That's disappointing. I guess I will not be getting the naked pictures of you I paid for. Bummer. Something tells me PayPal's Friends and Family doesn't offer protections for this. Oh, and the reason other people get amazing photos when I do not.... they are taking pictures of me. ;)
I want to let you know that you've revived my interest in photography. I've been shooting as a hobby for about twelve years but recently have found myself not willing to put in the effort. A couple of weeks ago I watched one of your videos and I liked your down to earth delivery. You are very knowledgeable and your photos are gorgeous. The feeling of excitement I used to feel about getting out there is starting to bubble back to the surface. Thank you.
Simon you are a true master … I can’t thank you enough for imparting your great wisdom and knowledge for my greatest and only passion … your intro, rocks my damaged heart and soul .. brings me to tears .. the voice and you images and video or truly beautiful thank you
I teach outdoor photography in the local arts center where I live and I always tell the classes that the single greatest tip I can give them is the one they will most likely ignore. That tip is to "put yourselves in a place and situation where good things might happen and do it as often as you can." The participants often want the secret, the magic bullet and in my opinion, that is it. I usually go on to say that "I've never had a single goose fly through my living room while I was sitting on the sofa." They laugh but it is true. My best shots are often on those days when I really don't want to go out in the cold and dark before sunrise to be in a place where something good has a reasonable chance of happening. I rarely get home on those days and regret having gone out, even if I didn't get a great shot.
A tutorial appeared on my RUclips & I'm so pleased that it did !!! I've been watching your precise explanations ever since. A sincere thank you for sharing your knowledge so clearly.
I've had cameras for years, but I just shot them, and that was it. After watching your videos, as I said before you made me love photography. Now I hold my camera with joy in my heart.
Pertaining to wedding photography: There is a moment after the ceremony when the couple walks back up the isle as a newly married couple, and they will ALWAYS have a moment out in the foyer of the church before the guests are dismissed. It's a an intensely exciting moment for them, and if you are ready, you will get some of the most amazing photographs of just the two of them in pure bliss, because they are so in love, and they aren't paying attention to you at all! Look for a pleasing background, position yourself ahead of time, and you will have about 10-30 seconds before everybody comes out of the church. That's one way you can create your own luck. Thanks for posting!
I recently discovered an Audubon area nearby that is part of a larger park. By purchasing a yearly membership, I can take advantage of early hours and get there when the sun is coming up. I hate getting up early, but when I do, I always am glad because the animals are more active, and the light is so much better than later in the day. Last week when I got there a heavy mist was hanging over the water of the swamp. It made for a magical experience worth the trouble even if I hadn't gotten a single photo. The more I go, the more I learn about where and when I need to be, and the settings necessary to get a good shot. I need to discover some more good locations, but I can consistently get "keepers" here, and a couple other sites in my area.
THANK YOU! I was always under the assumption that professional photographers took a handful of pictures and they were all perfect photos because they were professionals. To hear you say you may have a few good photos out of a thousand really hits home with me. I'm 61 years old and have decided to learn more about photography and find your videos to be the best! Again, thank you.
The tip to have fast action settings enabled whenever moving around is golden. Also the tip to avoid looking at the last shot right away reminds me of birding advice I used to give newcomers. I used to have to tell them not to peek at the bird and go immediately to the field guide. They'd often realize they needed another diagnostic trait and by that time the bird was gone.
Simon, your knowledge and wisdom of photography is second to none. Just like your ready for your next shot, I am always ready for your next RUclips post!
This is a topic that very few folks talk about during wildlife photography, or any skill based hobby to be honest. Developing the humility and patience to keep trying is hard, especially in our current "everything on-demand" world we live in. I started photography to slow down and pay attention to the details. It's really nice to see someone talking about this, the world needs more of these kinds of lessons. This video is about photography, but the wisdom applies to many more things in life.
I used to shoot motorsport, but this all still applies. I used to plan my days and angles based on the light. The smart ones all do. The second tip was finding locations no one else would shoot. You need to get something different to stand out. The best motorsport photo I ever nailed was because no one else was there. I knew what I wanted, I planned it 3 days earlier when I spotted sparks, and I knew I could only get the shot after sunset. No one else got the shot. The best landscape photo I got came from patience and watching. I knew I nailed it the second the shutter closed, and left the location before reviewing. In my experience, it’s never just dumb luck.
Yet another brilliant video. One of the main things I like is that your videos is they are direct to the point of what the title of the video is. Many videos go around the houses, just to pad out the time and little to do with the subject matter.
You're quickly becoming my favorite photography teacher. You don't read a script and that helps a lot with your credibility, YOU know what you're talking about. Excellent channel!
You hit the nail on the head ! I've been practicing photography for over 50 years. The one phrase that really chaps me is when someone say's, "you must have a really good camera" when I have captured a very good image. One time I just handed her the camera. I said, here you try it and let's see your results, after all its just the camera. They caught on. . I use just a medium grade Nikon. I've been with people with $10-$15k worth of gear and they use "A" (automatic) like a simple point & shoot and then wonder why they're not getting good results.
