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
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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!
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!
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!!!.
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.
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!
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.
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 ❤
Hi Simon, you asked what we do to increase our chances of getting the "lucky" shot ... I am a studio photographer working with art-nude and fashion models. and I see a lot of people photographing women front on with flat lighting, the result is as boring as a plate of doggy doo doo. The best way is to follow the lead of the landscape photographers who head out early to catch the first rays of the sun, raking across the mountains and revealing the shape of the hill in spectacular glory. Treat women the same way, low angle of light raking across their torso and catching the light on their curves. Just to even things out, if you want to show off a mans' "six pack" same angle, shirt off, has the same effect. When out of the studio, pick early morning or late afternoon to light your subjects, use a reflector for fill light or an off-camera flash (set to 25% fill).
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.😊
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.
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.
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.
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.
I have a friend who I consider an excellent photographer, but he is constantly fidgeting with his settings, and because of this, he misses a lot of shots. I like to take advantage of my camera's user programmable modes. One quick twist of a knob, and it's like I'm carrying a completely different camera. My current camera only has two of these modes, so I usually have one set up for static subjects and one for moving. I still miss a lot of shots, but I can't blame the camera.
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. 😊
Hi Simon, probably watched almost all of your videos within a couple weeks span and learned great Correct Knowledge! Bought my first decent telephoto and have spent many hours outside trying to get shots I like. Love watching a peaceful scene, waiting for a moment and then the rush of shooting when my target animal appears. Thanks for your lessons. Would you ever consider critiquing wildlife photo compositions from viewers? I think it might make a neat video. Cheers!
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!
Simon, I was introduced to you through Gavin’s channel, and I’m glad he did. You are a gem. You get to the point directly, intelligently and smoothly. Nice job. Please keep it up.
Simon, thank you for this video and all of your other amazing content. My wife and I are photographers, videographers and content creators on YT. Your videos are an excellent resource for us. We've subscribed. Keep up the great work.
One of my favorite things about digital cameras is the ability to take hundreds of photos to get one good one. Back in the days of film this could be very expensive and you had to wait to see if you got a good shot.
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.
I always wondered what that picture was in your background. The light that you have above it compliments the photo. After watching this video, I saw how well you captured the photo. Such great quality and I also wanted to say I love how well you communicate. I aspire to speak as well as you do. Thank you for all of your tips and tricks.
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!!!
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
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
Great tips Simon! One thing I like to do is frequently visit the same areas. I get to know the layout, I have a good idea of what I can expect to see and I will be able to set up my camera accordingly. Sometimes you even get “lucky” and something new and exciting happens in the form of a bird or animal that isn’t common, shows up.
I do a lot of motorcycle racing photography and encounter a lot of pros who are inherently better photographers than I am but are maybe experiencing that type of racing for the first time. But my one key advantage is I know all of the riders and their styles and the tendency of when the action is going to take place. Most importantly I know which riders don't like each other and are going to be racing aggressively against one another. My intimate knowledge of the sport is a huge advantage for me and it sometimes makes up for my less refined skill set. People will say I was lucky to get that shot but I saw it developing and anticipated it. I find this is applicable to all photography. The 'luck' of knowing when an alligator is about to swim off or the habits of a bird when it's gathering food is key to getting your self in the right spot at the right time. Sometimes you get lucky but usually you are making a large portion of the luck you receive. I just discovered your channel and am really enjoying it.
I just found your channel. Your videos are very addicting. I like the excellent information and no nonsense approach. Too many videos from others have long tedious intros and very little information. Thank you
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
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.
Set camera to fast action while walking is a great tip. I learned that one day when a Northern Harrier flew right past me, I just stood and watched. Didn't do anything haha. I knew that next time I'd be ready and it's paid off.
My favorite and I think most useful for me as a hobbyist. The best compliment I ever received was when soon told me I must have a good camera to get such a good photo.
I really like your approach to getting the unexpected shots which is preparation and expedient execution. Sharing your experience shortens the curve for start up folks.
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!
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?
Another superb paywall free lesson. Thank you. Recently, I dusted off the old zone-focus 35mm and put triX through it to roam my favorite city streets. I had forgotten how much fun setting up and then anticipating is. 1925 camera technology still has something to teach us.
