Young Man, you are brilliant in your knowledge and its transmission ... I am 62 years old I watch a lot of instructional films about photography .. You are the best at this .. Regards from Poland
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Completely agree, I've just started out trying to use my DSLR properly (at 60 - all those wasted years!) and your videos are SO helpful - thank you for doing what you do and sharing your knowledge.
absolutely right I have been doing photography almost 10year but it was difficult to differentiate the better aputure until I found your videos from Rwanda
Love that message about showing your work from the beginning. You’re really easy to watch, you don’t act like a clown like other social media personalities. You’re just yourself! Thanks.
Spencer, Hi from Australia. You have a unique set of talents - you love your subject, you communicate brilliantly and you teach effectively without needing to add hype to sell yourself. I have just started photography at age 61 and I am grateful that there are people like you who have found their passion and have the ability to share it with the world. Well done.
And the excellent 'tutorials' just keep coming. Hi from New Zealand Spencer. The blend of your photography skills and your communication ability is priceless. Thank you.
I am a keen but amateur photographer and I would just like to thank you for the time, effort, knowledge and experience you put into your videos. They are extremely helpful. Many thanks!
Just subscribed. This video is so well produced, great footage, great locations, and the ideas are actually unique. So many of these "what I wish I knew" videos cover the same topics. I especially liked the example of photos that don't match the rules of composition. Nicely done. Nice time-lapse in the middle. I"ll be looking through your back list.
I just took a long breath right after you explained aperture is a fraction. Man, i was strugling for years, figuring out how to remember this login. Thanks!
This is all amazing advice! I'm using an old Nikon D3200 and was worried it wasn't good enough. But you've made me confident to just get out there and learn the basics!
You are so right on! You look the same as I when I lived in Wyoming. You were showing scenes where I visited and were in my back yard. Thanks for the memories reflected in your video and the wise words you shared. Yes, I have subscribed.
Thank you, Chester! Absolutely, I filmed most of this video in Wyoming and a bit in Colorado and Montana. I love it out here and am happy I could help you reminisce about the West.
LOVE your videos, very informative, easy to follow. You have a beautiful way of teaching and as a new photographer I truly appreciate every one of your videos. Thank you !
Very good video with useful information. Here's my favorite tip -- too often I felt I was experiencing beautiful places only through my camera so when you are out photographing, occasionally, stop shooting, put down your camera and take a few minutes to just look and feel. Absorb the atmosphere, notice the wind, the air, the various sounds, watch the light and shadows change, look around you slowly, sit (if you can) for a few minutes and simply experience the place. You'll be surprised what you can notice when you stop shooting for a while.
you are so good. For me as a complete beginner I usually get more confused by youtubers that try to explain about this topic - you do it perfectly thank you!
You left out the most important factor for beginning photographers, to watch all of YOUR videos!!! I’ve recently taken back up photography and a lot has changed since my last purchase of an Canon elan7 35 mm…. You have the most natural ability to convey a message and I have learned so much by watching your videos I feel like I’m years ahead of where I would be trying to figure this out on my own! I’ve watched A LOT of UA-cam and yours are by far the most helpful. Thank you for all these videos.
While I appreciate the point about learning how to take great pictures with the camera you have, I'd like to point out that from my recent experience, upgrading equipment can most definitely have a huge impact on your photos. (upgraded from Sony a58, my first dslr, to a Sony a7iii, my first full frame and first mirrorless, and even each of my old aps-c lenses gives me consistently much sharper results on this new camera, both when used with autofocus and even with manual). The image stabilization, and auto focus performance, and lower-light performance improvements are all huge.
Started very recently taking photos as full hobby, bought my 1st DSLR camera and found you. Been watching some of your starting videos, and they really help me understand more my camera and my surroundings. But now, im gonna read a book instead of watching your videos, like you recommended 🤣. Im joking. Glad i found you, you clearly have a lot of experience and you explain thing easily, even for a newbie like me can understand. Appreciate your work. 👋
awesome video Spencer! I can relate. I grew up always into books so I had plenty so when I did get to school I had a good fair insight of thigs as they came up. As a lad I learned on the basic rangefinder Nikon or Leica then onto the Nikon F2AS SLR in full manual so I learned the art of just holding the camera to compose & w/ the cost of film you learn to think it through each shot. Then I moved onto the Nikon F4E AF and I still have and use my old cameras even onto digital w/ a D200, my 1st DSLR. I will say though, find a camera you like as you will feel more into it learning as you go. It becomes a joy to take out. In digital its more more confusing or so much things to take in so take your time. New sub , look forward to seeing more.
Thank you. Very helpful and informative!! Learned some things, like read a book, and put yourself out there on social media with your photos. Yeah, taking courses in college, those rules really frustrated me. Be creative. Thank you again.
