Undeniable Photography Advice Nobody Listens To
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
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In this week’s episode, we discuss undeniable photography advice all beginners ignore. This is a video I've wanted to put together for quite awhile now, all about the advice I heard early on that I completely disregarded. And, I hear the same from many beginner photographers as well. In this video, I'll share the best three pieces of advice that can have the biggest positive impact on your photography...as long as you don't ignore it. I hope you enjoy this week's video and as always thanks so much for watching! - Mark D.
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✅ Question: What top advice did I miss??
Well the one that you, and all other photographers say, "Get Out" explore even with your phone. Sit in nature and observe the environment. Great tips Mark!
Maybe this one: Buy a camera you are actually gonna use. That means to not buy a camera you fear to use in public, on bad weather… (that applies to all equipment).
Well then it's not for beginners anymore.
Practising not practicing 😊
On the subject of viewpoint, there is/was a well known English photographer (I can’t recall his name right now) who’s photo equipment often included a step-ladder to give him a higher viewpoint. Must have been a real pain to carry.
Here’s why I like your channel. No musical opening, just straight to the point. No jump cuts and quality editing. Oh and yes the advice is good too.
One piece of advice that I was given, and that I try to pass on to others is to think about why you like a photograph that you see online. Don't just look at it and say "I like it". Try to define why you like it. What is it that looks good to you....what makes you feel a certain way that it pleasing etc. Because then, you can have a better chance of replicating that quality in your own work. And, while looking at a photograph and trying to define it why I like it, I will often learn a lot more than by simply stopping at "I like it".
100% agree,since we are our worst critics. what is worse is when you show to others either in a post or in person looking feedback and they say they like it than you ask why or what specificly and no answer. Thanks for the help people. 😅
I did a night class and the best thing that came out of it was exactly that- the "say why" for photo critique. It's something I've tried to apply in other areas of life and I find myself giving and receiving better feedback.
Great advice, Mark. The idea of practising your photography in your local area is so often overlooked, but it is the best way to make sure that you are ready for those "special" locations. You might even discover that your own area is more special than you thought.
I can sure identify with one statement you made. Getting lower definitely becomes more difficult with age. I'm almost 77, and I still like to get down low (even flat on my stomach a few weeks ago), but it's more of strain to get back up again each year. However, if that's the photo that I see, then that's what I'll do to get it. Although I never called it "practice", I do try to get out once a week to my local spot just to see what might find. Take the same shot I've done many times before, only try it with different conditions, or change focal lengths, sometimes experiment with different settings - all to change things up, make the same old not quite the same.
I am in my early 60s and I have found the getting low is not nearly as important as the plan for getting up off the ground!
“You might not touch your camera for months, but you do a lot of thinking about photography”… I don’t know if I’ve ever felt as personally attacked by 30 seconds of a RUclips video before 😂🫠
All good. I felt being kicked in my shin and what Danny says is all true to my situation. I think about it all the time and sign up workshops then I don’t touch my camera bag pretty much until next workshop. Take care, 😊❤
I have my cam on top of the fridge, the sun light in my kitchen at morning is great, my livingroom in the evening. I might shuffle some plants around, or kids toys or the kids themselves. My gf is sooo tired with it but hey, i Gets my practice in
Yes, as if I was listening about myself😂
Agreed. It was very hurtful. 😅
...........I bought a r5 and .....wtf he's right
It is really important to practice, especially with the camera at home. Practise quickly changing lenses, how to access the menus and change the settings, how to get the best out of the focus system and finding out which settings are the most important for ones style if shooting. I do this every day.
Epiphany moment - my thinking all the time has turned into procrastination and fear of never being able to take a gorgeous shot on my ridiculously expensive camera 😂
Sooooo my mantra for the next few weeks is practice, get low and see the world with the wonder of a two foot high toddler. Thanks so much 😊
When I retired, I set out to find something new to photograph in my back yard everyday, So far it's been 3 years and I'm still shooting in my back yard. It has taught me to see a photograph in any subject. It made it up to me to be creative with what I have. Besides, I'm too lazy to want to go any where else to shoot.
Couldn’t agree more. I was so tempted to hand down my DSLR to my daughter when she was younger so she could really take pictures but I withheld instead I got an iPhone. And just taught her light/composition. It is amazing the picture she got with the iPhone, and after she got a bit older and I could see she understood those things I gave her her first DSLR. The photographs that she’s getting these days are absolutely moving full of interest. And I really believe it’s because I held off getting her a big camera and she just used her iPhone to learn light and composition. She spent four years in Norway and now she’s on her fourth year in Iceland and the images that she’s got are just world class.