These kinds of videos are exactly what people should be watching if they want to pick up photography. Not downplaying all others great reviews of new equipment, tools are important without a doubt, however tutorials on knowledge, skills and crucially, the building-up of a photographer's mind are well underappreciated, and imho are what really bring one's photos to another level.
So nice to finally hear somebody w skill , getting burned out w all the social media videos from those who claim to be “photographers” w out having much understanding of the craft. Most of the great shots are not reactionary but come from observations. Thanks for the reminder👍🏻
My interests include entomology. I've worked in that field for nearly 40 years. A friend told me that his wife always wanted to catch a great photo of a dragonfly but they always flew off when she approached a static subject, on a reed for example. I told him that dragonflies are territorial and have 'roosts' where they rest whilst patrolling their territory. In other words, forget the first shot but set up and wait for it to return. Worked a treat... one very happy couple.
You’re so lucky to have all these subscribers 😅! Love that line, “funny, the more I practice, the luckier I get”! So so true. Have you ever had someone see your photo and then say, “What camera do you use”? Or “I can’t afford an expensive camera like that” 😅. Um, yeah, clearly the beautiful image was because of the camera. Thanks so much Simon!!!
You are very quickly becoming my fav You Tuber. You just break it all down to good old fashioned common sense. As a newer photographer, I really get in my own way.
The thing with "going out more often" is important in my opinion. I made so many bad photos (still do!). But the thing is: I am learning from them. And now I get a better ratio of good to bad photos - because I am learning what works and what not. Also watching videos like yours helps me a lot. Going out more often also makes me better at handling the equipment. I usually go to a nearby pond to gain experience with my (new) equipment so I know how to handle it and play around.
Exactly! My "good shot to bad shot ratio" is getting better with every shot no matter if bad or good aswell. Reaching the limits of my kit lens tho, maybe some day when having the appropriate amount of funds I will be able to shoot the moon
there are a lot of self called teachers on photography here in RUclips... This video is probably the best photographic teaching I have seen in more than 30 years. Simple, "in deep", clear and backed for personal practice no for articles on some magazine wrote by an idiot with a camera. I really thank you for teach the beginner really technical points to obtain wonderful pictures out of any decent camera with a decent lens on. One more time Thank You and keep up the good work!!!.
7:25 yes yes!! I'm a newbie but I totally relate to that advice. I disabled the photo preview on the screen so that I dont even have the impulse to go and check it. Thanks a lot for all your wisdom
I like your definition of "LUCK". Another I heard decades ago that has stuck with me: "Luck is where preparation meets opportunity." And in the context of your tutorial here (and in so many others), you can do much to create your own opportunity. Obviously weather and other conditions can be obstacles, but persistence seems to be a key factor of overcoming such - prepare, overcome, succeed. Thank you for your excellent content.
Realizing I’ve become a huge fan of you videos! Your style is so direct, blunt and straight to the point, that I get really eager to learn more, get out and practice. At the same time you keep it nice and friendly. Thanks for all the knowledge!
Thank you for these videos. You’re by far my favorite YT source for photography tips: practical, easy to understand, & well-demonstrated. And you get right into it, unlike some who want to tell a long anecdote before getting to the point. Looking forward to digging back through more of your videos!
I started as a still photographer but moved into tv and moving pictures. I am always fond of photographers who use available light. This can be in films like Days of Heaven or the Kubrick pictures (he was a street photographer). Finding that moment is so important. Often for me it's a reaction on a walk or getting to work early or leaving late. In the film business we call the late sun magic hour. And the new cameras can extend it to an hour. Film cameras could get you half an hour. Great channel. Thanks.
I loved this video so much. I love how fast paced it was but was super clear and informative. Those 10 minutes went in a blink of a eye but I learnt heaps. Plus those photos and videos are outstanding! Thanks for your advice 🔥🔥
So many excellent, sensible tips in one short video. Perhaps the most important is accept that you will fail more often than you will succeed and don't be discouraged by this. Thanks.
I love using golden hour but i also love blue hour. After sunset i always stay and hang around the beach when i’m at the Dutch coast. Most photographers disappear as soon the sun is gone,i still get amazed about it because after sunset with blue hour i shot awesome pictures with incredible lights and colors. Another bonus is being alone at the beach after sunset, really love that ❤
I love the quote "The more I practice, the luckier I get" I've always believed basically this. Not that you make your own luck but more of a narrowing of the odds. There is always an element of luck in achieving anything but the better you are at it, it increases the odds of success / puts you in the position to get those "lucky" shots all the more often. Luck is the random chance a loose ball bounces right for you to be able to reach it, skill is being in a position to take advantage of it / nailing the catch.
It all leads to recognizing patterns. The more you look the more you'll see and learn. Knowing the tricks in the video, one can increase the ammount of chances. I remember taking some pictures of a cityscape from a viewpoint. Suddenly, pigeons flew through my pic, but I wasn't ready. I stayed at the location and realised, those pigeons would land and start from the same point and fly the same route everytime someone passed by. In the end, I took dozens of shots with different variations and got even one, where the flock of pigeons had the form of a bird (like the twitter logo). People would call me lucky for that shot.
