What happened to shooting for fun? Every video nowadays talks about likes and clicks and stuff. Boring and superficial. This is why people dont take photographers seriously, because everyone is so damn serious they forget to have fun
I just started photography and always ignore the trends and trying to maximize my engagement.... I do me and people love it, at least on Reddit photography subs because you cannot win with the insta algorithm 😅😂
I agree specifically with number 1. When I focus on how good my photo should look it doesn’t come out the best. But when I’m just focusing on what to take a photo of, not giving attention on focusing, I get better results and take more pride in it. Thanks for this video, I need to practice more in the art instead of focusing.
Love the video and the advice! Thanks so much for sharing! So easy to get lost in the algorithms and social media these days. Turning photography into something more concrete and less online really made it easier to take the kind of pictures I want and finding my own style.
He has gone and got the Skilshare sponsorship 🔥 loving the video as always. I always feel a little bad for not keeping up with what instagram wants and this helped.
I picked up a camera 6 years ago to fill the gap I had in my painting. I was never truly happy with any of my artwork and many were never finished but with a camera it was finished almost instantly. The ones I Like I post on Instagram, not for likes or adulation but for myself, like a sort of visual diary of the things that have caught my eye. Ive also given up with the # as it seems to have little to no effect. I think that the best advice I could give after 6 years is that nobody cares about yor photography, do it for the love of it and do it your way.
First of all, it's always good to retrospect your own work and be critical about it. But remember to shoot for yourself and not for others in the first place. Start showing you work to non photography related people and see how long they are focussed on each shot. Everything less than 2 seconds the shot is probably a bit boring, when they stick, then you are on the right track. Happy shooting
As im someone whos only really started to take photos in the last month, im really enjoying finding my photography style as well as how I edit. And i love adding music that im really enjoying to my ig posts 😄
That was a really clean and well done video. A lot of these feelings and ideas apply to whatever discipline you are pursuing. Being technical perfect or accurate won't give you creativity or flair. Having the best gear doesn't make you better. chasing fame or gaming the system won't make you better at the thing you love doing. Great stuff.
If you are not making Fotos for living, you have to know where your fun comes from - taking pictures, technicality of the gear or sharing pictures (getting likes). This is the most important decision - that decides long before your gear (money drop) if you will find the fun in it. Many ways lead to happiness - just ask yourself what you really like.
Trap #4: Thinking to be a top photographer. It‘s comparable to soccer: some hundred players per country play in the first league, only few play in the champions league. These are the ones with the best talent, the best education and the best motivation. In photography the same applies. Most are amateurs and will always be amateurs, regardless whether you have the gear of the pros or not.
This video is about how you get response from a crowd on social media. My advice; do what you like and be unique and don't adept to those western standards of these guys telling you what is nice and what not. They go for likes instead of good shots. Just have fun. Fun is more important than succes. :) Cheers.
You are one of my favorite photography RUclipsrs. I think I'm lucky because of circumstances, I've stayed with one camera brand - Pentax. So I haven't really looked for other brands for a "better" camera or more gear/kit. I inherited a K1000 from my mom after she passed away. I began taking pictures with it during COVID. Photography was something I could do alone and also get me out of the house. Because I have the typical monetary chains of the middle-class (home mortgage, car payment, wife, kids, etc...) I can't justify to myself buying more or new gear when I know and enjoy what I currently have.
Hey Brian! Thanks a lot dude, that’s really nice. I really love the Pentax K1000 too and it’s really sweet that you’re now using your moms old one! Keep it up dude and keep enjoying yourself 💪
I totally agree with the second and third points. I think, especially on youtube and other blogs this obsession with chasing down the perfect film camera and there seems to be a lot of people feeding this idea. I'm getting close to not reading blogs and watching RUclips because I'm tired of hearing about Leicas. Honestly I don't think it matters what camera you use, it has way more to do with the film and how you process it. As for Instagram- it's a big flaming garbage heap of uninspiring crap. The artists have all left it and what's left is a community of idiots blasting their crazy. Instagram inspired me to permanently leave all social media platforms and I don't miss it.