One of the advantages of a camera with a flip out screen is that it makes it easier to “get low” without having to actually kneel or squat on the ground.
That first piece of advice to practice is so underrated and something I can totally attest to improving my photography 1000%. I shoot a lot of stage performances. In fact, I started doing it because my wife and I attend about 100 concerts a year and some of the artists we see didn't have great media so I started bringing my camera along. Fast forward to 4 years. Later. And now I'm getting hired to shoot bands and other photographers. Even love my style, but when I look back at my first photos I can't believe how much I sucked for a lack of a better term. Without even really noticing, I learned from my mistakes and as I scroll through my lightroom timeline, I can see how I saw things that I liked I was getting and then the next time incorporated those techniques all subconsciously. So I guess my question to you now would be when you get to the point where you generally like your work and your very well regarded by others in the community. What is next? I feel like my new photos are not always better than my last and I've gotten to the point where I'm just not learning as much.
Practice makes perfect. That goes for photography too. Totally agree 👍🏻
Yes it does!
One great tip or advice I can offer here is ALWAYS Look behind you, or look back, many will be surprised of the photo opportunities that are behind us. 👍🏼👍🏼
Very true!
Totally agree with you Mark. I live a few minutes away from a lovely park and have taken early morning walks there for a few years now. Since Covid I have taken thousands of photos there and still find new things to photograph. It has also given me a passion for nature and the local wildlife.
My favorite way to practice is to visit a local park that I've been to many, many times over the past 20 years, and see if I can create something different each time. When I get a new piece of gear, this park is where I go test it out.
I love your realistic discussion about getting low. When I was younger I could squat down with the camera and sit there for several minutes. Now, my knees don't agree with me even trying it. I still try to get the camera low, but now I either kneel down on one knee, which isn't always comfortable, or I stand there with my butt up in the air, which I'm sure is a great sight for any passers by. The flip out screens have definitely been a help in this area too.
Boy, I can relate to your post! 80 years old and loving picture taking, but getting low is a challenge, yet I fully understand why you would want to include this in your picture taking.
Excellent channel. I would also add that whenever possible, be flexible. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to shoot a particular subject and come home with my favorite shots of something completely different and unexpected. This is particularly true with Fall color landscape shots, and wildlife. Don’t get discouraged when your wildlife isn’t at the same place that you’ve seen them for the past three months. Keep your eyes peeled for other possibilities!
Lighting. Lighting. Lighting.
Whether that's chasing golden light at dawn/dusk, or studio strobes/speedlights.
The difference between a snapshot AND a photo... is always lighting quality. Dollars to donuts, that local park looks unremarkable with harsh, contrasty sunlight from 10AM-4PM. Get there before dawn or at dusk? You'll undoubtedly have better light.
Your first point describes me perfectly. It seems like I am always waiting for the next trip to take photos. Between trips I watch RUclips videos on photography, read books and research articles on photography. And I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains, so your first point really hit home. Get out and practice in my local area! Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
What helped me was becoming a member of a a photo club. Having like minded people tell what they like, and more importantly what they think can be improved in my photos , helped me a lot.
I always enjoy your videos Mark. You have some great advice especially for beginners. Really enjoy your lightroom tutorials as well. I was wondering if you could maybe share in a future video your workflow for printing up your photos at home with your printer. My understanding is that there is editing for a website but there is additional editing to prepare an image for printing
That's really good advice. A couple of comments: 1. As part of "practicing," really get to know your camera. I see so many people thinking that buying more gear will make them better (of course, we all do to an extent), but many people really do not know how to use the gear they already have. 2. Getting lower is a real pain, literally, for me at 66 years old with an arthritic knee. I try a little. Some may want to consider a collapasable stool or camp stool; 3. So much of photography these days is about post-processing--Don't fall into the mantra "I can't learn Photoshop, etc." Yes you can. To me, Bridge and Photoshop are much easier than Lightroom, but to each his or her own. 4. Experiment. Try different angles, "weird" compositions, etc. Try processing an image in black and white, etc.
Mark I try my best to get everyone who talks to me about photography on to your channel, its great that you mentioned practice, it makes you aware and ready, you learn of conditions, time, seasons, and most of all the camera. brilliant piece of advice.
Being retired I shoot almost every day. I just returned from Acadia and I was so comfortable with addressing my various conditions because I've addressed them so many times locally. I agree the time spent "practicing " is very valuable. Thanks for your great videos.