Very kind of you, thanks, James! It's always those simplest tips I go back to the most, and can't imagine how I didn't pick up on them earlier. Glad you found these so useful!
Hi Spencer, I really enjoyed your video and related to many of the things you pointed out, especially regarding using the equipment you've already got, and also taking notes on what you particularly enjoyed about a certain photography trip as well as taking the photographs themselves. The first point about using the equipment you've got kind of reminds me of a very wise saying I once heard.. "If you can't get what you want, WANT what you've got!"
Thanks for the heads up on F16 - I keep stopping at F11 in Macro because my brain immediately screams diffraction. In all other situations, I'll weigh each factor, but that has always been a hard limit for me, which, now that you point out, is just as nonsensical as sticking rigidly to compositional rules or always shooting at F5.6 to maximize sharpness. Thanks for reminding me, that there are no hard limits and it's much more about getting the right shot and not with which settings the shot was taken.
For sure, there's no hard cutoff so much as a gradual decline. The number of situations where you should use f/16 is smaller than f/11, and f/22 is even lesser - but saying something like "f/11 is fine, f/16 and beyond have excess diffraction" is wrong. I personally try to focus stack if possible around the f/16-22 mark, but sometimes focus stacking simply isn't possible (like with a moving subject).
Hi, I was looking at one of your other videos, and you were showing some pictures and we were guessing what the readings were, i would love it if you made another video where we could be guessing the settings, to give us a better understanding of what we are capable of. totally enjoyed the past videos.
I have been photographing since the early 60's and I owned a LOT of medium and large format. My current favorite cameras are Nikon Zs. The Z 8 is probably the best camera I have ever owned. My about 250K in bigger formats was a lesson learned. I have some great photos form back then. I tend to shoot with at least f/8 I also have tried RAW a LOT and my family uses that all the time. I do not JPEGS save me time and look great on my 8K screens.
Sure thing! It’s the Rode VideoMic Pro. Although I might end up getting a lav mic with a wind screen instead before long. The VideoMic Pro is solid in the wind, but being a shotgun mic, it’s not perfect.
You could just compile that bad weather into your great story, "don't be afraid of bad weather, as a beginner, some of the best images are taken in very bad weather"...LOL.
do more videos Spencer. I really enjoy watching ur vids because of the way you explain things. Its fun, crisp and educating at the same time. Btw, is this california or Colorado or both?
Really glad to hear it! I filmed that at a variety of locations on a road trip from Colorado to Wyoming and Montana. California doesn’t make an appearance this time, although a lot of the mountain areas look similar.
Glad you like it! Yeah, I didn't know what weather to expect for this trip and packed most of my closet just in case. I filmed it with the Nikon Z6 and the 24-70mm f/4 kit lens.
When you master your camera you understand better its strong points and limitations. Then you can make a more conscious decision if you need to buy a new camera and which one. I have the Canon 5D Classic. Focusing is a pain and quite unreliable. It’s forgiving with portraits and closeups, which is great for, but landscapes it’s really hard to get really sharp images. Or maybe it’s just me! :P
Not just you, you’re quite right! It’s false to say that you should *never* upgrade a camera, or that it’s impossible to hit a camera’s limits (as you are with the 5D’s focusing). But I think way more people upgrade long before they’ve outgrown the camera, compared to the other way around.
Should you worry about your images being copyright before posting or just post them anyway? Just wondering. I really enjoy your videos and have learned a lot from them. You explain everything so concise and I really appreciate your time and effort. You have been very helpful.
Great question. It depends on your purpose for the photos. I think it’s hard to argue that a copyright logo *improves* the look of a photo, but it may deter people a bit from illegally downloading the image. If you make money from selling prints or stock photos, or if you take a photo that you expect to go viral for whatever reason, a copyright logo is likely a net positive. Those situations don’t really apply to me, and I’d rather people see the full images as well as possible, so I personally upload images without a copyright logo at 4K quality. I know that some people will download them illegally as a result (and there are actually dozens of websites I know of illegally using one of my photos of Stokksnes in Iceland). It’s frustrating. Still, it doesn’t cause me much monetary harm, if any, and I’ve decided the benefits outweigh the problem in my personal case.
Hi mate, i enjoyed this video and the part that rang true with me was about not thinking your choice of equipment was good enough, I've been guilty of this. It's just so easy to get caught up in the opinions of those on youtube who often pit one brand against the other eg. Nikon Vs Canon Vs Sony etc. When i recently bought my DSLR, it was the beginning of the DSLR vs Mirrorless world then they're saying Canon is better at video than Nikon blah blah blah but then I had to pull myself up and think well I didn't buy this Camera for video, to me a DSLR is meant to take stills but it has Video capability if I require it. Yes I wanted a Canon D80 but couldn't justify the AU $1,600 so I settled on a Nikon D5600 with a 18-55mm kit lens and a 70-300mm zoom which covered most bases for the time being for half the cost. Yeah maybe one day i'll go to full frame but i gotta learn how to drive this camera first. Enjoyed your video to set a few facts straight.
