Don't Give Up On Photography!
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- Опубліковано 9 лис 2020
- Just a quick video today to say something I've been thinking about for a while: Don't give up on photography!
There's a reason why you became a photographer in the first place, and as tough as this year has been for photography, that reason still exists. So, go and take pictures! Maybe that's indoor portrait or macro photography, maybe just photos outside your front door, or whatever else you find. It's not always easy to remember, but you can take pictures anywhere.
I made this video during a short trip I took for some landscape photography, which is something I've been doing a bit more recently when I need to cool my head. I don't normally film anything on these trips, but I figured I would this time. I may film some more like it in the future, too.
Lastly, just a heads up that I'm on my way out this week to visit my family for Thanksgiving, so I didn't have time for as long of a tutorial as usual. Hope you'll forgive me and still find something good in this one :)
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This video is not sponsored! You can support Photography Life and Spencer Cox Photography by buying anything through my affiliate links!
Here is all the photo equipment I use: bhpho.to/3XUv32a
And here’s my video gear to film this video: bhpho.to/3Yt8th1
Nice diversion for the morning, and a excellent topic. Avid fisherman always say; "the worst day of fishing, is better than the best day of work".
Thanks and keep the video's coming.
Love that saying! More videos on the way soon!
Thank you, Spencer. I started in photography in May of 2020. I've tried to practice every day since then. In fact, I feel cheated if there is a day I don't use my camera. As you say, don't give up. I challenge myself every day to find something new to photograph. I never concern myself if anyone else will like my photos. If I like them, then that is what really matters. I guarantee you'll have fun with that attitude. Don't give up!! Great video!!
That sounds like a brilliant mindset! Thanks for adding this!
Thank you for that! :)
I love how your videos are always so positive and inspiring.
Really appreciate it, Natalia! I always try to aim for positivity rather than negativity, there’s enough of that already!
Thanks Spencer, I needed this reminder.
Yeah, exactly what I needed. Been very discouraged recently. Now to look forward instead of back!
It’s worth it! Good luck!
I would have to agree with you. There are times when I just want to just forget about photography, because I am trying to get that perfect picture with the perfect editing to win a contest. My goal is to win one contest out there, but with the competion with the other photographers, there is no way I will win. I am just a person who likes to take pictures for fun. I enjoy being outside, I enjoy the fresh air, I enjoy being by myself, and taking pictures. I forget about everything. I won't give up, I will take pictures because it is fun and its my stress reliever. Thanks for this video.
The way you describe being outside, being yourself, and forgetting about everything else, is already 10x as good as winning any contest! I have no doubt that you’ll win one, and don’t get me wrong, it’s a good goal to have. But it sounds to me like you’ve already got the most important part.
Perfect attitude, soul sista.
As always, superb. Keep those videos coming, always enjoy them
Thank you, Eugene! Will do.
Thanks for the reminder and inspiration! Nice to see you enjoyed some crisp air regardless of the photography.
Glad you liked it! Crisp air is right. The weather was fine that evening, but the snowstorm arrived early the next day. I’m glad I didn’t decide to stay overnight there!
Many thanks for sharing! Such a great inspiration! This video put smile on my face. Keep them coming 😏
Thank you, Tamas! Glad to hear it!
I think that this was probably the final small push I needed to make a decision to upgrade to the new Nikon Z6 II. Thanks, Spencer! 🙂
You’re quite welcome! I admit some surprise that this video is what pushed you in that direction, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the Z6 II! It’s shaping up to be a great camera that fixes the biggest issues with the original Z6, with dual card slots and a no-info display mode.
Well said. Thanks for the video.
Sure thing, glad you enjoyed it.
show de bola! this is really inspiring!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
I got a bit discouraged lately due to blurred shots of static objects (flowers). I realized that 1.) there was a breeze and 2.) I was shooting in AP mode. After reviewing the photos, it occurred to me that I should've shot in Manual mode and increased the shutter speed. i couldn't think of that for nothing when I was shooting those rose buds and they were beautiful. Kept the photos anyway as reminder of what not to do when there is a breeze. However, I was able to capture some good shots but those particular shots would have been great (I think, lol). I don't know where I am going with this photography stuff but it's been fun learning so far. I do enjoy going out to taking photos and I definitely enjoy the peace and quietness of it all. Thanks for the video!
I find a lot of times that it’s worth keeping my blurry or otherwise bad photos for that exact reason. We learn a lot more from doing something incorrectly than correctly! Glad you liked the video!
If anything I’ve done more because it’s become clearer to me about the things that actually matter.
I think the main thing though is that any activity exists on a continuum. Sometimes you’re at zero, but that’s just part of the overall cycle.
That’s awesome! Very encouraging to hear it.
Couldn't agree more about just getting out and about a bit (if you're able to), take some shots and when you get back, practice to hone your post-processing skills!
Yes! It shouldn’t take priority over safety, but there’s almost always *something* photography-related you can do, even if it’s not exactly what you did before the pandemic. Even if that’s just learning new editing techniques!
