Here’s what THEY DON’T TELL YOU about getting into PHOTOGRAPHY.

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 28 июн 2024
  • Sign up for my email list and get a free e-book on How to Shoot Backlit.
    www.simondentremont.com/freeb...
    Want to take amazing wildlife photos? Check out my new course with 20 modules and over 5 hours of content, no fluff!
    journalofwildlifephotography....
    My name is Simon d'Entremont and I'm a professional wildlife and nature photographer from Eastern Canada. This video will show you what options you have to get subjects larger in the frame, and compare them against each other.
    I use Topaz Labs software for noise reduction, sharpening and upscaling:
    topazlabs.com/ref/1943/Simon/...
    Music in intro: "Nicer", by Houses on the Hill. Find that, and other sound effects at Epidemic Sounds
    share.epidemicsound.com/0fbndn
    My equipment:
    Canon R5 body amzn.to/3S5jtBf
    Canon R6 body amzn.to/3ZYu6HC
    Canon R8 body amzn.to/3M0Xoj7
    Canon R5 battery grip amzn.to/3PVg8Sy
    Canon RF 600mm f4 amzn.to/494Zd8S
    Canon 100-400 EF II amzn.to/3FhWrPP
    Canon RF 70-200 f2.8 amzn.to/45zDP8F
    Canon 17-40 L lens amzn.to/3y71MGt
    Canon RF 16mm f2.8 amzn.to/3M3i0HI
    FLM Tripod (CP 34 L4 II) and Levelling Head (HB 75)
    flmcanada.com?aff=sdentrem
    Sigma Art 50mm f1.4 lens amzn.to/3FjGkkW
    Sigma Art 20mm f1.4 lens amzn.to/3Fhj7zD
    Rokinon 135mm f2 lens amzn.to/3QfqIFi
    Sirui x-k40 ball head amzn.to/3rRzIHf
    Sirui lightweight Traveler 7C tripod with head amzn.to/3M0XDe1
    Manfrotto Video Head amzn.to/3tpUzBO
    Wimberley Gimbal Head amzn.to/3rSijhC
    Hollyland Mars M1 field monitor amzn.to/3rQCRaa
    Jackery portable 240 lithium-ion battery amzn.to/3QgBmvg
    ProGrade Gold 128 GB CF Express amzn.to/46wv40g
    ProGrade Cobalt 325 GB CF Express amzn.to/3RSUtNo
    ProGrade Gold 256 GB SD amzn.to/48R3CMq
    Zoom H1n field recorder amzn.to/3tAoJCE
    Comica shotgun mic amzn.to/3REWN73
    Rode Videomic NTG shotgun mic amzn.to/3tCeAW8
    Rode Wireless GO II mic set amzn.to/45vsIxw
    Lenscoat neoprene camera bags amzn.to/3SNiqmz
    Lencoat rain cover for 500mm F4 amzn.to/3SGtyl2
    Falconeyes F7 LCD panel amzn.to/3y75z6F
    Lowepro 450 AW large backpack amzn.to/3xZOHyL
    Lowepro Flipside 300 small backpack amzn.to/3SOTWt7
    Mindshift 36L (closest available) backpack amzn.to/3ZXIiAH
    GuraGear 30L bag for 600mm f4, use Code Simon for 10@% off
    guragear.com/?ref=fKL1R1coS7su99
    DJI Mavic Air 2S drone (flymore combo) amzn.to/3M3ijSS
    B&W circular polarizer, 77mm amzn.to/3SKc6Mx
    B&W 2 stop ND Filter amzn.to/3URyIN6
    B&W 6 stop ND filter amzn.to/3y6gs8G
    B&W 10 stop ND filter amzn.to/3fwRIjs
    Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 binoculars amzn.to/3rXt2qX
    Blackrapid retro-classic shoulder strap amzn.to/3y0wUHt
    FjallRaven trekking pants amzn.to/3rSisSc
    Heat 3 gloves (shell only) www.theheatcompany.com/en-us/...
    Heat Company Merino Wool liners www.theheatcompany.com/en-us/...
    HP Omen 17.3" performance laptop amzn.to/3S1vd7O
    Synology NAS storage amzn.to/3RVfFSX
    16 TB hard drives for NAS amzn.to/3S03Hrk
    Follow me on:
    Facebook / sdentrem
    Instagram / simon.dentremont
    Website www.simondentremont.com/

Комментарии • 653

  • @stevenaturner
    @stevenaturner 6 дней назад +322

    All YT photographers should do a regular "check out these crappy pics I took this week" feature. thanks Simon

    • @RikMaxSpeed
      @RikMaxSpeed 5 дней назад +11

      Some of them take crappy photos anyway but adding some LoFi glitchy backing track makes them better!