Very powerful video. You hit the most important things. Your intro nailed my photography like you know me personally: read, watch videos, etc., while waiting for that “special place”.
Agreed!!! Practice makes you better,wayyy better, not perfect. I do wanted to thank you for this video, absolutely brilliant advice!!!
Hands down the best photography advice to date! I totally agree and will do it from now on! The pros in EVERYTHING continuously practice! It's time I start! Thanks for sharing!
Mark! You are in my head with this one! The first 2 minutes of this one described me EXACTLY! I guess I better start practicing.
The first piece of advice really hit home with me. It’s motivated me to pull my camera out, leave it somewhere easy to access and make it a point to just go out and practice at least once a week. I’m very guilty of sticking it in the closet until the next trip.
Thank you, Danny. I always get something out of your presentations. This session in particular, it sort of feel you’re speaking to me, giving me a gentle kick in the shin. I call myself “a professional beginner”, who goes to photo workshop, have a great learning and times, comes home , leave my camera bag in my mudroom meant to clean it before bringing into home office; often only to touch few times before go to another workshop. No wonder I am a perpetual beginner. I’ll do better, Danny, follow your advise closely. Thank you very much!!! ❤
Oh dear. Mark, how right you are. I was always guilty of your first comments about "doing more and thinking less". Good advice all round, thanks.
Thanks again Mark. Your lessons have changed my photo IQ and improved the quality of my photos. Forever grateful!
I try to go for a hike at least two Saturdays a month. I take my camera and have a goal of coming home with a subject or two that I have taken photos of. Sometimes the subject is not remarkable. Sometimes, it is a perfect setup for the light and some small flower or a set of leaves. When I get home, I review what I did and look at it with the thought of what I could have done better. What I learn, I apply on the next hike. Practicing the craft is important. Staying in shape is as well. Both can go together to enrich the opportunities when I go to bucket list place.
There’s were really practical and such helpful tips and I appreciate your transparency
Mark, you described me perfectly!!! I hve slowed down taking pictures but continue to watch videos on the subject. Thanks for the good advice!!!!
Makes perfect sense! Thanks for a great video.
Great advice, especially get low.
I'd just like to say two things about photographing your local area. One: if it ever becomes boring, that's because you haven't learned to see. The old advice on taking great photos is "f/8 and be there". That "be there" encapsulates many years' practising learning to see.
Two: in a hundred years, your neighborhood and your neighbors are going to be *really* exotic. You already live in a strange and wonderful place. There is no need to jump on a plane.
Excellent advice! I need to think less and click more! Thank you for what you do!!
One of your best videos !!!. Excellent recomendations !!!
Super advice on getting our there and practicing. Your composition talk also very beneficial. Thanks!
Thanks. Needed to hear that simple advice. That simple kick in the butt. I was thinking to much about gear and client relations and not practicing
Solid advice, especially #1. And because practising is so damn important, don't forget to apply this rule to #3 (composition).
Only "collecting" some information through articles or yt-videos is, once again, way too much thinking. In order to make it stick, you have to actually practise by analysing images yourself, and by consciously trying to apply select composition rules to your next shots. Otherwise it will all be lost, you know, like tears in rain.
I’ve had my camera put away for a while. I recently pulled out my equipment and remembered why I loved it, but need lots more practice.
Yep…been doing a lot of studying but not enough pressing the shutter! Good advice! Thanks!
Great advice again Mark, you have helped me alot with my photography in the past few years since I started to watch your videos. I definitely agree about practice, practice, practice!
Great to hear!
It's good to here confirmation about something you're already doing, although I never thought of it as practice but just because I love being outdoors. I'm lucky because we have several State parks between Denver (where I live) and Colorado Springs (where I work). Sometimess it turns out to be just a nice walk but often I come back with a pretty good picture, or at least one that I enjoy. I always get something out of your videos and look forward to each Wednesday.
Practice: The best advice ever! Thank you for the reminders.
Solid advice! As a relatively novice enthusiast, I sincerely appreciate these thoughtful nudges in the right direction. Many thanks!
Especially now with mirrorless. Activate electronic shutter and shoot away at crap. No shutter wear. Great advice. Practice imagination, experiment with DOF, experiment with perspective etc. Great advice. Learn about how yoir sensor behaves in different light at different ISO so you know what to expect when taking a real shot
Plain and simple and so true. Thank you Mark for these golden tips.
Always sage advice in your vids. I can always take, sometimes many things from these.
I practice all the time. I think you could advance this topic more with creating self-assignments of what you are going to practice. Things like shooting only in aperture prioroty, or only manual mode, or single focal lenghth, etc.. there are tons of things to practice depending on the level of the photographer and each of us have areas to improve. So practice with a purpose and then reflect on what was learned.