Would like to say thank you! The way you present, and the info you share I find most valuable. You help de- mystify some of the stumbling blocks I have , with my photography. Thanks again
Back in the late 60s, long before digital cameras, my high school photography teacher taught us his philosophy. If you go out and shoot 5 rolls of film (say about 150 images) and you find 2 that are worth enlarging, consider that a very good day. Today it is so much easier, so much faster, and so much less expensive to have that very good day than it was back then.
I would have to say, of all the photography videos I've watched on youtube, giving instructions and sharing techniques, Simon has them all beat. I learn so much in one video, thanks.
This is a great philosophy for sports and almost everything else in life. Keep doing your best to create opportunities for things to happen. Make the unpredictable 'luck' element the last and smallest factor of your success.
This is precious knowledge, accumulated over years of experience, beautifully and consicely presented. We are lucky to have people like you sharing their knowledge. Thank you.
This may be about increasing your opportunities for great shots but, seriously, this video could be shown in classes on how to present a RUclips video! Maybe I'm just hyper aware of this because I'm attempting a RUclips channel with next to no background in production, videography or photography... but this is a near perfect RUclips presentation! There are so many subtle nuances at every moment that are "just right". When I watch your videos I'm learning MUCH more than just the subject of the videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Simon as a followup to last weeks episode, if you read to the very end I will tell you 2 reasons why your channel is becoming so successful and one thing you shouldn’t change. #1 You're sharp #2 You don’t beat around the bush. If you keep doing the same thing you will get the same results and in your case that’s a good thing. At least that’s the way this sailor sees it ~_/)_~
@@simon_dentremont very true I’m a photographer of 5 years and my family has one of the best in the world. Yet I watch your videos even though every title I think “I know the answer” you always add an extra special sauce.
Many years ago I followed a videography course in a local arts center. From all the various things I picked up, the most important one was that a lot of events are actually quite predictable if you think about them, so you can plan for and anticipate them. Humans act fairly predictable most of the time, and animals too, if you know their habits. Your tips are therefore not only usefull for nature photography but also for 'human' photography (as humans are just animals too ofcourse). And ofcourse the best tips are the ones where you think "Why haven't I thought about that before?". I'll setup an action-mode preset in my camera too and leave it on that while on the move.
The late Galen Rowell evolved from a climber who took photos, to a photographer who incorporated his skills to get into places to capture striking shots no one else could reach. His first eureka moment came when Nat Geo contracted him to shoot a Half Dome ascent, and gave him like 35 rolls of Kodachrome, maybe ten times what he was used to taking - any shot taken is better than the shot missed. His famous rainbow over the Potala in Tibet he saw coming, but required he sprinted hundreds of vertical feet up a hillside, to get the composition in the waning light - something few others would have been able to accomplish. Digital frees us from a film budget, which could make us lazy; take lots, with thought beforehand, then critique results, then learn, adjust, refine, repeat. Adams and Eliot Porter and Ed Weston's gear was very mediocre by our standards, but they knew how to make the most of exposure, filters, developing and printing.
Simon, thank you very much for this video. Not only did you lay out what should be common sense considerations for us, you do so in a way that encourages us to be better photographers and you bare your humanity, letting us know that every image you capture isn’t gold. Thank you for the encouragement - I’m sure this video will cause a significant incremental improvement in my photography! Thank you once again.😊
Simon, I'm new to your chanel and am loving it! Thank you. Information like this proves that while gear won't make you a better photographer, it does matter, and depending on what you are trying to do, it matters a lot. As a hobbyist, I have what I call a "my first DSLR" from 2016 and there are ZERO programmable buttons on the camera. I'm forced to go to the menu and futz with my settings to change anything other than shutter speed. Knowing this, I have started doing exactly what you said and change my settings while I'm moving to the next location, so in that sense, the limitation is a good thing because it forces me to think ahead.
You Sir are a great inspiration! I just want to say Thank You for the time you take in making these educational videos. I've been an armature photographer for 15 years & have only gotten better in the past few months from your videos! Just started taking my RX10 IV (7 years old & the best camera I've ever had!) to a reserve with hundreds of Tree Swallows, so much fun to photograph in action!
Great tips, great insight, thank you! One thing i have learned to improve your wildlife shots is: train at the local zoo. Not kidding. Zoos provide anything you need to check out your gear, lenses and learn what condition it needs. For instance: My sony 200-600 lens has F6.3 at 600. If i want to catch something with that i have to crank up iso to geht the shot @ 1/2000 shutter. I also learned that this lens af works much better when overexpose 1-1.5 steps.
Hi Simon. I may have said it here before but for me luck is when preparation meets opportunity. I can’t say it any more simply than that. I did see once a picture that defined this unexpectedly. A woman was walking up a stairway from a ravine here in Toronto. She had her iPhone out and facing forward. A deer jumped over the stairway in front of her just feet away. She snapped the picture and it was a memorable shot. Great tips as always, especially the last one.