    • @dengueberries
      @dengueberries 5 дней назад +11

      There was a trend a while back for scientists to share their "CV of failures"
      It was really helpful

    • @remconavarro5946
      @remconavarro5946 5 дней назад +6

      I also drum in a band. Saw Chad Smith drop his sticks 4 times. Now I don’t feel so bad anymore. So I agree, show bad pics so we won’t feel discouraged about our own ‘stick dropping’!

    • @colintraveller
      @colintraveller 5 дней назад +2

      Damn right ...

    • @NotAnotherChannel_Channel
      @NotAnotherChannel_Channel 5 дней назад +4

      Like the last name.
      Any time I feel the urge to critique photography, I remind myself with a quote “Pride goeth before destruction.” We all take crappy photos, but still get one or two bangers that feed our desire to keep creating. We’ve all been there.
      I would rather encourage learning instead of scoring troll points.

  • @terrynoske2629
    @terrynoske2629 6 дней назад +192

    This is the best photographic advice on the internet

  • @gscottfuller
    @gscottfuller 5 дней назад +49

    I’ve been an amateur photographer for 60 years and have never heard better advice than this! Well articulated.

  • @digital-nature-uk
    @digital-nature-uk 5 дней назад +29

    I think I am paraphrasing Mark Twain who said "small people want you to be small, the great ones make you believe that you can be great as well". Simon is a great photographer 😊

    • @rodmarshall6417
      @rodmarshall6417 2 дня назад

      Ok, I didn’t subscribe until 10 sec ago, but have watched many of Simon’s RUclips’s before. Recently ( 10 days ago) I’m in Botswana staying at Pangolin in Kasane, with the family (4) and the divine Ms P tells me we have a visitor on our boat this afternoon. It’s Simon. I know him (from RUclips) the rest of the family have no idea, i’m amateur, and they are less. This is the REAL DEAL. He is fantastic, just like on RUclips only better. No BS, he’s likeable, not showy, polite, considerate, happy to share, absolutely no hogging of the opportunities. We take same great shots (he’s one day in advance of a few groups he’s taking around in Africa.) Those elephant silhouettes with the water in the foreground on his Insta. Great shots I’m sure you will all agree ( promise Simon
      , I won’t tell the insurance company how close that camera was to the water.)
      BUT that’s not the great part. After dinner I enjoy a great drink with this bloke that is exactly as he appears on RUclips, except we don’t talk photography AT ALL. He is very knowledgeable, and I’m not just talking photos, well rounded, educated, considerate, willing to share. As we would say in Aus - A Good Bloke. Listen to what he has to say, there are gems in every sentence. You may not agree all the time; he’s doesn’t expect you to, but listen for you will learn, and that’s the greatest gift anyone can give you.

  • @richierich9759
    @richierich9759 5 дней назад +48

    What I love about Simon is not only that he is a great photographer but he is willing to share and explain in detail how to take better pictures. He's an awesome photographer and mentor.

  • @radinnasir8933
    @radinnasir8933 6 дней назад +71

    I really hope budding phographers, enthusiast find your channel very soon. They need to hear this.

  • @worldofzap
    @worldofzap 5 дней назад +45

    I am not a beginner but I have fallen into the trap of having to come home with something rather than just enjoying the experience. I want to thank you for pointing this out. I guess I needed to hear, it’s ok to come home empty handed.

    • @Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism
      @Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism 5 дней назад +6

      We never come home empty handed. We have memories to last a lifetime. When we stay home, that's when we have nothing to show for it. It's always ok to bring home no keepers, so long as we enjoyed the journey. We gain experience and wisdom, each and every time.

    • @Marios_WX
      @Marios_WX 15 часов назад +1

      Kinda have always thought about photography as a way to help share my experiences with others, come home with less, tell the story better.
      Going on 3 hour long nature hikes in the early morning and coming home with maybe a video, and 2 good photos is an alright thing.
      Going storm chasing and maybe not getting anything of note, that's okay but hey look at the billowing cumulus video.
      It has kept me happy in recent months where I wasn't getting much before.

  • @mickscott4702
    @mickscott4702 5 дней назад +18

    Simon thank you for saying what all beginners need to hear but rarely do. Probably the best advice ever given. Inspirational for all artistic genres 👍👍👍👏👏

  • @petebateman143
    @petebateman143 5 дней назад +7

    My Sensei used to say, "If you want to be good at it, you have to be bad at it first". This is such an important concept to understand when learning anything.

  • @PedroMSOliveira
    @PedroMSOliveira 5 дней назад +21

    There are a lot of good youtubers that focus on photography, but you are in another league. The communication is excelent and the content is much more than just the technicalities.

  • @donaldmorgan1773
    @donaldmorgan1773 6 дней назад +25

    Bravo. You describe in this video what took me 5 years to figure out on my own. Sometimes you can be your own worst critic and take the fun out of it. Now if I go out and take a hundred bad pics I take it as a challenge to figure out what went wrong and go back and get it right. Great way to learn. We all need a pep talk now and then, thank you.