I am so guilty of thinking instead of shooting. I don't live in a beautiful scenic part of the country, so I accept that as an excuse for not going out with the camera. Thank you, I'll make the change!
Thanks Mark. I always enjoy your advice. I definitely need to get out and practice more. I think about it as shooting intentionally.
Sage advice Mark. I visit your channel often. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience. I practice regularly, visit areas of interest often, and look for a new vantage point or perspective or composition. But, perhaps my biggest struggle is with being able to articulate what I like or dislike. It's like lacking the vocabulary to express what is in my mind. Being able to describe things gives me a sense of purpose and direction. This is what currently occupies my thinking in between my practice. At 70 the part about getting lower is always preceeded with, how am I going to get back up. Cheers, the one handed southpaw.
Great video (as always).
Finding inspiration and purpose from taking the photos in the local neighbourhood for practice is as important as it is challenging.
Best damn photo video I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a lot of them by now. Makes perfect sense. Upsetting that it never occurred to me to actually practice. Thanks for that.
Great advice, Mark. I live in Oregon and, as you know, there's beauty all around me here. I think I'll go out this afternoon and practice photography.
wonderful thoughts Mark. I really appreciate your style and the content you talk about. It helps and inspires me every week.
I appreciate that!
4:09 - this is exactly why drone photography almost completely took over landscape photography. All of a sudden, in a matter of a couple of years, a completely new perspective was opened to people, one that was so far reserved only for a few moments for a few people.
I really like your 'back to basics' approach which is in many of your videos. The most important tool for learning is reflection for me, both in looking at my own photos and those from other people. Looking forwards to your next video & thank you for the past ones.
Awesome, thank you!
Exceptional video Mark! Spot on advice for the majority of us all.
As a new photography hobbyist 90% of my snapping takes place in my back garden. I pick up my camera every day and practice a technique, or specific composition or mastering a specific camera setting. This week its macro so I am annoying a couple of spiders who have kindly spun their webs at eye-level. Whilst I'm in the garden I use the kneeling device that I use when weeding to get me up off the floor, but I'd feel a bit silly dragging that round to local beauty spots! 😊 😊.
Don’t worry so much about looking “silly” using your “aid”...!!! It’s a part of aging that some of us get “less agile” as the years go by. AIDS, such as canes and scooters become more a part of your life. If you need something to advance your photography skills, use it!!!😀
Great advice! Live your screen wallpaper… one of your best!
Your first piece of advice definitely resonates with me. It’s easy to look at fantastic photos and assume that it’s the location that makes them special. My gear sits in the cupboard because I feel like there’s nothing worth shooting. I live on the edge of a Green Belt so there’s nothing but forests and country parks for miles. I think I just need to get out there more.
Thanks for the always exceptional advice!
Ha!! Started watching this as I sit in the golf range …. And I did actually played golf at a course for the first time ever, it was a company event and I fell in love.
Two things I do to improve my photography. One is I use my local area firstly is if can't get good photos there the myth is the other man's grass is always greener. Next getting to use my equipment tripods can be a nightmare. Your equipment should be like a pair of comfortable shoes not a rubric cube nightmare assembly. My tripod allows me to shoot low. I carry cheap bin bags to place on the ground to sit on . I am nearly 70 but getting low Is necessary use a mono pod to lever your self up off the ground. I totally endorsed your blog. Shooting local means you can go back till you get it right. And your local is someone else's out of town shoot. Learn to crop into your photos I missed many a interesting shoot first time but by cropping in on screen helped me to see where some shoots are or a different angle would work then reshoot using All your frame .lastly light I learned the best time of day to shoot the local tree.also seasons learn what comes out in the season everyone know the fall is great for those Redding tree leave. But mushroom make great photos find out where the mushrooms live . Good advice I agree totally with your blog.
Great advice Mark. I was in this exact rut getting bored with my local area and then studying and watching RUclips videos. I'm going to get out and do some shooting!
You've taken me from idle to inspired in one video! Thanks Mark 🙌
Very well put. Thank you.
Great video ! thank you so much.
Facts! 🎯 Great video.
Such good advice. I have spent so many hours watching photography videos compared to actually going out and shooting.
These are great reminders even for long time photographers! I especially like the perspective tip. I do tend to stay on the tripod but will make a point of getting down low next time I go out to shoot. Thanks!
I relate. Outstanding advice!!!
