5 Skills That Give New Photographers An Edge
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- Опубліковано 23 лис 2024
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Some wise words, Alex! Overthinking is definitely a creativity killer. So are rules. When I studied photography at art college several decades ago we weren't taught any rules. We were each loaned a Zorki 4k rangefinder camera and given a 5 minute crash course on the exposure triangle. Then we were told to go out and make (not take) pictures. Like a painter. We weren't told about the rule of thirds or anything like that. We had absolute creative freedom to develop our own individual aesthetic language which was essentially trial and error. We were given assignments and were encouraged to look at the work of established photographers. To this day I don't really critique a photograph as being "good" or "bad" but whether it works or not. It's an instinct. Good composition is an instinct. Over the course of your photography journey, keep honing your aesthetic language and don't lose your instinct for making pictures that work.
You make a good point about whether a picture works or doesn't. I'm from the film days. So I had to take my time and now waste film. I took a series of photos of one of my lady co-workers in the USAF. Out of 30 or so photos I think two hit the mark. I didn't take that many photos as I was using film and didn't have an unlimited supply of film. On another shoot to help one of our friends fill her portfolio, I got one picture that is almost haunting or extremely beautiful. That was only one of many photos I took of her.
My main love is photojournalism. News is in my blood and it was fun, even in the military. The things I got to do, places on base I could go was great.
I think what people need at times is a reason for photos and that is where photojournalism comes in. A photo of a young crew member servicing an F-15 fighter aircraft is so cool. And they appreciate the publicity.
Even though one may not care about photojournalism, it will teach one a lot about how to take great photos. Those lessons carry on even when one takes a picture of a table in a room. Every picture is a story worthy of a thousand words. We should keep that in mind.
You are speaking to me directly. All the points you are making are so true. In 1979, while in college, I was handed a Pentax K1000 with a 50mm f2 lens. I had no preconceived notions and did not know any rule. I perhaps produced some of my best works with that "toy" camera. So say the experts who looked at my work and declared them to be special. They told me I had an eye. I guess my instincts took over and guided me in the creation process. Today, I have access to the most sophisticated photography tools. computers and software yet my images are no better than they were some 40 years ago. These days, I focus on the "why" not the how. That is why I love Alex's channel.
@@bizpixvegas7651 Great story but the K1000 never was a "toy camera" as you know. Many students of photography started their journey with the K1000.
@@alicksasylum I loved the K1000. That is why I put TOY in parenthesis. That was meant to be a funny remark. I never considered it to be a toy.
When I saved up enough money from my summer jobs, I bought the Pentax MX. It was stolen a year after I bought it but it is my favorite camera of all time.
Over the years, I have shot with Nikon (F3, FM2, FE2), Canon DSLRs (six different bodies), Fuji X, Pentax K1 and now Sony A7RIV. MX is still my favorite and if I find a mint condition one, I would not hesitate purchasing it again. I have keep a bunch of Pentax lenses waiting for the MX!
@@bizpixvegas7651 I know you were just jesting about th K1000 being a "toy camera". I never had a K1000 but did buy the MX and ME Super. The MX also happens to be my favourite camera; it hasnt been used since the 80's but I will never get rid of it.
If it’s any help Alex, I’m in my 60’s, and left professional photography for other art-forms (I got stuck in the mud of new photographic approaches) but thanks to your videos and enthusiasm I have returned to my novice approach to image taking/making and loving every minute of it. Seriously… Thanks mate.
Awesome, thanks for watching
I love this more positive approach. Those videos about beginners’ mistakes can make the author appear very superior whilst insulting those who are starting out. I don’t bother to watch them any more. It’s the wrong mindset. Praise needs to be given every time, finding the good rather than fault finding.
Following the path of William Eggleston, I've become motivated again. Instead of concentrating on "beauty" and "spectacular", I now try to take photographs that are interesting. How do I define "interesting." If a viewer stops and examines my image for more than 10 seconds, I consider that a success. And if the viewer comments on it (both good and bad) and remembers it, I've achieved my goal. Thank you, Alex
Thanks for watching
So so so true. I keep going back to my first pictures and I prefer them to my latest ones. I think I wasn't overthinking it at the time. Just shooting for the pleasure of it!