  • @dusty3913
    @dusty3913 6 дней назад +39

    Simon, I really needed this tonight. I have felt so discouraged lately. Sharing your “less than stellar” images lets me know that I’ve created an unreasonably high bar for myself. I’ve been doing this for a while now, but I am struggling with getting to know my R5, and have been feeling uninspired because of it. But, your terrific pep talks really keep me hanging on. Thanks.

    • @hazard3020
      @hazard3020 5 дней назад +3

      hey don't give up. keep going and trying different things. you will find that everything works out OK in the end. that's a great camera you have, honestly. keep things simple and just work slowly from there. good luck and please DONT be so hard on yourself or too critical 👍

    • @lengt001
      @lengt001 5 дней назад +1

      so true this.

    • @stefanschneider3681
      @stefanschneider3681 5 дней назад +5

      One of the best tips I am now applying with my Canon D90 (it's not a R5, but a fine camera anyway): Put in on manual mode, but put the ISO on "Auto" on the very left. This way you can just shoot, try out different shutter speeds, different f-stops and rarely get an image that's totally useless. Part of it is his other great advice "Don't be afraid of high ISO" 😅.

    • @donperegrine922
      @donperegrine922 5 дней назад +2

      You can get this reminder continually: Notice that Simon repeats usage of the same duck flapping its wings, plus the elephant, plus just a couple others.
      He has about five pictures which are the highlight of his career, the PINNACLE of a moment of luck, plus the PINNACLE of one or two (at most) technical aspects which mattered in that moment....
      And he does that because so many other pictures are downhill of that.
      A career portfolio is nothing more than "The best I have ever taken, so far".
      These amazing images are something to strive towards. Not something you should imagine you will capture once a year, or once a day, or every trip.
      So, yes, don't compare Simons lifetime achievements to your first year, or your own fortieth year.

    • @hazard3020
      @hazard3020 День назад

      @stefanschneider3681 Topaz AI will sort out noise on your Canon 90d and others 7d2 etc..

  • @arkaefortt8
    @arkaefortt8 5 дней назад +19

    "Take uncommon photos of common things". That's one hell of an advice. Thanks as always Simon.

  • @mikede2464
    @mikede2464 5 дней назад +18

    Wow...hearing that someone at your level can take hundreds of bad photos in a morning gives me hope, inspires, and motivates me to keep going. Thank you for sharing that. 🙏

    • @gpdoyon
      @gpdoyon 5 дней назад

      Agreed!

    • @kifley19
      @kifley19 5 дней назад

      He's just trying to make us feel good. Most of his pics are 🔥

    • @theWZZA
      @theWZZA 5 дней назад

      If you shoot wildlife, 99% are not keepers.

  • @r.s.i8753
    @r.s.i8753 5 дней назад +30

    Every time I watch you make me go out and take photos!

    • @richardfink7666
      @richardfink7666 5 дней назад +1

      It`s so!🤣

    • @zachbaker8990
      @zachbaker8990 5 дней назад +1

      Seriously. The guy is an absolute inspiration. I'm so happy he decided to get on the RUclips

    • @michelterral5907
      @michelterral5907 5 дней назад

      me too BUT every time i hate my pictures i shoot with SIMON's advices so unique ....I will keep shooting like he say !...never give up ! who say photography was easy ?

    • @ChristieBass1979
      @ChristieBass1979 5 дней назад

      Same

  • @woodywoodverchecker
    @woodywoodverchecker 5 дней назад +9

    You are one of the most wholesome youtubers out there. The opposite of a gatekeeper. I love this channel.

  • @stephanparnow4566
    @stephanparnow4566 5 дней назад +4

    My high school photography teacher, passed along this same wisdom. You may get one good shot out of a photo shoot. It is about being out there with your camera having fun creating art.

  • @tothespace2122
    @tothespace2122 3 дня назад +3

    This channel is so full of knowledge and wisdom. You're a true professional.

  • @Rodatrodat
    @Rodatrodat 4 дня назад +2

    Simon, you are not only a great photographer but a great teacher.

  • @tedbrown7908
    @tedbrown7908 5 дней назад +11

    1st tip is an absolute truth. Tip #4 is gold, look around you, enjoy the day, you never know what scene will come forward and tell you "Hey, photograph me !"

  • @j.b.6448
    @j.b.6448 5 дней назад +7

    Of all the photography sites I have read, listened to, or watched, NO ONE has shared this type of information. Thank you for taking the time to put it together. Bravo!

  • @ronmortimer252
    @ronmortimer252 5 дней назад +9

    This little talk has brought back to memory something I've known from early on, as have others of course: If you have a passion for photography, if it 'lights your fire', then you already have the raw material for becoming an excellent photographer. The converse is also true.