Finally a tutorial for pros. I will share your site with my friends. They all teach photography but you are exceptional. Thank you. yosaif cohain from Israel
Absolutely love your channel, always waiting on the next week 😁 it has enabled me to go out and get some great shots of the local wildlife. Keep up the great work your channel truly is a breath of fresh air!
Once again an excellent and impressive video. One of the things that stands out in all that I have seen in the attention to detail and the step by step presentation. Thank you
You said in this video get good photos with what ever gear they have. I agree. I use two cameras a canon rebel xs that 16 years old and i get great photos with it i also use a canon rebel t7 with equal results. I have three lens i use canon 18 55mm 75 300mm and a sigma 150-600 and im getting great results. The best gear is the gear you have that you use everyday which i do and it only needs replace when it worn out which i had to do with the canon 75-300mm. I wore out my first on after using it for 12 years. The first one was a used lens that was given to me and I'm not sure how old it was then. Thatnks for your great videos.
Excellent tips. I've only been shooting about a year, and I've learned so much from watching your videos. I've developed a love of light and shadows in my landscape photos, and just watching this video I know now where I got that from. Thanks
Great video, and it's so true what you are saying. I have multiple locations, all weather and light dependent. If it's raining and diffuse light, i tend to shoot long exposure photos of water streams in the forrest. I find that there is always something interesting one can do, no matter the weather. Another thing is that i always find new inspiration in videos like yours. 😊
I absolutely loved this tutorial about lucky shots! Thanks so much for the explanation and sharing about how many pics you’ve taken to get the one lucky shot. I appreciate it!
Thank you, Simon. Videos like this validate my stepping out on my photo walks with my dog. Lots of great photos of my dog, as I try to teach myself the basics.
An old press photography saying that I heard one time goes something like f8 and be there. As a wildlife and nature photographer I try to do the same thing when I am shooting. Great video as always
These are all great and true tips I share with my friends and colleagues. I’ve had some people accuse me of using Photoshop to do things that I simply got in camera because I know how light behaves, when and where to be, and how my camera functions. “That must’ve been photoshopped,” they say. But all I really did was a bit of minor correction in the Photos app on my iPad with a nearly perfect photo to begin with.
It seems to me that with todays photography, it isn't considered complete until it's been processed in photoshop so much that it barely looks like a photograph anymore. Why must we do that to our photos for them to be critiqued favorably? What happened to getting it right in camera?
There are scammers pretending to be me and offering prizes via telegram. Stay away and report them! Thanks!
That's disappointing. I guess I will not be getting the naked pictures of you I paid for. Bummer. Something tells me PayPal's Friends and Family doesn't offer protections for this.
Oh, and the reason other people get amazing photos when I do not.... they are taking pictures of me. ;)
Our prize is the knowledge you give in your videos! ;-). Thank you for sharing it! This is invaluable and great!
I want to let you know that you've revived my interest in photography. I've been shooting as a hobby for about twelve years but recently have found myself not willing to put in the effort. A couple of weeks ago I watched one of your videos and I liked your down to earth delivery. You are very knowledgeable and your photos are gorgeous. The feeling of excitement I used to feel about getting out there is starting to bubble back to the surface. Thank you.
Simon you are a true master … I can’t thank you enough for imparting your great wisdom and knowledge for my greatest and only passion … your intro, rocks my damaged heart and soul .. brings me to tears .. the voice and you images and video or truly beautiful thank you
Thank you for these amazing videos, they are amazing.
I teach outdoor photography in the local arts center where I live and I always tell the classes that the single greatest tip I can give them is the one they will most likely ignore. That tip is to "put yourselves in a place and situation where good things might happen and do it as often as you can." The participants often want the secret, the magic bullet and in my opinion, that is it. I usually go on to say that "I've never had a single goose fly through my living room while I was sitting on the sofa." They laugh but it is true. My best shots are often on those days when I really don't want to go out in the cold and dark before sunrise to be in a place where something good has a reasonable chance of happening. I rarely get home on those days and regret having gone out, even if I didn't get a great shot.
Great points!
So true! Someone once asked me the secret to my photos, and my reply was “i just go to places so interesting I can’t miss.“
nice one.
A tutorial appeared on my RUclips & I'm so pleased that it did !!!
I've been watching your precise explanations ever since.
A sincere thank you for sharing your knowledge so clearly.
Dang that was poetic!
I've had cameras for years, but I just shot them, and that was it. After watching your videos, as I said before you made me love photography. Now I hold my camera with joy in my heart.
Someone asked Ansel Adams what is his secret to photography, he said "knowing where to stand."
Right!
Another one from Angel Adams; “Chance favors the prepared mind.”
Cartier-Bresson said: "The world is coming apart at the seams, and Ansel is taking pictures of rocks."
@@terryallen9546 Maybe we should be taking more pictures of rocks
@@billbeverly2864 No doubt. Our leaders don't want us to document their behavior anyway.
So far the best photography RUclips channel. Straight to the points, no BS, good command and very analytical. Good job
Thanks very much!