The D5600 is a great camera, and it’s good to hear you’re planning to master it before moving on to something else! I think you hit the nail on the head with regards to the “brand wars” that have been going on in the camera world. Those videos can be amusing to watch, but at the end of the day, they’re pretty much never going to improve your photos.
Hi, I got curious when you recommended newbies to read books. I would say, (#humble ^^) I'm pretty good at finding nice views and random stuff to take pics on, with cool angles and perspective and so on. Taken a lot with my phone, but the phone isn't good at taken pics on details that are very small... and also it falls short for bigger views of landscapes. So I have now a Canon EOS 700D :D, but I'm new to "flashy" cameras and all the things I can fix (therefore I'm learning about ISO, Shutter and Aparature(?). So with this short intro ^^, what book would you recommend to read to dive deeper and become a more harmonized and better photography? :) (PS. I'm watching your videos to learn about the three I mentioned DS.)
Good questions! I find that the internet is a perfectly good source for learning the technical side of photography, and it falls short on the creative side of photography. So the book I'd recommend the most is called The Art of Photography, written by Bruce Barnbaum.
Glad you enjoyed it! I'm using the VideoMic Pro with a deadcat windscreen on it. This was the first video I've filmed with that setup, but so far I'm a pretty big fan!
@@PhotographyLifeChannel yes, the end result sounds really fine, especially in the segments with little or no wind. But having some background sounds is also nice, as it gives a more immersive feeling.
@@solarchy Awesome, happy to hear you liked it! The wind was pretty extreme during some of those segments, and I was really happy with how this mic turned out compared to my usual lav mic. I doubt you even could have heard what I was saying with the other one in the wind.
Haha, thanks, Paul! Downvotes here and there are a fact of life. I used to stress over them too much, but now I only pay attention if there are many more than usual on a particular video.
Really helpful tips. . But, TBH, I learnt much about good photography skills in your 14 minute previous videos than in a book. Of course I'm not taking anything away from books, but no books can give us more practical examples than from experienced and skilled photographers such as yourselves mate. .
@@PhotographyLifeChannel You are welcome mate. Lol, as you said earlier, tough conditions make skilled photographers/videographers :D Jokes aside, Your beginner videos are really really informative. . My photos are better now.
Apart from your knowledge I like the way you get to the point & don’t waffle on like so many others. It’s infuriating. The gimmicks are crap too co I’m watching for info so kudos to you.😊 Something you may consider. Not all your viewers are from the US. If you slowed speaking a little it would improve your presentation heaps. I’m Australian & only speak English but there are TV series & movies I’ve quit watching cos I can’t understand them, some Nth American, others British. At times I need to rewind your vids to get the gist of what you’re saying. If you want to be a pro who speaks to the public try it. Some newsreaders area great source of knowledge re vocal presentation. Keep up the the good work. You definitely have the skills for media. Thanks…
I think raw plus jpeg is so useless! Just shoot raw. It's so hard to keep everything organized doing that after a couple shoots. Plus I still found myself only using the raw files myself. Then after I'd edit if the file did need to be converted to jpeg or something for size or whatever I'd just do it there. Keep your workflow simple.
The ones that I recommend the most are in the video’s description. Number one even for beginners is The Art of Photography by Bruce Barnbaum. It doesn’t cover camera settings, and instead does an excellent job explaining composition and emotion. Hope this helps!
More than all the others combined - “The Art of Photography" by Bruce Barnbaum! I've learned something from almost every photography book I've gotten, though. Beyond that one, I'd recommend starting with books from photographers you like, or dedicated to whatever genre you're working with. The more specific, the more helpful they'll tend to be.
Sorry for the delay, but absolutely! Take a look in the video description, I’ve added some of my recommendations. My favorite is The Art of Photography by Bruce Barnbaum.
@@shebinbiju7238 Nothing more than what the rumors are saying. I will say that even if the rumored specs look pretty similar to those of the regular Z6 and Z7, it's usually impossible to quantify things like focus performance and ease of use without actually holding the camera in person. I personally like the Nikon D3500 more than the Nikon D3400, for example, even though they have almost identical specifications, because the grip and design on the D3500 are more comfortable. So, we'll have to wait and see!
