One thing I would like to add is try to review / edit your photos after a short break of maybe 1 or 2 days. That way you can look at them in a fresh way but still remember what you were trying to do.
That is what I do everytime I edit portraits. Sometimes, my shades of red are good for the first, yet would eventually look bad on the next day. So, I literally wait for 24 hours to relax my eyes again for just one photo hahaha
A really cool video idea would be if you went back to the locations you had taken a “bad photo at” and physically “re-took” the photos and showed the choices you made now and why they’re better! Thanks for the videos too, you’re amazing!
This video has so much valuable information for anyone who wants to improve their photographic skills. As for me, I've been shooting real estate/architecture, landscapes, and machinery & equipment for several decades primarily as part of my real estate businesses. A few years ago I decided to transition out of the real estate industry to pursue professional architectural photography. But while I had already shot thousands of properties and pieces of heavy machinery & equipment throughout the United States, many of my shots weren't of the quality I would be proud to display publicly. So, after spending many hours reviewing my poor quality shots, my ah-ha moment was when I realized they were because I was always rushing just to "get it done." That analysis and the desire to produce high-quality photographs forced me to become more methodical, to slow down and analyze potential compositions. I believe the process of "shoot and review" has vastly improved my results.
Mastering camera settings was the first big step in my becoming a proficient photographer. The second was thinking through the relations between subject and everything else in the frame and then pressing the shutter.
The advice to think about why we select certain images versus others and then to go to the next shoot with those learnings in mind can't be overstated. I often run through them to get the project done, but taking time to reflect can lead to minimizing those mistakes from happening again. I'd love to hear more from you about finding your own style in photography as well. Thanks for another great video, Pat!
I like the idea of intentionality, even when you already have an idea or shoot planned. I do concert/live music photography, so the shoot or idea is already set. When I started, I just sprayed and prayed, that I got something worth editing. While it's still a fly-by-the-seat of my pants affair, I will focus a each band member until I feel I've got something worth editing. I tend to do a photo-journalistic style as I lean towards event that aren't posable and can't really set-up shots. So, as I've done more of these types of events, I have to proceed with intentionality, even though I wasn't calling it that. Now, going forward, I know what to call it. Knowing what type of event I'm going, I can intentionally think about what types of shots should happen, I can look for them adding the intentionality. The idea of reviewing them to learn from them is new to me. I can see how analyzing to see what worked and what didn't, can improve my photography immensely.
Though not without value for the more experienced, this is is an excellent video for photography neophytes, with a trio of essentials explained minus the bloviating all too typical of many RUclips photographers. The close analysis of what may actually be a textbook bad photo was a great idea, and FWIW, AAR [after-action review] is the standard abbreviation for what athletes do. | What advice might I add? If doing street photography, don't be lulled into inattention by what may seem slack or uninteresting circumstances. Be ready at all times -and, that said, be ready to miss a few of what might have seemed great shots. Timing is [almost] everything. Thank You ...
While I enjoy the editing process, figuring out how to get closer to the look I'm going for straight out of camera was a big workflow improvement. Experiment with photo styles and filters (like mist filters). For a long time, I was using the "flattest" photo style possible to try and save more dynamic range, but it didn't make a huge difference. Getting closer to the final look saves a lot of time in editing. I also took a deep dive into my best pictures and looked at my most used focal lengths (with zooms), and then got a bright prime at one of those ranges and put a mist filter on it. This is now what's on my camera at least 70% of the time.
Brilliant stuff Pat. Direct, concise and extremely helpful. Learning how "see" as a photographer "sees" take time, effort and many, many failures. Applying the principles you outline here is a fantastic first step.
Great video and summary! Slow down and compose with intention, leverage the feedback cycle, and consume lots of photography (& visual arts) also had a huge impact on my growth. Extending the last point, hanging around other photographers is also very helpful. Some of my best growth came from me joining my local camera club. Club competitions were very feedback-oriented and allowed me to go through that exercise of what makes this image work/not work with others' pictures in addition to my own. It's great to get others' perspectives too. Shooting with other photographers can be very instructive. It's all basically immersion technique (shoot more, edit more, consume more). I recommend new (or any) photographers to look for a local photography club or consider starting one of their own.
My Aha moment was realizing that I can do this. I can take these incredible shots. Maybe this is a combination of all three of your points. Or perhaps the best way to say this is I developed confidence in my abilities.