  • @LutherLao
    @LutherLao 5 дней назад +7

    Dude ignites my creativity every time he expresses his love for photography. All the best mate! 🇵🇭 🇬🇧

  • @marcomarcon5802
    @marcomarcon5802 5 дней назад +11

    This is the only photographic channel I still watch regularly. Simon is a born teacher. As for the topic in question, I put all my gear in storage months ago, and now I only use my Pixel 8 Pro. I now focus on images, not equipment, it's so much more rewarding!

  • @dlc1119
    @dlc1119 4 дня назад +2

    The bonus tip got me to thinking about ordinary things around me. Here in New England there are stone walls everywhere. Some are well built, some are broken down. Many are edged by flowers. Each one may have a story to tell.

  • @KalinKanev
    @KalinKanev 5 дней назад +2

    Simon, this why I love your channel! You elevate people and try to teach them while making it easy going and really easy to digest! Please keep uplifting ppl 😊

  • @nolanstrebel9405
    @nolanstrebel9405 6 дней назад +7

    I'd love to see a video on various physics phenomena, like chromatic aberration and diffraction and similar; what they are, why they happen, and how to combat them. Why does stopping down the lens help? How does that magically get rid of the purple and green edges? Why does it appear purple and green in the first place? Could get into a huge rabbit hole there!

  • @lionheart4424
    @lionheart4424 5 дней назад +5

    This is one of the finest and most empathic videos, Simon. Thank you!

  • @WanderingSwitchback
    @WanderingSwitchback 3 дня назад +2

    Another great video! And SOOO many gatekeepers and discouraging folks in photography groups. I was shooting astro recently and a younger guy came up nearby and set up his camera about 20 feet away. We were at a pullout/vista point right next to the outside of a curve on a road, so we were both trying to shoot in-between passing headlights. At one point, several cars all pulled up at once, shining headlights on us. I could see his chagrin was as strong as mine, and we both started joking around about the light. We ended up chatting for awhile and he moved his camera closer to mine after asking if it was okay. He was like, "You're so nice! So many photographers are so territorial and mean." It's sad that this community can be that way and has a reputation for it. Thank you for bringing a more positive light in every single video!

    • @simon_dentremont
      @simon_dentremont  2 дня назад +1

      Astro is actually the friendliest genre from my experience.

  • @ultimategolfshredder
    @ultimategolfshredder 4 дня назад +2

    I'm as beginner as beginner gets. But, I did this very thing last week.
    I took a photo in my backyard of my portable badminton net, rackets, and shuttlecocks. It was an ordinary photo and not horizontally lined up well.
    I straightened the horizon line (fence to grass line), cropped it to the rule of thirds, used a Vivid Cool pre-set, adjusted some contrast and saturation, and the final image was really nice to look at.

  • @gregfeeler6910
    @gregfeeler6910 6 дней назад +9

    This is an amazing video, full of so many truths which so many need to hear. But, your last tip is probably the single best advice I've ever heard. Brilliant. Just brilliant.

  • @Macmannus82
    @Macmannus82 5 дней назад +2

    Take uncommon photos of common things... This is the best advice you can even hear...

  • @leolundgren3989
    @leolundgren3989 6 дней назад +10

    As a beginner myself I quickly realized that some of my best photos were completely unplanned. I had a particular subject and composition in mind but I ended up shooting all sorts of other stuff during the same day. So I would recommend any beginner to just be curious and go with your intuition. Taking photos is a lot of experimentation and this is half the fun in my opinion.
    Also, if you like to take photos of wildlife like myself, try to be in the moment and really observe the subject. It’s not only about getting a great picture but also to be able to see nature up close through your lens and hopefully grow a relationship with your subject. There are plenty of great photographers who become so friendly with their subjects that they almost start posing for them. Such a thrill to be able to reach that level!

    • @donperegrine922
      @donperegrine922 5 дней назад +4

      Sean Penn is a photographer in the movie "Secret Life of Walter Mitty"
      Walter Mitty : When are you going to take it?
      Sean O'Connell : Sometimes I don't. If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don't like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.

    • @donperegrine922
      @donperegrine922 5 дней назад +2

      And in that moment, he is 'missing' a mountain cat which he hiked through Afghanistan to capture. So he really is sacrificing photographic moments, to be in the moment.

    • @leolundgren3989
      @leolundgren3989 7 часов назад

      @@donperegrine922 Sounds like a great scene! Might see it some day. :)

    • @donperegrine922
      @donperegrine922 Час назад

      @@leolundgren3989 please do! The entire movie is about embracing adventure, and it centres around an elusive photographer and the darkroom guy trying to produce his greatest ever image for the final print of TIME magazine.
      It is a movie about photography!

  • @RenzoMedinaCortez
    @RenzoMedinaCortez 4 дня назад +3

    2:32 what a great phrase.

  • @skatechatham
    @skatechatham 4 дня назад +1

    This is the kind of positivity that every person needs in their life, great work Simon!