#1 Do not shoot in crappy light. Junk in junk out. Bad light= go to the gym and work out. #2 Do not shoot ugly. In family friendly terms- the best technical image of a pile of manure it's still manure. #3 90% of the time shooting into the sun generates a photo of the sun and does not best serve your subject. Save it for when it actually works rather than being lazy. How many artificially lighted photographs do you see with a giant strobe in frame pointed at the camera? So why do the exact same thing with the sun? #4 Expose for the light not the subject. #5 What is the point of the shot, what are you selling, what will you do with it. A few conclusions in direct opposition to your own- Some bundles (with a bag or a card or filter) come at no extra cost because the seller needs to move cameras and the camera price is fixed by the manufacturer , so, they add on the bundle. Pay attention. Listen to what everyone with great work says and then incorporate the concepts which mesh with what you are trying to accomplish. Diffraction from small apertures, color fringing, slightly missed focus, soft corners, etc. ... and all matter of wonky framing... will not matter to your mother. However, thinking long term, these issues might matter to an eagle eye, pixel peeping magazine client. Know your audience and proceed accordingly because at some point the validation of editors, academics and/or paying clients may be relevant. Might as well get into good methodology from day one. If you know the optimal way to approach an issue and you still choose to or are required by circumstances to slam through it , at least it is not out of ignorance.
Absolutely! It’s amazing what a difference a tripod makes. Not just in image quality, but (at least for me) in composition too - being able to get consistent framing from shot to shot, and make really small changes as needed.
Love your videos!! Could you do a video on how to protect intellectual property rights of photographs/videos, especially on social media? You mentioned the importance of posting your work on social media, but how do you ensure other people don't "steal" your digital works? Thanks!
Young Man, you are brilliant in your knowledge and its transmission ... I am 62 years old I watch a lot of instructional films about photography .. You are the best at this .. Regards from Poland
Really appreciate it, thank you for saying so!
@@PhotographyLifeChannel Completely agree, I've just started out trying to use my DSLR properly (at 60 - all those wasted years!) and your videos are SO helpful - thank you for doing what you do and sharing your knowledge.
absolutely right I have been doing photography almost 10year but it was difficult to differentiate the better aputure until I found your videos from Rwanda
the amount of time u spent on this video for those breathtaking locations, shows ur commitment for the work you do
For sure, I put a ton of time into finding interesting backgrounds and B-roll for this video - glad you think it was worthwhile!
Love that message about showing your work from the beginning. You’re really easy to watch, you don’t act like a clown like other social media personalities. You’re just yourself! Thanks.
That’s very kind of you to say, thanks!
That made me laugh 😆
There are a lot
Of Clowns 🤡 in social media
This guy is much more
easy viewing ❤️
Spencer,
Hi from Australia.
You have a unique set of talents - you love your subject, you communicate brilliantly and you teach effectively without needing to add hype to sell yourself.
I have just started photography at age 61 and I am grateful that there are people like you who have found their passion and have the ability to share it with the world. Well done.
Last tip is low key the most important of the entire video. None of it matters if you don’t enjoy yourself.
And the excellent 'tutorials' just keep coming. Hi from New Zealand Spencer. The blend of your photography skills and your communication ability is priceless. Thank you.
Hi Spencer. Just tripped over your channel. Great information. Lightroom tutorials very good. Look forward to seeing more soon. Best s
I am a keen but amateur photographer and I would just like to thank you for the time, effort, knowledge and experience you put into your videos. They are extremely helpful. Many thanks!
Really enjoyed this video and your input. Thanks Spencer!
Excellent video, thanks.
Just subscribed. This video is so well produced, great footage, great locations, and the ideas are actually unique. So many of these "what I wish I knew" videos cover the same topics. I especially liked the example of photos that don't match the rules of composition. Nicely done. Nice time-lapse in the middle. I"ll be looking through your back list.
I just took a long breath right after you explained aperture is a fraction. Man, i was strugling for years, figuring out how to remember this login. Thanks!
Awesome message! Thanks!
This is all amazing advice! I'm using an old Nikon D3200 and was worried it wasn't good enough. But you've made me confident to just get out there and learn the basics!
Great to hear! The D3200 is an excellent camera. Learning how to use it and visualize your photos is the most important thing.
Quality information. Thank you.
You are so right on! You look the same as I when I lived in Wyoming. You were showing scenes where I visited and were in my back yard. Thanks for the memories reflected in your video and the wise words you shared. Yes, I have subscribed.
Thank you, Chester! Absolutely, I filmed most of this video in Wyoming and a bit in Colorado and Montana. I love it out here and am happy I could help you reminisce about the West.
LOVE your videos, very informative, easy to follow. You have a beautiful way of teaching and as a new photographer I truly appreciate every one of your videos. Thank you !
Very good video with useful information. Here's my favorite tip -- too often I felt I was experiencing beautiful places only through my camera so when you are out photographing, occasionally, stop shooting, put down your camera and take a few minutes to just look and feel. Absorb the atmosphere, notice the wind, the air, the various sounds, watch the light and shadows change, look around you slowly, sit (if you can) for a few minutes and simply experience the place. You'll be surprised what you can notice when you stop shooting for a while.
