Hallelujah!!! The late Ansel Adams told his classes "Take a hundred photographs of the exact same place in different weather and light and you MAY get ONE GOOD IMAGE." I may not have got the words exactly as a quotation, but it's close enough. In 54 years of professional photography, I still need to practice. Practice composition, seeing light, seeing subjects, seeing tones and less often color. Monochrome imaging captures me more and more these days. Color too often is a crutch to strong composition and structure for me. My late Father gave me his Kodak 620 6X9 cm Medalist folding camera. "Guesstimate" focusing and viewfinder, adjustable shutter speeds and f-stops. If I do MY part it will make fine 12"x 18" enlargements. It isn't the gear.
I don't disagree about the gear thing, but I always find it amusing that the people who say it's not about the gear usually have every piece of top shelf gear imaginable. 📷😂👍
Gear companies sell gears and photographers sell their experience and/or talents. Joke aside, IMO, generalizing can be misleading for some newbies. I rather said start with what you have and do whatever you like and can afford. But don't forget about it is photography, so taking photos and continue learning the art as well, both are a lifetime process. Practice and experience can be time sensitive. Back then I had to buy flagship/high end camera models to practice using a motor drive, figure out guide number & distance to use a flash, how to hold a camera steady, remember the 1/focal length convention, spot metering and the zone system. Plus spending hours in the chemical smell darkroom to print B&W and color. Nowadays, who cares. 🙂
@@bfs5113 Thanks for replying! I did the same stuff back in the film days. Actually, today, because of gear, it's a great time to be a photographer, and to me, much more fun as well.
Great video and lesson, Hudson. I've been doing photography for a little over 7 years and it's a constant learning process. My current challenge is to just get out there. I'm a father of two young children and work a full-time corporate job (photography is my hobby). I would love to have time to go out there and make mistakes! Time is a blessing.
Glad to see you and family back from NYC safe!!! Great talk about practice and gear. A vision in your head with a lot of views to think about and knowing what mm lenses to use. Also being a weather person with many apps to check. The blessing is the software of today vs just three years ago, ON1 with ease of use and options and the sharing of videos always a great learn no matter the gear used. Nice to see a long lens landscape/pano just more ideas to think about. As far as MW's fast glass is not always good for faster SS needed but the new wides make stitching better with less distortion and fewer shots for panos. Again location and location and being there, no repeats ever!!
I love this I have been a photographer for over 22 years started on a nikon FM. The gear will factor in at some point but i have seen guys with incredible gear and so so results and vice verse cheaper camera and insanely great shots. Loving these videos Hudson, glad I found your channel, cheers from Canada.
Thanks HH and Rick, Great team you are!! Good to hear Rick be more vocal. What a beautiful area n maybe not the best conditions for you but still wonderful photos. And, well not good, but comforting to hear that even you guys are a little rusty. Going to head to NC and ck out the Water Falls Trail even if not the best time to do so,(water flow), it will still be great to Practice, Practice n Practice. Tks. Sell your T-shirts. :) ??
I find practicing is much more fulfilling and helpful when with other photographers. My buddies and I used to call them Photo Safari's and it wasn't always about taking pictures like you say, much was just talking photography or about what we were seeing or not seeing.
Thanks guys, for the reminder on practice, practice and some more practice :-) what I’d also would love to see is those great shots ... but before the edit ... as that is (for me at least) a thing i need to practice, practice and do some more practice
Thank you for this video! I was struggling with a photo project because I wasn't sure how to make it great. Today I jumped in and practiced without worrying about whether it was going to be "great". I had fun and learned a lot.
I’ve always loved the wisdom encapsulated in this joke on the subject of practice: Tourist in New York City to beatnik: Tourist-Could you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall? Beatnik-Practice, man, practice.
