Just a tip. Even if you rarely get earthquakes in your area, i wouldn't recommend you to keep your lenses like that in the background. They will most likely fall over and it will hurt...
Hey Nigel, thank you so much for this extensive video, you explain a lot of things about photography and by adding your personal experiences it becomes extremely relatable. My tip would be to learn from yourself. I often look back at my earlier photos and I can point out so many flaws and things I should have done differently, by reflecting on your own work it is easier to point out what it needs (or doesn't need) in order to become better overall. To comment on your first point: I actually use two cine primes, these lenses have click-less aperture rings, so when I find myself in a situation where I need to quickly adjust the aperture I can easily and precisely change it. And since they are click-less, (correct me if I'm wrong) I can access aperture values that lie in between the values you would be bound to on photography lenses. I have a Samyang 21mm T1.5 and a SLR Magic 50mm F1.1. Cine lenses seem to be quite cheap and the overall quality in my experience is outstanding, I can highly recommend you to try one out. No autofocus so fully manual, which has also learned me to really "focus on focussing". So another tip from me would be to embrace the manual focus. I also use these lenses for filming a lot so they have a double purpose for me. Thank you for pointing out the histogram, I haven't put much effort into understanding this to the fullest. Your point on focus is also a good tip, drawing really helped. I think your use of the word simplification is perfect for describing the point where I have arrived now in my work, I am always fond on showing as many things as possible, not only in the photos I make but also in the quantity of them. For me the term "kill your darlings" could be applied to not only the things I take photos of, but also in my selection of photos I share. At this moment I am becoming more aware of my "behaviour" and this really helps to pinpoint things that are going wrong, and other things that work better in my opinion. Great tip: Keep it simple. You can never have enough lenses :) Your point on positioning is very important, especially equipped with primes I can relate to this to the fullest. You need time to take a photo so take that time. I don't have anything to add to your point on lighting, it's spot on. Thanks again for this amazing breakdown! If you like to see my progress and work you can check my instagram @koen.kievits
I guess my tip would be to always take yout camera with you. And by that I mean something small but useful, like a Fuji XE1,2,3 with that 27mm pancake lens or an X100F. Some of my best shots come when I least expect them to, so always be prepared.
1:56 - Use aperture priority mode 4:02 - Understand your histogram 5:34 - Focus efficiency 9:18 - Simplify your image 11:37 - Use different lenses 13:29 - Where are you standing? 15:06 - Light Light Light
*Notes* 1. Use aperture priority, since full manual mode isn't always helpful. You care about depth of field. The light changes quickly. 2. Use histogram for exposure, understand how it works. Non exposed to RHS, low light photography will be having noise after photoshop. 3. Focus! Learn how to manage your camera and lenses 4. Simplify your images. Be minimalistic, choose wisely what you put into your scene, make it an art painting (eg street photographer, Sean Tuck). Zoom in elements to simplify 5. Keep your DSLR, get some fresh lenses. He likes 10mil on his xd2 or 60mil on Nikon. Don't only use zoom lenses but also prime lenses. Get creative. 6. Think about where you stand. Change your position, you are not a corpse. Find the best angle. 7. Lighting (duh!). Natural lighting is the best, take advantage of it. Experiment on taking pictures at different hours of the day, when the natural lighting is different and find what suits your liking.
All great tips. I'd like to offer a suggestion. I spent the first 10 years of my photography life focused on technical aspects of squeezing every last drop of detail out of my camera because it was something I could do and see results, though that effort quickly begins to reach diminishing returns, especially with modern cameras. I suggest to anyone wanting to improve their photography to take an art class, learn about composition and color and how to communicate abstract ideas through visual elements. I guarantee you'll see more improvement from this than improving sharpness or even getting slightly more accurate exposure than what full-auto yields. My $0.02
My light bulb moment was when I realized that its ok to be bad in the beginning. The most important thing is to just keep shooting. Eventually you will improve.
As a bonus, it’s way cheaper to practice now rather than when you had to drop your film off at a drugstore and wait a week to get your negatives and prints back.
I personally suggest starting with full auto and focus on basic composition. As you get that, add the manual settings. The composition is the most important bit, the camera settings should serve the composition.
My tip is to keep a notebook. Record places to return to at a different time or season, things that you learned, things that went well and things that didn't, and how I felt when I was there. I keep a small "write in the rain" notebook with me and a space pen and capture quick notes at the scene. When I get home, I always do a "hot wash" on the shoot. I have found doing so makes me a much better photographer.
I do the exact same thing and it is a HUGE help! I keep a regular Black & Red notebook with a few pens and I record settings that worked best, or better than others and this has helped me grow big time. Glad to hear I am not the only one.
I do this too! But I use my phone and screenshot my exact location, so I know exactly where to come back to. This really helps when you're in the car or an unfamiliar city.
There's a nice little app that can be used to record location, time, date, direction, angles and so on. It's called Dioptra. play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glidelinesystems.dioptra
If I had to say one thing that improved my photography over the years it is knowing exactly what was moving me to take the picture. The exact reasons both emotionally and technically that had me go for my camera. Then shoot to enhance my response to what was happening. Lets say I see the mist coming off a pond and feel the calm and isolation that the moment evokes, i might not include the duck and may get to a location that gives me an angle that enhances the mist. I enjoyed this video and was reminded of a number of elements I have not been thinking of when I have the time. :)
I have been a professional photographer since 1974. I don't remember how far into my career that it really hit me what I was doing, but you got to it with our last point. For years I asked people, including many pro photographers, what subject they photograph the most. I got all kinds of answers, but never the correct one - light. Light is our subject, usually reflected light, sometimes projected light, and sometimes both. Once I understood that, I had made the biggest improvement on my photos that I could make.
After years of loving photography as a hobby, I am attempting to make a go of it as a real side job. In order to do this I need to acquire a professional skill set and mindset and there has not been a channel on UA-cam that I have learned more from than yours. Thank you so much for taking the time to create these, you are a very gifted teacher.
I love how you refer to good images as "powerful." It's not just about technical rules, but about how your image truly captures and communicates something. You see photography as art. I find that is becoming increasingly rare.
Corey Koon I agree. Ansel Adams was a photographic artist. Jacques Cousteau, a documentary film artist. Both put patience and perfection into their work. Today, there are so many who claim to be artists, but really aren’t because they’re in such a hurry to try and beat out what they consider competition.
My photography aha moment was realizing that if I slowwwwed down and took my time, I walked away with much better quality photos. When I started photography, I, like many people just starting out, became a photo sniper. I took hundreds of photos in one session, many of them of the same subject. This placed unnecessary wear and tear on my camera and then when I got them onto my computer, I had to painstakingly look through them all and choose the best one, adding unnecessary time to the process. This became something I always just accepted as part of what photographers. But when I started shooting film, I was forced to slow down and really look at my settings, double check my focus, and most importantly, nail the composition the first time because I only had 36 exposures to work with, not 32gb of space on a memory card. Shooting film taught me to be more selective and that I don't need to take ten pictures of the same subject in order to get a good photo. I was just too much in a rush before and didn't stop and put all the necessary elements together. That habit of slowing down has carried over into my digital photography and now I walk away with just a handful of images at the end of the day. So my tip would simply be to slow down and take your time.
I shoot a whole morning on half a sony a6000 battery and come beck with some left. I end up with about 20 images after deleting tje other 80 in the field. Id tather have 1 great photograph tjan a thousand average ones.
I took near 4000 photos my first year lol. I totally know where your coming from. I cherish every single photo. In a way each one is a step i took to better my knowledge of the camera and composition. Biggest thing Ive brought away from that is that, just because its beautiful and peaceful where your standing dosnt mean that is where you should be pointing the camera. Dig and search. Its the buried treasure you ultimately want
@@SceneSprout 4000 is not much lol, i took like 100-200 pictures daily so thats around 36500-73000 pictures in my first year and i only keep like 800 😆
Another great video Nigel. When I first started in photography someone told me that you only need two things to become a landscaper photographer: a good alarm clock and the ability to get out of bed when it rings!!! Looking forward to next weeks vid.
My best tip, especially for us n00bs: Take the shot using the settings you think will produce the image you want, then immediately change those settings and shoot it again. And change+shoot again. And again. Change your focus object and shoot it again. With modern cameras and gobs of storage there's really no reason not to shoot *lots* of "versions" of each shot. What you think will be optimal for the shot you want to produce makes for a good photo - but the other shots using different settings will often times surprise you with their results.
Nice one Nigel, some good advice there. My lightbulb moment was to stop worrying about other peoples opinions of my pictures, and shoot how I liked and not how I thought everyone else wants to see it.