Works for me! Once again, sound advice. I shoot a bunch of film and try antique goofy cameras. The Lomography film company has a saying: "Don't think, just shoot," printed on their 120 backing paper, and I agree. One thing that I enjoy about film is a low expectation of success, which may seem counterintuitive. I never really know how it's going to work out, so when I get a few nice images, it is that much more pleasurable. Get out there, go with the flow of the moment, and open up to the unplanned and spontaneous.
I honestly believe this is one of the big problems with social media (and photography on). It is so hard to convey your joy of a soulful image with meaning. in a conversation with a friend or stranger you can to some extent explain (like you would read in a gallery on a little card in a frame) and the person can honestly agree or give constructive feedback. online.... you post it, 40 people (in the world) see it and 5 like it. No process, no growth, no learning. let's stay amateur, let's stay needy for development and keep producing what you truly believe is worth looking at. In my mind that's everything photography boils down to, anyway you cut it. You have inspired me so much Alex. I will say it again and again...
Find wonder, capture what you can and watch the photographic eye videos!
Thanks for watching
I still have my first camera a 110 compact. I loved that camera and could not get enough of making photgraphs with it including some lovely portraits. Today I like to go out now and then with a simple camera and simply enjoy finding photgraphs to take.
This is such an interesting approach to talk about beginner photographers. Very new and different. I think it's my first time to see anyone talk about "why beginner photographers are better". People usually talk about "why they are not better" or "how to improve" because the idea of "they are not better" comes first.
It's also a brilliant reminder to think about my own photography journey. Now I've got to work on "how to become a beginner again" 😁Thank you very much Alex!
Thanks for watching
Just watched this and it resonates with me. I was stuck in a rut, however becoming disabled 18 months ago, I was force to work with a new perspective with regards to my photography.
So I started photographing disabled people in sports , just done the international blind games and invictus however I changed from a standard slr (Nikon) to a mirrorless and that coupled together with my passion of photographing a new subject is amazing. I know all about photography first camera at 10 I am now 60. However with the accuracy of the exposure of the new cameras I can now concentrate on the subject matter in the view finder that I have had rowing boats almost crashing into me as I did not hear the warning.
Basically I like being disabled as it gives me a different view of life on a subject I am completely new to so in essence I am a beginner but with that knowledge. What a bonus and since I got the new cameras in June till the end of September I now have a consistent set of photos from various events with a fresh view of the subject I am photographing. I have not had this passion for a number of years, and now it's at my doorstep to be explored again.
Thanks for this UA-cam video
Thanks you so much for your comments and watching
Thank you for sharing the greats of photography past who took great photos. I have been a photojournalist in the US Air Force and have to say it was one of the best times in my life. I appreciate your words on still photography. I've come to a point, after watching too many videos on cameras and all those talking heads, that they are salesmen/women. Their emphasis on complaining, telling me what I should do and not do or buy has reached a boiling point. They are camera this, camera that, camera bad, lens great, lens horrible, bla, bla and more bla. The one thing missing is the art of photography. I have to admit I love photography because I can't draw worth beans.
So, I hope you continue to rail against the onslaught of BS camera reviews and how a single camera will make a person a perfect photographer.
Today I see a war among the UA-camrs claiming to be The Person of Ultimate Knowledge when it comes to photography.
This has to be called on. I'm sick of it. These guys look as if they never picked up a film camera. The seem to know nothing about still, the art, composition, etc., beyond the normal composition.
Keep up this work on the Art of Photography. I find it instructional, informative and enjoyable.
Thanks and Still for Life.
I was just recently thinking that I like some of my first images from 20+ years ago better than the ones I create now. The difference is that now I can produce consistent quality results, where as 20 years ago, I was experimenting and not really sure how I got some of the images I did. Maybe my older stuff isn't that great, but it seemed like it to me at the time, and maybe I'm just remembering the intense passion I had back then?
Back button focus.......can't stand it! 🙂 And yes....I prefer the focus-recompose method of focusing. I only need 1 focus point.
Thanks for posting!