These are excellent tips, especially on appeasing Instagram and social media. I find I get much more out of buying and browsing through actual photobooks - these feel like they have more character compared to, as you said, the same templated “this pleases the algorithm” shots.
Yo Thomas, I’d honestly say that buying and reading actual photo books is one of the best ways to get out (and stay out), of a creative slump. Photographers can truly express themselves through photobooks and the viewer can be inspired for sure! Cheers man
I do have a lot of gear, but I don't think it makes me a better photographer. Your comparison with Formula 1 is like the famous series 'Pro photographer, cheap camera'. Those were wonderful.
Yes, Digitalrev TV 🎉 But I remember one case when it didn't really work. I think it was someone taking photos outside Hong-Kong and I thought that this kind of photos relies on sharpness and dynamic range.
@@jochenkraus7016 There were several outside of Hong Kong, for example Marcel Lämmerhirt & Joel Marklund in Cologne, Sean Tucker and Paul John Bayfield in London.
@arneheeringa96 I meant "outside HK" as city panorama and landscape on the hills around HK. I think it was an early phone camera. It seems like the videos are gone or not listed any more :-(
I've became a better photographer when I started to spend more money towards books and travel rather then gear. Now I prefer to have just one prime (usually 35 or 28) and one zoom lens. Book>Light>Gear. Subscribed!
@@aquibjaved3911 lesson and photobooks. Now I’m studying a little about history and theory of photography (a book of Rosalind Krauss) and it’s totally mind blowing!
Number 3, completely agree! Now I post a shot and it gets shown to about 10 people, not even all my followers. I guess I’m not feeding the algorithm enough to be useful for Instagram.
It does matter what camera is in your hand for example I usually get bored and frustrated when im shooting on my canon 2000d because its not sharp and it takes a year to autofocus and i just dont like shooting with it for multible reasons, than i dont shoot, i dont improve so fuck it, it does matter whats in your hands
I've followed the philosophy of using the gear you until it becomes a burden, then upgrading to gear without those limitations. I just went from an old Olympus micro 4/3 to a newer Sony A7RIII with fancy lenses, and I've been enjoying it so much! It was a big investment but I feel like I can grow into the new camera so much more.
@@maxkent I mean that color? Like that specific blue the hue and it to fade like . Make a video on that specific title. I want to learn how to make colors pop like that.
Good video and I agree with you on all but the Instagram point. I think the reason Instagram isn’t as good for photography is strictly us photographers faults. Photographers are EXTREMELY “stingy” with follows/likes/DMs because they want to make their page look “good” by not following a ton of people and yet still expect to have a bunch of followers/people following. Why are we not following nearly everyone that is a real account? Especially fellow photographers accounts. There needs to be much more genuine interactions. I try to follow nearly every real (not a bot or AI) photographer and do our best to interact with likes/follows/DMs… it’s a photography *Community* and we are all part of it. Building up the community and doing all what we can to let it grow. especially in regards to Instagram Just my two cents
The question is, what is the best on-line community for photographers now? I used to have an Instagram account but after my published book kind'a bombed, I deleted it (and my other social media accounts) out of annoyance 😄
Considering instagram, I have chosen to not use it anymore. That was literally my escape strategy and it worked well so far. 😅 Now I also started RUclipsing and making photobooks each year . But the books are only for my family and honestly the 3 likes I get once a year are much better, because the kids regularly pick up the books of the last years and get into memories of the experiences we shared. ❤
I shoot with manual lenses which are already not the sharpest and when using the zone focus technique, this creates a 'zone of focus' and subjects will be sharp, just not tack sharp. To me I like this character over clinical sharpness. I do use Instagram but I don't post all that often. I have next to no likes and comments and don't feel any pressure to keep posting for likes and comments. I'd rather post when I get something I think is worth posting and that happens very infrequently.
I use instagram just because I don't really have anywhere else to post my work. I don't see a point in taking all these photos and editing them just to sit on my hard drive, and I have no audience for prints and photo books. Better to let my work see the light of day, even if I only get 2 or 3 likes.