Others are very over critical they will point out everything wrong , from the lighting to lens choice to apeture used . Online some can be very very harsh , I shoot for me I've been doing this since 1979 . I have my own darkroom , I shoot both film and digital
Hi Nigel great video, was also great to see so many places we have been so often, LLandwyn, Buttermere, Glencoe area etc, fond memories Biggest two tips, which helped me not only capture better images but perhaps, more importantly, remove the stress and potential disappointment when going out to shoot 1) it's great to have a plan, a goal before you set off, check where the sun will be at X time, north-south facing bluffs, weather, all the things we do to prepare..... But do not become so consumed with getting that shot that it's all you see, LLandwyn is a great example, so consumed with the perfect sunset with the perfect clouds that if they aren't there you can become frustrated, disappointed. Look around ALWAYS enjoy the beauty of the place you are in, let it inspire you on the day, by all means, have a plan but do not become tunnel vision obsessed with a set shot/ 2) When you get back home or to the hotel still full of the buzz of a shoot, do not review your shots, they will never match up to the vision you have of them still high on the experience of adventure. Wait a couple of days or a week, it's easier to be objective, and be realistic many shots take as long to carefully edit as they do to take its the other half of photography I see so many people disappointed because they do not see the results straight out of the camera, they lose faith in their ability and give up, because they expect the results amazing photographers like yourself post, straight out of the camera, not realising its a two-stage process.
This is such a great video, thanks so much! My tip? The light is never bad, overcast gives you advantages, but so does direct sunlight with high contrasts and dramatic effects. Any type of weather will create its own atmosphere that you can use to your advantage as a photographer. If the light is different than you'd expect, get creative and take the challenge. Maybe you're better than you think :)
My lightbulb moment came some twenty years into being a landscape photographer. It happen when I began watercolor painting with a landscape painter - I can honestly say up to that point, I thought I knew landscape photography - but now - wow, they's so much more to landscapes than the everyday rules you hear about on YT. The great painters knew - its all about "light - light - light." Thanks Nigel.
My aha moment. Enjoy the moment/location, ignore always trying to get photo every time, no matter what happens you will have learnt something about your location for your next visit.
I’m a new viewer and this is my first time watching your videos on UA-cam. What you explained in 20 minutes most channels fail to explain across 100 videos, thank you for your contribution to my creative process. SIMPLIFY is now my mentality for everything.
I'm struggling to find my way with photography. But you've struck a chord with two points. 1. Light..... obviously 2. Switching to AP. I've been messing and tinkering with manual mode and missing the best shots. Before, I felt that to be a good tog, you need to be a master of manual mode. Now I'm much happier to let the camera do some of the heavy lifting for me! I'm getting better results and enjoying myself more. Brilliant advice! Thank you!
Thought I'd take a moment to tell you WHY I appreciate -- and enjoy -- your videos so much. They not only offer a delightful blend of technical and artistic considerations , they come with with a splash of humor and a big dose of enthusiasm. There are two things that separate you Brits from my compatriots here in the US of A -- your command of (and respect for) the language and your understated humor. Watching you and Sean and your compatriots is always a breath of fresh air. When it comes to literature, I prefer British writers. Same thing is true of photography VLOGs. So, thanks. Please tell your friends I said so.
One tip that I recently got, was somehow part of a long travel that tought me a lot as an amateur photographer and it resonates with something Sean Penn said in "The secret life of Walter Mitty". His character is a photographer, a very important one, but he sometimes chooses not to take the picture, to live the moment properly, fully. This teaches a lot about your "simplify your image" tip. Not only this tip is technically spot on, as others mentioned. It also tells us a lot about the whole meaning of photography and travelling. There are some places that are worth experiencing, seeing, smelling and hearing; others are worth a photograph; others deserve a video; others deserve a memory picture. All for different reasons. So when there's a photo showing the entire scenery you loved, it's worth taking a copy and then crop this copy to obtain a wonderful, yet very incomplete photograph. The first picture is worth a memory in your life, the second is worth a photograph. There's no reason to feel sad, they all have a special place, although different. Similarly, some places are wonderful to visit, but not as photogenic. No reason to bother if they won't produce an excellent photograph. And so on. Everybody has its place and right medium.
I was a long term analog photographer. I spent many a days pouring over my Cannon Rebel GII manual and took a few classes along the way. Once DSLR hit the scene though I looked to transition. At the time I couldn't afford the gear I wanted, so I slowly got out of the art. It was embarrassing to pull out this old 10 year old analog camera when people are pulling out $3k DSLRs around me :). That and the fact that it's a lot more difficult to get film processed today. There are only a few places left to get actual film and process prints. Anyway, so I finally pulled the trigger on a Cannon Rebel T7 and am excited to get back into the game again. When I first started shooting 20 years ago they didn't have UA-cam :), so I'm hoping my learning curve will be smoother with all the easily gotten knowledge literally at my fingertips. Channels like this are key to that. Thank you and I've subscribed.
My ah moments for landscape: Composition: Pre visualize. Move feet, left, right, forward, back, and the camera higher or lower. I won't set up the tripod until I find the composition I want. Exposure: I'm a big proponent of aperture preferred. On windy days I like manual with auto ISO. In both instances exposing to the right using the histogram & exposure compensation dial. Bracket. I like to take multiple images on windy days. Use the lowest ISO possible within the confines of the conditions.
Danson is super good and entertaining to watch. His recommendations are down to earth, simple and powerfully instructive. These photography videos are very competitive, as it seems there are dozens and dozens of them. Many are downright weird and a waste of time. Nigel Danson, bigheadtaco and James Popsys are among the best in my view, and I think Danson's style and approach is a real winner. An awful lot of solid, common sense photography h here.
Great tips, which are pointing out that simplicity awereness is one of the most powerful photograhy skills. Beside going back to the same location several times my 'light bulb moment’ is to stay at one location, as long as possible, to get the most out of it. Thanks for sharing Nigel
I have learned a lot in the last 5 years. Two things I find for me are don't rush the shot and in my composition, eliminate anything that is not necessary and simplify
Hi Nigel, I have over the last year watched many "tip" videos on improving your landscape photography and I just have to say yours is the most in-depth and informative by far. I mentioned you to a friend sometime ago, who just won a national landscape photography, saying to him that you have an incredible understanding of light. I also said that because of that understanding you are by a mile better than most I've seen with much higher subscribers. Rock on!
It's my contention that "examples" are the backbone of teaching. If you can't show me why what you're saying works, then not only do I have no real reason to believe you, but I will have a more difficult time comprehending what you mean specifically. Of course everyone says that lighting is everything, but no one ever expresses in any meaningful what what it actually means. You did. That makes you the best teacher on UA-cam so far that I've seen, as it regards photography.
I only started a few month ago but I think there's only been a few days I haven't been outside. The improvements I think are drastic. This is the #1 rule. If you wanna see my progress @lairisfreese Honestly horrified for any feedback but I feel like you can at least respect the effort 😂
Will do, you won't get any criticism from me I think this is a great idea. This just takes practice and critiquing yourself. It looks like there's a lot of information right here on youtube. I saved a couple hundred dollars by googling on how to 'unstick my shutter button. Amazing!'
You know what I love, when I am in a beautiful place, hiking and enjoying the the sights and sounds of nature, maybe taking some photos along the way and a f*c#ing drone goes whining over my head. I really love that.
One of my "aha" moments were, when I realized that even very skilled and experienced photographers sometimes are unable to take a stunning picture. Maybe they don't find a good composition, maybe the weather doesn't turn out as the forecast said or maybe just your flight/bus/train got cancelled or the car breaks so you can't make it to your location in time - sometimes reasons why you can't get a stunning photo are trivial as that. My two tips are: Learn to plan well and learn to improvise. I guess it's needless to explain why you should plan carefully, especially when you are on a longer trip. But improvising is important, too. As I mentioned above, there are many points which could go wrong, and eventually one day something *will* go wrong and crash your plans A, B and C. So you either can go home with no pictures at all or you calm down, look around and search for something different, which you can handle with the given conditions. If you don't find anything even then, well, at least you tried!
Nigel, everything you mention distills down (for me) to one VERY good word: nimble. To assess and respond quickly we have to be prepared in knowledge, familiarity with our equipment AND the environment of our subject. Great video!!!
Fabulous - thank you. I agree with it all. My 10-20mm completely changed the way I looked at a scene - rather than looking at the background & then hunting for a foreground, I now find interesting foregrounds and try to put them against a background that tells their story; your pink-thrift & lighthouse image you showed does that perfectly for a coastal-clifftop flower. Because I use my photos for work (teaching) I now go back & try to recapture the same image-content, but better; as you say, light & simplification seem to be the answer. Keep posting this Sunday afternoon goodness. - By the way, the paper arrived and it is an eye-opener. Now looking for a printer, though I may start by borrowing a few.
When I first started shooting pics, I let the camera do all the thinking and I concentrated on composition. Then I started to learn and shoot fully manual and my pictures improved but my composition lagged as I was spending to much time fiddling with the camera and losing the moment. Now I understand my camera very well and I shoot mostly Aperture mode and auto white balance and S-AF ,and I compensate my settings and I'm thinking more on composition. I now have a higher rate of keepers and am enjoying the experience more and it shows in my work. These cameras a very smart, not perfect but gets me close at the moment. Nice video, very insightful.
My big "ah-ha" moment was when I figured out that I needed to know my camera and lenses a lot better than I did. I started with rodeo photography, so I read the directions, found some settings that worked well, and then literally left my camera on those settings for 2-3 years. When I started playing with portrait and landscape photography, I realized that I had no idea what different things I could do with my camera. So, I went back to square one and re-learned a bunch of stuff about aperture and ISO and shutter speed and light, etc., etc.
