped get into the right mindset :)
Thanks and I'm glad you've found it useful.
That mountain tower image is astonishing! Great tips, I will keep them in mind.
The best videos in UA-cam. Great job! Cheers from Brazil!
Never heard this term but I'm photo sniper. At the end of a shoot ill have less than 100 shots while other guys shooting with me will have thousands. I learned on film and feel like setting up the shot is a big part of photography. Spray and pray shooting takes a lot less skill.
Subscribed! This is the first video I have ever come across from you. Fantastic. I love the pictures. I love your home/office/car and that you get to travel! Awesome video. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for watching. There are a few more videos too, if you're interested.
This is the first video I've seen from you and it made me subscribe your channel. I still don't know what photography means to me but I feel like shooting things help me to explore and unterstand better and show me the different points. And what I actually understand from your video is to see and approach the different aspects of the people and the things we come across on our way. Thanks for that and have a great journey.
Although I focus primarily on video work, when I do take photos I notice I am often what you call a photo sniper. I need to be much more mindful of this habit.