Recently discovered your channel. Very Nice. I am in the process of building a new computer. I have been using LR for over 6 years and still holding on to LR 6 without the subscription. However there has been many updates to LR and more Raw converting and cataloging software now available in 2021. I am questioning myself to keep LR and pay the 10 bucks a month or move on. Also for a quick note. I lived close to Cheyenne, WY for over 23 years. How I miss the west. If only I had the camera gear that I have now when living in WY and shooting film. Now I reside in the state of MS at 68 years old. I care not to expand on my thoughts regarding where I now find myself in this public forum. Photography here is a challenge due to the environment and social/crime issues. Give me the fresh air and the wide opens spaces!
I’ve tried moving on from Lightroom because of the annoying subscription but didn’t find a full replacement anywhere. The closest was Capture One, but it’s not perfect. Anyway, glad you’re enjoying this channel and thanks for the kind words.
This November has so far been my worst month for photography for this year. This is typical for me in the last two months of a year. On a good note, I have posted more photos on my website this year than I have in the past four years. :) Lockdown has been difficult because any outdoor area I go to requires a mask due to the quantity of people also wanting to be outside. I have pretty much resigned myself to stay on my plot of land for the majority of the photos I have taken this year. Thanks for posting a positive video. :)
Martin, glad to hear about your prolific posts to your site! I’ve spent a lot of the year organizing my photos and videos (and even starting to post on Instagram for the first time!) for what I think are the same reasons - it’s just *something* to do, photography related.
I’ve seen the same thing with such large numbers of people at these previously uncrowded locations. I think people rightly see that outdoor spaces are generally safer, and given the smaller number of other things to do, it funnels a lot of people to these places. I’m encouraged at a personal level because I think spending time outside is good for people’s health overall, and a better appreciation for local/state/national parks is always a good thing. But from the perspective of photography and filming in more isolated spots without being interrupted, it definitely makes it harder!
My mind has been so overloaded with written, video and audio reviews that I can’t even decide on what camera to get for just a simple hobbyist.
It depends on your budget, but don’t overthink it - very few bad cameras out there these days. As a Nikon user, I’m partial to the D3400 and D5600 (or, to save money, an older generation of the same camera). The Canon SL3 is in the same boat and similarly good. Same with the Sony A6000. Those would be the main models I’d consider as a new photographer. Hope this helps!
Nikon Z6. There, that’s done. If you’re a landscape guy get a 20mm lens.
+ 1 on the Nikon D5600, these have enough awesome features including a rear flip out screen, try and find some deals that include not only the standard 18-55mm DX lens but the 70-300mm lens in the package as well. These are a decent robust modern DSLR that won't break the bank. Don't bother with mirroless to be honest, you've got your cellphone for that.
@@davidjohnston1374 fair enough on the D5690, but don’t bother with mirrorless? That’s crazy talk.
@@dionysusrex9183 your opinion as is with mine, a personal opinion but the guy wanted a reasonably priced way of getting into Photography, i use my Phone as a mirrorless camera and also to frame for my Nikon. But there's plenty of time to get into Mirrorless as that will be the way of the future but doesn't need to be right now, it'll keep evolving and there'll always be new cameras come out and new concepts...Mirrorless is still in it's infancy.
Hi Spencer! I got to know about your channel through an article I read online, and I must say I really loved the video. Could you recommend some free resources where I can learn about the basics of photography? I have always been interested but never had the guidance
I helped work on this guide a couple years ago, and to my knowledge it’s still the best resource to learn the basics of photography from start to finish: photographylife.com/photography-basics
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Thank you so much
I have a grease mark on my mirror. What is your advice? Should I DIY? Do I use a microfibre cloth, bit of alcohol and gently clean the mirror? Or too risky, so send it back to manufacturer to professionally clean it?
If you have sensor cleaning swabs and solution, they won’t damage the mirror, and I’d recommend using those. Lens cleaning solution with a microfiber cloth is a bit more abrasive than that, but should still be fine. Either way, you’ll have to be careful not to put too much pressure on the mirror when cleaning, but you should be able to clean it yourself without damaging it.
Great, thanks for that advice.
What camera would you recommend for a beginner? Nothing expensive.
I have nikon d5300. Can't complain if u pm me I can show you some shots
I’m a fan of the Nikon D3500 with the 18-55mm kit lens (can go down to the D3200, with still excellent results, to save money). Or, as the other commenter said, anything in the D5X00 lineup (from the D5200 up to the D5600 depending on your budget). I also end up buying used or refurbished cameras with some frequency, which can save some money.
As Spencer mentioned. I've bought lots of used camera equipment and have never had issues. If you look at the site www.fredmiranda.com and go to the BuySell page and search for the equipment of your choice you will find lots. If you buy from established sellers (those with many positive feedback) and use PayPal to purchase; it's hard to go wrong.