Pertaining to wedding photography: There is a moment after the ceremony when the couple walks back up the isle as a newly married couple, and they will ALWAYS have a moment out in the foyer of the church before the guests are dismissed. It's a an intensely exciting moment for them, and if you are ready, you will get some of the most amazing photographs of just the two of them in pure bliss, because they are so in love, and they aren't paying attention to you at all! Look for a pleasing background, position yourself ahead of time, and you will have about 10-30 seconds before everybody comes out of the church. That's one way you can create your own luck. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for sharing!
I recently discovered an Audubon area nearby that is part of a larger park. By purchasing a yearly membership, I can take advantage of early hours and get there when the sun is coming up. I hate getting up early, but when I do, I always am glad because the animals are more active, and the light is so much better than later in the day. Last week when I got there a heavy mist was hanging over the water of the swamp. It made for a magical experience worth the trouble even if I hadn't gotten a single photo. The more I go, the more I learn about where and when I need to be, and the settings necessary to get a good shot. I need to discover some more good locations, but I can consistently get "keepers" here, and a couple other sites in my area.
THANK YOU! I was always under the assumption that professional photographers took a handful of pictures and they were all perfect photos because they were professionals. To hear you say you may have a few good photos out of a thousand really hits home with me. I'm 61 years old and have decided to learn more about photography and find your videos to be the best! Again, thank you.
The tip to have fast action settings enabled whenever moving around is golden.
Also the tip to avoid looking at the last shot right away reminds me of birding advice I used to give newcomers. I used to have to tell them not to peek at the bird and go immediately to the field guide. They'd often realize they needed another diagnostic trait and by that time the bird was gone.
Right!
Simon, your knowledge and wisdom of photography is second to none. Just like your ready for your next shot, I am always ready for your next RUclips post!
Just set your back button to Simon's YouTUbe channel.
Thanks so much!
@@AlOne-xg6dv haha awsome
Me too!!!!!
This is a topic that very few folks talk about during wildlife photography, or any skill based hobby to be honest. Developing the humility and patience to keep trying is hard, especially in our current "everything on-demand" world we live in. I started photography to slow down and pay attention to the details.
It's really nice to see someone talking about this, the world needs more of these kinds of lessons. This video is about photography, but the wisdom applies to many more things in life.
Very kind and well described.
I agree 100%
I used to shoot motorsport, but this all still applies. I used to plan my days and angles based on the light. The smart ones all do.
The second tip was finding locations no one else would shoot. You need to get something different to stand out.
The best motorsport photo I ever nailed was because no one else was there. I knew what I wanted, I planned it 3 days earlier when I spotted sparks, and I knew I could only get the shot after sunset. No one else got the shot.
The best landscape photo I got came from patience and watching. I knew I nailed it the second the shutter closed, and left the location before reviewing.
In my experience, it’s never just dumb luck.
Yet another brilliant video. One of the main things I like is that your videos is they are direct to the point of what the title of the video is. Many videos go around the houses, just to pad out the time and little to do with the subject matter.
Glad you like them!
The youtube channel might be new but the content oozes experience and savviness like no other. Way to go, Simon!
You're quickly becoming my favorite photography teacher. You don't read a script and that helps a lot with your credibility, YOU know what you're talking about. Excellent channel!
Wow, thank you!
You hit the nail on the head ! I've been practicing photography for over 50 years. The one phrase that really chaps me is when someone say's, "you must have a really good camera" when I have captured a very good image. One time I just handed her the camera. I said, here you try it and let's see your results, after all its just the camera. They caught on. . I use just a medium grade Nikon. I've been with people with $10-$15k worth of gear and they use "A" (automatic) like a simple point & shoot and then wonder why they're not getting good results.
These kinds of videos are exactly what people should be watching if they want to pick up photography. Not downplaying all others great reviews of new equipment, tools are important without a doubt, however tutorials on knowledge, skills and crucially, the building-up of a photographer's mind are well underappreciated, and imho are what really bring one's photos to another level.
This could be one of the single best videos for "Photography Tips" I've ever seen. This guy is truly LUCKy!
So nice to finally hear somebody w skill , getting burned out w all the social media videos from those who claim to be “photographers” w out having much understanding of the craft. Most of the great shots are not reactionary but come from observations. Thanks for the reminder👍🏻
My interests include entomology. I've worked in that field for nearly 40 years. A friend told me that his wife always wanted to catch a great photo of a dragonfly but they always flew off when she approached a static subject, on a reed for example. I told him that dragonflies are territorial and have 'roosts' where they rest whilst patrolling their territory. In other words, forget the first shot but set up and wait for it to return. Worked a treat... one very happy couple.
You’re so lucky to have all these subscribers 😅! Love that line, “funny, the more I practice, the luckier I get”! So so true. Have you ever had someone see your photo and then say, “What camera do you use”? Or “I can’t afford an expensive camera like that” 😅. Um, yeah, clearly the beautiful image was because of the camera. Thanks so much Simon!!!
You are very quickly becoming my fav You Tuber. You just break it all down to good old fashioned common sense. As a newer photographer, I really get in my own way.
