Don't know that many, as I tend to be more focussed on the joy of doing photography myself than looking at the work of others, but I do like the works of Jimmy Nelson: very strong portraits in fitting surroundings.
I really don't know but I have bookmarked Carr Clifton, Charles Cramer, and Guy Tal's websites in my browser. I go look at their work on occasion. I know there are lots of others that are awesome to. Even this Mark guy I follow on UA-cam. 😉
It's an obvious answer but I really like the work from Ansel Adams. I have a number of his photo books and love to browse through them and study his compositions.
All those 'great' photographers are only great because people have identified them as such. In reality they have produced some great images of course but I bet there are thousands of unknown photographers who produce images just as good, if not better.
If Ansel Adams were alive today, I wonder if he'd have made it as such an iconic photographer. One of the reasons he is so known is that he pushed the bounds of photography, making some of the first images of our American landscapes, and being one of the first to develop darkroom techniques that pushed the limits of making prints from film. But Adams worked at a time when photography wasn't accessible to the masses. Today it is. It's easier to rise to stand out when you are competing in a field of 1000. It's harder to stand out as unique when you are one out of a million or more.
Excellent video Mark. I am a retired physician so continuous education has been a way of life for me. I am just an average intermediate photographer who is trying everyday to be the best I can be at my photography. I get inspired and educated by photographers like yourself. I can be quite critical of my own images but don't really care what others may think about them. I, luckily, don't have to rely on my photographs to feed my family. But I do rely on them to bring me joy, to make me keep learning, to keep me active, and to let me be creative. Please keep educating and inspiring me Mark.
First…. I hope you’re as nice a guy as you seem in your videos. Second… my son once had an orchestra director who told his students to never try to be the best or to be great. He said they should strive everyday to “be better.” Hearing that has had a profound effect on my photography life. It seems you understand that too. Thanks Mark. Great video.
Hi Mark. Thank you for this video. In a way, it gives me more hope knowing someone else has said it and not just myself to myself. I don't have a very big support behind my love of photography so your message today is very encouraging to me. I'm from North Dakota and find what people take for granted to photograph. At least I try among other pretty things too of course. Thank you from my heart for your encouragement. ❤️ Hugs.
I love that you gave Clyde Butcher a shout out in this! Clyde isn’t just a great photographer but also one of the friendliest people I’ve know and serves as a great voice for the Everglades.
Thanks for a other great video and couldn't agree more about continously trying to improve. It reminded me of a great quote of a good friend of mine: The journey of continuous improvement is the most authentic path to greatness; it's where small daily gains become monumental achievements over time.
When people finally get to editing their photos, then from a great composition comes great lighting and coloring in post processing. Even Ansel Adams dodged and burned his photos in post-processing in the darkroom. The best photographers are also great photo editors as this is an art form. Thanks for this video to explain it.
Thank you. I really appreciate all of the positive reinforcement in enjoying photography and improving each day. To be better than I was yesterday. Great boost to my confidence and desire to learn more.
I LOVE editing photos 😂 I have a lot to learn about it but I love it…. And you’ve been a great help in this aspect and others! The main thing I love about landscape photography is that it gets me out at all times of the day to experience things that many others don’t. Thanks Mark for all that you 👍
I'm enjoying this video, I'm a newbie photographer since 2020. I love to learn and i'm old so retention is a little challenging at times but I've learned a whole lot in 3 years.Thanks for all your inspiration.🙏
Great points Mark, personally as a newspaper photographer experimenting with different styles is a constant, I have to get something publishable from every assignment no matter what the light, conditions or subject matter. Most of all though I credit my youtube channel for pushing me to try other formats, genres both film and digital. I'm no expert in any particular photographic field but I'm pretty confident I can get a decent result from whatever I shoot, it's a daily battle / challenge to improve every shoot. I love it.
This was the best sentence I heard from you and it was very helpful: I guess perhaps greatness isn't just for the select few that actually do attain it but instead it's found in The Quiet resilience of those who really dare to chase down their passions with unrelenting focus because it takes a little bit of guts it really does just chase down for a lifetime. Thank you so much.
Very good points Mark! I very much appreciate your likable and honest style 🤩 Greatness does not necessarily mean eminence, celebrity! Even if you are able to take great photographs it is unlikely you will get the same reputation as Ansel Adams for example. Nowadays there is much more concurrence than it was the case in the pioneer era of photography. You would need an entire marketing agency to become a famous photographer 😜 But celebrity is not my aim. But to become better from shooting to shooting and learning from the masters, without trying to copy them, is a very satisfying experience indeed.
You are not only a great photographer, you actually give something that works for everyday life. I wanted to be a good landscape photographer but I happens to be a traveler too. I want to share my thoughts and views and share what I have learnt so far with other. Thank you so much Mark.
Nice video Mark. I'm glad you share because the amount of post processing I do and my approach has a lot of "Mark" content. Being retired allows me the time to dig deeper on all aspects of my photography. Most of my improvements have been influenced by many utube photographers but if I put a pie chart up of who helped the most 80% of the pie would have your name on it. Thanks and keep doing what you do.