Same happend to me ;) - I absolutely agree. It is different looking through the camera or as you said - absorbing the atmosphere
Your advice is so helpful I see a major improvement in the picture I just took versus the others.
Well that was fast! Glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for the feedback.
This is wonderfully authentic. Thank you. 💚
This was a great watch. Lots of valid and useful points raised Spencer. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, glad you liked it!
Lol @ the bundle on screen being the same one I purchased
It’s something we’ve all done! At least there’s some useful gear in that bundle even if they could be cheaper to buy separately.
you are so good. For me as a complete beginner I usually get more confused by youtubers that try to explain about this topic - you do it perfectly thank you!
You left out the most important factor for beginning photographers, to watch all of YOUR videos!!! I’ve recently taken back up photography and a lot has changed since my last purchase of an Canon elan7 35 mm…. You have the most natural ability to convey a message and I have learned so much by watching your videos I feel like I’m years ahead of where I would be trying to figure this out on my own! I’ve watched A LOT of UA-cam and yours are by far the most helpful. Thank you for all these videos.
Thanks for saying so! I’m glad you found them to be that helpful 😄
Great tips brother. It is so good to see your passion in tge videos. Thanks!
Great stuff Spencer. We admire with greatest thanks, those like you willing to teach free and with honest non-misleading advice
That’s very kind of you to say, thanks!
This is great.
While I appreciate the point about learning how to take great pictures with the camera you have, I'd like to point out that from my recent experience, upgrading equipment can most definitely have a huge impact on your photos. (upgraded from Sony a58, my first dslr, to a Sony a7iii, my first full frame and first mirrorless, and even each of my old aps-c lenses gives me consistently much sharper results on this new camera, both when used with autofocus and even with manual). The image stabilization, and auto focus performance, and lower-light performance improvements are all huge.
I about to turn 63 and I agree your presentation is brill
Started very recently taking photos as full hobby, bought my 1st DSLR camera and found you. Been watching some of your starting videos, and they really help me understand more my camera and my surroundings.
But now, im gonna read a book instead of watching your videos, like you recommended 🤣. Im joking. Glad i found you, you clearly have a lot of experience and you explain thing easily, even for a newbie like me can understand. Appreciate your work. 👋
awesome video Spencer! I can relate. I grew up always into books so I had plenty so when I did get to school I had a good fair insight of thigs as they came up. As a lad I learned on the basic rangefinder Nikon or Leica then onto the Nikon F2AS SLR in full manual so I learned the art of just holding the camera to compose & w/ the cost of film you learn to think it through each shot. Then I moved onto the Nikon F4E AF and I still have and use my old cameras even onto digital w/ a D200, my 1st DSLR. I will say though, find a camera you like as you will feel more into it learning as you go. It becomes a joy to take out. In digital its more more confusing or so much things to take in so take your time.
New sub , look forward to seeing more.
The amount of efforts you have taken for this video seems enormous. Subscribed.
It wasn't the easiest video I've done, I'll say that! Welcome to my channel.
Great video, thank you!
Sure thing, I'm glad you liked it!
This is the best 🎉 many thanks!
Thank you. Very helpful and informative!! Learned some things, like read a book, and put yourself out there on social media with your photos. Yeah, taking courses in college, those rules really frustrated me. Be creative. Thank you again.
Very kind of you, thanks, James! It's always those simplest tips I go back to the most, and can't imagine how I didn't pick up on them earlier. Glad you found these so useful!
Thanks Spencer. Excellent advice!
You’re very welcome!
Delightful video pieces and great words of advice. Thank you!
I’m very glad you liked it, thanks, Olenati!
Thank God for you!📸
Happy you found this video so useful!
Thanks! 😉👍
You’re so kind!
Haha, thanks! Hope you found the video useful.
Nice advice bro !
Sure thing!
Thank you Sir!
You are quite welcome!
New subscriber yay! Lol I only just started out and I love macros and wildlife. Thanks for your tips 😁
Love your videos guys.
Much appreciated!
So helpful! Thank you :)
Sure thing! Glad you liked it.
Great tips man! Very will done.
Sure thing! Happy you liked them!
Thanks Spencer! Super nice tips and so well communicated!
I love you! I’m a beginner and your advice is comprehensive yet concise and clear and so so helpful! Thank you
Thank you, Roxanne! Glad you found it so helpful.
I appreciate the wisdom you share in these video's. Waving from The Bahamas.
Thanks, Eric! Waving back!
Thank you for sharing such clear and accessible tutorials paired with beautiful imagery. Much appreciation from this beginner!
You are quite welcome! Glad you found it useful!