  • @user-em3uw4vt5r
    @user-em3uw4vt5r 4 дня назад +1

    All can say is I am truly impressed with Simon every time I watch a new video!! Love his advice!!!

  • @marys.9764
    @marys.9764 День назад +1

    I wish I had been able to see this video 40+ years ago, but luckily "enjoying the process" has always carried me through.

  • @buyaport
    @buyaport 2 дня назад +1

    Thanks again for telling people the honest truth! As an amateur photographer I particularly liked tip #4: Enjoy the process of taking pictures. I often just take my camera out for a walk and enjoy documenting my surrounding under all the different conditions. You never know, when they might become valuable. Personal experience: A few weeks ago the old stock exchange building in Copenhagen - a famous landmark of the city - burnt down. Over the years while I lived there I have taken literally hundreds of pictures of and with this building. Sad as the incident was, I am now very happy to have taken all these photos!

  • @thomasanderson5929
    @thomasanderson5929 2 дня назад +1

    The part about accepting feedback is really important; this includes criticism as long as it's constructive feedback to help you improve.

  • @YouthEnergy
    @YouthEnergy 5 дней назад +4

    Your bonus tip is actually something I've done since day one of my photography journey! When I got my first camera, the first thing I did was start taking photos of random things in my apartment and in my yard, trying to figure out all possible settings the camera had to offer. That's something I've been doing ever since. It's an invaluable piece of advice for anyone who hasn't been doing it, since it makes the world around us suddenly look more beautiful than we initially realized. Another amazing video, Simon!

  • @johnchastain4351
    @johnchastain4351 3 дня назад +1

    Thanks. I returned to photography in July 2023 with the purchase of my first mirrorless camera (M50 Mark 2). I have taken over 50,000 images in one year. I can see great progress in my work in that I am learning to make the camera to make the image in my imagination - sometimes. I recently went out and shot hundreds of images that I thought that I would really like. But, I realized that I used too shallow of a depth of field. It was a day of failure. Nothing met the standard that I had developed during the last year. Then I compared them with work that thought was great last August. Yep, several of them were worse. I was feeling a bit down. I went out again and shot some of the same subjects again using a larger depth of field and better exposure bracketing. It is helping me to realize that a bad day can be a great teacher. I needed to hear this encouraging lesson!

  • @MrOz8472
    @MrOz8472 5 дней назад +9

    Simon d'Entremont is a treasure and needs to be protected at all cost.

  • @susanmendelson4396
    @susanmendelson4396 3 дня назад +1

    I’ve been taking photos for over 40 years, but I still found this inspiring. Thanks.

  • @pcs9518
    @pcs9518 2 дня назад +1

    One of my mistakes in high school photography class is now one of my tricks in my bag to create an effect I find interesting as do others

  • @glynnbarnard4511
    @glynnbarnard4511 3 дня назад +1

    Wise words. It can be discouraging in today’s world of seemingly unlimited amazing content. Keep filling those memory cards and you’re bound to get some keepers and improve your skills at the same time.

  • @DeltaWolf1000
    @DeltaWolf1000 4 дня назад +1

    I swapped my perspective from "why don't mine look like that" to "I can do that". Its made a huge difference!

  • @larrycitra300
    @larrycitra300 4 дня назад +1

    Morning Simon … I’ve been shooting for over 60 years and I’m still getting a kick out of my photographic journey! I shoot almost every day with the latest gear and I’m still getting the same or more enjoyment out of it as I did way back when. I started, of course, with film, changing to digital in the late 90’s. I believe the digital age to be the “Golden Age” of photography, allowing so many people to experience this wonderful vocation, either as a hobby or as a professional. I’m a Canadian on the west coast and I love your channel … keep up the great work!

  • @user-bv8sy6lo8i
    @user-bv8sy6lo8i День назад +1

    Simon thank you so much. I am getting back into photography after a 24 hiatus due to an illness. It’s been a mighty struggle for me. So much has changed. As in the camera gear. And I have seem to have lost my spark. But your videos are helping me take those steps in finding my passion again. Thank you again for all these videos. What a treasure you are.
    Tamara

  • @andrewfessler7203
    @andrewfessler7203 3 дня назад +1

    You're the best when it comes to teaching others about photography. Very passionate yet humble and realistic. Keep up the great work!

  • @theomarquesfotografia
    @theomarquesfotografia 11 часов назад

    This is gold. I learned it early from a good editor, but those are rare to find today. Most students struggle for years before they learn which photos NOT to pick, and sometimes those are all that you got, happens to all of us. Sometimes you get the cover, sometimes you patch a hole in the bottom of page six only because they had an ad removed at the last minute, if you are lucky

  • @JohnPepp
    @JohnPepp 3 дня назад +1

    I enjoy going out in nature and just enjoying wildlife. I like wildlife and I love when I see something unexpected. Photography is taking tons of photos, trying to get that composition that looks great and you can get wildlife even in your backyard.