I have been a working mom in the past and didn't have any thoughts on photography. Two years ago we sent our younger kid to college and proudly became an empty nester. I got my first camera Sony A 6000 and started taking pictures. Recently I upgraded to Sony A7RIII. By telling this, I hope you can tell that I am enjoying photography. Taking my two year photographic experience for example, I already realized that how much I have improved and how much better I can take certain shots much better only by waiting for the right moment and moving my standing spot a little bit left or right to have a better composition. I really appreciate the points you made in this video.
Excellent teaching sir :) i loved these tips and drawings Something i felt made a big difference to my photography was not over editing them after i took nice shots. Natural henced shots are so much better then over processed shots and i didn't realize how much quality i was taking out by layering filter after filter on them. Now like you said go out on the best lighting of the days i find i don't have to edit them nearly as much because the lighting and angles that I have fun playing with while I'm out there.
Great tips. I would say another things I've noticed. * Best photos are never (or rarely) taken in the ideal or common weather conditions. They are somewhat boring. Sometimes they are taken just after the storm or rain shower, on top of clouds or above clouds in November, in the winter with fog and strong icing. This means hiking and even camping in very uncertain and unpredictable weather. Or perhaps just taking camera everywhere with you and knowing nice places around the city. Worst kind of weather is warm sunny day with strong haze. * Sadly common weather can be extended to seasons. I like spring when trees have just a small leaves and this may last for a few days in April and middle of October when trees are yellow and hopefully sky is not completely dull. * Quite surprisingly I would say that my best photos are from places around the city, inside the city and from places I somehow like and that are not too far. Maybe it's just about amount, maybe it's about having some favorite places, freedom and no time restrictions, i don't really know. * I would say that hi-end camera is not that important. I upgraded from Panasonic GF1 with 20mm/f1.7 lens to G80 with several lenses over the time. But GF1 was easily portable and unobtrusive and I carried it and took photos just for fun. Some of them were quite good. G80 is better in multiple ways, but not carrying it means missing several moments.
#2 I just really understood for the first time this spring. Early on I was told you can recover details in the shadows but not from blowen out highlights. While that might be true, it’s all about the light. Expose to the right!
I'm actually annoyed at the 1k people who decided to "dislike" the video. Really good info, and from a photographer who can back up his stuff with stunning images, especially that last one!
What made a difference to my photography? To be honest - finding you tube channels like yours. I've learned so much and improved greatly by watching your video's. Keep up the great work - Cheers - Kev
I got better once I understood lighting (my preference is always evening and shooting with the light behind me). In the past 7 years my photo comparisons are laughable. It looks like a child took the first ones and today, even though I still have a long way to go, my photos are exponentially better. People often ask if I went to school for photography, and I didn't. Best kind of compliment to the changes I've made. Thanks for the video!
My photography changed when I learned to follow simple rules. For events and portraits I use a prime lens and shoot a touch wide because it's about catching a moment by taking a very fast shot before it's gone. My prime lens can focus fast and there's not zooming but often a shot can be taken crooked so by shooting wide (even city buildings with perspective correcting apply) I can straighten and re-crop to get a wonderful shot. Don't shoot under 1/125 second so images moving fast will blur, if that's what you want. Take shots tracking a subject for another great effect. As for landscapes it's all about following rules. If you want the sharpest shot bring a tripod. It's a burden but your shots will be much better and you tend to take your time creating better shots. Do move around before setting up to find the best position. Again, if you use a prime lens there is less to think about and they tend to be sharper. I sometimes take two shots. One of fore ground and the other of the background and combine them in post. If there is a break in the image at this area it's easy to do and looks super sharp. You can use hyper focal focusing if you don't want to bother with post work relating to focus. But really, Landscapes are all about following setup rules. The main one I forget is ISO (set at lowest native value). If I shoot indoors and have my camera on auto ISO and then venture out for that landscape, yeah I end up with the noisiest shots ever. Learn from your mistakes. Shooting histogram right improves all shots but requires post work to get it back to what you saw (remember, if you shoot in RAW you always have post work as the shots are flat).
Dear Nigel, Thank you . Your simple and easy discussion of this subject close to your heart is appreciated. As you said, looking back at the pictures I took last year to the ones I am taking now is insightful indeed. You have a lovely portfolio also! Thanks very much for taking the time .
I’m not advanced in photography whatsoever but living on the coast with vast expanses of sea, sand and sky I find that the right light is two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset. I face due east looking out over the Humber Estuary and at the rear of my apartment due west looking towards the Lincolnshire Wolds. Magnificent during all seasons. Thank you for the presentation, so well explained, I have learnt a lot.
What made the biggest difference to me was when i decided to stop making pictures to impress others and stop trying to follow every photography “rules and guidelines” and just took pictures that i liked and pleased ME!!. I photograph for fun and t go out and relax. Awsome video love it.
Shoot film every once in a while. you can't hide from bad light, and you have to be absolutely sure of your settings and composition. I instantly become a better photographer when shooting film. except for fast action stuff.
Great tips! Okay, it's an older post, but the question "when/what did make your photography better?" remains. I can only try to improve my photography when I go shooting ALONE! People/family/wife who don't understand your excitement about light and air and a simple rock making the view looks perfect, don't have the patience to wait even 2 minutes, so you do everything in a hurry.
I really enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing! What I found out over the years: I make much better photos when I'm calm. When I am relaxed. When I had enough sleep. I guess it is because it is easier for me to find concentration. When I have to make photos and my head is dead the photos are always rubbish. Let's say it this way: I have to be in the right mindset. So for me a good photo always starts in the head.
Newbie talking, here: You deserve commendation for the data you present, as well as for how you present it. A couple comments below adequately summarize your 7 Tips, which I consider as helpful cheat sheets for your video). Two of my favorites are using the histogram, and simplification (for sure, a word). I've seen (though have not yet read any of the) articles/videos that argue shooting in Manual becomes the more solid route, but that may be because I also have a hankering for Aperture Mode! Thank, Mr. D.
You know, this is only my second year doing photography. I think when you are learning, you are able to see your progression and see your growth. Then you kind of hit this creative wall where you are unsure as to what you should be working on to improve your craft. I am so glad that I found this video because I know know what I need to work on, and already the ideas are flowing the same way that they were when I first picked up my camera. Thanks mate!
I'm 64 and I've been shooting since when I was 14 I think, well I nly wanted to tell you that your videos are nice to watch, always very interesting, and last but not least well explaned. Cheers.
A lot of good tips Nigel but when it comes to shooting in aperture priority, I don't find it any more efficient, I know i'm in the minority on this point. In practice, when camera is on a tripod, I don't find using aperture priority + the exposure composition dial any faster than setting the aperture in manual mode and use the shutter speed dial to control the exposure. When bracketing exposures I also find manual mode more efficient. When I am working hand held and things are happening fast I'm in shutter priority, because I want to make sure i'm using a fast enough shutter speed for the focal length of lens i'm using. Like I said, I know i'm in the minority but this approach has served me well through 25 years of photojournalism and landscape photography. In the end it really doesn't matter that much as long as you become proficient with what ever mode you choose to work in.
Minority? Sorry but this is usual I think. As commented to just use M or Auto. All the other modes are useless because of the things you said. It is not only and everytime about DOF but it’s movement which counts sometimes more and mostly both must be considered so M or P/A.
@@DAVE_WHITE and in the time it takes to manually adjust the settings, the perfect moment of light on the subject you've spotted may have passed, which is the exact reason why he suggested that in the first place, so no need to be a douche about it.
@@TheApp9 Use whatever makes you happy, but I don't agree with your ignorance to Av mode...Av (Aperture Priority) can be extremely useful in cases such as wildlife photography and street photography where dof is important, but the subject might not be there for long. Tv (Shutter Priority) equally useful for action shots of animals or subjects which move quickly where controlling the sharpness and motion effect of the subject is important. M (Manual) is simply raw user input, no "better" than other mentioned options, but simply more versatility in terms of input/output. Auto however...you may as well be using a point and shoot camera at that point because the camera is doing all the work for you...little is there any redeeming qualities to actual photography that can be seen in Auto, other than to simply take a snapshot. Photography is an art of composing a cohesive visual experience through the means of both the camera and post processing, it's not taking snapshot and calling it photography.
These tips are really inspiring, especially "focus efficiency." I used to make the same mistake as mentioned. Now I know where to focus in such circumstances.
One "lightbulb" for me was space, or emptiness in a photograph. One of my favorite shots is a red bench in front of a blue lake ringed with green forest. The key for me is no on sitting in the bench. This reminds me of a photo of an empty pair of shoes, one slightly askew, or a sparse bookshelf close-up. I like to include emptiness in my work, an influence from Japanese art.
One of my light bulb moments was, when I understood that using the classic focal lenghts can help improve my photos. So I use them with prime lenses and even with my zoom lenses, change perspective and work out a good view with that. The other thing is that I don't try to get everything sharp anymore, I have learned from some photographers that some unsharp areas are good for the depth.
@Nigel Danson Kudos for being one of the rare EU origin creators using 30fps (the world monitor and modern TV standard) where the majority of the EU channels I've seen are using 25fps presumably because they think they want to be compatible with PAL systems. As a result your Pan and Zoom shots are "buttery smooth" and a pleasure to watch.😉👍 Also, love your work and channel and messages from the heart, thank you. I've subscribed and will be following you...