Hi Mark, I really enjoyed your video that I came across and found it very inspirational. I'm now retired and am getting back into photography again more fully. I'm looking forward to looking at your other videos.
I truly enjoyed this video because it spoke to much of what I too believe. I am a retired accountant. I tell people that “creative” accountants go to jail so I had to wait until I retired to become creative. I try things that I see others do or that I hear ab. Some have worked. Some…well…let’s just say, they just never get published. For me though it is the trying that is important. Thank you for encouraging those who watch your videos to try…and maybe fail, but try again and again if necessary.
I appreciated this video so much, you told the real meaning of photography: having fun, improving by little steps every day, facing the challenges with no fear of failure ... I take photos of landscapes and macro/close up but I know I still have many things to learn ... thank you for your precious advices ...
Another excellent video - with an intriguing tale as to how you got into Landscape Photography. I found it very helpful to study the approaches to photography of people like Stieglitz, Strand, Edward and Brett Weston, and Ansel Adams. Reading their letters, written articles, and daybooks in the case of Edward Weston, were even more eye opening than their photographs. All seem to have had false dawns, and black dog moments, until they got lucky in some way. Which usually meant being in the right place at the right time. I also started out using wide angled lenses, but now really value the short telephoto. I am not too bothered if I miss photographing a great sunrise or sunset. I just like to watch it, if I am in the wrong place. Many thanks
Love this, Mark. As a dedicated hobbyist whose occupation is in another field altogether, it doesn’t make sense for me to compare myself to someone who is devoting all their waking hours to this art form. Instead, I have made the choice to compare my new work against my old work. Am I improving? Am I winning the race against myself? IMO, it’s the only way to sustain the momentum needed to improve significantly over time, because it’s too demoralizing to constantly measure myself against people with years or decades more experience.
Mark, Thank you for the words walking us down the trail of experimenting with photography!!! I truly appreciate your simple approach to enjoying photography 👍🏻
be a couple of years ago now, you were talking of waterfalls and basic water and how it flows, I had been trying this for some time and the rewards were slow. You indicated 4 of a second is enough to hold the white outs back and still give movement, it worked like a demon, so now I can use the aperture to gain or loose what I want and hold my speed unless I want something different, the power of passing on 'this is what I found' rather than this is what you should do. Priceless, thanks for the journey.
Some good points in this video. I use Canon gear, and I use the RF 24-105 for about 75% of my photos. This seems to be the focal range that my eye sees, so it has become what I "expect" to see in my photographs. This lens gives me more range of focal lengths in the perspective that tends to favor landscape photography. However, I also carry my 70-200 and 100-400 with me most of the time, and I do use them for some landscapes. I also have a 14-35 that I use when it's warranted. I also love editing, and often plan for it while shooting. As I get better at editing, it's so much easier to work it from RAW to finish, knowing what masks to use for certain effects, etc. And several techniques came straight from your videos, so Thank You for that.
I agree, continuously working to become better in each of these areas is the best approach to gaining a sense of personal accomplishment and yes, even a bit of joy or "a warm fuzzy" from seeing the improvement. But getting a few "great shot" compliments from others never hurts. My wife says she can see a change in my mood if I don't get to do a little editing each day. I just enjoy watching a photo jump off the screen. And much of my skills comes from you and a few others, Thanks.
Yet another inspiring video !! I found that when I was teaching, in the corporate world, I learned more from being the teacher than being in the class !! 😮
Thanks for another great video. Over the last year or two, I have followed your channel closely. I have learned a lot from you and appreciate all that you share with us. Your ability to explain things to us without getting too deep into theory really helps. I am not sure I have an all time favorite photographer, but you would surely be in the top five. Cheers.
I love playing with my photos in post. But I belong to a group where several members brag about their pictures being straight from the camera. Always made me wonder if I was doing something wrong. I try really hard to get the photo I want in the camera. But I love making it pop in post. Thank you for the encouragement.
I am so grateful for your continued honesty in your journey. For several years I've struggled with the thought that I needed to settle on one type of photography but truly I love it all and am continually trying new approaches. As far as a favorite photographer, there are so many that I follow and admire. But I always come back to you because the way you explain things clicks with me. I've had so many ah hah moments while watching your videos. Thanks for all you do!!
Thanks for another great video. Live for the journey not the destination. The journey is long and if embraced for its intrinsic joy it will provide a life of fulfillment. Destinations are uncertain and relatively short lived even if achieved.
Hey Mark. Thanks for the video. I think one of the reasons you so many people follow you and love your UA-cam channel and your tutorials is that you are not only a good photographer but you are also a great mentor. Mentoring is another skill set that that requires continuous improvement to become good at and it is obvious that you have learned these skills along the way. One of my favorite photographers is Mark Klett - check out The Black Rock Desert and some of his other work.
Can’t agree more with you this week! Having taught college level art for 40+ yrs, I absolutely know that an understanding of “design/composition is a fundamental asset of good pictures-in any media. A suggested place to fortify that is an older, great, book: ‘What Is Art?’ By John Canaday.