Love your approach to these videos, Alex! And yes, some photographers ego‘s are absolutely maddening, especially when you are a beginner and they aren‘t professionals, just think they are. Yet, on the other hand, some are extremely helpful, have no ego, and so humble. They‘re the ones that are helpful. You are absolutely spot on with many issues in this video!
Thanks for watching
I've found over time that the process of comparing my photographs with others online has become a subtle and highly pervasive thing. When I first started I would take an freshly-shot image and 'merely' trying to bring it to life For What Is Is™. Now I have an almost automatic negative opinion of everything I shoot in at least one subtle (and maybe not-so-subtle) way or another. As a result, my first thoughts -- sometimes even while shooting -- are, "How am I going to put lipstick on this pig?" Then the process of processing / presenting that image becomes a chase of something indefinable I've seen or imagined online: "I need to make this look as good as I. B. Photographer's images". It's really, REALLY tough for me to back off, ratchet down the critical attitude -- usually about subject matter -- and simply honestly go with that I have captured.
Excellent points.
A lot of truth here. I started my photographic journey in the 80's whilst at Uni. I didn't have any formal photographic training and AP was about my only knowledge base. I made every mistake you can think of, but I learned what worked for me and developed my own style. Fortunately many others also liked what I was doing too.
I should play this for myself every year.
As a relative beginner I’ve quickly found out that knowing how my camera works is absolutely beneficial but that’s where it ends for me. I watch a lot of UA-cam videos and see some great photographers work, then they explain how they take photos and their workflow. At that point I just watch and appreciate how they do things but for me, I’ve just gone back into av mode with auto iso, I’ve only got the dof and exposure comp to worry about but when it comes down to it, the only rule I go by is, dial down the highlights and avoid overexposure if able to. I find this much more enjoyable.
If I had to go by a rule book then all I’m doing is hoping to please others. No thanks! My boring, sometimes out of focus, incorrectly framed, skewif images are mine, if I enjoy them then that’s all that counts.
When I feel I’m starting to think about rules too much, I just look at Olga karlovac images, where I see so much feeling in her blurred images, or daido moryamas ( can’t wait to visit his exhibition in London on Thursday)so called snapshots. I’d pick their images over any technically correct images anyday.
Thanks so much for some good advice. I do get weary of the huge amount of videos that strictly focus on mistakes photographers make. IMO it fosters a feeling of failure if you have happened to have made these common mistakes. I dropped out of commercial photography for some time, refusing to pick up paying jobs. However, someone I know asked me to photograph a highly personal event and I accepted. Knowing I would need help, I enlisted the services of an enthusiast beginner photographer. Their primary responsibility would be as a Voice Activated Nightstand(Ha!), but I also gave them a camera and lens and gave them free rein to shoot the candid shots. We both had great fun and while many of their shots didn't work out, there were some real standout images that they captured. What I took away was their passion, desire and joy of simply making photographs. Thanks!
I like the way you break things down in videos such as this. Have you ever thought about putting the topic headers as a recap up on the screen at the end to reinforce the points you made throughout the video?
Thanks for the comment.
I had some formal training in photography & was shooting for a local magazine & doing weddings & event photography. I did a studio shoot with my children & my sisters children & was not happy with results. I showed the prints to my sister & expressed my disappointment & put them in the garbage. My sister pulled one of the prints out & had it framed. When I visit her & look at the photo it is one of my favorite photos that I have taken. I was looking at what I was taught instead of at the photo. As always love your content.
Thank you
Your idea about beginner photographers is good. Now it seems like a lot of beginners are overly concerned about gear, specs, auto-focus, getting the right lens. Beginners with film cameras are a different breed.
Great Video as always. I remember being unburdened by technical stuff. It was a great time. Re old dogs and new tricks, I remember seeing a video of Don McCullen learning to back button focus. He was overjoyed. I love it for portraits and seldom miss critical focus.
I long for the passion I felt for photography when I first started. It’s like how a child sees the world before becoming jaded by adulthood.
Unburden yourself, throw away your rulebook of photography.