Just back from a long practice session...7 weeks on the road with my off road trailer and Z6ii... Wanted to stop by and thank you for the solid advice on some great gear to practice with! The Leofoto tripod, Manfrotto fluid head, the Kirk gear....the Z6ii I all got based on your advice and it all worked spectacularly...super happy with the content I brought back...lol lots of it shows I need lots more practice... Lots of video to edit now while I adjust a few things and plan the next trip and practice session... Stay tuned to my channel if you're curious, have some time and want to see the content I captured with my z6ii and some of the remotest unseen areas of Oregon...thanks again man really loved all of the gear you turned me on to! BirdPhish
Good point. I’m learning on a Z5 after quitting photography when Kodachrome was discontinued. Yea it’s been that long. Tuesday I tried to take a photo of 4AM stars through Deep South humidity. I accomplished what I intended. A 30 second exposure I actually captured stars, in focus. Practice is required. Set up the tripod in pitch black, I’m not pushing Tri-X to 1600, ISO, change it higher. And don’t stand in a Fire Ant nest. There is a old wrecked house, the master bedroom is fully furnished and after 3 visits I’ve learned that an open door and windows are going to blow out. That points that I need to learn stacking. There is not a photo club where I live so channels like yours is where I learn. I had my Z5 and 24-70 F2/8 with me for practice and ended up with some really cool shots of an Ag plane loading up with 2.5 tons of fertilizer, dumping it in 12 minutes than refilling. Some shots I missed the composition and almost all my shutter speed was to fast so I missed some propeller blur.
Very informative video and glad to hear you still make mistakes! Worst I made was in the 80s at Niagara when the second roll of film didn’t attach properly on my Nikon FG so lost all those I took.🤣thankfully I’ve been back twice with a digital!
Hey Henry, my VR is always running when it is on my Z6ll , actually all of my VR lenses run. Have you experience the same thing? I agree about practicing... it’s what I should be doing it. I find myself making mistakes because I don’t practice.. great video!
A tourist in NYC was lost. He got to Times Square, but couldn't find his way from there. No one would help. Finally, he say an old man in a tux carrying a violin case headed toward him. The tourist stepped directly in front of the man as asked, "Excuse me sir, can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?" "Ya, I tell you", replied the man: "Practice, practice, practice." The man stepped around the tourist and strode off down the sidewalk.
Gerry - no, if you want them those items then go get them :-) as an amateur I spend money on my hobby [as most people do] because part of the fun of a hobby for me is getting kit to play with. I understand a Pro sometimes needs to justify a purchase but a hobbist doesnt IMHO :-)
I went out to shoot a waterfalls after weeks of wildlife photography. It seemed like it took forever for me to think about being on a tripod and getting things in order.
Practice is of a major importance, but it doesn't replace the fact that we need "functioning" gear. My Nikon D3100 is messed up, wanting that every photo be taken with flash, so a functioning camera is paramount. Am aiming for a D850, but considering situations, that may be down the road a year, or two.
If you don't mind me butting in, my d5300 and an extra lens went to one of the kids to college and I was going to get the d750 as been a lifelong Nikon person. Decided to make the jump to mirrorless and got the Z6ii and getting a Z lens at a time when I can afford. Best decision I've made in a long time, but everyone has their decision making tree. Good luck.
@@gerryphilpott9766 I've thought about the Z's, but the Z7ii would be considerably more than the D850, I read all the reviews and still think about giving the Z's another year or two to debug, then again it could end up being a Z8 :{)
@@marshallbarth3031 I have the Z6ii at $1k less and between quality of the Z lenses and low light performance, I didn't feel like I needed the 7ii 45mp. Identical pretty much in every other way. Good news for you time is on your side so if an 8 comes out, the 7ii will be discounted, or go full out for the 8.