17:57 hi Nigel! I am just a humble begginer photographer that just found your amazing channel, i am on the verge of buying my first camera, barely ordered a Canon 4000d, i am so in love with phototography! I started about 3-4 years ago takin shots on a humble but kinda decent Samsung Galaxy A6+ phone and now i am taking ''better'' shots on a Galaxy S20FE phone, but from now on with bigger goals! The lightbulb moment of my photography ''carrier'' was when i realised how important the lighting, the image framing and the angle of where and how i was taking photos!
I know when I find a scene, it usually grabs my attention and I become hyper focused on a key element and I work extra hard to exclude distracting elements and I work on how to frame the scene to give the image the same feeling I have standing there, its hard sometimes, and sometimes I just cant work it out, either objects I cant move or move around without changing the feeling or getting the subject in good lighting or at the perspective that has the most impact, I move backwards / forwards, left/ rights, zoom in zoom out, I'll spend 30 minutes or more in one place working through those problems, I hate being rushed
I"ve watched hundreds of hrs of UA-cam photography tutorials and your video just became my lightbulb moment.. Looking forward to watching more of your videos...
My top tip. Having an iPhone with me has improved my photos. I’ll be taking a walk or just out and about without my main Sony mirrorless camera and I get a shot with my iPhone I would’ve missed otherwise. It’s true, the best camera is the one you have with you.
I have only been shooting for about a year now on a 16mp crop sensor fujifilm camera (which I love). If I have learned one thing over that year, it is to not care. When I started taking photos, I was desperate for someone to tell me that I did good and I always looked to impress others with my photography. But as time went on, I started to realize that I shouldn't care what others think and that the photo I took is mine and I can enjoy my photo. Now of course I still look for opinions and ask people what they think about the shots I take. I will never get better without failure, and sometimes I need someone else to help me see that I have failed. But at the end of the day, I shouldn't care. I understand and take in opinions, but it is my choice to follow what others tell me. Hopefully one day I will be able to truly understand what that means and maybe I will make a video about it... Nigel you are truly an inspiration and whenever I see your videos I want to wake up early and take photos with my little fujifilm. Thank you
My light-bulb moment was discovering the drama in black and white photography. By removing colour it is possible to turn a boring scene into a dramatic, moody or even, a sinister one.
I made the step up from point & shoots to a used DSLR a couple of years ago and I live and die by my 35mm prime for most things. You're absolutely right about how sticking with a single lens makes you mobile, mindful and creative. On the occasions that I pull out my 55-200mm zoom, it's usually because there's wildlife involved and I want that little extra advantage. Thanks for the content!
Ease up on the editing was my discovery. I still go hard on my edits, but I've toned it back in discovering new techniques and aiming to allow the camera to do most of the heavy lifting--rather than trying to make an image work in post.
I've been taking photos for years and have no formal training. It is a hobby for me that brings me joy. Thank you for your video. Even though I haven't taken any classes it's reassuring to see I have been using some of the same techniques as you. Your photos are beautiful.
I love aperture priority mode! I set my DOF the way I want it, I lock in my ISO to as low as I can go and let the camera decide what shutter speed I need and trust in my IBS to get stable shots. If I need a faster shutter, I choice between lowering my DOF or increasing my ISO depending on the moment. I find that I get too many 'good shots' that when I go to review them, its hard to pick the best, and often, undervalue many pictures cause they seem too generic to me. I almost found it easier with my old camera cause it was so much easier to see the bad ones which reduced the sample size to a smaller more manageable good ones.
It's funny for e reading how someone else relies on IS or IBS when I myself dread and avoid it... though that may be because it doesn't play well with the long exposures of Astrophotography, that said if I could get a zoom /telephoto lens with IS and be able to trust that it's locked in place when I need it off, maybe
For me the light bulb moment was realising I needed to buy the latest greatest camera and lens every year. Just joking, I’ve actually only had 5 SLR/DSLR in the last 45 years. I’m still using lens I’ve had for 35 years. Of course light is the biggest influence on an image and catching that moment is more a matter of personal discipline than anything. The biggest thing for me was learning to take my time. Look at the edges of the frame, not just the center, understand the composition and the way the scene interacts. I guess it came from starting with film and the cost of processing. I always try to get the image right before pressing the shutter.
Thank you so much for this video! I'm an amateur photographer, and Nobody ever told me any of these tips. I am looking forward to watching all of your videos so I may learn as much as possible from your incredible store of information.
I only have an Android, but I was able to find one similar called PlanIt from the Google Play store, which works SO well! There's also another called Photographer's companion that has some of the same things as Plant does.
I think my light bulb moment was realising that not every "expert" on UA-cam was correct it was just their opinion. Because of that I stopped feeling the need to constantly stick my camera on a tripod ( I actually hate tripods I think they stifle creativity to a certain extent ), stopped feeling the need to be constantly using full manual, stopped feeling the need to get up at silly times in the hope of a sunrise. I prefer to shoot sunrise when the sun gets out of bed at a more civilised hour
Agree, its an art form. Heck if you can embrace harsh light photography and do a great job of it you'll really stand out :) No one dares the midday sun, (usually).
Oh, if you dont mind editing, you could very well create more atmosphereic and dynamic images using photoshop. Might be a great way to get results you want without having to get up at 3 AM. I can't wait for winter again, 5PM sunsets
Thank you Nigel, great video! Great advice. I Enjoyed it and mad me think back. I would say the 8th tip is clear your mind and meditate. Don't complicate the image and don't complicate the mind. Balance.
As a relative beginner my top tip is to watch as many good videos like this one and learn from those more experienced. Your videos are incredibly useful and I thank you!
For me it was going to Niagara Falls early in the morning as they opened. We drove all night to get there. Those 9 AM shots were fantastic taken with a high end point and shoot 12 mpix camera. Later as we left around 2 PM and stopped to take a few more pictures of the water feeding into the falls, the sun was so bright that you would have thought I was somewhere else. Dark shadows under the trees, the water splash was bright white, the deep water lost it's depth. That was the moment I truly understood correct light. Ironically most people arrived there to take pictures at the worst time of the day.
You're dead on about folks worrying too much bout cameras. When I started out I was using the enthusiast Sony a55 and always planned to upgrade to full pro gear. However the quality of the pics was so agreeable I have stuck to mid range cameras and now use the a68 instead putting my money into lighting and lenses. I work successfully as a professional portrait photographer. These days a new mid range camera is the equivalent of a two year old pro camera.
Thank you! This was so informative! I've been taking pics since I was a young girl but finally got a good camera with lenses yesterday. I'm 50! About time! I was so happy to find that I already do most of the tips you just gave. Hopefully together with the rest and my new camera I can have even more satisfaction and greater shots with my photos ! Thank you!!!!! Your work is incredible!
Thanks for watching! The link for the app mentioned in video is geni.us/Photopills 👍
Just a tip. Even if you rarely get earthquakes in your area, i wouldn't recommend you to keep your lenses like that in the background. They will most likely fall over and it will hurt...
for me its a pity PhotoPills is IOS and not Android...
Hey Nigel, thank you so much for this extensive video, you explain a lot of things about photography and by adding your personal experiences it becomes extremely relatable.
My tip would be to learn from yourself. I often look back at my earlier photos and I can point out so many flaws and things I should have done differently, by reflecting on your own work it is easier to point out what it needs (or doesn't need) in order to become better overall.
To comment on your first point: I actually use two cine primes, these lenses have click-less aperture rings, so when I find myself in a situation where I need to quickly adjust the aperture I can easily and precisely change it. And since they are click-less, (correct me if I'm wrong) I can access aperture values that lie in between the values you would be bound to on photography lenses. I have a Samyang 21mm T1.5 and a SLR Magic 50mm F1.1. Cine lenses seem to be quite cheap and the overall quality in my experience is outstanding, I can highly recommend you to try one out. No autofocus so fully manual, which has also learned me to really "focus on focussing". So another tip from me would be to embrace the manual focus. I also use these lenses for filming a lot so they have a double purpose for me.
Thank you for pointing out the histogram, I haven't put much effort into understanding this to the fullest.
Your point on focus is also a good tip, drawing really helped.
I think your use of the word simplification is perfect for describing the point where I have arrived now in my work, I am always fond on showing as many things as possible, not only in the photos I make but also in the quantity of them. For me the term "kill your darlings" could be applied to not only the things I take photos of, but also in my selection of photos I share. At this moment I am becoming more aware of my "behaviour" and this really helps to pinpoint things that are going wrong, and other things that work better in my opinion. Great tip: Keep it simple.
You can never have enough lenses :)
Your point on positioning is very important, especially equipped with primes I can relate to this to the fullest. You need time to take a photo so take that time.
I don't have anything to add to your point on lighting, it's spot on.
Thanks again for this amazing breakdown!
If you like to see my progress and work you can check my instagram @koen.kievits
I guess my tip would be to always take yout camera with you. And by that I mean something small but useful, like a Fuji XE1,2,3 with that 27mm pancake lens or an X100F. Some of my best shots come when I least expect them to, so always be prepared.
Roy, PhotoPills runs fine on my Samsung Android ?
1:56 - Use aperture priority mode
4:02 - Understand your histogram
5:34 - Focus efficiency
9:18 - Simplify your image
11:37 - Use different lenses
13:29 - Where are you standing?