This has recently become one of my regular sources for camera info. Thanks for your videos, Simon. Much appreciated.
It's all about FECO: focus, exposure, composition and opportunity.
So if they say luck, you can tell them "FECO!" 😊
Great video!
The thing with "going out more often" is important in my opinion. I made so many bad photos (still do!). But the thing is: I am learning from them. And now I get a better ratio of good to bad photos - because I am learning what works and what not. Also watching videos like yours helps me a lot.
Going out more often also makes me better at handling the equipment. I usually go to a nearby pond to gain experience with my (new) equipment so I know how to handle it and play around.
Exactly! My "good shot to bad shot ratio" is getting better with every shot no matter if bad or good aswell. Reaching the limits of my kit lens tho, maybe some day when having the appropriate amount of funds I will be able to shoot the moon
there are a lot of self called teachers on photography here in RUclips... This video is probably the best photographic teaching I have seen in more than 30 years. Simple, "in deep", clear and backed for personal practice no for articles on some magazine wrote by an idiot with a camera. I really thank you for teach the beginner really technical points to obtain wonderful pictures out of any decent camera with a decent lens on. One more time Thank You and keep up the good work!!!.
Very kind!
7:25 yes yes!! I'm a newbie but I totally relate to that advice. I disabled the photo preview on the screen so that I dont even have the impulse to go and check it. Thanks a lot for all your wisdom
The more I train, the more chances I have, the more I watch videos of Simon, the luckier I am.
Thanks Simon.
And good luck to all.
I've always liked the saying..." Luck is when opportunity meets preparation".
You’re my new favorite Photography Expert. Honest to goodness advise and tips. Thanks sir.
I like your definition of "LUCK". Another I heard decades ago that has stuck with me: "Luck is where preparation meets opportunity." And in the context of your tutorial here (and in so many others), you can do much to create your own opportunity. Obviously weather and other conditions can be obstacles, but persistence seems to be a key factor of overcoming such - prepare, overcome, succeed. Thank you for your excellent content.
I have never done what you do; but no doubt, you speak the truth! This one video teaches so much! Thank you!
Realizing I’ve become a huge fan of you videos! Your style is so direct, blunt and straight to the point, that I get really eager to learn more, get out and practice. At the same time you keep it nice and friendly. Thanks for all the knowledge!
Thank you for these videos. You’re by far my favorite YT source for photography tips: practical, easy to understand, & well-demonstrated. And you get right into it, unlike some who want to tell a long anecdote before getting to the point. Looking forward to digging back through more of your videos!
I started as a still photographer but moved into tv and moving pictures. I am always fond of photographers who use available light. This can be in films like Days of Heaven or the Kubrick pictures (he was a street photographer). Finding that moment is so important. Often for me it's a reaction on a walk or getting to work early or leaving late. In the film business we call the late sun magic hour. And the new cameras can extend it to an hour. Film cameras could get you half an hour. Great channel. Thanks.
Boy am I lucky to find this channel! Thanks for taking the time to make these.
You are one LUCKY bastard alright. Those pictures are really something to be proud off for sure. WELL DONE.
I loved this video so much. I love how fast paced it was but was super clear and informative. Those 10 minutes went in a blink of a eye but I learnt heaps. Plus those photos and videos are outstanding! Thanks for your advice 🔥🔥
So many excellent, sensible tips in one short video. Perhaps the most important is accept that you will fail more often than you will succeed and don't be discouraged by this. Thanks.
You are an incredible and generous teacher!!!! Thankyou for doing what you love to do because I learn so much from your videos!!! Toronto here!!!!
I love using golden hour but i also love blue hour. After sunset i always stay and hang around the beach when i’m at the Dutch coast. Most photographers disappear as soon the sun is gone,i still get amazed about it because after sunset with blue hour i shot awesome pictures with incredible lights and colors. Another bonus is being alone at the beach after sunset, really love that ❤
Love these Video's, I have often watched most of them several times. I learn something new each time. Thank You Sir. And have a wonderful Trip
I love the quote "The more I practice, the luckier I get"
I've always believed basically this. Not that you make your own luck but more of a narrowing of the odds.
There is always an element of luck in achieving anything but the better you are at it, it increases the odds of success / puts you in the position to get those "lucky" shots all the more often.
Luck is the random chance a loose ball bounces right for you to be able to reach it, skill is being in a position to take advantage of it / nailing the catch.
It all leads to recognizing patterns. The more you look the more you'll see and learn. Knowing the tricks in the video, one can increase the ammount of chances. I remember taking some pictures of a cityscape from a viewpoint. Suddenly, pigeons flew through my pic, but I wasn't ready. I stayed at the location and realised, those pigeons would land and start from the same point and fly the same route everytime someone passed by. In the end, I took dozens of shots with different variations and got even one, where the flock of pigeons had the form of a bird (like the twitter logo). People would call me lucky for that shot.
I'm lucky because I found this channel. Thanks Gavin. Simon, you lessons are fantastic.
Clearly a gift. And so grateful that you 're mentoring others including me. Thank you kindly sr!