Great tips!
Thank you, Gerry!
Great advice. Thanks
Sure thing!
Hi Spencer, I really enjoyed your video and related to many of the things you pointed out, especially regarding using the equipment you've already got, and also taking notes on what you particularly enjoyed about a certain photography trip as well as taking the photographs themselves. The first point about using the equipment you've got kind of reminds me of a very wise saying I once heard.. "If you can't get what you want, WANT what you've got!"
I like that quote. Today’s equipment is so good that there’s not much reason to have “gear envy” any more.
Thanks for the heads up on F16 - I keep stopping at F11 in Macro because my brain immediately screams diffraction. In all other situations, I'll weigh each factor, but that has always been a hard limit for me, which, now that you point out, is just as nonsensical as sticking rigidly to compositional rules or always shooting at F5.6 to maximize sharpness. Thanks for reminding me, that there are no hard limits and it's much more about getting the right shot and not with which settings the shot was taken.
For sure, there's no hard cutoff so much as a gradual decline. The number of situations where you should use f/16 is smaller than f/11, and f/22 is even lesser - but saying something like "f/11 is fine, f/16 and beyond have excess diffraction" is wrong. I personally try to focus stack if possible around the f/16-22 mark, but sometimes focus stacking simply isn't possible (like with a moving subject).
hey, great stuff! keep that series going!
Hey Václav, good to hear from you! Certainly will do!
Thank you man
You’re quite welcome!
Well done.Great presentation.
Thank you
Sure thing!
I just want to have fun taking pictures and put them on social media, apparently that's a thing.. who knew! 🤷♂️😅
Hi, I was looking at one of your other videos, and you were showing some pictures and we were guessing what the readings were, i would love it if you made another video where we could be guessing the settings, to give us a better understanding of what we are capable of. totally enjoyed the past videos.
I am not really new, but this video was cool nonetheless. You are completely right about composition, just shoot the way you want.
I have been photographing since the early 60's and I owned a LOT of medium and large format. My current favorite cameras are Nikon Zs. The Z 8 is probably the best camera I have ever owned. My about 250K in bigger formats was a lesson learned. I have some great photos form back then. I tend to shoot with at least f/8 I also have tried RAW a LOT and my family uses that all the time. I do not JPEGS save me time and look great on my 8K screens.
Spencer, please tell us what Mic you use, you’re voice sounds so crisp and clear! I want to know.
Sure thing! It’s the Rode VideoMic Pro. Although I might end up getting a lav mic with a wind screen instead before long. The VideoMic Pro is solid in the wind, but being a shotgun mic, it’s not perfect.
You could just compile that bad weather into your great story, "don't be afraid of bad weather, as a beginner, some of the best images are taken in very bad weather"...LOL.
That is 100% true!! Bad weather makes good photos. Thanks for adding this.
As an avid backpacker and hiker, I’ve heard a lot of folks say that there is no bad weather, only bad clothing/gear for that weather.
@Jeremy Wenrich - Absolutely. Even the moon is hospitable for those with the right clothing/gear :)
a very informative video , thank you .
Sure thing! Glad you found it useful!
do more videos Spencer. I really enjoy watching ur vids because of the way you explain things. Its fun, crisp and educating at the same time. Btw, is this california or Colorado or both?
Really glad to hear it! I filmed that at a variety of locations on a road trip from Colorado to Wyoming and Montana. California doesn’t make an appearance this time, although a lot of the mountain areas look similar.
Love it! You have so many jackets lol. What camera are you using for shooting the video? Thanks!
Glad you like it! Yeah, I didn't know what weather to expect for this trip and packed most of my closet just in case. I filmed it with the Nikon Z6 and the 24-70mm f/4 kit lens.
First time youtube recommended a video that i actually have use for
Love to hear it! Glad you found the video useful!
Great advises and funny/interesting videos in between. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, Kristian! Will do, and glad you liked that footage. It was lots of fun to film!
Honda Element!
You bet!
Great videos, useful tips, positive thinking. That's what we all need. Thank you, guys!
You’re quite welcome, Oleksandr, very glad you liked it so much!
I just started photography :)
Thank you so much for these great tips! I'm a beginner and this is very helpful.
You're very welcome! Glad you learned something from these tips!
When you master your camera you understand better its strong points and limitations. Then you can make a more conscious decision if you need to buy a new camera and which one.
I have the Canon 5D Classic. Focusing is a pain and quite unreliable. It’s forgiving with portraits and closeups, which is great for, but landscapes it’s really hard to get really sharp images.
Or maybe it’s just me! :P
Not just you, you’re quite right! It’s false to say that you should *never* upgrade a camera, or that it’s impossible to hit a camera’s limits (as you are with the 5D’s focusing). But I think way more people upgrade long before they’ve outgrown the camera, compared to the other way around.