  • @marknewman2157
    @marknewman2157 4 дня назад +1

    More people need to understand this concept. I always had a hard time when I was using film because I had a limited budget. Now with digital that limitation is gone, and my photos have become much better. I met a National Geographic photographer and he said he took over 2000 pictures for a three shot article

  • @nealeblackburn6019
    @nealeblackburn6019 2 дня назад +1

    Excellent, down to earth, relatable and welcome advice as ever from a genuinely gifted photographer, editor and communicator.

  • @WilfredWalker-dq6rp
    @WilfredWalker-dq6rp 5 дней назад +4

    What an encouraging video Simon ! Thanks so much. Probably the best RUclips photography video I’ve ever watched.

  • @elizabethray8880
    @elizabethray8880 5 дней назад +2

    "Allow photography time to be therapeutic"! Love it.

  • @denisturcott5131
    @denisturcott5131 5 дней назад +1

    You are so right!!! Half the fun is getting out and enjoy the process.

  • @sonypix01
    @sonypix01 5 дней назад +2

    I have learned so much from you Simon. I did join a camera club who advertised that all were welcome, especially beginners and I hoped to learn how to take better images. Well, every other week there was a competition and I got to feel the pressure of entering a great image so as to not be so harshly critisised and made to look foolish by the judge. Pretty soon I forgot to enjoy taking photos. I needed and wanted positive critisism so enable me to improve, not to feel completely demoralised. Even other members of the club were no help. I even thought of giving up photography and selling my camera. Anyway, I have now left the club and have started to really enjoy the process of creating images that please me and when comparing them with earlier ones, I can see how I am improving. Thank you for this video.

    • @FutureChaosTV
      @FutureChaosTV 5 дней назад +4

      Such groups in any field of life or profession/hobby are frequently led by narcissist's or mobbing type people.
      You did the right thing to leave.
      Maybe you can find an open, easy going photography group that doesn't have a leader or committee but rather is just a group of people that go out on one day of the week to take photos for a simple, specific theme.
      You know, more like a motivation and inspiration for oneself as oppossed to a beauty contest for others.

  • @keithwilson7358
    @keithwilson7358 3 дня назад +1

    Simon fantastic advise not only for beginners but a great reminder for those that have been taking pictures for a while I was once told you don't take a picture you capture a story

  • @hayleyhowat3295
    @hayleyhowat3295 3 дня назад +1

    I just love your message to see beauty wherever you are. Make the seemingly mundane something exciting! Help others see something new and interesting through photography that perhaps they didn’t see before. Love this! Thank you for your videos; You have been a huge help to me!

  • @leevihalme4615
    @leevihalme4615 5 дней назад +1

    Extraordinary pictures of ordinary things is my favourite advice ever :)

  • @elvinlawcc
    @elvinlawcc 3 дня назад +1

    I like to take photos and videos of the people and things happening in my community. It is a fun thing to do sharing memorable moments with people in my community. I make people feel happy myself feel happy too. I have been doing this for years and everyone appreciates my effort and they all love me!😂

  • @tonysutton6559
    @tonysutton6559 5 дней назад +1

    Tip number 4 is probably the best one. I used to walk and travel to take pics. Now I take pictures as I walk and travel and on some days I might not take any pictures at all if I don't see anything that interests me or might interest others.

  • @_NoDrinkTheBleach
    @_NoDrinkTheBleach 4 дня назад +1

    Tip 5 is a great one, especially when mother nature is involved. A lot of my trips have been hampered by bad weather, but I've taken some unconventional shots that are still portfolio favorites from those trips.

  • @stevesharkey3312
    @stevesharkey3312 3 дня назад +1

    Making everyday things look beautiful becomes a habit that will lift your spirit as you start seeing the world in a more positive way. Then you just need to not let the nay sayers drag you down into their negativity. Great video.

  • @Apledore
    @Apledore 2 дня назад +1

    That polar bear going fishing photo is hilarious. I would personally print and hang a funny, unique photo over a perfectly beautiful photo, every time.

  • @BenjaminJames-mw1wt
    @BenjaminJames-mw1wt День назад +1

    You've done it again Simon. I love your completely honest view. .and the fact you're images are stunning makes it all the more poignant.

  • @WIHRC
    @WIHRC 5 дней назад +1

    I am definitely very appreciative of all of these tips. At some point, I stopped worrying about a lot of stuff when it comes to photography, especially still being in the beginner to intermediate stages of things.
    Sharpness was the first thing to go, and then the expectation of not getting something every single time I go out. Now I just enjoy the process more than anything even if I don't get photos I like it bothers me a little bit but just exploring the same place and finding something different or even exploring a new place is enough for me. I think that's also why I've started to keep photos that I don't necessarily like all the way to because it tells a story that I'll be able to look back on in the future.