What a great bunch of tips. You've made me feel so much better about why I missed those shots before, but there's less chance of me missing now, thanks.
I’m a landscape photographer. When I’m out on location I’ll take a generic picture with my phone and pin it on maps. I’ll use PhotoPills app to see where the sun rises and sets in relation to my subject(s). If I’m there just scouting or otherwise I still take a moment to look around and observe for a moment without my camera. I usually see more angles and possibilities when I pause and look around. I also keep a small journal/cheat sheet with locations and ideas. Sometimes a beautiful storm comes up and I’m only a 40 minute drive to a lighthouse as the subject and focal point
Spot on as usual Simon, wish I was “Lucky”enough to have you post this episode three days earlier as I was writing a new bio for a one of book I made and referenced sometimes good at my craft and being lucky. Wildlife photography requires both because if we aren’t out there we miss unexpected opportunities. Excuses like being not prepared for an outstanding opportunity because it’s too hot too cold dead battery etc etc. Keep up your good works in camera and on video you have an amazing opportunity to encourage and educate and I appreciate it all.
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.
Great video SImon that shows that practice make perfect. I like how you downplayed lxcuk with your clever ackronym to communicate that knowing your gear along with experience is truly the winning formula. Love it!
Amazing room lights, if this video wasn't interesting as it is, I would watch this video because of the lights and quality of the video :D but for sure thanks for information! Learned too much from you as a beginner
There is certainly some "luck" involved, but the biggest contributors are those you've described and the reason people such as myself (needing instruction) view this content. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Just found your channel . I must say your videos are the most educational , concise, full of useful information videos I have found . I was beginning to think that there was nothing to be gained on RUclips other than poorly disguised sales talk from the GAS influencers. Much appreciated . Please continue your style .🙏🙏
So I photograph drag performances here in nyc and often times they’re performing in dark crowded bars and club yet i some how manage to be lucky in getting a perfectly timed and well lit shot the performance. Its lucky that I went to the performance a week before planning to shoot and watched for nice moments to capture later with remembering musical cues as well as finding the best spot to be in and then it was lucky for me that I got to the bar an hour early so that I could be sitting in that spot lol
I got an amazing photo of a Cooper's hawk in my yard after missing him over and over. I set my camera up with my long lens, all of the proper autofocus settings, the right drive mode, and I even set the focus where he would be so it would focus faster. Then when he showed up I just grabbed the camera off the table next to the door and all I had to do was shoot. Get as much out of the way beforehand as possible to make life easier.
Loved everything about this, but especially the last tip of having the settings ready for fast action. Can't tell you how many times I've made that mistake and missed something unexpected. Always look forward to your content!
Excellent vid. I have just found your chanel and subscribed immediately. A breath of fresh air listening to your very knowledgeable spiel and no nonesense delivery. You have a great way of getting a message across and I have enjoyed the first couple of vids I have seen....off to watch more and eagerly await your weekly new ones!!
I do not have AF lenses, I decided to stay with a street photography, and it is also so hard, but up there I have some more time to prepare a shot :) Thanks for the tips, Simon
![State of Play | September 24, 2024 [ENGLISH]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fVs0suPHAX8/mqdefault.jpg)
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.
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!
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!
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.
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%
The youtube channel might be new but the content oozes experience and savviness like no other. Way to go, Simon!
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!
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 :-).
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 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!
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!
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!
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.
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 feel very lucky to have found this video, great job and delivery 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.
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 don’t know why I was expecting non specific or non actionable advice. This is amazing 💪🏽
I love your teaching style and you're work and knowledge literally speaks for itself. Please continue making videos!
Hi Simon, you asked what we do to increase our chances of getting the "lucky" shot ... I am a studio photographer working with art-nude and fashion models. and I see a lot of people photographing women front on with flat lighting, the result is as boring as a plate of doggy doo doo. The best way is to follow the lead of the landscape photographers who head out early to catch the first rays of the sun, raking across the mountains and revealing the shape of the hill in spectacular glory. Treat women the same way, low angle of light raking across their torso and catching the light on their curves. Just to even things out, if you want to show off a mans' "six pack" same angle, shirt off, has the same effect. When out of the studio, pick early morning or late afternoon to light your subjects, use a reflector for fill light or an off-camera flash (set to 25% fill).
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
I'm lucky because I found this channel. Thanks Gavin. Simon, you lessons are fantastic.