Put them on your walls. Lowest point of entry for me was making a wall calendar from the photos from the previous year, one per month taken on that month. When you see your photo after a year you will be pleasantly surprised. After the year is over you can cut the pictures off the calendar and pin them up, use them as bookmarks or anything.
It’s uncanny you mentioned about The Algorithm. I just came from another RUclips video talking about the Dead Internet Theory and creators being forced to create to the algorithm is one of the moot points. ruclips.net/video/y0N9fD3rFaw/видео.htmlsi=OhWiA3NV6EZvqtwr
With Instagram you are spot on. I sporadically post but after 2 years only have 60 followers 🤣 I can see what would get me more but I just want to post stuff I'm proud of 😊
The first 500 people to use my link skl.sh/maxkent09241 will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare premium!
What happened to shooting for fun? Every video nowadays talks about likes and clicks and stuff. Boring and superficial. This is why people dont take photographers seriously, because everyone is so damn serious they forget to have fun
Social media had to focus on views and ads.
Photography places like Flickr having to focus on views and subscriptions.
And forums dying.
I just started photography and always ignore the trends and trying to maximize my engagement.... I do me and people love it, at least on Reddit photography subs because you cannot win with the insta algorithm 😅😂
I agree specifically with number 1. When I focus on how good my photo should look it doesn’t come out the best. But when I’m just focusing on what to take a photo of, not giving attention on focusing, I get better results and take more pride in it. Thanks for this video, I need to practice more in the art instead of focusing.
Love the video and the advice! Thanks so much for sharing! So easy to get lost in the algorithms and social media these days. Turning photography into something more concrete and less online really made it easier to take the kind of pictures I want and finding my own style.
🔥🔥
He has gone and got the Skilshare sponsorship 🔥 loving the video as always. I always feel a little bad for not keeping up with what instagram wants and this helped.
Thanks Matt! Long time coming 😵💫, hopefully I can make better and better videos from now on 🔥
I picked up a camera 6 years ago to fill the gap I had in my painting. I was never truly happy with any of my artwork and many were never finished but with a camera it was finished almost instantly. The ones I Like I post on Instagram, not for likes or adulation but for myself, like a sort of visual diary of the things that have caught my eye. Ive also given up with the # as it seems to have little to no effect. I think that the best advice I could give after 6 years is that nobody cares about yor photography, do it for the love of it and do it your way.
First of all, it's always good to retrospect your own work and be critical about it.
But remember to shoot for yourself and not for others in the first place.
Start showing you work to non photography related people and see how long they are focussed on each shot. Everything less than 2 seconds the shot is probably a bit boring, when they stick, then you are on the right track.
Happy shooting
As im someone whos only really started to take photos in the last month, im really enjoying finding my photography style as well as how I edit. And i love adding music that im really enjoying to my ig posts 😄
Most sensible advice especially sharp photos. Thanks for this video. Love from Australia ❤
That was a really clean and well done video. A lot of these feelings and ideas apply to whatever discipline you are pursuing. Being technical perfect or accurate won't give you creativity or flair. Having the best gear doesn't make you better. chasing fame or gaming the system won't make you better at the thing you love doing. Great stuff.
If you are not making Fotos for living, you have to know where your fun comes from - taking pictures, technicality of the gear or sharing pictures (getting likes). This is the most important decision - that decides long before your gear (money drop) if you will find the fun in it. Many ways lead to happiness - just ask yourself what you really like.
Trap #4: Thinking to be a top photographer. It‘s comparable to soccer: some hundred players per country play in the first league, only few play in the champions league. These are the ones with the best talent, the best education and the best motivation.
In photography the same applies. Most are amateurs and will always be amateurs, regardless whether you have the gear of the pros or not.
This video is about how you get response from a crowd on social media. My advice; do what you like and be unique and don't adept to those western standards of these guys telling you what is nice and what not. They go for likes instead of good shots. Just have fun. Fun is more important than succes. :) Cheers.