@@gerryphilpott9766 Another good thing about when the 8 comes out, the prices of the 850 would drop also, am pretty sure that the 7ii will hang around, for it's the high end consumer camera, whereas the 8 would be a prosumer/pro rig out of the box. I'd most likely still hold off on the 8, allowing for them to work out any bugs, which we all know happens when everything is produced. Though I really love the fact that Nikon hasn't gone crazy like the other companies have. Seeing who can produce the "most" advanced rig, full of issues :{)
@@marshallbarth3031 Well, you'll have quite a wait on your hands which may be fine if you are getting what you need from the D3100. The Z7ii is available now, so is the 850 for that matter, but you can review this if interested. Good luck. ruclips.net/video/kIgNHHvF2ak/видео.html
While I appreciate your main point that practice may be of more value than gear (depends really on what you are trying to photograph, don’t you think?) you missed a VERY important component that you ourself utilize frequently: You want to be a better photographer? Shoot with people who are better at photography than you. You and Rick are the proof. You each make the other better. So really it’s practice and gear and people you shoot photographs with and articles you read and photographers you follow and knowing how to get the most and best with every piece of equipment you own and patience, boy does a photographer need patience, and about a thousand other little things that I’m forgetting like weather and lighting. Each of these things are added at different amounts in each and every photo session. That’s what makes photography so much fun for me. There is no “one” formula that ensures the perfect photo.
So basicly... Practice. That's what the word sums up. :) Couldn't agree more except I think the actual gear is quite a bit down the list. Being out there with the gear you have and knowing how to use it is key. As you grow better gear can feed improvement in the same way a higher quality musical instrument helps a practiced musician. Hand me a Stradavarius and it is wasted in my unpracticed hands.
great photos great little chat always refreshing. thank you
Hallelujah!!! The late Ansel Adams told his classes "Take a hundred photographs of the exact same place in different weather and light and you MAY get ONE GOOD IMAGE." I may not have got the words exactly as a quotation, but it's close enough. In 54 years of professional photography, I still need to practice. Practice composition, seeing light, seeing subjects, seeing tones and less often color. Monochrome imaging captures me more and more these days. Color too often is a crutch to strong composition and structure for me. My late Father gave me his Kodak 620 6X9 cm Medalist folding camera. "Guesstimate" focusing and viewfinder, adjustable shutter speeds and f-stops. If I do MY part it will make fine 12"x 18" enlargements. It isn't the gear.
I don't disagree about the gear thing, but I always find it amusing that the people who say it's not about the gear usually have every piece of top shelf gear imaginable.
📷😂👍
Gear companies sell gears and photographers sell their experience and/or talents.
Joke aside, IMO, generalizing can be misleading for some newbies. I rather said start with what you have and do whatever you like and can afford. But don't forget about it is photography, so taking photos and continue learning the art as well, both are a lifetime process.
Practice and experience can be time sensitive. Back then I had to buy flagship/high end camera models to practice using a motor drive, figure out guide number & distance to use a flash, how to hold a camera steady, remember the 1/focal length convention, spot metering and the zone system. Plus spending hours in the chemical smell darkroom to print B&W and color. Nowadays, who cares. 🙂
@@bfs5113 Thanks for replying! I did the same stuff back in the film days.
Actually, today, because of gear, it's a great time to be a photographer, and to me, much more fun as well.
Great video and lesson, Hudson. I've been doing photography for a little over 7 years and it's a constant learning process. My current challenge is to just get out there. I'm a father of two young children and work a full-time corporate job (photography is my hobby). I would love to have time to go out there and make mistakes! Time is a blessing.
Glad to see you and family back from NYC safe!!! Great talk about practice and gear. A vision in your head with a lot of views to think about and knowing what mm lenses to use. Also being a weather person with many apps to check. The blessing is the software of today vs just three years ago, ON1 with ease of use and options and the sharing of videos always a great learn no matter the gear used. Nice to see a long lens landscape/pano just more ideas to think about. As far as MW's fast glass is not always good for faster SS needed but the new wides make stitching better with less distortion and fewer shots for panos. Again location and location and being there, no repeats ever!!