Another spot on video Mark. In practice, sharing and allowing others to "pick my brain" (in the marketing field) has been a net positive for me. It's lead to relationships, awareness, mentions, recommendations, conference speaking gigs, and yes, referral business. It genuinely endears people to you when providing value with no expectation of return. As for ongoing learning, I practice a 3x5x50 approach. That's 3 hours/day, 5 days/week, 50 weeks/year, that I displace mindless activities for things that improve my knowledge, understanding, or skills. That's 750 hours per year. It is unlikely that anyone shooting and editing for 750 hours in a year would not result in significant improvement. Love your videos.
Wow, just WOW! Well said, sir. As a child, I saw adults try to make themselves more important by diminishing others. As I became an adult, I found better friends who taught me similar to what you're doing. Helping to make others more powerful does not diminish me, and in the process I usually gain their respect. But even if I don't, I am no less than what I was. "The rising tide lifts all ships." I like that. I will remember that and share it with others. Thank you for sharing that and lifting this little boat. Now I just hope my camera gear doesn't get wet.
Thanks for this video! Your message is what I needed to hear at this moment. I'm going for it with photography! It brings so much to my heart and it's changed the way I view the world. Thanks for what you do.
I wholeheartedly agree with your concluding statement. I read the essay "El Dorado" by Robert Louis Stevenson when I was in high school. It profoundly impacted my approach to life. I recognized that the end was not the goal, but the enjoyment of the pursuit was the goal, wherever it should lead. Stevenson wrote it much more eloquently than I, "It is true that we shall never reach the goal; it is even more than probable that there is no such place; and if we lived for centuries and were endowed with the powers of a god, we should find ourselves not much nearer what we wanted at the end. O toiling hands of mortals! O unwearied feet, travelling ye know not whither! Soon, soon, it seems to you, you must come forth on some conspicuous hilltop, and but a little way further, against the setting sun, descry the spires of El Dorado. Little do ye know your own blessedness; for to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour."
Love the this video!! I really have tried focusing on not just being wide angle. I’ve tried to do macro, product and other photography. I feel it helps me understand my camera and lens more and what to look for in shots. I love editing to, seeing a shot and just thinking how I want this to look that I feel will make it look the best!
Good video. I may never even be good at photography but it allows me to keep my mind busy learning and trying to be better at something where I can see a bit of progress once in a while. Progress is what drives me, no matter how slight.
Hi Mark...... I echo the previous comment. I'm also retired and you have been a great inspiration for me! Keep up the great work! as always, thank you!
Inspiring Mark ❤ personally speaking I think you are utterly brilliant photographer and I learn something new from you each week no matter how small. I am a better photographer for it ❤
I agree with your premise however one thing I have noticed and I sell a lot of images now is zoomed photos don't sell. People don't put their wall so I'm trying to create a market for my customers the wide angle stuff still is what sells. Maybe this is just Australia though where people are very traditional and I now do enjoy taking photos with my drone and with my Zoom lenses as well and I agree with everything you send. It is also difficult for many people because people have families kids jobs unless you're a full-time professional photographer it is difficult to dedicate a significant amount of time to all of those things has to be done in staged processes. It' has to be realistic and managed.
Another great video Mark- always time well spent. Have you considered writing a book about your photographic journey? Even though everyone’s journey may be a little different, your experiences and things you share are spot on for just about everyone. The topics you cover also provide insight as to what’s ahead and what pitfalls await us fellow travelers on the journey. I know I would buy a copy. Your modesty about your skills is admirable and it’s always better to have other people say it- but your are an excellent photographer and you will get better. Don’t forget that we probably don’t see Ansel Adam’s work when he first started out. Keep up the improvement and thanks as always for sharing.
Thank you for another great video. On your point of experimentation without the fear of failure. I found one of my popular photos I got was in Yellowstone at Lamar Valley last winter. The sun was low and made for long shadows of the hills and trees in the snow. There was a spot that caught my eye. My usual is the 16-35, but it was not a good choice in this case because the area was far. I thought, "Let's bring out the long zoom 100-400 and see how that looks." Got it framed how I like with a lens I don't use a lot in landscape. On top of that, I don't usually do black and white photos. There was not a big difference in the light of the sky to the snow, so I tried it in black and white. It came out really well! It turned out to be one of my favorite photos in my portfolio, and it was all done as an experiment.
If I had to pick only one, Ansel Adams, though I'm currently looking at the landscape work of Don McCullin. Experimentation is such a great way to get your brain out of a rut. Recent experiments range from shooting film on vintage cameras to trying a really high key B&W effect on a shot I just took, to digging out some really old stuff I did on point-and-shoot cameras over a decade ago and trying new edits on it.
Great video Mark, and so very true... being so subjective, photography, as with any artwork, is something you just continue to try to improve on, day after day... thanks for sharing 👍
Been stumbling across your videos lately when learning Lightroom techniques. I finished this one and checked and couldn’t believe I hadn’t subscribed already! Love your content 🙏🏽
Hi Mark, thank you for this video. It gave us a lot to think about. I’m glad I’m not the only one who enjoys post-processing. It is not your focus, but have you considered doing a video for people who go on tours and things they can look for? The reason I ask is many times you don’t have the time to compose or look for a composition. Thanks again for your videos. Concerning your original question: I enjoy your images and I also admire Joshua Cripps images.