Should you worry about your images being copyright before posting or just post them anyway? Just wondering. I really enjoy your videos and have learned a lot from them. You explain everything so concise and I really appreciate your time and effort. You have been very helpful.
Great question. It depends on your purpose for the photos. I think it’s hard to argue that a copyright logo *improves* the look of a photo, but it may deter people a bit from illegally downloading the image. If you make money from selling prints or stock photos, or if you take a photo that you expect to go viral for whatever reason, a copyright logo is likely a net positive. Those situations don’t really apply to me, and I’d rather people see the full images as well as possible, so I personally upload images without a copyright logo at 4K quality. I know that some people will download them illegally as a result (and there are actually dozens of websites I know of illegally using one of my photos of Stokksnes in Iceland). It’s frustrating. Still, it doesn’t cause me much monetary harm, if any, and I’ve decided the benefits outweigh the problem in my personal case.
Hi mate, i enjoyed this video and the part that rang true with me was about not thinking your choice of equipment was good enough, I've been guilty of this. It's just so easy to get caught up in the opinions of those on youtube who often pit one brand against the other eg. Nikon Vs Canon Vs Sony etc. When i recently bought my DSLR, it was the beginning of the DSLR vs Mirrorless world then they're saying Canon is better at video than Nikon blah blah blah but then I had to pull myself up and think well I didn't buy this Camera for video, to me a DSLR is meant to take stills but it has Video capability if I require it. Yes I wanted a Canon D80 but couldn't justify the AU $1,600 so I settled on a Nikon D5600 with a 18-55mm kit lens and a 70-300mm zoom which covered most bases for the time being for half the cost. Yeah maybe one day i'll go to full frame but i gotta learn how to drive this camera first. Enjoyed your video to set a few facts straight.
The D5600 is a great camera, and it’s good to hear you’re planning to master it before moving on to something else! I think you hit the nail on the head with regards to the “brand wars” that have been going on in the camera world. Those videos can be amusing to watch, but at the end of the day, they’re pretty much never going to improve your photos.
Hi, I got curious when you recommended newbies to read books.
I would say, (#humble ^^) I'm pretty good at finding nice views and random stuff to take pics on, with cool angles and perspective and so on. Taken a lot with my phone, but the phone isn't good at taken pics on details that are very small... and also it falls short for bigger views of landscapes. So I have now a Canon EOS 700D :D, but I'm new to "flashy" cameras and all the things I can fix (therefore I'm learning about ISO, Shutter and Aparature(?). So with this short intro ^^, what book would you recommend to read to dive deeper and become a more harmonized and better photography? :) (PS. I'm watching your videos to learn about the three I mentioned DS.)
Good questions! I find that the internet is a perfectly good source for learning the technical side of photography, and it falls short on the creative side of photography. So the book I'd recommend the most is called The Art of Photography, written by Bruce Barnbaum.
Awesome work here. Thank you, Spencer! Would you please share, what is your setup for recording sound outdoors?
Glad you enjoyed it! I'm using the VideoMic Pro with a deadcat windscreen on it. This was the first video I've filmed with that setup, but so far I'm a pretty big fan!
@@PhotographyLifeChannel yes, the end result sounds really fine, especially in the segments with little or no wind. But having some background sounds is also nice, as it gives a more immersive feeling.
@@solarchy Awesome, happy to hear you liked it! The wind was pretty extreme during some of those segments, and I was really happy with how this mic turned out compared to my usual lav mic. I doubt you even could have heard what I was saying with the other one in the wind.
You are so awesome
Haha, thanks! So are you!
Well darn, I bought a camera package. 🤣
Who's the 1 hater? Great video, mate.
Haha, thanks, Paul! Downvotes here and there are a fact of life. I used to stress over them too much, but now I only pay attention if there are many more than usual on a particular video.
Thanks!
You're welcome!! Rock on :D
Nice
Really helpful tips. . But, TBH, I learnt much about good photography skills in your 14 minute previous videos than in a book. Of course I'm not taking anything away from books, but no books can give us more practical examples than from experienced and skilled photographers such as yourselves mate. .
That’s far too kind of you to say, but thank you! Naturally, our videos are the exception 😂
@@PhotographyLifeChannel You are welcome mate. Lol, as you said earlier, tough conditions make skilled photographers/videographers :D Jokes aside, Your beginner videos are really really informative. . My photos are better now.
@@Arunneelakumar Really glad to hear so! That's why I make these videos in the first place.