Hadn’t seen one of your posts in a while. Glad to come across this. Really like your tik/tok cause and effect methods. I mentally step back and reframe most of my shots to re-express my initial feeling for taking the shot.
Long time watcher, first time commenting. Thanks for your videos I love them Pat. The thing that made me go shizz is actually going to camera/photography clubs. It might seem old school but capturing photos to a set brief, selecting images/printing and then putting them into a critique session is huge. Not only to improve your craft but to understand how other people see your images too. Getting constructive critique on socials is kind of non-existent
One really helpful thing, especially when using multiple lenses or zoom lenses, is something similar to what you already mentioned in review. Lightroom is a beast in showing data about fotos. Comparing the summaries of the pictures you took and the pictures you keep also helps a loot to figure out what you like on a more top down / numbers approach. Using a 24-70mm, only shooting at 50-70mm and than only keeping most of the 50mm shots? Maybe a prime lense works as well. Having a f2.8 lense but never shoot on f4 or f6 even though the lense is sharper there? next time force yourself to use that part of the lense. A small guide on how to develop a workflow (flags, colours, star ratings) to utilise the Metadata of your library filter might be really helpful!
My AHA was understanding light science. My brain changed and everything looked different. The object was not as exciting as the light. E.g. trees no longer looked like trees, the leaves were reflective surfaces.
I don’t understand the thing with the horizon. The horizon is straight as you drew that line on it. Seems to me no issue there but obviously it is once you brought it to attention. Could you please explain a little more? Thanks and great job. I’m big fan❤
Perhaps I should have put the line closer to the middle of the frame, because it's that line that really shows how not straight the rest of the image is. If you look at the vertical lines - the building edges, the poles, etc. you'll see that the entire image is slightly rotated right. Sometimes it also helps to zoom out a little and make it smaller and it might be easier to spot
0:00 06:06 If you'd just called it Shibuko (made it up) 8pm work day 1989, I would have loved that photograph. I know nothing of Shibuko at 8pm any year and nor will anyone in half a century. When the future wants to know what we did, it's going to rely on honesty and not people who hide the truth. We don't know anything about ancient Greece from it idealist, religious sculptures.
Ask yourself what is ART and what is DESIGN. Does your photos answer questions or does it make people question it? If you have a clear vision and goal then the rules are meaningless. Key is to understand what you want people to SEE or to FEEl. Do you provide an answer to a question or do you make people open up for more questions?
My AHA was understanding light science. My brain changed and everything looked different. The object was not as exciting as the light. E.g. trees no longer looked like trees, the leaves were reflective surfaces.
One thing I would like to add is try to review / edit your photos after a short break of maybe 1 or 2 days. That way you can look at them in a fresh way but still remember what you were trying to do.
That's a very street photographer-esque thing actually! Something that I do quite often for similiar but different enough reasons.
That is what I do everytime I edit portraits. Sometimes, my shades of red are good for the first, yet would eventually look bad on the next day. So, I literally wait for 24 hours to relax my eyes again for just one photo hahaha
A really cool video idea would be if you went back to the locations you had taken a “bad photo at” and physically “re-took” the photos and showed the choices you made now and why they’re better!
Thanks for the videos too, you’re amazing!
Thanks for the idea!
This video has so much valuable information for anyone who wants to improve their photographic skills.
As for me, I've been shooting real estate/architecture, landscapes, and machinery & equipment for several decades primarily as part of my real estate businesses. A few years ago I decided to transition out of the real estate industry to pursue professional architectural photography. But while I had already shot thousands of properties and pieces of heavy machinery & equipment throughout the United States, many of my shots weren't of the quality I would be proud to display publicly.
So, after spending many hours reviewing my poor quality shots, my ah-ha moment was when I realized they were because I was always rushing just to "get it done." That analysis and the desire to produce high-quality photographs forced me to become more methodical, to slow down and analyze potential compositions. I believe the process of "shoot and review" has vastly improved my results.
Mastering camera settings was the first big step in my becoming a proficient photographer. The second was thinking through the relations between subject and everything else in the frame and then pressing the shutter.
The advice to think about why we select certain images versus others and then to go to the next shoot with those learnings in mind can't be overstated. I often run through them to get the project done, but taking time to reflect can lead to minimizing those mistakes from happening again.