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.😊
You are a great presenter. So glad I found your channel!
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.
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 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.
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.
This has recently become one of my regular sources for camera info. Thanks for your videos, Simon. Much appreciated.
Awesome video and so true! More the photographer's tenacity and experience than the gear.
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!
Outstanding advice! Your “lucky” photos are as Milton said “the residue of design”. Stunning work, sir!
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.
I have a friend who I consider an excellent photographer, but he is constantly fidgeting with his settings, and because of this, he misses a lot of shots. I like to take advantage of my camera's user programmable modes. One quick twist of a knob, and it's like I'm carrying a completely different camera. My current camera only has two of these modes, so I usually have one set up for static subjects and one for moving. I still miss a lot of shots, but I can't blame the camera.
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. 😊
Hi Simon, probably watched almost all of your videos within a couple weeks span and learned great Correct Knowledge! Bought my first decent telephoto and have spent many hours outside trying to get shots I like. Love watching a peaceful scene, waiting for a moment and then the rush of shooting when my target animal appears. Thanks for your lessons. Would you ever consider critiquing wildlife photo compositions from viewers? I think it might make a neat video. Cheers!
It’s on my list!
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 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!
Simon, I was introduced to you through Gavin’s channel, and I’m glad he did. You are a gem. You get to the point directly, intelligently and smoothly. Nice job. Please keep it up.
Awesome, thank you!
Simon, thank you for this video and all of your other amazing content. My wife and I are photographers, videographers and content creators on YT. Your videos are an excellent resource for us. We've subscribed. Keep up the great work.
welcome!
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'!!
One of my favorite things about digital cameras is the ability to take hundreds of photos to get one good one. Back in the days of film this could be very expensive and you had to wait to see if you got a good shot.
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.
I always wondered what that picture was in your background. The light that you have above it compliments the photo. After watching this video, I saw how well you captured the photo. Such great quality and I also wanted to say I love how well you communicate. I aspire to speak as well as you do. Thank you for all of your tips and tricks.
Oh thank you!
you're welcome sir!
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!
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!!!
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
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
Great tips Simon! One thing I like to do is frequently visit the same areas. I get to know the layout, I have a good idea of what I can expect to see and I will be able to set up my camera accordingly. Sometimes you even get “lucky” and something new and exciting happens in the form of a bird or animal that isn’t common, shows up.
Same and the different lighting conditions and seasons make it seem like an entirely new place at times
Thankyou. You articulated what I've been doing by instinct. Timing is everything. Your bird shots are just screaming skills. 🦅
I do a lot of motorcycle racing photography and encounter a lot of pros who are inherently better photographers than I am but are maybe experiencing that type of racing for the first time. But my one key advantage is I know all of the riders and their styles and the tendency of when the action is going to take place. Most importantly I know which riders don't like each other and are going to be racing aggressively against one another. My intimate knowledge of the sport is a huge advantage for me and it sometimes makes up for my less refined skill set. People will say I was lucky to get that shot but I saw it developing and anticipated it. I find this is applicable to all photography. The 'luck' of knowing when an alligator is about to swim off or the habits of a bird when it's gathering food is key to getting your self in the right spot at the right time. Sometimes you get lucky but usually you are making a large portion of the luck you receive. I just discovered your channel and am really enjoying it.
Cool! Thanks for sharing!
Always being up for learning who ever you are is the way forward.
I just found your channel. Your videos are very addicting. I like the excellent information and no nonsense approach. Too many videos from others have long tedious intros and very little information.
Thank you
Thanks and welcome
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
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.
Wise words and great tips.
Thank you - most appreciated.
Set camera to fast action while walking is a great tip. I learned that one day when a Northern Harrier flew right past me, I just stood and watched. Didn't do anything haha. I knew that next time I'd be ready and it's paid off.
My favorite and I think most useful for me as a hobbyist. The best compliment I ever received was when soon told me I must have a good camera to get such a good photo.
I really like your approach to getting the unexpected shots which is preparation and expedient execution. Sharing your experience shortens the curve for start up folks.
Excellent tip about being ready for fast action. Sounds obvious but I never thought about it!
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!
That thresher shark footage was unbelievable! Amazing work!
Yes it was!
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?
I've always liked the saying..." Luck is when opportunity meets preparation".