15:06 - Light Light Light
Thanks, because skimming through for the info was painful
Hero move. Tyvm
Thank you !!
Thanks!
How do you make the timestamps clickable ?
*Notes*
1. Use aperture priority, since full manual mode isn't always helpful. You care about depth of field. The light changes quickly.
2. Use histogram for exposure, understand how it works. Non exposed to RHS, low light photography will be having noise after photoshop.
3. Focus! Learn how to manage your camera and lenses
4. Simplify your images. Be minimalistic, choose wisely what you put into your scene, make it an art painting (eg street photographer, Sean Tuck). Zoom in elements to simplify
5. Keep your DSLR, get some fresh lenses. He likes 10mil on his xd2 or 60mil on Nikon. Don't only use zoom lenses but also prime lenses. Get creative.
6. Think about where you stand. Change your position, you are not a corpse. Find the best angle.
7. Lighting (duh!). Natural lighting is the best, take advantage of it. Experiment on taking pictures at different hours of the day, when the natural lighting is different and find what suits your liking.
Not all heroes wear capes
Ella Havia thanks, you just saved me 18mins watching this.
Thank you sister
Thank you
Thank you.. such a simple brilliant idea 😊
My photography became instantly better when i took the Lens cap off.
🤣
🤣🤣
I experienced the opposite 😁
😎
Now I know what I've been doing wrong.... thought all my shots were just underexposed! :)
All great tips. I'd like to offer a suggestion. I spent the first 10 years of my photography life focused on technical aspects of squeezing every last drop of detail out of my camera because it was something I could do and see results, though that effort quickly begins to reach diminishing returns, especially with modern cameras. I suggest to anyone wanting to improve their photography to take an art class, learn about composition and color and how to communicate abstract ideas through visual elements. I guarantee you'll see more improvement from this than improving sharpness or even getting slightly more accurate exposure than what full-auto yields. My $0.02
Thank you!
I like this take on things
That's a fantastic suggestion!
Thanks!
My light bulb moment was when I realized that its ok to be bad in the beginning. The most important thing is to just keep shooting. Eventually you will improve.
Thanks!!! I needed this!
As a bonus, it’s way cheaper to practice now rather than when you had to drop your film off at a drugstore and wait a week to get your negatives and prints back.
@@camofrog And faster!
I personally suggest starting with full auto and focus on basic composition. As you get that, add the manual settings. The composition is the most important bit, the camera settings should serve the composition.
I don't understand, who are the 811 people, who disliked this video?... Truly amazing input! Great job!
Kotak 😅🤣🤣
clickbait
@Artern Matveev
Just some loosers.
Don't worry it's just the Australians upside down 😂
@@alexabihabib8215 lol im not even australian wth u talking about
My tip is to keep a notebook. Record places to return to at a different time or season, things that you learned, things that went well and things that didn't, and how I felt when I was there. I keep a small "write in the rain" notebook with me and a space pen and capture quick notes at the scene. When I get home, I always do a "hot wash" on the shoot. I have found doing so makes me a much better photographer.
Great idea - I use my iPhone notes
I do the exact same thing and it is a HUGE help! I keep a regular Black & Red notebook with a few pens and I record settings that worked best, or better than others and this has helped me grow big time. Glad to hear I am not the only one.
I am photographer send me more tips
I do this too! But I use my phone and screenshot my exact location, so I know exactly where to come back to. This really helps when you're in the car or an unfamiliar city.
There's a nice little app that can be used to record location, time, date, direction, angles and so on. It's called Dioptra.
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glidelinesystems.dioptra
If I had to say one thing that improved my photography over the years it is knowing exactly what was moving me to take the picture. The exact reasons both emotionally and technically that had me go for my camera. Then shoot to enhance my response to what was happening. Lets say I see the mist coming off a pond and feel the calm and isolation that the moment evokes, i might not include the duck and may get to a location that gives me an angle that enhances the mist.
I enjoyed this video and was reminded of a number of elements I have not been thinking of when I have the time. :)
Great advice!
I have been a professional photographer since 1974. I don't remember how far into my career that it really hit me what I was doing, but you got to it with our last point. For years I asked people, including many pro photographers, what subject they photograph the most. I got all kinds of answers, but never the correct one - light. Light is our subject, usually reflected light, sometimes projected light, and sometimes both. Once I understood that, I had made the biggest improvement on my photos that I could make.
Yep! Light is the only thing we photograph
After years of loving photography as a hobby, I am attempting to make a go of it as a real side job. In order to do this I need to acquire a professional skill set and mindset and there has not been a channel on UA-cam that I have learned more from than yours. Thank you so much for taking the time to create these, you are a very gifted teacher.
I love how you refer to good images as "powerful."
It's not just about technical rules, but about how your image truly captures and communicates something.
You see photography as art.
I find that is becoming increasingly rare.
Corey Koon I agree. Ansel Adams was a photographic artist. Jacques Cousteau, a documentary film artist. Both put patience and perfection into their work. Today, there are so many who claim to be artists, but really aren’t because they’re in such a hurry to try and beat out what they consider competition.
My photography aha moment was realizing that if I slowwwwed down and took my time, I walked away with much better quality photos. When I started photography, I, like many people just starting out, became a photo sniper. I took hundreds of photos in one session, many of them of the same subject. This placed unnecessary wear and tear on my camera and then when I got them onto my computer, I had to painstakingly look through them all and choose the best one, adding unnecessary time to the process. This became something I always just accepted as part of what photographers. But when I started shooting film, I was forced to slow down and really look at my settings, double check my focus, and most importantly, nail the composition the first time because I only had 36 exposures to work with, not 32gb of space on a memory card. Shooting film taught me to be more selective and that I don't need to take ten pictures of the same subject in order to get a good photo. I was just too much in a rush before and didn't stop and put all the necessary elements together. That habit of slowing down has carried over into my digital photography and now I walk away with just a handful of images at the end of the day. So my tip would simply be to slow down and take your time.
Nicely said. "Slow down". An importent aspect of photography i learnt from here.
I shoot a whole morning on half a sony a6000 battery and come beck with some left. I end up with about 20 images after deleting tje other 80 in the field. Id tather have 1 great photograph tjan a thousand average ones.
I took near 4000 photos my first year lol. I totally know where your coming from. I cherish every single photo. In a way each one is a step i took to better my knowledge of the camera and composition. Biggest thing Ive brought away from that is that, just because its beautiful and peaceful where your standing dosnt mean that is where you should be pointing the camera. Dig and search. Its the buried treasure you ultimately want
Why is the water dirty?
@@SceneSprout 4000 is not much lol, i took like 100-200 pictures daily so thats around 36500-73000 pictures in my first year and i only keep like 800 😆
Another great video Nigel. When I first started in photography someone told me that you only need two things to become a landscaper photographer: a good alarm clock and the ability to get out of bed when it rings!!! Looking forward to next weeks vid.
Thanks Gordon!
Great!!!! The best tips!
If this is it I will be a star because if there is something I am good at it is to get up early, but it takes more to take great pictures.
and in my case I'm doomed cuz as much as I like early mornings, sleep wins every time ....oh well at least I can do sunsets!
My best tip, especially for us n00bs: Take the shot using the settings you think will produce the image you want, then immediately change those settings and shoot it again. And change+shoot again. And again. Change your focus object and shoot it again. With modern cameras and gobs of storage there's really no reason not to shoot *lots* of "versions" of each shot. What you think will be optimal for the shot you want to produce makes for a good photo - but the other shots using different settings will often times surprise you with their results.
This is a great bit of advice. Much appreciated
Nice one Nigel, some good advice there. My lightbulb moment was to stop worrying about other peoples opinions of my pictures, and shoot how I liked and not how I thought everyone else wants to see it.
Sound advice, but, conversely, don't beat yourself up because you don't think your pictures are good enough - other people might think they're great!
Yeah, but always listen to constructive criticism and get better from it!
Most definitely
moondawn. Don't think so. Composition influences everyone, even when they are not aware of it.
Others are very over critical they will point out everything wrong , from the lighting to lens choice to apeture used . Online some can be very very harsh , I shoot for me I've been doing this since 1979 . I have my own darkroom , I shoot both film and digital
Hi Nigel great video, was also great to see so many places we have been so often, LLandwyn, Buttermere, Glencoe area etc, fond memories
Biggest two tips, which helped me not only capture better images but perhaps, more importantly, remove the stress and potential disappointment when going out to shoot
1) it's great to have a plan, a goal before you set off, check where the sun will be at X time, north-south facing bluffs, weather, all the things we do to prepare..... But do not become so consumed with getting that shot that it's all you see, LLandwyn is a great example, so consumed with the perfect sunset with the perfect clouds that if they aren't there you can become frustrated, disappointed. Look around ALWAYS enjoy the beauty of the place you are in, let it inspire you on the day, by all means, have a plan but do not become tunnel vision obsessed with a set shot/
2) When you get back home or to the hotel still full of the buzz of a shoot, do not review your shots, they will never match up to the vision you have of them still high on the experience of adventure. Wait a couple of days or a week, it's easier to be objective, and be realistic many shots take as long to carefully edit as they do to take its the other half of photography
I see so many people disappointed because they do not see the results straight out of the camera, they lose faith in their ability and give up, because they expect the results amazing photographers like yourself post, straight out of the camera, not realising its a two-stage process.