  • @jamesstewart553
    @jamesstewart553 2 дня назад +1

    Simon, this is one of your best videos and you never mentioned a shooting mode or an F number what you say about "the going out" is correct, being there and enjoying it is" the drug". I get many average and a few "keepers", some days the "photography brain" works better than others, not everything works out perfectly, and sometimes things work out unexpectedly.
    Enjoyment is the main thing, not fighting a technical battle or seeking a technical solution for every frame, as for negative "expert" attitudes and "gatekeeping" - good luck to them, their comments are usually more about themselves and massaging their ego,- making themselves feel good.
    Thank you for a reminder of what is important both In photography and in life.

  • @iangibson5996
    @iangibson5996 5 дней назад +3

    You are not only a great photographer Simon but truly a sage in this space. Always offering excellent and common sense advice and without doubt the best RUclips channel for photographers.

  • @SkylarkFields
    @SkylarkFields 3 дня назад +1

    This is the best advice I have ever heard, and I feel lots better about my photography now. Thank you, Simon, for all these great tips!

  • @PaulMansfield
    @PaulMansfield 2 дня назад +1

    Some time ago i went out on a winter's foggy night in the hope of coming back with something different and special.
    When I showed the pictures, the one people liked were some photos I took near the carpark just to ensure everything was working and I'd not left anything behind.

  • @jyoungtricks
    @jyoungtricks 5 дней назад +1

    For your bonus tip, I think it's good to remember that one persons common might be anothers wonder. There are birds that are here in south east Queensland that you likely havent seen in canada and although the people around me likely wont care about a photo of a blue-faced honey eater that doesnt mean someone across the pond won't

  • @Tee.M23
    @Tee.M23 2 дня назад +1

    Really needed to hear this, 95% of the time I'm not happy with the work I produce but other would compliment my work. Everytime I'd go out for a shoot I would compare my work with the photographers that I know that have been in the industry for years now, I think a mistake I made was to expose myself too much to professionals.

  • @uwetrenkner9716
    @uwetrenkner9716 День назад +1

    I am as far away from wildlife photography as you can think off. But I really love your channel and find it very helpful. Thank you for all the effort you are putting into this movies.

  • @soumaSR
    @soumaSR 5 дней назад +1

    This has to be one of your best videos....totally on a philosophical level

  • @sethromney9289
    @sethromney9289 2 дня назад +1

    In a previous video I called you the Bob Ross of photography and this is what I meant, how you reiterated that there's beauty and everything and mistakes can be just as beautiful I really needed to hear this as I am new to photography and do feel like I'm not good enough. But I just love it so much it's got me back out into the world and seeing things from a different point of view so thanks again!!

  • @howardeurovine127
    @howardeurovine127 5 дней назад +1

    As always, super genuine advice, from the best on RUclips, thanks again Simon, your generosity knows no limits.

  • @galileuk
    @galileuk 5 дней назад +1

    Omg, I love the porcupines photo. Thank you for the constructive and pedagogical tone.

  • @kevinbrett5793
    @kevinbrett5793 3 дня назад +1

    Man did I need to here this! I've been doing exactly what you talked about here. Started to forget how much I love getting out into the bush and enjoying it. Started to againise about getting "the photo" instead of enjoying being in the moment. Thanks.

  • @Rustynuggitz
    @Rustynuggitz 5 дней назад

    The tip about finding beauty in everyday things because not everyone can travel around is really helpful. Not because it’s something I didn’t already know/do, but hearing it from you is encouraging because most of my photography consists of just a couple of towns around me. So thank you!

  • @PixWaxGB
    @PixWaxGB 3 дня назад +1

    I took my camera to Matlock, Derbyshire this weekend gone. Along with various photos of my family and the landscape, I offered to take a photo of a mother with her daughter and email it later that day. She was happy with the gesture, but when she had received the email she replied asking if I could make the photo "brighter". I wasn't offended in the slightest, as the photos I take and how I like them in post will be different to what others want (most want the Samsung oversaturated pop). So I adjusted global luminance and sent it back. It did have me thinking about the photos I've taken....but then that's my style and many love them, I won't be changing it (the natural look).

  • @erichstocker8358
    @erichstocker8358 6 дней назад +4

    Absolutely a great video. All your suggestions were right on target. Unfortunately social media has given the ‘gatekeepers’ a platform. Key, as you said, is to enjoy the process!

  • @bryan1917vc1
    @bryan1917vc1 3 дня назад +1

    That video has made me feel a whole lot better Simon and the will to carry on.

  • @woodylinder338
    @woodylinder338 5 дней назад +1

    Right on Simon. I used to shoot hummingbirds on my porch. The feeder is in the shadows so it was set up with 3 flashes (2 as slaves) in high speed. If I got 1% keepers it was a great day. And, using flash, you can't just mash the shutter! Certainly NOT like being a wedding photographer.... done that a couples of times too though. Photography is like music.... so many genres that are all different.