I second the Fred Miranda recommendation! Have bought and sold some camera gear there myself and prefer it compared to ebay most of the time.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Definitely more secure than either Ebay or Craigslist.
If digital ISO is signal gain only, then why not shoot at base ISO and then change exposure as one wishes in software afterwards? Or is there more to it than that?
There is indeed more to it than that! Prepare for a bit of a technical explanation.
As you go through the imaging pipeline (from light striking the sensor to a digital photo being created), there are a number of potential sources of noise. The earlier in the pipeline that you can amplify/add gain to the information you’ve captured, the less “downstream” or “back-end” read noise you amplify as well. The earliest point at which you can amplify this information is by amplifying the voltage from your camera sensor as it produces electrons in response to being struck with light/photons. You can change how much amplification/gain is applied here with your ISO.
The key is that all sources of noise *after* this point will not be amplified! Digital gain, on the other hand, occurs at the very end of the imaging pipeline, so *all* sources of noise will be amplified, both front-end and back-end.
That’s why raising ISO instead of brightening in post-processing tends to produce better image quality. Even if the amount of noise throughout the imaging pipeline doesn’t change, the stage at which you amplify your signal makes a big difference.
The one issue is that, beyond a certain ISO, most cameras stop using this front-end analog voltage amplification and switch to digital amplification at the back end instead. At which ISO does this start occurring? Well, all cameras are different. The best way to find your own sensor’s characteristics is to take some test photos, or find the tests for your camera on a website called Photons to Photos (www.photonstophotos.net), which tries to measure these things. A general rule of thumb is that the “HI” extended ISOs are rarely using analog amplification and thus should be avoided on most cameras.
I hope this helped! I know it’s a crazy topic, let me know if anything didn’t make sense.
Am I right in saying Post ADC gain is the firmware doing "brightening" to the exposure much like software? Pre ADC gain is the voltage amplification? OK, I get that. Thanks
Yes, that’s correct.
Did a crude test. Trying to simulate BIF photography in the woods, in my room. Dimly lit room = low light levels. 1/500s exposure time for sharpness. f8 aperture to get whole bird in focus.
Shot 1, ISO100. Photo very dark, nearly completely black.
Shot 2, ISO6400. Photo acceptably exposed.
In PS, using ACR, had to push exposure +5 and then another +2 or +3 to get Shot 1 to look similarly exposed as Shot 2.
Both shots very noisy.
Conclusion 1: In low light, use higher camera ISO only up to "pre ADC signal gain", i.e. before backend "exposure brightening" kicks in.
But even so, if there isn't enough light to get a good exposure for the given exposure time and aperture, 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺! In low light, the photos are too noisy for my taste.
Conclusion 2: Use high ISO if the light levels are high. Afterwards, if need be, use noise reduction software to clean things up and make the photo acceptably good to look at.
I’ve probably only shot scenic clouds and sunsets once in a while during the lockdown and those went away with the summers. But winters bring around a different feel so I’m gonna pick up my camera again.
Thanks for the inspiration man. Keep shooting and stay safe!
Thank you, Nalin! Same to you! I’m personally looking forward to doing some macro photography of winter scenes with ice and snowflakes. Super doable without needing to plan a trip around it.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Thank you brother! And that sounds real good 🤘🏼
hey man! really good videos and quality content on your channel.
i see your last video was 10 months ago.
planning to come back to yt?
Thank you! Yes, this month actually. Keep an eye out, I should be a lot more active soon.
Why does people not buying new gear = people giving up on photography? Maybe what they have is more than good enough and they see no reason to buy something new?
I think the sheer amount that camera sales are down this year compared to last (less than half as many sold in 2020 vs this time in 2019) shows that fewer people are expecting events like trips, graduations, weddings, etc., that would require a camera. Maybe existing photographers are still taking pictures at the same rate despite all this - I tend to doubt it, but I have no way of knowing for sure.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Might also have something to do with a lot of people getting laid off or having hours cut back, which would mean less disposable income.
@@Combatpzman Probably so - I can tell you that’s why I’m not upgrading to the Z7 II any time soon! So perhaps it is true that people, or at least existing photographers, are taking just as many photos as ever. I definitely hope so.
I’ve always felt like interest in photography has boomed in the past decade, but phones and casual photography got the bulk of that - while interest in advanced, or “real” photography (terrible way to say it, I know) has been steady or declining. Just look at various photography related search terms in Google Trends over the past 5-10 years, and at a minimum it’s clear that search interest has declined during that time.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Agreed, the boom in interest in photography during the last 10 years has been almost unprecedented. The decline has been going happening since 2012, so it's not a huge surprise to see sales down. It was sharper than expected this year, but I think what we are seeing is a mix of market saturation, changes in the economy, and many people being happy with cell phone cameras.
Thankfully, that doesn't mean photography is dead, it's just changing.
First
Yooo! I think this is the first “first” comment I’ve gotten! Must be a big shot now 🥳