Would like to say thank you!
The way you present, and the info you share I find most valuable. You help de- mystify some of the stumbling blocks I have , with my photography.
Thanks again
Back in the late 60s, long before digital cameras, my high school photography teacher taught us his philosophy. If you go out and shoot 5 rolls of film (say about 150 images) and you find 2 that are worth enlarging, consider that a very good day. Today it is so much easier, so much faster, and so much less expensive to have that very good day than it was back then.
I would have to say, of all the photography videos I've watched on youtube, giving instructions and sharing techniques, Simon has them all beat. I learn so much in one video, thanks.
Outstanding advice! Your “lucky” photos are as Milton said “the residue of design”. Stunning work, sir!
I love your teaching style and you're work and knowledge literally speaks for itself. Please continue making videos!
This is a great philosophy for sports and almost everything else in life. Keep doing your best to create opportunities for things to happen. Make the unpredictable 'luck' element the last and smallest factor of your success.
This is precious knowledge, accumulated over years of experience, beautifully and consicely presented. We are lucky to have people like you sharing their knowledge. Thank you.
So nice of you
This may be about increasing your opportunities for great shots but, seriously, this video could be shown in classes on how to present a RUclips video! Maybe I'm just hyper aware of this because I'm attempting a RUclips channel with next to no background in production, videography or photography... but this is a near perfect RUclips presentation! There are so many subtle nuances at every moment that are "just right". When I watch your videos I'm learning MUCH more than just the subject of the videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Welcome and good luck!
More distilled wisdom from Mr. d'Entremont.
Simon, thanks for being so honest about the reality of "Getting That Great Shot".
Simon as a followup to last weeks episode, if you read to the very end I will tell you 2 reasons why your channel is becoming so successful and one thing you shouldn’t change. #1 You're sharp #2 You don’t beat around the bush. If you keep doing the same thing you will get the same results and in your case that’s a good thing. At least that’s the way this sailor sees it ~_/)_~
Thanks very much!
@@simon_dentremont very true I’m a photographer of 5 years and my family has one of the best in the world. Yet I watch your videos even though every title I think “I know the answer” you always add an extra special sauce.
This sailor agrees! You get to the point, share your thoughts, and are not afraid to discuss topics. Just keep doing what you're doing :-).
You are a great presenter. So glad I found your channel!
Many years ago I followed a videography course in a local arts center. From all the various things I picked up, the most important one was that a lot of events are actually quite predictable if you think about them, so you can plan for and anticipate them. Humans act fairly predictable most of the time, and animals too, if you know their habits. Your tips are therefore not only usefull for nature photography but also for 'human' photography (as humans are just animals too ofcourse).
And ofcourse the best tips are the ones where you think "Why haven't I thought about that before?". I'll setup an action-mode preset in my camera too and leave it on that while on the move.
Yes yes yes yes yes, the more we practice the luckier we get. I love it. this is so so so true, thanks, love your work.
The late Galen Rowell evolved from a climber who took photos, to a photographer who incorporated his skills to get into places to capture striking shots no one else could reach. His first eureka moment came when Nat Geo contracted him to shoot a Half Dome ascent, and gave him like 35 rolls of Kodachrome, maybe ten times what he was used to taking - any shot taken is better than the shot missed. His famous rainbow over the Potala in Tibet he saw coming, but required he sprinted hundreds of vertical feet up a hillside, to get the composition in the waning light - something few others would have been able to accomplish. Digital frees us from a film budget, which could make us lazy; take lots, with thought beforehand, then critique results, then learn, adjust, refine, repeat. Adams and Eliot Porter and Ed Weston's gear was very mediocre by our standards, but they knew how to make the most of exposure, filters, developing and printing.
I feel very lucky to have found this video, great job and delivery Simon.
Simon, thank you very much for this video. Not only did you lay out what should be common sense considerations for us, you do so in a way that encourages us to be better photographers and you bare your humanity, letting us know that every image you capture isn’t gold. Thank you for the encouragement - I’m sure this video will cause a significant incremental improvement in my photography! Thank you once again.😊
I don’t know why I was expecting non specific or non actionable advice. This is amazing 💪🏽
I love how pumped you look (to me) when holding up that image - and so you should be! Congratulations on creating the conditions for 'luck'!!
Great suggestion about having your fast action settings ready to go. I can’t tell you how many shots I’ve missed by not being ready. Cheers!
One of my most favourite sayings ever, I’ve used it plenty.
Yet another fantastic video, top drawer 👍🏻
Simon, I'm new to your chanel and am loving it! Thank you. Information like this proves that while gear won't make you a better photographer, it does matter, and depending on what you are trying to do, it matters a lot. As a hobbyist, I have what I call a "my first DSLR" from 2016 and there are ZERO programmable buttons on the camera. I'm forced to go to the menu and futz with my settings to change anything other than shutter speed. Knowing this, I have started doing exactly what you said and change my settings while I'm moving to the next location, so in that sense, the limitation is a good thing because it forces me to think ahead.