I'd love to hear more from you about finding your own style in photography as well. Thanks for another great video, Pat!
Thanks for watching! I do already have a video on how to find your style, but make I should make an updated one.
A video about uncovering style would be amazing if you could do that! ♡
Ditto!
I like the idea of intentionality, even when you already have an idea or shoot planned. I do concert/live music photography, so the shoot or idea is already set. When I started, I just sprayed and prayed, that I got something worth editing. While it's still a fly-by-the-seat of my pants affair, I will focus a each band member until I feel I've got something worth editing. I tend to do a photo-journalistic style as I lean towards event that aren't posable and can't really set-up shots. So, as I've done more of these types of events, I have to proceed with intentionality, even though I wasn't calling it that.
Now, going forward, I know what to call it. Knowing what type of event I'm going, I can intentionally think about what types of shots should happen, I can look for them adding the intentionality.
The idea of reviewing them to learn from them is new to me. I can see how analyzing to see what worked and what didn't, can improve my photography immensely.
Though not without value for the more experienced, this is is an excellent video for photography neophytes, with a trio of essentials explained minus the bloviating all too typical of many RUclips photographers. The close analysis of what may actually be a textbook bad photo was a great idea, and FWIW, AAR [after-action review] is the standard abbreviation for what athletes do. | What advice might I add? If doing street photography, don't be lulled into inattention by what may seem slack or uninteresting circumstances. Be ready at all times -and, that said, be ready to miss a few of what might have seemed great shots. Timing is [almost] everything. Thank You ...
While I enjoy the editing process, figuring out how to get closer to the look I'm going for straight out of camera was a big workflow improvement.
Experiment with photo styles and filters (like mist filters). For a long time, I was using the "flattest" photo style possible to try and save more dynamic range, but it didn't make a huge difference. Getting closer to the final look saves a lot of time in editing.
I also took a deep dive into my best pictures and looked at my most used focal lengths (with zooms), and then got a bright prime at one of those ranges and put a mist filter on it. This is now what's on my camera at least 70% of the time.
Lovely! Potentially good advice for some.
mmm the deep dive on focal length is a good tip, im curious myself because i primarily use a zoom
Getting over my embarrassment of taking photos in public and slowing down.
Brilliant stuff Pat. Direct, concise and extremely helpful. Learning how "see" as a photographer "sees" take time, effort and many, many failures. Applying the principles you outline here is a fantastic first step.
My #1 mentor, thank you for sharing your knowledge with those that are willing to learn.
Thanks for watching!
Again, Excellent video!! Thank you!
Thank you, very refreshing even for old guys. Listening to you is a rich experience.
Thanks for these fantastic tips. Looking at the non-keepers is one thing I never considered. Looking forward to applying this tip especially.
Let me know how it goes!
@@patkay Will do
Pat, thanks for this. You are a great teacher.
Great video and summary! Slow down and compose with intention, leverage the feedback cycle, and consume lots of photography (& visual arts) also had a huge impact on my growth. Extending the last point, hanging around other photographers is also very helpful. Some of my best growth came from me joining my local camera club. Club competitions were very feedback-oriented and allowed me to go through that exercise of what makes this image work/not work with others' pictures in addition to my own. It's great to get others' perspectives too. Shooting with other photographers can be very instructive. It's all basically immersion technique (shoot more, edit more, consume more). I recommend new (or any) photographers to look for a local photography club or consider starting one of their own.
Thanks. It was very educational. I'll use your advice, clearly presented in the three concepts.
Thanks for sharing your thought process. Very helpful
My Aha moment was realizing that I can do this. I can take these incredible shots. Maybe this is a combination of all three of your points. Or perhaps the best way to say this is I developed confidence in my abilities.
Hadn’t seen one of your posts in a while. Glad to come across this.
Really like your tik/tok cause and effect methods. I mentally step back and reframe most of my shots to re-express my initial feeling for taking the shot.
You have added value to the world free of charge. Greeting all the way from Kano (Nigeria)
So valuable advice, really appreciate your perspective, seemingly trivial and obvious things really became an insight for me today, thank you❤️
These are really good tips for leveling up photography. Thanks
Thank you. Well taught: systematic, thorough and inspiring.
Thank you so much! This was really helpful !