Another superb paywall free lesson. Thank you. Recently, I dusted off the old zone-focus 35mm and put triX through it to roam my favorite city streets. I had forgotten how much fun setting up and then anticipating is. 1925 camera technology still has something to teach us.
What a great bunch of tips. You've made me feel so much better about why I missed those shots before, but there's less chance of me missing now, thanks.
Amazing Simon. I'm in awe of all your shots. If I could remember half of what you tell me I'd be twice as good.
It is work, nothing more nothing less. Great piece of truth you shared.
I’m a landscape photographer. When I’m out on location I’ll take a generic picture with my phone and pin it on maps. I’ll use PhotoPills app to see where the sun rises and sets in relation to my subject(s). If I’m there just scouting or otherwise I still take a moment to look around and observe for a moment without my camera. I usually see more angles and possibilities when I pause and look around. I also keep a small journal/cheat sheet with locations and ideas. Sometimes a beautiful storm comes up and I’m only a 40 minute drive to a lighthouse as the subject and focal point
Spot on as usual Simon, wish I was “Lucky”enough to have you post this episode three days earlier as I was writing a new bio for a one of book I made and referenced sometimes good at my craft and being lucky. Wildlife photography requires both because if we aren’t out there we miss unexpected opportunities. Excuses like being not prepared for an outstanding opportunity because it’s too hot too cold dead battery etc etc. Keep up your good works in camera and on video you have an amazing opportunity to encourage and educate and I appreciate it all.
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.
Great tip about having your camera settings ready for fast action..
When you said “boy, how lucky was I that really made my day”
Excellent advice! I am LUCKY to have seen this video!
Great video SImon that shows that practice make perfect. I like how you downplayed lxcuk with your clever ackronym to communicate that knowing your gear along with experience is truly the winning formula. Love it!
Amazing room lights, if this video wasn't interesting as it is, I would watch this video because of the lights and quality of the video :D but for sure thanks for information! Learned too much from you as a beginner
Another great lesson, thanks Simon.
Again a brilliant video, thanks for sharing Simon!
Simon, thanks for being so honest about the reality of "Getting That Great Shot".
There is certainly some "luck" involved, but the biggest contributors are those you've described and the reason people such as myself (needing instruction) view this content. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Another fabulous, educational video. Thank you, sir!
Thanks Simon, appreciate the efforts!
Just found your channel . I must say your videos are the most educational , concise, full of useful information videos I have found . I was beginning to think that there was nothing to be gained on RUclips other than poorly disguised sales talk from the GAS influencers. Much appreciated . Please continue your style .🙏🙏
FANTASTIC images.
Thank you for the fantastic tips! Always like watching your channel to help improve my photography!
Every video you put out here has a lot of value. It helps me to get better every time. Thank you
I appreciate that!
So I photograph drag performances here in nyc and often times they’re performing in dark crowded bars and club yet i some how manage to be lucky in getting a perfectly timed and well lit shot the performance. Its lucky that I went to the performance a week before planning to shoot and watched for nice moments to capture later with remembering musical cues as well as finding the best spot to be in and then it was lucky for me that I got to the bar an hour early so that I could be sitting in that spot lol
I got an amazing photo of a Cooper's hawk in my yard after missing him over and over. I set my camera up with my long lens, all of the proper autofocus settings, the right drive mode, and I even set the focus where he would be so it would focus faster. Then when he showed up I just grabbed the camera off the table next to the door and all I had to do was shoot. Get as much out of the way beforehand as possible to make life easier.
Excellent!
Without doubt the best photography advice on the web...
Bravo, Sir. One of the best videos i've seen in months.
Loved everything about this, but especially the last tip of having the settings ready for fast action. Can't tell you how many times I've made that mistake and missed something unexpected. Always look forward to your content!
Excellent vid. I have just found your chanel and subscribed immediately. A breath of fresh air listening to your very knowledgeable spiel and no nonesense delivery. You have a great way of getting a message across and I have enjoyed the first couple of vids I have seen....off to watch more and eagerly await your weekly new ones!!
Welcome aboard!
Fantastic tutorial. Thank you Simon.
I do not have AF lenses, I decided to stay with a street photography, and it is also so hard, but up there I have some more time to prepare a shot :) Thanks for the tips, Simon