Wonderful video - lots of great points! The process and always something new to learn is one of my favorite things about the craft of landscape photography. Whether it be fieldcraft, my own camera, editing - there is always something! (Also, always enjoyed those "bts business" videos early in my YT journey as well!)
Mark, I would like to thank you for the encouraging words that you put out on this video. I have watched you for almost a year now and have enjoyed every single one of your UA-cam videos. I am a newbie, I retired four years ago and need something to do. So watching your channel and a few other channels that I watch have really helped my photography. Thank you!
Spending time watching your videos is time well spent Mark. I'm on my second photography journey after taking a fifteen year break from 20+ years of wedding and portrait photography. Now I'm just doing what I enjoy instead of having a client to please. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. :)
Your videos have helped me sooo much thanks .....instead of just deleting my reject photos i critically review all of them and try and figure out why they aren't very good and how to improve them .
Hi Mark, Many others have responded a lot more eloquently than I am able. But thank you for a very thoughtful and helpful video. Much appreciated. Cheers Scotty.
WOW! Fantastic video! Your passion with photography is amazing. That is one of the reasons I really love your videos. I'm really considering doing a one-on-one session with you. I almost booked the other day. You are spot on with your points. Honestly, I have been lazy about learning more about editing. I really need to learn Photoshop. I think I've got Lightroom down pretty good. Thanks too you! What you talked about composition is I absolutely spot on. I am learning that as well. I have purchased several ebooks on the topic. I know I'm all over the place but I appreciate everything that you do for us. I'm also going to be teaching my very first in the field photography workshop this summer. I'm excited!
I enjoy the editing process because I shoot in RAW and RAW photos are dull looking at the outset. It's fun to bring out the photo you had in mind through the editing process. I started out with film SLR cameras in 1980, and you were basically stuck with what you picked up at the photo processor. The ISO was set in the film you chose and there were only 12, 24, or 36 shots to take. So, you had to get it right the first time. You also had to pay for extra prints, crops, or enlargements.
I enjoy watching your videos Mark. I've been an amateur for many years. I'll never be a "great" photographer, mainly shoot for myself and have been pleased with many images that I've taken, but like others have mentioned, have put them on the computer and thought if I'd only done this or that it could have been that much better. You always have some great topics and insight to photography. I really like how relatable and candid you are in you videos too. Keep up the great work!
Can't agree more with the love of editing. Photography feels sometimes like trying to extract raw gems on location, already thinking and excited about the jewels we can/may carve out of them at home :) It used to be messy with chemical and red light, a bunch of buttons seems a lot less intimidating to me. Thanks for the video, as usual :)
A very good video, agree with the sharing knowledge and thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have only been following you for a few months but have learned so much. Thanks again.
Truly love this video, Mark. Very inspirational! Regarding all time favorite photographer, it is Ansel Adams, mostly the way he depicted black and white photography of large scale scenes.
I’m still new to photography but one thing that doesn’t scare me is post work because I can see the final image when I’m shooting whatever it is when I’m taking pictures
Needed this video! thanks for posting this. I forgot about the part that I really got better and better. not God like better at least better than what you are yesterday!
✅QUESTION: Who's your all-time favorite photographer?
Don't know that many, as I tend to be more focussed on the joy of doing photography myself than looking at the work of others, but I do like the works of Jimmy Nelson: very strong portraits in fitting surroundings.
I really don't know but I have bookmarked Carr Clifton, Charles Cramer, and Guy Tal's websites in my browser. I go look at their work on occasion. I know there are lots of others that are awesome to. Even this Mark guy I follow on UA-cam. 😉
It's an obvious answer but I really like the work from Ansel Adams. I have a number of his photo books and love to browse through them and study his compositions.
Peter Lik, Jerry Uelsmann, Kevin McNeal
Jim Richardson
All those 'great' photographers are only great because people have identified them as such. In reality they have produced some great images of course but I bet there are thousands of unknown photographers who produce images just as good, if not better.
If Ansel Adams were alive today, I wonder if he'd have made it as such an iconic photographer. One of the reasons he is so known is that he pushed the bounds of photography, making some of the first images of our American landscapes, and being one of the first to develop darkroom techniques that pushed the limits of making prints from film. But Adams worked at a time when photography wasn't accessible to the masses. Today it is. It's easier to rise to stand out when you are competing in a field of 1000. It's harder to stand out as unique when you are one out of a million or more.
Excellent video Mark. I am a retired physician so continuous education has been a way of life for me. I am just an average intermediate photographer who is trying everyday to be the best I can be at my photography. I get inspired and educated by photographers like yourself. I can be quite critical of my own images but don't really care what others may think about them. I, luckily, don't have to rely on my photographs to feed my family. But I do rely on them to bring me joy, to make me keep learning, to keep me active, and to let me be creative. Please keep educating and inspiring me Mark.
First…. I hope you’re as nice a guy as you seem in your videos.
Second… my son once had an orchestra director who told his students to never try to be the best or to be great. He said they should strive everyday to “be better.”
Hearing that has had a profound effect on my photography life. It seems you understand that too.
Thanks Mark. Great video.
Thanks for checking out the video Jason! Glad you enjoyed it.