You are one of my favorite photography RUclipsrs. I think I'm lucky because of circumstances, I've stayed with one camera brand - Pentax. So I haven't really looked for other brands for a "better" camera or more gear/kit. I inherited a K1000 from my mom after she passed away. I began taking pictures with it during COVID. Photography was something I could do alone and also get me out of the house. Because I have the typical monetary chains of the middle-class (home mortgage, car payment, wife, kids, etc...) I can't justify to myself buying more or new gear when I know and enjoy what I currently have.
Hey Brian! Thanks a lot dude, that’s really nice. I really love the Pentax K1000 too and it’s really sweet that you’re now using your moms old one!
Keep it up dude and keep enjoying yourself 💪
I totally agree with the second and third points. I think, especially on youtube and other blogs this obsession with chasing down the perfect film camera and there seems to be a lot of people feeding this idea. I'm getting close to not reading blogs and watching RUclips because I'm tired of hearing about Leicas. Honestly I don't think it matters what camera you use, it has way more to do with the film and how you process it. As for Instagram- it's a big flaming garbage heap of uninspiring crap. The artists have all left it and what's left is a community of idiots blasting their crazy. Instagram inspired me to permanently leave all social media platforms and I don't miss it.
These are excellent tips, especially on appeasing Instagram and social media. I find I get much more out of buying and browsing through actual photobooks - these feel like they have more character compared to, as you said, the same templated “this pleases the algorithm” shots.
Yo Thomas, I’d honestly say that buying and reading actual photo books is one of the best ways to get out (and stay out), of a creative slump. Photographers can truly express themselves through photobooks and the viewer can be inspired for sure! Cheers man
Spot on regarding aquiring expensive gear and not taking time to develop skills first!
I do have a lot of gear, but I don't think it makes me a better photographer.
Your comparison with Formula 1 is like the famous series 'Pro photographer, cheap camera'. Those were wonderful.
Yes, Digitalrev TV 🎉
But I remember one case when it didn't really work. I think it was someone taking photos outside Hong-Kong and I thought that this kind of photos relies on sharpness and dynamic range.
@@jochenkraus7016 There were several outside of Hong Kong, for example Marcel Lämmerhirt & Joel Marklund in Cologne, Sean Tucker and Paul John Bayfield in London.
@arneheeringa96 I meant "outside HK" as city panorama and landscape on the hills around HK. I think it was an early phone camera.
It seems like the videos are gone or not listed any more :-(
@@jochenkraus7016 Thanks! Yes many are gone
@@jochenkraus7016 ruclips.net/p/PL7ECB90D96DF59DE5&si=pGofaY8Xz69ejnbu They have suppressed 14 from 33 videos, no one knows why. Not even Kai.
Really good video and makes me think twice about why I’m actually doing this again. Thanks!
solid vid
I've became a better photographer when I started to spend more money towards books and travel rather then gear. Now I prefer to have just one prime (usually 35 or 28) and one zoom lens. Book>Light>Gear. Subscribed!
Books as in books with lessons for photography, or photobooks?
@@aquibjaved3911 lesson and photobooks. Now I’m studying a little about history and theory of photography (a book of Rosalind Krauss) and it’s totally mind blowing!
Number 3, completely agree! Now I post a shot and it gets shown to about 10 people, not even all my followers. I guess I’m not feeding the algorithm enough to be useful for Instagram.
Excellent advice. Subscribed.
With tip number 1 what are some ways to get that unsharpened look
negative texture and clarity in lightroom
It does matter what camera is in your hand for example I usually get bored and frustrated when im shooting on my canon 2000d because its not sharp and it takes a year to autofocus and i just dont like shooting with it for multible reasons, than i dont shoot, i dont improve so fuck it, it does matter whats in your hands
I've followed the philosophy of using the gear you until it becomes a burden, then upgrading to gear without those limitations. I just went from an old Olympus micro 4/3 to a newer Sony A7RIII with fancy lenses, and I've been enjoying it so much! It was a big investment but I feel like I can grow into the new camera so much more.