Couldn't agree more. I don't get enough time at the moment, but when I can I do. Done the iso thing too :(
Stunning photos, Gentlemen! Thank you so much for this excellent reminder and a little perspective! Always learning! 👏
I love this I have been a photographer for over 22 years started on a nikon FM. The gear will factor in at some point but i have seen guys with incredible gear and so so results and vice verse cheaper camera and insanely great shots. Loving these videos Hudson, glad I found your channel, cheers from Canada.
Thanks Corey!
Thank you, sir.
Thanks HH and Rick, Great team you are!! Good to hear Rick be more vocal. What a beautiful area n maybe not the best conditions for you but still wonderful photos. And, well not good, but comforting to hear that even you guys are a little rusty. Going to head to NC and ck out the Water Falls Trail even if not the best time to do so,(water flow), it will still be great to Practice, Practice n Practice. Tks. Sell your T-shirts. :) ??
Ha, we'll work on the t shirt thing. Stay tuned. :) have fun out there.
I find practicing is much more fulfilling and helpful when with other photographers. My buddies and I used to call them Photo Safari's and it wasn't always about taking pictures like you say, much was just talking photography or about what we were seeing or not seeing.
@Hudson, you are so right: Steptoe can be ultra-blustery. Nice shots.
@Rick, so glad you got your own copy of the 100-400mm. :-)
Thank you bro
Thanks guys,
for the reminder on practice, practice and some more practice :-)
what I’d also would love to see is those great shots ...
but before the edit ... as that is (for me at least) a thing i need to practice, practice and do some more practice
Thank you for this video! I was struggling with a photo project because I wasn't sure how to make it great. Today I jumped in and practiced without worrying about whether it was going to be "great". I had fun and learned a lot.
I’ve always loved the wisdom encapsulated in this joke on the subject of practice:
Tourist in New York City to beatnik:
Tourist-Could you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?
Beatnik-Practice, man, practice.
That’s great! 🤣
Yup, more practice discipline needed!
Just back from a long practice session...7 weeks on the road with my off road trailer and Z6ii... Wanted to stop by and thank you for the solid advice on some great gear to practice with! The Leofoto tripod, Manfrotto fluid head, the Kirk gear....the Z6ii I all got based on your advice and it all worked spectacularly...super happy with the content I brought back...lol lots of it shows I need lots more practice...
Lots of video to edit now while I adjust a few things and plan the next trip and practice session...
Stay tuned to my channel if you're curious, have some time and want to see the content I captured with my z6ii and some of the remotest unseen areas of Oregon...thanks again man really loved all of the gear you turned me on to! BirdPhish
Good point. I’m learning on a Z5 after quitting photography when Kodachrome was discontinued. Yea it’s been that long. Tuesday I tried to take a photo of 4AM stars through Deep South humidity.
I accomplished what I intended. A 30 second exposure I actually captured stars, in focus.
Practice is required. Set up the tripod in pitch black, I’m not pushing Tri-X to 1600, ISO, change it higher. And don’t stand in a Fire Ant nest.
There is a old wrecked house, the master bedroom is fully furnished and after 3 visits I’ve learned that an open door and windows are going to blow out. That points that I need to learn stacking.
There is not a photo club where I live so channels like yours is where I learn. I had my Z5 and 24-70 F2/8 with me for practice and ended up with some really cool shots of an Ag plane loading up with 2.5 tons of fertilizer, dumping it in 12 minutes than refilling. Some shots I missed the composition and almost all my shutter speed was to fast so I missed some propeller blur.
your videos are always informative
and entertaining. thanks
Greez from Cologne, Harald
Very informative video and glad to hear you still make mistakes! Worst I made was in the 80s at Niagara when the second roll of film didn’t attach properly on my Nikon FG so lost all those I took.🤣thankfully I’ve been back twice with a digital!
Hey Henry, my VR is always running when it is on my Z6ll , actually all of my VR lenses run. Have you experience the same thing?
I agree about practicing... it’s what I should be doing it. I find myself making mistakes because I don’t practice.. great video!