You're not only a good photographer, you're a good person.
Hi Mark. Thank you for this video. In a way, it gives me more hope knowing someone else has said it and not just myself to myself. I don't have a very big support behind my love of photography so your message today is very encouraging to me. I'm from North Dakota and find what people take for granted to photograph. At least I try among other pretty things too of course. Thank you from my heart for your encouragement. ❤️ Hugs.
Of course! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Keep clicking 👍👍👍
I love that you gave Clyde Butcher a shout out in this! Clyde isn’t just a great photographer but also one of the friendliest people I’ve know and serves as a great voice for the Everglades.
I'm a struggling photographer and I thank you for the inspiration.
Glad to do it and thanks for watching!
Thanks for a other great video and couldn't agree more about continously trying to improve.
It reminded me of a great quote of a good friend of mine:
The journey of continuous improvement is the most authentic path to greatness; it's where small daily gains become monumental achievements over time.
Great to hear you enjoyed it Marco!
Love that quote by the way! Perfectly said
When people finally get to editing their photos, then from a great composition comes great lighting and coloring in post processing. Even Ansel Adams dodged and burned his photos in post-processing in the darkroom. The best photographers are also great photo editors as this is an art form. Thanks for this video to explain it.
To be better today then you were yesterday. 🔥🙏🏽
Thank you. I really appreciate all of the positive reinforcement in enjoying photography and improving each day. To be better than I was yesterday. Great boost to my confidence and desire to learn more.
Love hearing you enjoyed it!
I LOVE editing photos 😂 I have a lot to learn about it but I love it…. And you’ve been a great help in this aspect and others! The main thing I love about landscape photography is that it gets me out at all times of the day to experience things that many others don’t. Thanks Mark for all that you 👍
Great to hear this - thank you!
Extremely inspiring! Thank you for the Pep talk I need that! I enjoy your channel.
I'm enjoying this video, I'm a newbie photographer since 2020. I love to learn and i'm old so retention is a little challenging at times but I've learned a whole lot in 3 years.Thanks for all your inspiration.🙏
Great points Mark, personally as a newspaper photographer experimenting with different styles is a constant, I have to get something publishable from every assignment no matter what the light, conditions or subject matter. Most of all though I credit my youtube channel for pushing me to try other formats, genres both film and digital. I'm no expert in any particular photographic field but I'm pretty confident I can get a decent result from whatever I shoot, it's a daily battle / challenge to improve every shoot. I love it.
This was the best sentence I heard from you and it was very helpful: I guess perhaps greatness isn't just for the select few that actually do attain it but instead it's found in The Quiet resilience of those who really dare to chase down their passions with unrelenting focus because it takes a little bit of guts it really does just chase down for a lifetime.
Thank you so much.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Real Talk, Thanks Mark.
Thanks for watching Amanda!
such a great and inspiring video! motivates me to go out and shoot some more, to improve and to be better today than yesterday!
Very good points Mark! I very much appreciate your likable and honest style 🤩
Greatness does not necessarily mean eminence, celebrity! Even if you are able to take great photographs it is unlikely you will get the same reputation as Ansel Adams for example. Nowadays there is much more concurrence than it was the case in the pioneer era of photography. You would need an entire marketing agency to become a famous photographer 😜
But celebrity is not my aim. But to become better from shooting to shooting and learning from the masters, without trying to copy them, is a very satisfying experience indeed.
You are not only a great photographer, you actually give something that works for everyday life. I wanted to be a good landscape photographer but I happens to be a traveler too. I want to share my thoughts and views and share what I have learnt so far with other. Thank you so much Mark.
Nice video Mark. I'm glad you share because the amount of post processing I do and my approach has a lot of "Mark" content. Being retired allows me the time to dig deeper on all aspects of my photography. Most of my improvements have been influenced by many utube photographers but if I put a pie chart up of who helped the most 80% of the pie would have your name on it. Thanks and keep doing what you do.
Hi Mark. I for one am very grateful for the “sharing” that you do, I have learned very much. Thanks, sincerely, for your efforts.
Hi Mark, I really enjoyed your video that I came across and found it very inspirational. I'm now retired and am getting back into photography again more fully. I'm looking forward to looking at your other videos.
I truly enjoyed this video because it spoke to much of what I too believe. I am a retired accountant. I tell people that “creative” accountants go to jail so I had to wait until I retired to become creative. I try things that I see others do or that I hear ab. Some have worked. Some…well…let’s just say, they just never get published. For me though it is the trying that is important. Thank you for encouraging those who watch your videos to try…and maybe fail, but try again and again if necessary.
I appreciated this video so much, you told the real meaning of photography: having fun, improving by little steps every day, facing the challenges with no fear of failure ... I take photos of landscapes and macro/close up but I know I still have many things to learn ... thank you for your precious advices ...
Feels great knowing you enjoyed it!