@@TL-xw6fh it doesn’t have to with rules as much as it has to do with familiarity. The learning process was at its peak in the beginning, but has slowed. That, and life circumstances. When I started, I was fresh from alcohol recovery and the new direction photography gave me was all consuming. Sober 12 years now, and I still enjoy photography, but the rest of life takes up a lot of my time and resources as well.
Hi Alex, another great topic, beginners need to make mistakes to learn from them and we all have made mistakes in the beginning. When i bought my first DSLR camera i was on the full Green Automatic mode for five years and it was so enjoyable. There was no pressure, just taking photos and enjoying photography. If you overthink in photography then you run the risk of missing a great shot that you will regret. Once you miss that shot because of overthinking, that shot you missed will never return. Thanks for this great video. 😃
Brilliant!!! I would add the lack of stereotypes. I’m not constrained to being a “landscape” or “street” photographer.
Excellent! I have been taking images since 1995. My 1st camera was a Nikon N90 (F90) and am still very much a beginner. I am still searching for that image I like. I once went to a local camera club where one of the club officers critiqued my images, told me what was wrong with them and told what I must do to take than image that would win an award in a club competition. The day I take images to please others or get a ribbon in a club competition is the day I throw my equipment in the ocean. I thanked him for his time. I wanted to do and say far more ungracious things. I did not. I just left and never went back. Learn the rules and forget them. Or, never bother to learn. Photography is meant to please the photographer. (Unless you are out to make a living from it, in that case better you than me.)
Great advice and video. I think that paying too much attention to the technical is a hindrance to creativity. I try to just see and not worry about whether I have the 'right' aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Some of my best photos are not technical wonders.
Not just your photos, but some of the best photos in general aren’t technically perfect. (Or even technically good for that matter).
One of the best videos I've seen recently 👌🏻 Everyone is posting videos about mistakes everyone is doing, to feed algorithms and as if everyone had to shoot the same way. Most are useless and don't really teach much, to try, experiment, risk it, etc instead of just doing what every UA-camr is doing.
Thank you.
I normally agree wholeheartedly with you Alex. Here, however, I have to take exception to a degree. I’m 78, have been photographing since I was ~10, but didn’t get really serious until I was 68. I joined a photo critique group about 2 years ago and undertake a new assignment each month that nearly always requires me to get out of my comfort zone. Every new challenge breaks up the barnacles in my mind. In fact, to your point, I first learned about back button focus when I was 69 and use it with every picture I take. I’m nearly always a “beginner” these days.
Good friend of mine who used to teach photography at the Academy of Art in Maastricht told me. That often the best shots of his students was the first or last shot of a roll of film. The one they they just fired the shutter without further thinking...
So many great observations in this video. I agree with the ego thinking. I once tried to join a camera club but was assaulted by all the egos in one room I just left and have never tried to join one again. Like you I have never taken on board the whole back button focusing thing and just wish I could take the camera I have now and go back 40 years and start again. Thank you again for your inspiration.🙂
Thanks for watching
Alex, some great points you made. I've been in photography since my days in the military (1974-1995) , I never really learned the art until recently as you described by searching the internet and UA-cam. Just the other day I got my first clean, sharp, I would consider a Fine Art Photograph of a Duck on the water. I don't know what I did because it was the same camera and lens I've used for the past 4 years. I'm going to keep trying to get those duck shots now and learn what it was that I did.
Have to say your videos really do speak to me like no other channel I have watched. So inspiring to me. Also love your weekly emails.
Wow, thank you!
regarding the first trait, i noticed in myself (what is kinda tragic): street photography wise i took better pictures with my phone than with the camera i *finally* bought a while later
I agree overthinking can be a problem. But when I was a photojournalist I didn’t always have time to think. I just quickly tried to compose and shoot. But now I think about what I am shooting. Primarily because I shoot with more film again. So I have to think about it. I can’t just shoot a dozen shots with the auto winder anymore because I don’t have the unlimited film I had when I worked as a photographer. With digital I don’t care and shoot as much as I want.
I never get tired of an image coming up in the developer in the darkroom. I just got a new enlarger to develop film again and make prints.
Ego, I have published work and I’m a good photographer but I don’t think l’m a great photographer. I still try to make my photos better.
Lately I’ve gone back to the basics.