Apart from your knowledge I like the way you get to the point & don’t waffle on like so many others. It’s infuriating. The gimmicks are crap too co I’m watching for info so kudos to you.😊
Something you may consider. Not all your viewers are from the US. If you slowed speaking a little it would improve your presentation heaps. I’m Australian & only speak English but there are TV series & movies I’ve quit watching cos I can’t understand them, some Nth American, others British. At times I need to rewind your vids to get the gist of what you’re saying. If you want to be a pro who speaks to the public try it. Some newsreaders area great source of knowledge re vocal presentation. Keep up the the good work. You definitely have the skills for media. Thanks…
Thank you, KM! And I appreciate the advice, I’ll keep it in mind for future videos.
I agree with no bundles
I think raw plus jpeg is so useless! Just shoot raw. It's so hard to keep everything organized doing that after a couple shoots. Plus I still found myself only using the raw files myself. Then after I'd edit if the file did need to be converted to jpeg or something for size or whatever I'd just do it there. Keep your workflow simple.
I agree. Once someone understands raw files and has a good raw processing software, there is usually no reason to keep the JPEGs at all.
Can you recommend a good book for me as a beginner?
The ones that I recommend the most are in the video’s description. Number one even for beginners is The Art of Photography by Bruce Barnbaum. It doesn’t cover camera settings, and instead does an excellent job explaining composition and emotion. Hope this helps!
Any particular books you would recommend for intermediate photographers?
More than all the others combined - “The Art of Photography" by Bruce Barnbaum! I've learned something from almost every photography book I've gotten, though. Beyond that one, I'd recommend starting with books from photographers you like, or dedicated to whatever genre you're working with. The more specific, the more helpful they'll tend to be.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel thank u very much. Will start from the art of photography
Suggestion on what books might be good?
The best of the best is Bruce Barnbaum’s “The Art of Photography.” Should be required reading for any photographer!
Is there any photography books you recommend? (:
Sorry for the delay, but absolutely! Take a look in the video description, I’ve added some of my recommendations. My favorite is The Art of Photography by Bruce Barnbaum.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel thank you ☺️
Where do you living so different places on a video ? Cc an you tell me pls where is video was shoot ?
I filmed this on a road trip from Colorado to Montana, going through Yellowstone and Grand Teton in Wyoming. Lots of locations for this one!
But, isn't it a fact that cheap lenses don't do so well at small F numbers?
Which is your camera now?
Currently using the Nikon Z6 for filming and the Z7 for stills.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel any details about Z7ii or Z6ii
@@shebinbiju7238 Nothing more than what the rumors are saying. I will say that even if the rumored specs look pretty similar to those of the regular Z6 and Z7, it's usually impossible to quantify things like focus performance and ease of use without actually holding the camera in person. I personally like the Nikon D3500 more than the Nikon D3400, for example, even though they have almost identical specifications, because the grip and design on the D3500 are more comfortable. So, we'll have to wait and see!
@@PhotographyLifeChannel oh. Thnk you
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Please make your book recommendation.
My favorite is called The Art of Photography, by Bruce Barnbaum. I also like anything by Galen Rowell.
@@PhotographyLifeChannel I just bought this one a month ago - the whole book is a self-training for becoming a better photographer
#1 Do not shoot in crappy light. Junk in junk out. Bad light= go to the gym and work out.
#2 Do not shoot ugly. In family friendly terms- the best technical image of a pile of manure it's still manure.
#3 90% of the time shooting into the sun generates a photo of the sun and does not best serve your subject. Save it for when it actually works rather than being lazy. How many artificially lighted photographs do you see with a giant strobe in frame pointed at the camera? So why do the exact same thing with the sun?
#4 Expose for the light not the subject.
#5 What is the point of the shot, what are you selling, what will you do with it.
A few conclusions in direct opposition to your own-
Some bundles (with a bag or a card or filter) come at no extra cost because the seller needs to move cameras and the camera price is fixed by the manufacturer , so, they add on the bundle. Pay attention.
Listen to what everyone with great work says and then incorporate the concepts which mesh with what you are trying to accomplish.
Diffraction from small apertures, color fringing, slightly missed focus, soft corners, etc. ... and all matter of wonky framing... will not matter to your mother. However, thinking long term, these issues might matter to an eagle eye, pixel peeping magazine client. Know your audience and proceed accordingly because at some point the validation of editors, academics and/or paying clients may be relevant. Might as well get into good methodology from day one. If you know the optimal way to approach an issue and you still choose to or are required by circumstances to slam through it , at least it is not out of ignorance.
and don't forget the tripod!
Absolutely! It’s amazing what a difference a tripod makes. Not just in image quality, but (at least for me) in composition too - being able to get consistent framing from shot to shot, and make really small changes as needed.
It's not really an elk in the beginning of the movie
Love your videos!! Could you do a video on how to protect intellectual property rights of photographs/videos, especially on social media? You mentioned the importance of posting your work on social media, but how do you ensure other people don't "steal" your digital works? Thanks!