Another excellent video - with an intriguing tale as to how you got into Landscape Photography. I found it very helpful to study the approaches to photography of people like Stieglitz, Strand, Edward and Brett Weston, and Ansel Adams. Reading their letters, written articles, and daybooks in the case of Edward Weston, were even more eye opening than their photographs. All seem to have had false dawns, and black dog moments, until they got lucky in some way. Which usually meant being in the right place at the right time. I also started out using wide angled lenses, but now really value the short telephoto. I am not too bothered if I miss photographing a great sunrise or sunset. I just like to watch it, if I am in the wrong place. Many thanks
Love this, Mark. As a dedicated hobbyist whose occupation is in another field altogether, it doesn’t make sense for me to compare myself to someone who is devoting all their waking hours to this art form. Instead, I have made the choice to compare my new work against my old work. Am I improving? Am I winning the race against myself? IMO, it’s the only way to sustain the momentum needed to improve significantly over time, because it’s too demoralizing to constantly measure myself against people with years or decades more experience.
I absolutely agree. I am constantly learning and discovering new ways to shoot.
100%... enjoy the journey and don't fix on the destination as it is always changing !! Great messages in this Pal...
Mark,
Thank you for the words walking us down the trail of experimenting with photography!!! I truly appreciate your simple approach to enjoying photography 👍🏻
Mark. This is an excellent piece of work that contributes positively to encouraging photographers to develop themselves.
Knocked it out of the park with this one Mark. This video and this week's newsletter especially resonated with me. Thank you.
be a couple of years ago now, you were talking of waterfalls and basic water and how it flows, I had been trying this for some time and the rewards were slow. You indicated 4 of a second is enough to hold the white outs back and still give movement, it worked like a demon, so now I can use the aperture to gain or loose what I want and hold my speed unless I want something different, the power of passing on 'this is what I found' rather than this is what you should do. Priceless, thanks for the journey.
Some good points in this video. I use Canon gear, and I use the RF 24-105 for about 75% of my photos. This seems to be the focal range that my eye sees, so it has become what I "expect" to see in my photographs. This lens gives me more range of focal lengths in the perspective that tends to favor landscape photography. However, I also carry my 70-200 and 100-400 with me most of the time, and I do use them for some landscapes. I also have a 14-35 that I use when it's warranted.
I also love editing, and often plan for it while shooting. As I get better at editing, it's so much easier to work it from RAW to finish, knowing what masks to use for certain effects, etc. And several techniques came straight from your videos, so Thank You for that.
Thanks!
Amazing - thank you!!
Glad to see you still use your Aspen circular ball head. I FINALLY got mine last week!
Hi Mark, great video, as usual. More or less, a coaching video about being a landscape photographer. Thanks
I agree, continuously working to become better in each of these areas is the best approach to gaining a sense of personal accomplishment and yes, even a bit of joy or "a warm fuzzy" from seeing the improvement. But getting a few "great shot" compliments from others never hurts. My wife says she can see a change in my mood if I don't get to do a little editing each day. I just enjoy watching a photo jump off the screen. And much of my skills comes from you and a few others, Thanks.
Yet another inspiring video !! I found that when I was teaching, in the corporate world, I learned more from being the teacher than being in the class !! 😮
Thanks for checking out the video!
Great content Mark! Fine combination of engaging storytelling and great nuggets of wisdom!
Thank you, Mark. You motivate me to pick up my camera and go take some photos.
My faves-you and Adam Gibbs. Why? because I feel you both are real, solid, just the right amount of humor. Most importantly, I learn.
Thanks for another great video. Over the last year or two, I have followed your channel closely. I have learned a lot from you and appreciate all that you share with us. Your ability to explain things to us without getting too deep into theory really helps. I am not sure I have an all time favorite photographer, but you would surely be in the top five. Cheers.
I love playing with my photos in post. But I belong to a group where several members brag about their pictures being straight from the camera. Always made me wonder if I was doing something wrong. I try really hard to get the photo I want in the camera. But I love making it pop in post. Thank you for the encouragement.
I am so grateful for your continued honesty in your journey. For several years I've struggled with the thought that I needed to settle on one type of photography but truly I love it all and am continually trying new approaches. As far as a favorite photographer, there are so many that I follow and admire. But I always come back to you because the way you explain things clicks with me. I've had so many ah hah moments while watching your videos. Thanks for all you do!!
Thanks for another great video. Live for the journey not the destination. The journey is long and if embraced for its intrinsic joy it will provide a life of fulfillment. Destinations are uncertain and relatively short lived even if achieved.
Hey Mark. Thanks for the video. I think one of the reasons you so many people follow you and love your UA-cam channel and your tutorials is that you are not only a good photographer but you are also a great mentor. Mentoring is another skill set that that requires continuous improvement to become good at and it is obvious that you have learned these skills along the way. One of my favorite photographers is Mark Klett - check out The Black Rock Desert and some of his other work.
Can’t agree more with you this week! Having taught college level art for 40+ yrs, I absolutely know that an understanding of “design/composition is a fundamental asset of good pictures-in any media. A suggested place to fortify that is an older, great, book: ‘What Is Art?’ By John Canaday.
I absolutely
Very enjoyable and your final comment really confirmed yet again what a nice person you are. Thanks for sharing yourself.