Thankyou. You articulated what I've been doing by instinct. Timing is everything. Your bird shots are just screaming skills. 🦅
Enjoy all of your videos Simon and your photography. Your photo of the blue jay you had in a video maybe last week or two weeks ago blew me away.
Dear Simon, thank you so much for your enthusiastic inspiration 🙏🙏
Always being up for learning who ever you are is the way forward.
Laboring Under Correct Knowledge! Love it! Another great instructional video. Watched from beginning to end.
You Sir are a great inspiration! I just want to say Thank You for the time you take in making these educational videos. I've been an armature photographer for 15 years & have only gotten better in the past few months from your videos! Just started taking my RX10 IV (7 years old & the best camera I've ever had!) to a reserve with hundreds of Tree Swallows, so much fun to photograph in action!
It is work, nothing more nothing less. Great piece of truth you shared.
Great tips, great insight, thank you! One thing i have learned to improve your wildlife shots is: train at the local zoo. Not kidding. Zoos provide anything you need to check out your gear, lenses and learn what condition it needs. For instance: My sony 200-600 lens has F6.3 at 600. If i want to catch something with that i have to crank up iso to geht the shot @ 1/2000 shutter. I also learned that this lens af works much better when overexpose 1-1.5 steps.
Awesome video and so true! More the photographer's tenacity and experience than the gear.
This lesson has taken me a long time to learn, but learning to properly frame and plan and visualize the shot has had a dramatic effect on my photos.
Hi Simon. I may have said it here before but for me luck is when preparation meets opportunity. I can’t say it any more simply than that. I did see once a picture that defined this unexpectedly. A woman was walking up a stairway from a ravine here in Toronto. She had her iPhone out and facing forward. A deer jumped over the stairway in front of her just feet away. She snapped the picture and it was a memorable shot. Great tips as always, especially the last one.
Great advice Simon, with images to prove the point. Some People Only Talk (SPOT) photography.
Wise words and great tips.
Thank you - most appreciated.
Recently I got a picture of a hummingbird late in the evening different things were reflecting and it made beautiful colors I love it.
Wonderful!
Your work ethic reaches my soul. This video transcends photography and life.
Too kind!!
Finally a tutorial for pros. I will share your site with my friends. They all teach photography but you are exceptional. Thank you. yosaif cohain from Israel
Absolutely love your channel, always waiting on the next week 😁 it has enabled me to go out and get some great shots of the local wildlife. Keep up the great work your channel truly is a breath of fresh air!
What is lucky, is finding your channel. Many thanks for all the great tips. 🐾
Once again an excellent and impressive video. One of the things that stands out in all that I have seen in the attention to detail and the step by step presentation. Thank you
You said in this video get good photos with what ever gear they have. I agree. I use two cameras a canon rebel xs that 16 years old and i get great photos with it i also use a canon rebel t7 with equal results. I have three lens i use canon 18 55mm 75 300mm and a sigma 150-600 and im getting great results. The best gear is the gear you have that you use everyday which i do and it only needs replace when it worn out which i had to do with the canon 75-300mm. I wore out my first on after using it for 12 years. The first one was a used lens that was given to me and I'm not sure how old it was then. Thatnks for your great videos.
Excellent tips. I've only been shooting about a year, and I've learned so much from watching your videos. I've developed a love of light and shadows in my landscape photos, and just watching this video I know now where I got that from. Thanks
Great video, and it's so true what you are saying. I have multiple locations, all weather and light dependent. If it's raining and diffuse light, i tend to shoot long exposure photos of water streams in the forrest. I find that there is always something interesting one can do, no matter the weather. Another thing is that i always find new inspiration in videos like yours. 😊
I absolutely loved this tutorial about lucky shots! Thanks so much for the explanation and sharing about how many pics you’ve taken to get the one lucky shot. I appreciate it!
Excellent advice! I am LUCKY to have seen this video!
What a Great Teacher of the craft!
This is one of the best videos that I have ever seen.
Only one additional piece of advice. Plan your shot and shoot your plan, but... be ready for the unexpected. You offer great advice, Sir.
Agree!
Thank you, Simon. Videos like this validate my stepping out on my photo walks with my dog. Lots of great photos of my dog, as I try to teach myself the basics.
An old press photography saying that I heard one time goes something like f8 and be there. As a wildlife and nature photographer I try to do the same thing when I am shooting. Great video as always
Many years to get that lucky in did . Great video and wonderful photos . love it
These are all great and true tips I share with my friends and colleagues. I’ve had some people accuse me of using Photoshop to do things that I simply got in camera because I know how light behaves, when and where to be, and how my camera functions. “That must’ve been photoshopped,” they say. But all I really did was a bit of minor correction in the Photos app on my iPad with a nearly perfect photo to begin with.
It seems to me that with todays photography, it isn't considered complete until it's been processed in photoshop so much that it barely looks like a photograph anymore. Why must we do that to our photos for them to be critiqued favorably? What happened to getting it right in camera?
As a beginner, I really enjoy your videos. You give an excellent amount of detailed information without being overwhelming. Thank you so much!