Long time watcher, first time commenting. Thanks for your videos I love them Pat.
The thing that made me go shizz is actually going to camera/photography clubs. It might seem old school but capturing photos to a set brief, selecting images/printing and then putting them into a critique session is huge. Not only to improve your craft but to understand how other people see your images too. Getting constructive critique on socials is kind of non-existent
One really helpful thing, especially when using multiple lenses or zoom lenses, is something similar to what you already mentioned in review. Lightroom is a beast in showing data about fotos. Comparing the summaries of the pictures you took and the pictures you keep also helps a loot to figure out what you like on a more top down / numbers approach. Using a 24-70mm, only shooting at 50-70mm and than only keeping most of the 50mm shots? Maybe a prime lense works as well. Having a f2.8 lense but never shoot on f4 or f6 even though the lense is sharper there? next time force yourself to use that part of the lense.
A small guide on how to develop a workflow (flags, colours, star ratings) to utilise the Metadata of your library filter might be really helpful!
Man you are great!!
Keep making videos cuz you are one of my best photographers!!❤
Thank you! I will!
Super helpful and very easy to follow.
Keep up the great work 🤘🏿
I almost never hit the like button , but this was worth a like. Reviewing photos after a shoot was something I honestly never consciously did. Thanks!
amazing advice as always, will definitely think about these in the future :)
Good luck!
My AHA was understanding light science. My brain changed and everything looked different. The object was not as exciting as the light. E.g. trees no longer looked like trees, the leaves were reflective surfaces.
Awesome tips, man. Thank you!
Your the best!
thank you so much for this video 💕
Thank you very much
I'm currently in the process of trying to find my style. So yes, make that video.
I love your teaching!
Fantastic
Great advice! Subscribed!
I subscribe because it’s gives me a lot more to learn and easy in photography
I always learn so much from you ❤
Great video and thanks for sharing Pat! Would like your videos to have time stamps please.
Great tips!
Thanks so much!
Congrats on the 300k milestone, Pat!
Cheers homie!
Just found your channel. Fantastic insight. Thanks
Thanks for watching!
congrats PK! huuuugeee
Cheers homie!
Wow, this tips are very helpful ❤
Thanks so much for watching!
yes the subscriber count achievement is due to good insight and persistence!
Glad you think so =)
That cloud is fkn hectic!!
The importance of review!
I don’t understand the thing with the horizon. The horizon is straight as you drew that line on it. Seems to me no issue there but obviously it is once you brought it to attention. Could you please explain a little more? Thanks and great job. I’m big fan❤
I think it’s the vertical lines also that made it look wonky….the edges of the buildings, the poles, etc
Same question
Perhaps I should have put the line closer to the middle of the frame, because it's that line that really shows how not straight the rest of the image is. If you look at the vertical lines - the building edges, the poles, etc. you'll see that the entire image is slightly rotated right. Sometimes it also helps to zoom out a little and make it smaller and it might be easier to spot
It actually make sense if you rewind the video and you look at both photos. Makes so much difference!
Subscribing to your channel as loved your videos.
AHA moment : Bouncing properly a flash on any required situation
Nice!
How to uncover my style? Yes please lol
Before watching I'm going to write this -
Composition - Subject - Lightning
Couldn't be that simple, could it? 😉
Best unlock: if you're looking for a specific subject in an area you're not familiar with, ask the locals
0:00
06:06 If you'd just called it Shibuko (made it up) 8pm work day 1989, I would have loved that photograph. I know nothing of Shibuko at 8pm any year and nor will anyone in half a century. When the future wants to know what we did, it's going to rely on honesty and not people who hide the truth. We don't know anything about ancient Greece from it idealist, religious sculptures.
Ask yourself what is ART and what is DESIGN. Does your photos answer questions or does it make people question it?
If you have a clear vision and goal then the rules are meaningless.
Key is to understand what you want people to SEE or to FEEl. Do you provide an answer to a question or do you make people open up for more questions?
Thanks for trying to give people some advice!
@@patkay Excellent content man! Fantastic points, really helpful for every type of photographers out there! Thank you!
Damn, not first this time!
Haha, you actually were. The first one was actually a bot comment!
My AHA was understanding light science. My brain changed and everything looked different. The object was not as exciting as the light. E.g. trees no longer looked like trees, the leaves were reflective surfaces.