Another spot on video Mark. In practice, sharing and allowing others to "pick my brain" (in the marketing field) has been a net positive for me. It's lead to relationships, awareness, mentions, recommendations, conference speaking gigs, and yes, referral business. It genuinely endears people to you when providing value with no expectation of return. As for ongoing learning, I practice a 3x5x50 approach. That's 3 hours/day, 5 days/week, 50 weeks/year, that I displace mindless activities for things that improve my knowledge, understanding, or skills. That's 750 hours per year. It is unlikely that anyone shooting and editing for 750 hours in a year would not result in significant improvement. Love your videos.
Thank you so much for sharing, you are right, what a great world it could be, if everyone shared what they learned.
Thank you Mark - you are an inspiration!
Wow, just WOW! Well said, sir.
As a child, I saw adults try to make themselves more important by diminishing others. As I became an adult, I found better friends who taught me similar to what you're doing. Helping to make others more powerful does not diminish me, and in the process I usually gain their respect. But even if I don't, I am no less than what I was.
"The rising tide lifts all ships." I like that. I will remember that and share it with others. Thank you for sharing that and lifting this little boat. Now I just hope my camera gear doesn't get wet.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for this video! Your message is what I needed to hear at this moment. I'm going for it with photography! It brings so much to my heart and it's changed the way I view the world. Thanks for what you do.
I wholeheartedly agree with your concluding statement. I read the essay "El Dorado" by Robert Louis Stevenson when I was in high school. It profoundly impacted my approach to life. I recognized that the end was not the goal, but the enjoyment of the pursuit was the goal, wherever it should lead. Stevenson wrote it much more eloquently than I,
"It is true that we shall never reach the goal; it is even more than probable that there is no such place; and if we lived for centuries and were endowed with the powers of a god, we should find ourselves not much nearer what we wanted at the end. O toiling hands of mortals! O unwearied feet, travelling ye know not whither! Soon, soon, it seems to you, you must come forth on some conspicuous hilltop, and but a little way further, against the setting sun, descry the spires of El Dorado. Little do ye know your own blessedness; for to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour."
Sick
great video, Mark! very inspirational, down do earth, thought / emotion provoking. Thanks!
Many thanks Mark. I always enjoy your videos. Enriching but easy to digest! I've certainly improved as a result of some of your shared knowledge.
Love the this video!! I really have tried focusing on not just being wide angle. I’ve tried to do macro, product and other photography. I feel it helps me understand my camera and lens more and what to look for in shots. I love editing to, seeing a shot and just thinking how I want this to look that I feel will make it look the best!
Good video. I may never even be good at photography but it allows me to keep my mind busy learning and trying to be better at something where I can see a bit of progress once in a while. Progress is what drives me, no matter how slight.
Great video, thanks Mark!!
Hi Mark...... I echo the previous comment. I'm also retired and you have been a great inspiration for me! Keep up the great work! as always, thank you!
Inspiring Mark ❤ personally speaking I think you are utterly brilliant photographer and I learn something new from you each week no matter how small. I am a better photographer for it ❤
Thanks so much 😊
I agree with your premise however one thing I have noticed and I sell a lot of images now is zoomed photos don't sell.
People don't put their wall so I'm trying to create a market for my customers the wide angle stuff still is what sells. Maybe this is just Australia though where people are very traditional and I now do enjoy taking photos with my drone and with my Zoom lenses as well and I agree with everything you send. It is also difficult for many people because people have families kids jobs unless you're a full-time professional photographer it is difficult to dedicate a significant amount of time to all of those things has to be done in staged processes.
It' has to be realistic and managed.
Another great video Mark- always time well spent. Have you considered writing a book about your photographic journey? Even though everyone’s journey may be a little different, your experiences and things you share are spot on for just about everyone. The topics you cover also provide insight as to what’s ahead and what pitfalls await us fellow travelers on the journey. I know I would buy a copy. Your modesty about your skills is admirable and it’s always better to have other people say it- but your are an excellent photographer and you will get better. Don’t forget that we probably don’t see Ansel Adam’s work when he first started out. Keep up the improvement and thanks as always for sharing.
Many thanks for these fine reflections. Paying it forward is its own reward and teaching is perhaps the highest expression of the artistic journey. 📷🌞
Very well said, Mark. Very well!!👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks so much!
Thank you for another great video. On your point of experimentation without the fear of failure. I found one of my popular photos I got was in Yellowstone at Lamar Valley last winter. The sun was low and made for long shadows of the hills and trees in the snow. There was a spot that caught my eye. My usual is the 16-35, but it was not a good choice in this case because the area was far. I thought, "Let's bring out the long zoom 100-400 and see how that looks." Got it framed how I like with a lens I don't use a lot in landscape. On top of that, I don't usually do black and white photos. There was not a big difference in the light of the sky to the snow, so I tried it in black and white. It came out really well! It turned out to be one of my favorite photos in my portfolio, and it was all done as an experiment.
Another outstanding video keep them coming 🙏
I'll do my best:)
If I had to pick only one, Ansel Adams, though I'm currently looking at the landscape work of Don McCullin.
Experimentation is such a great way to get your brain out of a rut. Recent experiments range from shooting film on vintage cameras to trying a really high key B&W effect on a shot I just took, to digging out some really old stuff I did on point-and-shoot cameras over a decade ago and trying new edits on it.