Now that's awkward, but what were the pictures at 5:40 shot on? 😅 Those look so good
Nikon FM + 50mm 1.8 (the OG one not the E series)
@maxkent Noway! haha Guess I already own the perfect camera then :) (Got the FE with the 50 1.8)
How you get the color in your title?
Lightroom 🌞
@@maxkent I mean that color? Like that specific blue the hue and it to fade like . Make a video on that specific title. I want to learn how to make colors pop like that.
@@reyorocio7446 it’s the actual sky but I changed the hue of the cyan in LR
Good video and I agree with you on all but the Instagram point. I think the reason Instagram isn’t as good for photography is strictly us photographers faults. Photographers are EXTREMELY “stingy” with follows/likes/DMs because they want to make their page look “good” by not following a ton of people and yet still expect to have a bunch of followers/people following. Why are we not following nearly everyone that is a real account? Especially fellow photographers accounts. There needs to be much more genuine interactions. I try to follow nearly every real (not a bot or AI) photographer and do our best to interact with likes/follows/DMs… it’s a photography *Community* and we are all part of it. Building up the community and doing all what we can to let it grow. especially in regards to Instagram
Just my two cents
this, i followed a few othe photographers and it seems like they dont follow back and keep a low following count
The question is, what is the best on-line community for photographers now? I used to have an Instagram account but after my published book kind'a bombed, I deleted it (and my other social media accounts) out of annoyance 😄
yes yes and yes to this! great reminder
🙌
3:55 I see you as the aspiring artist. You got this bra. Fun to see how you come along. (: big up yourself m8!
Instagram is a problem, a big one, and in more ways than one. 😢 It’s supposed to be a photography app, but it’s just Facebook by another name.
Considering instagram, I have chosen to not use it anymore. That was literally my escape strategy and it worked well so far. 😅
Now I also started RUclipsing and making photobooks each year . But the books are only for my family and honestly the 3 likes I get once a year are much better, because the kids regularly pick up the books of the last years and get into memories of the experiences we shared. ❤
I shoot with manual lenses which are already not the sharpest and when using the zone focus technique, this creates a 'zone of focus' and subjects will be sharp, just not tack sharp. To me I like this character over clinical sharpness. I do use Instagram but I don't post all that often. I have next to no likes and comments and don't feel any pressure to keep posting for likes and comments. I'd rather post when I get something I think is worth posting and that happens very infrequently.
I use instagram just because I don't really have anywhere else to post my work. I don't see a point in taking all these photos and editing them just to sit on my hard drive, and I have no audience for prints and photo books. Better to let my work see the light of day, even if I only get 2 or 3 likes.
Just take the shot and see what you get.
I just take my photos and lock them away on my NAS.
I CBA with socials
Put them on your walls. Lowest point of entry for me was making a wall calendar from the photos from the previous year, one per month taken on that month. When you see your photo after a year you will be pleasantly surprised. After the year is over you can cut the pictures off the calendar and pin them up, use them as bookmarks or anything.
@@cabbelos I have 4 in my entrance corridor. 1 for the best photo I've taken each season.
Eventually I'll actually have good photos in there 😅
tattoos are difficult to remove.
Lol
It’s uncanny you mentioned about The Algorithm. I just came from another RUclips video talking about the Dead Internet Theory and creators being forced to create to the algorithm is one of the moot points.
ruclips.net/video/y0N9fD3rFaw/видео.htmlsi=OhWiA3NV6EZvqtwr
I had seen that come up on my homepage but haven’t watched it yet! I’ll deffo take a look 🤙
The muzak is pointless and does not add to your story.
Thanks bro gonna change everything because of your opinion 🙏
This comment is pointless and doesn’t add to the story.
With Instagram you are spot on. I sporadically post but after 2 years only have 60 followers 🤣 I can see what would get me more but I just want to post stuff I'm proud of 😊
Biggest trap for photography is to waste our patience listening to your boring video.
bingo. nailed it