Wonderful insights, Alex. I love looking back at photos I took years ago, back when all I had was imagination and before I had knowledge. I didn't know what I didn't know and broke all sorts of rules... and those are still some of my favorite photos. Not because they're technically great, but because they represent that "what if?" spirit and freedom. Overthinking is, indeed, our nemesis. The most important thing we can do is ask ourselves, "what if?" and then follow our impulse. This injects *surprise* into our photography, and for me, that's what keeps my beginner's mind and curiosity alive!
There are really no rules in photography. Just like in painting. If there are we will never have discovered artists like Picasso.
While taking a studio lighting course, many years ago, the instructor gave this one piece of advice. That is pretty good, in my opinion. Though you can’t always follow it. It was… always use a tripod, always use a lens hood.
Hi Alex.
This is another good topic you've put out for discussion.
We start off taking pictures explicitly, until the knowledge we accumulate moulds us into taking pictures implicitly. However, buying a point and shoot disposable film camera, putting it into "Snappy Snaps" and waiting with anticipation for the results is a fun way of regressing back to the early days.
Have a good weekend.
You too. !
I agree losing the ego can free your art.
I didn't know what the back button focus option was and I didn't bother to investigate it for a while. One day I said, huh I'm just gonna google it because I don't feel like going through 300 biased videos of back button focus, I'll decide on my own haha. I like it.
Very refreshing and liberating. Thanks.
Our pleasure!
Having been on various courses, some good, some not so good, the lack of ego of the beginner and the ego of the instructor for me is the most important dynamic. With a bloated ego it is impossible to learn and progress, and it shows because some instructors are rigid in their approaches and disqualify anything that is not in their vision "ideal", while others enable the beginner who experiments and is willing to learn, with the positivity that is necessary for creating a personal style and enabling the learner to put in a picture his or her vision.
As far as the last point on vision vs technique, from my perspective, it is the technique that limits the vision. A photographer may have an amazing vision of a picture, but lacks the technique, and so the image is not to his or her liking, if you have the technique, you can express your vision more accurately, like masters like W. Eugene Smith or Cartier-Bresson who knew their equipment, and knew what to expect from it, so they were adept in extracting the most out of their situation, executing their visions.
Thank you for another amazing video.
I have been always inspired by Steve MC Curry's photography.
I would very much like you to talk about his style and artform unless you have already.
WOW! Your theme of this video is so spot on about how to compose and take a photograph. I really appreciate your philosophy about image composition. No rules just go and take a photograph in a way that satisfies yourself. Deep admiration for your efforts conveying a message of wiping the slate clean on approaching a photographic scene and just capture what feels good without over thinking the situation or worrying about what someone else thinks! Your an inspiration. Please keep the videos coming.
That’s awesome, thank you
Love your approaches, thank you! a lot more enriching than many other big channels about photo- or cinematography.
My pleasure!
Like allways, spot on. That's why I only use my digital camera on vacations en make my "real" pictures with old analogue MF camera's. It's liberating not having the pressure to have to perform on the spot. I make the picture and have no idea if it is any good. I just make them and that's it. No looking at the screen to see what I have and wondering can I do it better.
It will have to do. And more then once, you get something really unexpected but beautifull.
Thanks for watching
informative video on skills that are useful.
Glad it was helpful!
As Daisetsu Suzuki said, "in the beginner's mind, all things are possible; in the expert's mind, very few things are possible. Always keep a beginner's mimd."
Always helpful, thanks!
Glad to hear it!
Excellent and inspiring video, thank you.
My pleasure!
Dud, I love your channel!! I love your way of seen the most important thing in ph.. the humanity, the way of the photographer it self!
Awesome! Thank you!
Good video Alex! Nice to see more of your own work to!
Thank you
Thank you. All the best. 👍📷😎
Thanks, you too!
Thx 4 info God bless ❤
You are so welcome
Thank you Alex. BTW, what's the yellow button/badge on your collar?
For a start the histogram on mirrorless cameras was my friend. It has helped me get some really well exposed poor images!
This is different. Thank you
You're welcome
Sometimes we just need to be more kid like!
Alex ....what's back button focusing?