Great video Mark, and so very true... being so subjective, photography, as with any artwork, is something you just continue to try to improve on, day after day... thanks for sharing 👍
Glad to do it and thanks for watching!
truly inspiring video for me, Thank you Mark , learned a lot !!
Really love this channel! Glad to be part of your photography journey! It’s inspiring!
Thanks so much!
Been stumbling across your videos lately when learning Lightroom techniques. I finished this one and checked and couldn’t believe I hadn’t subscribed already! Love your content 🙏🏽
Thanks so much!
This is what I call, sound, intelligent advice. Great video mate, I'm always learning as backyard photogragher myself. 😁👍
Glad to do it and thanks for watching!
Hi Mark, thank you for this video. It gave us a lot to think about. I’m glad I’m not the only one who enjoys post-processing. It is not your focus, but have you considered doing a video for people who go on tours and things they can look for? The reason I ask is many times you don’t have the time to compose or look for a composition. Thanks again for your videos. Concerning your original question: I enjoy your images and I also admire Joshua Cripps images.
Wonderful video - lots of great points! The process and always something new to learn is one of my favorite things about the craft of landscape photography. Whether it be fieldcraft, my own camera, editing - there is always something! (Also, always enjoyed those "bts business" videos early in my YT journey as well!)
Inspiring thoughts, observations and sentiments, a wonderful approach to you journey. Thanks a lot.
Mark, I would like to thank you for the encouraging words that you put out on this video. I have watched you for almost a year now and have enjoyed every single one of your UA-cam videos. I am a newbie, I retired four years ago and need something to do. So watching your channel and a few other channels that I watch have really helped my photography. Thank you!
Glad to do it and thanks for watching!
Spending time watching your videos is time well spent Mark. I'm on my second photography journey after taking a fifteen year break from 20+ years of wedding and portrait photography. Now I'm just doing what I enjoy instead of having a client to please. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. :)
Glad to do it and thanks for watching!
Awww Mark! You're adorable! Yes!! Let's work together and thanks for these videos!! 🙌😄🙌
Glad you like them!
Great video. Really enjoyed this weeks
Awesome to hear this!
Your videos have helped me sooo much thanks .....instead of just deleting my reject photos i critically review all of them and try and figure out why they aren't very good and how to improve them .
Happy to hear this!
Hi Mark, Many others have responded a lot more eloquently than I am able. But thank you for a very thoughtful and helpful video. Much appreciated.
Cheers Scotty.
Glad to do it and thanks for watching!
Great video Mark, I'm continuing to learn each time I go out taking photos and I enjoy it more and more.
Glad you enjoyed it!
WOW! Fantastic video! Your passion with photography is amazing. That is one of the reasons I really love your videos.
I'm really considering doing a one-on-one session with you. I almost booked the other day.
You are spot on with your points. Honestly, I have been lazy about learning more about editing. I really need to learn Photoshop. I think I've got Lightroom down pretty good. Thanks too you! What you talked about composition is I absolutely spot on. I am learning that as well. I have purchased several ebooks on the topic. I know I'm all over the place but I appreciate everything that you do for us.
I'm also going to be teaching my very first in the field photography workshop this summer. I'm excited!
Thanks my friend! Yeah if you want to schedule one just let me know
I enjoy the editing process because I shoot in RAW and RAW photos are dull looking at the outset. It's fun to bring out the photo you had in mind through the editing process. I started out with film SLR cameras in 1980, and you were basically stuck with what you picked up at the photo processor. The ISO was set in the film you chose and there were only 12, 24, or 36 shots to take. So, you had to get it right the first time. You also had to pay for extra prints, crops, or enlargements.
Great video! And excellent advice!
Thanks for sharing Mark as always!!
Glad to do it and thanks for watching!
I enjoy watching your videos Mark. I've been an amateur for many years. I'll never be a "great" photographer, mainly shoot for myself and have been pleased with many images that I've taken, but like others have mentioned, have put them on the computer and thought if I'd only done this or that it could have been that much better. You always have some great topics and insight to photography. I really like how relatable and candid you are in you videos too. Keep up the great work!
Can't agree more with the love of editing. Photography feels sometimes like trying to extract raw gems on location, already thinking and excited about the jewels we can/may carve out of them at home :)
It used to be messy with chemical and red light, a bunch of buttons seems a lot less intimidating to me.
Thanks for the video, as usual :)
Thanks Mark. That's beautifully said.
Thank you!
A very good video, agree with the sharing knowledge and thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have only been following you for a few months but have learned so much. Thanks again.
I am in my first year of landscape photography and am learning so much. If I were to add another tip: have fun!
Truly love this video, Mark. Very inspirational! Regarding all time favorite photographer, it is Ansel Adams, mostly the way he depicted black and white photography of large scale scenes.
Thanks Nancy!
Your #2 exactly describes me. I love editing my photos and can't wait to go home after a trip to do it.
It’s the best!
I’m still new to photography but one thing that doesn’t scare me is post work because I can see the final image when I’m shooting whatever it is when I’m taking pictures
Needed this video! thanks for posting this. I forgot about the part that I really got better and better. not God like better at least better than what you are yesterday!