That drone footage at 10:35 is amazing!
Very amazing what type of drone
This is such a great video, thanks so much! My tip? The light is never bad, overcast gives you advantages, but so does direct sunlight with high contrasts and dramatic effects. Any type of weather will create its own atmosphere that you can use to your advantage as a photographer. If the light is different than you'd expect, get creative and take the challenge. Maybe you're better than you think :)
Really appreciate you using comparison images in your videos, it makes a world of difference!
that drone footage in the intro though..... damn
Love the point about "simplification" lol. I knew something was missing from my photos and this instantly clicked with me.
My lightbulb moment came some twenty years into being a landscape photographer. It happen when I began
watercolor painting with a landscape painter - I can honestly say up to that point, I thought I knew landscape
photography - but now - wow, they's so much more to landscapes than the everyday rules you hear about on YT.
The great painters knew - its all about "light - light - light." Thanks Nigel.
My aha moment. Enjoy the moment/location, ignore always trying to get photo every time, no matter what happens you will have learnt something about your location for your next visit.
Great tip! 👍
Omg, I love your intro, that alone just shows how different a shot can be by adjusting your angle.
It's lovely that your kids recognise light, you have taught them to appreciate the beauty of nature and that is really special.
I’m a new viewer and this is my first time watching your videos on UA-cam. What you explained in 20 minutes most channels fail to explain across 100 videos, thank you for your contribution to my creative process. SIMPLIFY is now my mentality for everything.
Thanks Robert! Good luck
I'm struggling to find my way with photography. But you've struck a chord with two points.
1. Light..... obviously
2. Switching to AP. I've been messing and tinkering with manual mode and missing the best shots. Before, I felt that to be a good tog, you need to be a master of manual mode. Now I'm much happier to let the camera do some of the heavy lifting for me!
I'm getting better results and enjoying myself more.
Brilliant advice! Thank you!
Does this depend of the type of photography, sometimes shutter speed will be more important?
Thought I'd take a moment to tell you WHY I appreciate -- and enjoy -- your videos so much. They not only offer a delightful blend of technical and artistic considerations , they come with with a splash of humor and a big dose of enthusiasm. There are two things that separate you Brits from my compatriots here in the US of A -- your command of (and respect for) the language and your understated humor. Watching you and Sean and your compatriots is always a breath of fresh air. When it comes to literature, I prefer British writers. Same thing is true of photography VLOGs. So, thanks. Please tell your friends I said so.
One tip that I recently got, was somehow part of a long travel that tought me a lot as an amateur photographer and it resonates with something Sean Penn said in "The secret life of Walter Mitty". His character is a photographer, a very important one, but he sometimes chooses not to take the picture, to live the moment properly, fully. This teaches a lot about your "simplify your image" tip. Not only this tip is technically spot on, as others mentioned. It also tells us a lot about the whole meaning of photography and travelling. There are some places that are worth experiencing, seeing, smelling and hearing; others are worth a photograph; others deserve a video; others deserve a memory picture. All for different reasons. So when there's a photo showing the entire scenery you loved, it's worth taking a copy and then crop this copy to obtain a wonderful, yet very incomplete photograph. The first picture is worth a memory in your life, the second is worth a photograph. There's no reason to feel sad, they all have a special place, although different. Similarly, some places are wonderful to visit, but not as photogenic. No reason to bother if they won't produce an excellent photograph. And so on. Everybody has its place and right medium.
That drawing skills are awesome... they focused on everything that was needed!
I was a long term analog photographer. I spent many a days pouring over my Cannon Rebel GII manual and took a few classes along the way. Once DSLR hit the scene though I looked to transition. At the time I couldn't afford the gear I wanted, so I slowly got out of the art. It was embarrassing to pull out this old 10 year old analog camera when people are pulling out $3k DSLRs around me :). That and the fact that it's a lot more difficult to get film processed today. There are only a few places left to get actual film and process prints. Anyway, so I finally pulled the trigger on a Cannon Rebel T7 and am excited to get back into the game again. When I first started shooting 20 years ago they didn't have UA-cam :), so I'm hoping my learning curve will be smoother with all the easily gotten knowledge literally at my fingertips. Channels like this are key to that. Thank you and I've subscribed.
My ah moments for landscape:
Composition: Pre visualize. Move feet, left, right, forward, back, and the camera higher or lower. I won't set up the tripod until I find the composition I want.
Exposure: I'm a big proponent of aperture preferred. On windy days I like manual with auto ISO. In both instances exposing to the right using the histogram & exposure compensation dial. Bracket. I like to take multiple images on windy days. Use the lowest ISO possible within the confines of the conditions.
Danson is super good and entertaining to watch. His recommendations are down to earth, simple and powerfully instructive. These photography videos are very competitive, as it seems there are dozens and dozens of them. Many are downright weird and a waste of time. Nigel Danson, bigheadtaco and James Popsys are among the best in my view, and I think Danson's style and approach is a real winner. An awful lot of solid, common sense photography h
here.
Too kind - ThNks so much!
Great tips, which are pointing out that simplicity awereness is one of the most powerful photograhy skills.
Beside going back to the same location several times my 'light bulb moment’ is to stay at one location, as long as possible, to get the most out of it.
Thanks for sharing Nigel
Thanks Jo - yep makes such a big difference doesn’t it 👍👍👍
I have learned a lot in the last 5 years. Two things I find for me are don't rush the shot and in my composition, eliminate anything that is not necessary and simplify
Hi Nigel, I have over the last year watched many "tip" videos on improving your landscape photography and I just have to say yours is the most in-depth and informative by far. I mentioned you to a friend sometime ago, who just won a national landscape photography, saying to him that you have an incredible understanding of light. I also said that because of that understanding you are by a mile better than most I've seen with much higher subscribers. Rock on!
So kind Michael - thanks so much!
It's my contention that "examples" are the backbone of teaching. If you can't show me why what you're saying works, then not only do I have no real reason to believe you, but I will have a more difficult time comprehending what you mean specifically.
Of course everyone says that lighting is everything, but no one ever expresses in any meaningful what what it actually means.
You did.
That makes you the best teacher on UA-cam so far that I've seen, as it regards photography.
Other advice....go take photographs. You miss 100% of the photos you don't take!
The most important tip on here! 👊
I only started a few month ago but I think there's only been a few days I haven't been outside. The improvements I think are drastic. This is the #1 rule.
If you wanna see my progress @lairisfreese
Honestly horrified for any feedback but I feel like you can at least respect the effort 😂
Will do, you won't get any criticism from me I think this is a great idea. This just takes practice and critiquing yourself. It looks like there's a lot of information right here on youtube. I saved a couple hundred dollars by googling on how to 'unstick my shutter button. Amazing!'
Avery, I could access your website.
Oh it's not a website it's an Instagram
You know what I love, when I am in a beautiful place, hiking and enjoying the the sights and sounds of nature, maybe taking some photos along the way and a f*c#ing drone goes whining over my head. I really love that.
One of my "aha" moments were, when I realized that even very skilled and experienced photographers sometimes are unable to take a stunning picture. Maybe they don't find a good composition, maybe the weather doesn't turn out as the forecast said or maybe just your flight/bus/train got cancelled or the car breaks so you can't make it to your location in time - sometimes reasons why you can't get a stunning photo are trivial as that.
My two tips are: Learn to plan well and learn to improvise. I guess it's needless to explain why you should plan carefully, especially when you are on a longer trip. But improvising is important, too. As I mentioned above, there are many points which could go wrong, and eventually one day something *will* go wrong and crash your plans A, B and C. So you either can go home with no pictures at all or you calm down, look around and search for something different, which you can handle with the given conditions. If you don't find anything even then, well, at least you tried!
Nigel, everything you mention distills down (for me) to one VERY good word: nimble. To assess and respond quickly we have to be prepared in knowledge, familiarity with our equipment AND the environment of our subject. Great video!!!
Fabulous - thank you. I agree with it all. My 10-20mm completely changed the way I looked at a scene - rather than looking at the background & then hunting for a foreground, I now find interesting foregrounds and try to put them against a background that tells their story; your pink-thrift & lighthouse image you showed does that perfectly for a coastal-clifftop flower.
Because I use my photos for work (teaching) I now go back & try to recapture the same image-content, but better; as you say, light & simplification seem to be the answer.
Keep posting this Sunday afternoon goodness. - By the way, the paper arrived and it is an eye-opener. Now looking for a printer, though I may start by borrowing a few.
Brilliant! Thanks for letting me know
When I first started shooting pics, I let the camera do all the thinking and I concentrated on composition. Then I started to learn and shoot fully manual and my pictures improved but my composition lagged as I was spending to much time fiddling with the camera and losing the moment. Now I understand my camera very well and I shoot mostly Aperture mode and auto white balance and S-AF ,and I compensate my settings and I'm thinking more on composition. I now have a higher rate of keepers and am enjoying the experience more and it shows in my work. These cameras a very smart, not perfect but gets me close at the moment.
Nice video, very insightful.