The mistake that I and many other beginning photographers make is not knowing how a camera truly sees the world and then becoming one with that newly found vision.
This was one of the hardest things for me to overcome. I started photography as a hobby about 10ish years ago and I still fall victim to it from time to time.
Sometimes, if I’m with someone while out taking photos, they will say “that would make a great photo”, and my reply is often “my camera and I often disagree on what looks good”. Lol!
Vision first and foremost!!! I've been shooting for a few years now on a dslr.. But film would have taught me about Vision and patience. Not just spay and prey.
What if. This is one of my guideline since I can remember! This is why I love photography we can take 1000 shots and none will have a twin.
It's not only over thinking that hinders a new photographer, but like helping a child develop, we must not inadvertently inhibit their joy and freedom to explore and make mistakes. We never improve without learning from mistakes. Don't follow the UA-cam channels that tells you how to do this or that. The vast majority of these "experts" are also amateurs who have little idea about what photography is about.
Another great video! I think vision informs technique. You see what you want to create in your head and then you have to develop the technique to make it a reality! :-)
Thanks for watching
I took better pictures when I didn’t read much about composition and stuff. Know when shooting I spend too long thinking about it and get confused. Intuition and practice is the better teacher
1: not overthinking 2: raw passion 3: unConventionAl Approach 4: lack of eggo 5: Ad@9t@61l1ty
Yes, but the main problem is the bombardment of information that beginner get exposed from UA-cam. They feel they need to upgrade, they need to be on the next level, they need to found a niche, etc. Is not time to be free of influencers.
I have begun to wonder if you studied psychology as well as photography. Apart from the overthinking bit which has always been in my nature, you could have been describing this little old returning photographer 😁👵😁
Greetings from South Africa, Alex! Have you published any books? If so, where can I buy them?
Howzit.
No books published I'm afraid (yet!)
@@ThePhotographicEye You really should..
Alex I find that cameras are computers and tend to confuse me.
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Is there anything in that mug!
????😂
Professionals are, by definition, dependent on photography for their income. That is a distinct disadvantage that they suffer from. I think that it is the source of much that is wrong with the photography world (wrong in my opinion of course). Most of the silliness we see on UA-cam is the result of creators needing to make money from UA-cam. Becoming a shill for the gear manufacturers is so tempting. As an amateur photographer, I am bombarded with communication from people and companies that want me to think about photography in a certain way so that they can make some money.
What bothers me the most is the universal assumption that my number one goal is to improve the quality of the images I produce. This is a false assumption. What matters to me most is the search for a scene that speaks to me in some way. That is the part of Photography that I enjoy the most and enjoying photography is really my only goal. Sure, I have accepted the challenge of producing the best images that I can. However, that is not the essential part of photography for me. I love to get out in the world with my eyes, and heart, wide open. So, not having to make money from photography is liberating for me.
Overthinking? If the scene is reasonably static I often take two shots. One, more or less fully automatic, straight out of the holster. The other somewhat later after considerable overthinking.
Nice! I kept my unbiassed handling with photography until now, and that's since 68 years (started at seven years). Most of those lots of inflexible, stiff/rigid rules bore the hell out of me, and instead I light-heartedly enjoy my results. That's relaxing and nice;-)) @philosimot
The more people talk about it, the further they are from doing it right.
So lets hear your lens hood rant
Bonsoir,tout le mondo.🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
Good evening
Ah, cuma 5 skill? Menurutku ada masih banyak lagi yang bisa bikin fotografer baru makin unggul. Tapi yaudahlah, artikel ini emang cuma highlight aja sih.
I like shooting the iPhone in RAW, no so serious photography.
"Achieve great thing with very little or none effort" is what most youtube video recommend for newbie . :/
Be a kid when approaching the art
Over thinking stifles creativeness. Some of the worlds best photographs were captured by mistake.
Just get out and shoot and do not worry about what so called experts profess.
All that "you make mistakes here, you make mistakes there" often is pure click baiting on UA-cam.
Unpretentious spontaneity. Is it art or is it craft? Photographer or electrician? Both start off as novices knowing nothing but over time can learn how to be skilled. The former can experiment without consequence while the latter could get himself killed.
this is bad advice!