👍🏼👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼🫶🏼🤗
Brilliant video, just described me, too much theory, not enough practice. Thank you😊
This is helpful. In April, I plan to visit friends in Holland where I will spend a lot of time taking pictures of the tulips. So, I've been watching videos and thinking about where I will shoot. Since I live on the Mekong Delta, I will begin taking pictures of lotuses and water lillies in order to prepare. Thanks, Mark.
All great advice, but the best one is the first one: practice! As you noted, anything we want to do well, we would practice regularly. This inspires me to get out there and photograph more. No excuse: I am retired and live in Florida. NO EXCUSE! Thank you again. I love all your videos, but especially the more recent ones.
Another very useful and thought provoking video. Thanks for sharing with us, Mark.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video as always. ❤
I go to my local park specifically to practice all the time, although more in a wildlife sense than landscapes. It's amazing how quickly you pick up being able to centre a bird in your 600mm scope when you just stand there and try it over and over. At first it feels impossible but then it becomes like an extension of your eyeballs. You just raise your camera and there's the thing you were aiming for.
I actually went out practicing today in my hometown, Milwaukee. I was on my bicycle, which slows me down and makes it real easy to stop and take photos. On my way home, I ended up underneath the Marquette Interchange. I've driven on it thousands of times. I've even photographed it from what you normally see from above. But I had never stood underneath it. So I photographed the tangled mess of ramps from ground level. I can't say I'm in love with the results, but it was definitely worth-while practice. It was something I had not planned on photographing. I was in the moment, looking around and making some decisions on what might be interesting. And since it's in my hometown, I can easily go back and photograph it again. I used to see something I had previously photographed and pass it up. Now I usually stop and tell myself to do it again. Do it differently or maybe better.
Very valid points in this video. And the best part is you can combine them!
Glad you think so!
I'm no photographer, but It's a hobby I am very passionate about. I go out and practice everyday all those things you mention in this video.
I go multiple times a year to the local zoo, botanical gardens, parks etc. to practice and give my camera a workout. Also to keep dialing in settings further and just play around with different settings for when the big trips come.
Mark, I love your videos in content and pleasant delivery. Every now and then you get excited or ahead in your thinking that you say something that cracks me up. About 5:35 you make an awesome point, "Nine times out of ten you can always do that." :) Exactly.
Excellent advice. These really are pillars of great photography practice
Great advice! Thanks.
Thanks for all good advice. As some others have noted, you need to love your mistakes and learn from them. In order to learn from mistakes, you need to take a lot of photos of the same topic, over time, from different angles, lighting and lens. As the saying goes, perfection is the enemy of the good. Practice to get really good.
Good sound advice Mark, I agree with all the points you make in particular you allude to getting how your camera works into "muscle memory" so using your equipment becomes second nature, you don't need to think. That way you focus ( sorry for the pun ) on making images and not on wrestling technology to give you what you're trying to capture.
Precious advices thank you.
I am an amateur photographer but try to get out at least once a week with my camera to practice and learn better techniques. I also enjoy learning about the wildlife I often shoot.
#1 is Spot On! I need to find my motivation, even though I live in Indiana. One puece of advice I learned from Rick Sammon is "look behind you". I have discovered many great compositions that way!
I was at an exotic car event and someone asked why I was taking shots low to the ground. I took one at eye level of the same Audi R8 and showed them the difference. They were stunned at how much better it looked from bumper height vs looking down. I tried getting lower this week with a whitetail deer, and it looks more impressive to see them at their height. I adopted your shoot low when I first heard it, and it really does change things.
This is the first video I've watched that I can honestly say I do this! We go to local wildlife areas and do long walks. I have so many pics of the same type of birds but I can see how much better they are now. I'm still learning. One thing I realized is using my old camera really taught me a lot. I used my Sony A6000 and struggled in low light and a lot of soft pictures.When I finally took better pictures I wanted to upgrade. I bought the Sony A6700 and invested in a Sigma 150-600 mm lens for our Yellowstone trip. Having to change my shutter and ISO so much really taught me more than starting with a camera that handles low light. Plus side of this is getting outside and getting exercise.
I literally turned on this video and started looking through my photos and stopped listening 😂(of course I rewinded and watched it again, and that's so true)
On 'perspective' - 100%. Great aids are a fully articulating screen (my knees love them) and a monopod with a remote (facilitates access to all manner of awkward places and angles). On 'composition' - don't feel the need to limit this study to photography... this stuff has been worked on in the visual arts for millennia. PS - really enjoy your content and manner. Cheers and all the best.
Wow that first bit of advice is what I needed to hear.