My big "ah-ha" moment was when I figured out that I needed to know my camera and lenses a lot better than I did. I started with rodeo photography, so I read the directions, found some settings that worked well, and then literally left my camera on those settings for 2-3 years. When I started playing with portrait and landscape photography, I realized that I had no idea what different things I could do with my camera. So, I went back to square one and re-learned a bunch of stuff about aperture and ISO and shutter speed and light, etc., etc.
I have been a working mom in the past and didn't have any thoughts on photography. Two years ago we sent our younger kid to college and proudly became an empty nester. I got my first camera Sony A 6000 and started taking pictures. Recently I upgraded to Sony A7RIII. By telling this, I hope you can tell that I am enjoying photography. Taking my two year photographic experience for example, I already realized that how much I have improved and how much better I can take certain shots much better only by waiting for the right moment and moving my standing spot a little bit left or right to have a better composition. I really appreciate the points you made in this video.
Excellent teaching sir :) i loved these tips and drawings
Something i felt made a big difference to my photography was not over editing them after i took nice shots. Natural henced shots are so much better then over processed shots and i didn't realize how much quality i was taking out by layering filter after filter on them. Now like you said go out on the best lighting of the days i find i don't have to edit them nearly as much because the lighting and angles that I have fun playing with while I'm out there.
Great tips. I would say another things I've noticed.
* Best photos are never (or rarely) taken in the ideal or common weather conditions. They are somewhat boring. Sometimes they are taken just after the storm or rain shower, on top of clouds or above clouds in November, in the winter with fog and strong icing. This means hiking and even camping in very uncertain and unpredictable weather. Or perhaps just taking camera everywhere with you and knowing nice places around the city. Worst kind of weather is warm sunny day with strong haze.
* Sadly common weather can be extended to seasons. I like spring when trees have just a small leaves and this may last for a few days in April and middle of October when trees are yellow and hopefully sky is not completely dull.
* Quite surprisingly I would say that my best photos are from places around the city, inside the city and from places I somehow like and that are not too far. Maybe it's just about amount, maybe it's about having some favorite places, freedom and no time restrictions, i don't really know.
* I would say that hi-end camera is not that important. I upgraded from Panasonic GF1 with 20mm/f1.7 lens to G80 with several lenses over the time. But GF1 was easily portable and unobtrusive and I carried it and took photos just for fun. Some of them were quite good. G80 is better in multiple ways, but not carrying it means missing several moments.
Terrible weather makes better photos!
Photography seems to be a neverending learning process. Thanks for all the great videos
#2 I just really understood for the first time this spring. Early on I was told you can recover details in the shadows but not from blowen out highlights. While that might be true, it’s all about the light. Expose to the right!
My light bulb moment was to slow down . I was always in a rush to shoot a scene. Thanks for another great video. Keep them coming.👏👏👏
oh ya, thats me too. i dont slow down
I'm actually annoyed at the 1k people who decided to "dislike" the video. Really good info, and from a photographer who can back up his stuff with stunning images, especially that last one!
its because of the ft and mm measures, mixing together. > Go Metric! ;)
What made a difference to my photography? To be honest - finding you tube channels like yours. I've learned so much and improved greatly by watching your video's. Keep up the great work - Cheers - Kev
Thanks a lot Kev!
I got better once I understood lighting (my preference is always evening and shooting with the light behind me). In the past 7 years my photo comparisons are laughable. It looks like a child took the first ones and today, even though I still have a long way to go, my photos are exponentially better. People often ask if I went to school for photography, and I didn't. Best kind of compliment to the changes I've made. Thanks for the video!
My photography changed when I learned to follow simple rules. For events and portraits I use a prime lens and shoot a touch wide because it's about catching a moment by taking a very fast shot before it's gone. My prime lens can focus fast and there's not zooming but often a shot can be taken crooked so by shooting wide (even city buildings with perspective correcting apply) I can straighten and re-crop to get a wonderful shot. Don't shoot under 1/125 second so images moving fast will blur, if that's what you want. Take shots tracking a subject for another great effect.
As for landscapes it's all about following rules. If you want the sharpest shot bring a tripod. It's a burden but your shots will be much better and you tend to take your time creating better shots. Do move around before setting up to find the best position. Again, if you use a prime lens there is less to think about and they tend to be sharper. I sometimes take two shots. One of fore ground and the other of the background and combine them in post. If there is a break in the image at this area it's easy to do and looks super sharp. You can use hyper focal focusing if you don't want to bother with post work relating to focus. But really, Landscapes are all about following setup rules. The main one I forget is ISO (set at lowest native value). If I shoot indoors and have my camera on auto ISO and then venture out for that landscape, yeah I end up with the noisiest shots ever. Learn from your mistakes. Shooting histogram right improves all shots but requires post work to get it back to what you saw (remember, if you shoot in RAW you always have post work as the shots are flat).
Dear Nigel,
Thank you . Your simple and easy discussion of this subject close to your heart is appreciated. As you said, looking back at the pictures I took last year to the ones I am taking now is insightful indeed. You have a lovely portfolio also! Thanks very much for taking the time .
Nice one !
Staying motivated to go out and explore places even if the conditions aren't good is also a thing to consider..
I’m not advanced in photography whatsoever but living on the coast with vast expanses of sea, sand and sky I find that the right light is two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset. I face due east looking out over the Humber Estuary and at the rear of my apartment due west looking towards the Lincolnshire Wolds. Magnificent during all seasons. Thank you for the presentation, so well explained, I have learnt a lot.
Hands down best tip video I’ve seen on UA-cam! Great job!
What made the biggest difference to me was when i decided to stop making pictures to impress others and stop trying to follow every photography “rules and guidelines” and just took pictures that i liked and pleased ME!!. I photograph for fun and t go out and relax.
Awsome video love it.
Best advice I received: spend a few weeks not editing anything. Get it as good as you can at the camera.
Shoot film every once in a while. you can't hide from bad light, and you have to be absolutely sure of your settings and composition. I instantly become a better photographer when shooting film. except for fast action stuff.
Great tips!
Okay, it's an older post, but the question "when/what did make your photography better?" remains.
I can only try to improve my photography when I go shooting ALONE!
People/family/wife who don't understand your excitement about light and air and a simple rock making the view looks perfect, don't have the patience to wait even 2 minutes, so you do everything in a hurry.
I appreciate the relatability of your stories. -Cheers!
I really enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing! What I found out over the years: I make much better photos when I'm calm. When I am relaxed. When I had enough sleep. I guess it is because it is easier for me to find concentration. When I have to make photos and my head is dead the photos are always rubbish. Let's say it this way: I have to be in the right mindset. So for me a good photo always starts in the head.
Newbie talking, here: You deserve commendation for the data you present, as well as for how you present it.
A couple comments below adequately summarize your 7 Tips, which I consider as helpful cheat sheets for your video). Two of my favorites are using the histogram, and simplification (for sure, a word).
I've seen (though have not yet read any of the) articles/videos that argue shooting in Manual becomes the more solid route, but that may be because I also have a hankering for Aperture Mode!
Thank, Mr. D.
You know, this is only my second year doing photography. I think when you are learning, you are able to see your progression and see your growth. Then you kind of hit this creative wall where you are unsure as to what you should be working on to improve your craft. I am so glad that I found this video because I know know what I need to work on, and already the ideas are flowing the same way that they were when I first picked up my camera. Thanks mate!
Please more of this. Was awesome!!
I'm 64 and I've been shooting since when I was 14 I think, well I nly wanted to tell you that your videos are nice to watch, always very interesting, and last but not least well explaned. Cheers.
A lot of good tips Nigel but when it comes to shooting in aperture priority, I don't find it any more efficient, I know i'm in the minority on this point. In practice, when camera is on a tripod, I don't find using aperture priority + the exposure composition dial any faster than setting the aperture in manual mode and use the shutter speed dial to control the exposure. When bracketing exposures I also find manual mode more efficient. When I am working hand held and things are happening fast I'm in shutter priority, because I want to make sure i'm using a fast enough shutter speed for the focal length of lens i'm using. Like I said, I know i'm in the minority but this approach has served me well through 25 years of photojournalism and landscape photography. In the end it really doesn't matter that much as long as you become proficient with what ever mode you choose to work in.
Right
Minority? Sorry but this is usual I think. As commented to just use M or Auto. All the other modes are useless because of the things you said. It is not only and everytime about DOF but it’s movement which counts sometimes more and mostly both must be considered so M or P/A.
@@DAVE_WHITE he may be a joke (hes not), but he takes cracking amazing photos
@@DAVE_WHITE and in the time it takes to manually adjust the settings, the perfect moment of light on the subject you've spotted may have passed, which is the exact reason why he suggested that in the first place, so no need to be a douche about it.
@@TheApp9 Use whatever makes you happy, but I don't agree with your ignorance to Av mode...Av (Aperture Priority) can be extremely useful in cases such as wildlife photography and street photography where dof is important, but the subject might not be there for long. Tv (Shutter Priority) equally useful for action shots of animals or subjects which move quickly where controlling the sharpness and motion effect of the subject is important. M (Manual) is simply raw user input, no "better" than other mentioned options, but simply more versatility in terms of input/output. Auto however...you may as well be using a point and shoot camera at that point because the camera is doing all the work for you...little is there any redeeming qualities to actual photography that can be seen in Auto, other than to simply take a snapshot. Photography is an art of composing a cohesive visual experience through the means of both the camera and post processing, it's not taking snapshot and calling it photography.