A tourist in NYC was lost. He got to Times Square, but couldn't find his way from there. No one would help. Finally, he say an old man in a tux carrying a violin case headed toward him. The tourist stepped directly in front of the man as asked, "Excuse me sir, can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?" "Ya, I tell you", replied the man: "Practice, practice, practice." The man stepped around the tourist and strode off down the sidewalk.
Good advice! But darn, now I have to take everything out of my shopping cart I was planning to get......
Ì
Gerry - no, if you want them those items then go get them :-) as an amateur I spend money on my hobby [as most people do] because part of the fun of a hobby for me is getting kit to play with. I understand a Pro sometimes needs to justify a purchase but a hobbist doesnt IMHO :-)
Yep! Keep doing it until you get it right! :)
Practice? We talkin' about practice!
😂
I went out to shoot a waterfalls after weeks of wildlife photography. It seemed like it took forever for me to think about being on a tripod and getting things in order.
Main thing is to "be there" ...and practice ...
Practice is of a major importance, but it doesn't replace the fact that we need "functioning" gear. My Nikon D3100 is messed up, wanting that every photo be taken with flash, so a functioning camera is paramount. Am aiming for a D850, but considering situations, that may be down the road a year, or two.
If you don't mind me butting in, my d5300 and an extra lens went to one of the kids to college and I was going to get the d750 as been a lifelong Nikon person. Decided to make the jump to mirrorless and got the Z6ii and getting a Z lens at a time when I can afford. Best decision I've made in a long time, but everyone has their decision making tree. Good luck.
@@gerryphilpott9766 I've thought about the Z's, but the Z7ii would be considerably more than the D850, I read all the reviews and still think about giving the Z's another year or two to debug, then again it could end up being a Z8 :{)
@@marshallbarth3031 I have the Z6ii at $1k less and between quality of the Z lenses and low light performance, I didn't feel like I needed the 7ii 45mp. Identical pretty much in every other way. Good news for you time is on your side so if an 8 comes out, the 7ii will be discounted, or go full out for the 8.
@@gerryphilpott9766 Another good thing about when the 8 comes out, the prices of the 850 would drop also, am pretty sure that the 7ii will hang around, for it's the high end consumer camera, whereas the 8 would be a prosumer/pro rig out of the box. I'd most likely still hold off on the 8, allowing for them to work out any bugs, which we all know happens when everything is produced. Though I really love the fact that Nikon hasn't gone crazy like the other companies have. Seeing who can produce the "most" advanced rig, full of issues :{)
@@marshallbarth3031 Well, you'll have quite a wait on your hands which may be fine if you are getting what you need from the D3100. The Z7ii is available now, so is the 850 for that matter, but you can review this if interested. Good luck. ruclips.net/video/kIgNHHvF2ak/видео.html
You mean I can't just spend more money?! :o
About 10% of what I shoot, i actually use. And usually it's less.
While I appreciate your main point that practice may be of more value than gear (depends really on what you are trying to photograph, don’t you think?) you missed a VERY important component that you ourself utilize frequently: You want to be a better photographer? Shoot with people who are better at photography than you. You and Rick are the proof. You each make the other better. So really it’s practice and gear and people you shoot photographs with and articles you read and photographers you follow and knowing how to get the most and best with every piece of equipment you own and patience, boy does a photographer need patience, and about a thousand other little things that I’m forgetting like weather and lighting. Each of these things are added at different amounts in each and every photo session. That’s what makes photography so much fun for me. There is no “one” formula that ensures the perfect photo.
So basicly... Practice. That's what the word sums up. :) Couldn't agree more except I think the actual gear is quite a bit down the list. Being out there with the gear you have and knowing how to use it is key. As you grow better gear can feed improvement in the same way a higher quality musical instrument helps a practiced musician. Hand me a Stradavarius and it is wasted in my unpracticed hands.
I thought the Dude doesn't practice.
The dude abides... And practices. :)