These tips are really inspiring, especially "focus efficiency." I used to make the same mistake as mentioned. Now I know where to focus in such circumstances.
"Art is the elimination of the unnecessary"
Pablo picasso
One "lightbulb" for me was space, or emptiness in a photograph. One of my favorite shots is a red bench in front of a blue lake ringed with green forest. The key for me is no on sitting in the bench.
This reminds me of a photo of an empty pair of shoes, one slightly askew, or a sparse bookshelf close-up. I like to include emptiness in my work, an influence from Japanese art.
😎
One of my light bulb moments was, when I understood that using the classic focal lenghts can help improve my photos. So I use them with prime lenses and even with my zoom lenses, change perspective and work out a good view with that. The other thing is that I don't try to get everything sharp anymore, I have learned from some photographers that some unsharp areas are good for the depth.
Hands down the best, honest and truly inspirational advice I have been given in my short time studying Photography.
Thank you
@Nigel Danson Kudos for being one of the rare EU origin creators using 30fps (the world monitor and modern TV standard) where the majority of the EU channels I've seen are using 25fps presumably because they think they want to be compatible with PAL systems. As a result your Pan and Zoom shots are "buttery smooth" and a pleasure to watch.😉👍
Also, love your work and channel and messages from the heart, thank you. I've subscribed and will be following you...
Noticed and agreed. ;)
Yeah - not sure why you wouldn’t to be honest
17:57 hi Nigel! I am just a humble begginer photographer that just found your amazing channel, i am on the verge of buying my first camera, barely ordered a Canon 4000d, i am so in love with phototography! I started about 3-4 years ago takin shots on a humble but kinda decent Samsung Galaxy A6+ phone and now i am taking ''better'' shots on a Galaxy S20FE phone, but from now on with bigger goals! The lightbulb moment of my photography ''carrier'' was when i realised how important the lighting, the image framing and the angle of where and how i was taking photos!
I know when I find a scene, it usually grabs my attention and I become hyper focused on a key element and I work extra hard to exclude distracting elements and I work on how to frame the scene to give the image the same feeling I have standing there, its hard sometimes, and sometimes I just cant work it out, either objects I cant move or move around without changing the feeling or getting the subject in good lighting or at the perspective that has the most impact, I move backwards / forwards, left/ rights, zoom in zoom out, I'll spend 30 minutes or more in one place working through those problems, I hate being rushed
I"ve watched hundreds of hrs of UA-cam photography tutorials and your video just became my lightbulb moment.. Looking forward to watching more of your videos...
Thanks George
My top tip. Having an iPhone with me has improved my photos. I’ll be taking a walk or just out and about without my main Sony mirrorless camera and I get a shot with my iPhone I would’ve missed otherwise. It’s true, the best camera is the one you have with you.
I have only been shooting for about a year now on a 16mp crop sensor fujifilm camera (which I love). If I have learned one thing over that year, it is to not care. When I started taking photos, I was desperate for someone to tell me that I did good and I always looked to impress others with my photography. But as time went on, I started to realize that I shouldn't care what others think and that the photo I took is mine and I can enjoy my photo. Now of course I still look for opinions and ask people what they think about the shots I take. I will never get better without failure, and sometimes I need someone else to help me see that I have failed. But at the end of the day, I shouldn't care. I understand and take in opinions, but it is my choice to follow what others tell me. Hopefully one day I will be able to truly understand what that means and maybe I will make a video about it... Nigel you are truly an inspiration and whenever I see your videos I want to wake up early and take photos with my little fujifilm. Thank you
My light-bulb moment was discovering the drama in black and white photography. By removing colour it is possible to turn a boring scene into a dramatic, moody or even, a sinister one.
i resist B& W photography, for as good as it looks, i find its a cliche..
I made the step up from point & shoots to a used DSLR a couple of years ago and I live and die by my 35mm prime for most things. You're absolutely right about how sticking with a single lens makes you mobile, mindful and creative. On the occasions that I pull out my 55-200mm zoom, it's usually because there's wildlife involved and I want that little extra advantage.
Thanks for the content!
Using rule of thirds and including foreground interest where the biggest jumps for me! Great tips, thanks!
HBFilms ::::: I have used a grid on all my cameras since 1978.
Makes composition dissensions much faster.
Two lightbulb moments for me... Know your gear and pay attention to foreground. Really good video, Nigel.
Ease up on the editing was my discovery. I still go hard on my edits, but I've toned it back in discovering new techniques and aiming to allow the camera to do most of the heavy lifting--rather than trying to make an image work in post.
Brilliant tip! 👊
I've been taking photos for years and have no formal training. It is a hobby for me that brings me joy. Thank you for your video. Even though I haven't taken any classes it's reassuring to see I have been using some of the same techniques as you. Your photos are beautiful.
I love aperture priority mode! I set my DOF the way I want it, I lock in my ISO to as low as I can go and let the camera decide what shutter speed I need and trust in my IBS to get stable shots. If I need a faster shutter, I choice between lowering my DOF or increasing my ISO depending on the moment. I find that I get too many 'good shots' that when I go to review them, its hard to pick the best, and often, undervalue many pictures cause they seem too generic to me. I almost found it easier with my old camera cause it was so much easier to see the bad ones which reduced the sample size to a smaller more manageable good ones.
If you are getting too many good shots than you are taking too many pictures. You only need one good shot, a second for back up.
It's funny for e reading how someone else relies on IS or IBS when I myself dread and avoid it... though that may be because it doesn't play well with the long exposures of Astrophotography, that said if I could get a zoom /telephoto lens with IS and be able to trust that it's locked in place when I need it off, maybe
Your photos are great but you also make really wonderful and high quality UA-cam videos ! Thank's for sharing your passion and all your tips !
For me the light bulb moment was realising I needed to buy the latest greatest camera and lens every year. Just joking, I’ve actually only had 5 SLR/DSLR in the last 45 years. I’m still using lens I’ve had for 35 years. Of course light is the biggest influence on an image and catching that moment is more a matter of personal discipline than anything. The biggest thing for me was learning to take my time. Look at the edges of the frame, not just the center, understand the composition and the way the scene interacts. I guess it came from starting with film and the cost of processing. I always try to get the image right before pressing the shutter.
Wise words Paul 👍👍
Thank you so much for this video! I'm an amateur photographer, and Nobody ever told me any of these tips. I am looking forward to watching all of your videos so I may learn as much as possible from your incredible store of information.
I only have an Android, but I was able to find one similar called PlanIt from the Google Play store, which works SO well! There's also another called Photographer's companion that has some of the same things as Plant does.
I think my light bulb moment was realising that not every "expert" on UA-cam was correct it was just their opinion. Because of that I stopped feeling the need to constantly stick my camera on a tripod ( I actually hate tripods I think they stifle creativity to a certain extent ), stopped feeling the need to be constantly using full manual, stopped feeling the need to get up at silly times in the hope of a sunrise. I prefer to shoot sunrise when the sun gets out of bed at a more civilised hour
Great tip!!!
Agree, its an art form.
Heck if you can embrace harsh light photography and do a great job of it you'll really stand out :) No one dares the midday sun, (usually).
Oh, if you dont mind editing, you could very well create more atmosphereic and dynamic images using photoshop. Might be a great way to get results you want without having to get up at 3 AM. I can't wait for winter again, 5PM sunsets
Shooting everything at the same time of day makes everything look the same.
Peter Biggin I like your sun-setting ;)
Thank you Nigel, great video! Great advice. I Enjoyed it and mad me think back. I would say the 8th tip is clear your mind and meditate. Don't complicate the image and don't complicate the mind. Balance.
That slow pan backwards over the lake in your intro needs to be tagged NSFW man. C'mon haha. Great points, earned a sub.
Really apprecite this, not many people are keen to share what they have learnt in a long journey
My ahah moment: stop always reaching for the "hero shot" and discover photos in the details.
As a relative beginner my top tip is to watch as many good videos like this one and learn from those more experienced. Your videos are incredibly useful and I thank you!
Focus on having a structure to what you need to learn rather than just jumping from idea to idea..that's my own personal lesson..
For me it was going to Niagara Falls early in the morning as they opened. We drove all night to get there. Those 9 AM shots were fantastic taken with a high end point and shoot 12 mpix camera. Later as we left around 2 PM and stopped to take a few more pictures of the water feeding into the falls, the sun was so bright that you would have thought I was somewhere else. Dark shadows under the trees, the water splash was bright white, the deep water lost it's depth. That was the moment I truly understood correct light. Ironically most people arrived there to take pictures at the worst time of the day.
You're dead on about folks worrying too much bout cameras. When I started out I was using the enthusiast Sony a55 and always planned to upgrade to full pro gear. However the quality of the pics was so agreeable I have stuck to mid range cameras and now use the a68 instead putting my money into lighting and lenses. I work successfully as a professional portrait photographer. These days a new mid range camera is the equivalent of a two year old pro camera.
Thank you! This was so informative! I've been taking pics since I was a young girl but finally got a good camera with lenses yesterday. I'm 50! About time! I was so happy to find that I already do most of the tips you just gave. Hopefully together with the rest and my new camera I can have even more satisfaction and greater shots with my photos ! Thank you!!!!! Your work is incredible!
Glad it was helpful!