  • @gord_tomlin
    @gord_tomlin 4 дня назад +1

    Pep talk of the year. Great advice to get out of a slump. Bookmarked. Thanks, Simon!

  • @jremi
    @jremi 3 дня назад +1

    What an inspirational advice! I just came back from what I was considering an unsuccessful day of photography until I watched this video. Great timing! Thanks!

  • @WeekendWanderers4x4
    @WeekendWanderers4x4 День назад +1

    Simon, you have taught me a lot as a beginner, but this has been the most valuable. Thank you! Big fan from South Africa!

  • @mgourley1234
    @mgourley1234 4 дня назад +1

    Indeed. This is advice to take to heart.
    As with many things in life, I don't really give a F what other people think....If I'm happy with the results, or can learn from the experience, that's all that really matters.

  • @free-qe6wx
    @free-qe6wx 4 дня назад +1

    I recommend people go light, small, cheap for the starter kit. Buy something you'll want to bring with you everywhere and if it breaks or is stollen, etc., it will not be the end of the world. However, if you manage not to lose/break it, after you have progressed to a higher level this gear is still useful. Once you feel like its time to up your game and you know you will be doing this for many years if not decades, you should mostly skip the budget stuff. Budget gear ends up costing you more in the long run. The most important thing is that you enjoy what you are doing and that is where the focus should be. The reality is that basically no one but you/your family wants your photos/videos, so its not like there is a monetary benefit to spending more and more on gear. If you can afford it, then by all means buy it if it helps you enjoy this more. The more forward looking advice is this is all about the lenses; camera bodies come and go. So don't buy into a system that is all camera body hype and yet has almost no good or great lenses available for the system/genre.

  • @juandaniel1935
    @juandaniel1935 4 дня назад

    This video is a hug to the heart for us who are starting

  • @michaelholbrook4401
    @michaelholbrook4401 2 дня назад +1

    I like your channel because you speak to me. Me, an un-serious photographer, rather than just someone trying to get into the photography, professional or amateur, scene. I only take photos as a hobby. I am much more of hobbyist jigsaw puzzler, than I am a hobbyist photographer. I find when taking photos, the number one criteria for me is, will it make a good, interesting, jigsaw. One of these days, I'll find a good forum for jigsaw puzzle, photographer, hobbyists. :)

  • @camping_101
    @camping_101 2 дня назад +1

    Thank you for this video. I was always thinking about your last point but didn’t have the courage to act on it. The most numerous bird I see, every time I go out are coots. They are everywhere. I make a point of not taking photos of them until one day, I saw one with its juvenile chick, still in down feathers and I was inspired to capture a photo. I did nothing with the photo, I was just practising. However, it was a beautiful photo. I think that now, I will stop overlooking the birds the pose for me everyday, in search for the ones that are hard to find. The ones I see every day present great opportunities for me to hone this beautiful art and also capture them in ways never seen before. Many thanks again.

  • @ardscorner
    @ardscorner 4 дня назад +1

    Sage advice Simon. Eveeyday objects that most consider ordinary can become extrordinary from a certain point of view. That point of view is something I like to try and exploit by taking photos from different angles.

  • @eskay2250
    @eskay2250 2 дня назад +1

    Sage advice Simon!
    I loved your porcupine photos because from my end of the World, they are unique in their own right

  • @pepper6253
    @pepper6253 5 дней назад +1

    The best advice for all photographers . 🙌🏽🙌🏽

  • @sandeeptanjore1253
    @sandeeptanjore1253 5 дней назад +1

    Priceless tips Simon. Beauty in everyday and little things around us!

  • @washingtonradio
    @washingtonradio 4 дня назад +1

    I find taking a camera on hikes gives me the opportunity to take photos and that I'm often looking for something to photograph. Also, we often ignore what's in our own backyard for photo opportunities.

  • @csc-photo
    @csc-photo 5 дней назад +2

    Literally every second of this video is GOLD, the advice here is very much welcome and needed in our current social media culture. Thanks Simon! 👏🏻

  • @zuckshot
    @zuckshot 6 дней назад +3

    Another banger of an episode, holy.. I took your advice about the cropping from your last vid and dusted off my 200d and left the eos r in my bag for some bird shooting. Even though I knew, in theory, what the results would be I had never properly put it into practice until today. What an incredible difference! An absolute gem you are!

    • @hansemannluchter643
      @hansemannluchter643 5 дней назад

      I took my d200 and the 85 and 105mm MF Nikkors to a concert, along with a Olly Em-5 with a 100mm MF Zuiko:
      Out of the roughly 400 shots, 50 were good and 10 really good, without any cropping needed, a much higher good/bad ratio than I normally get with autofocus lenses that on paper are much better than those 50 year old dinosaurs.
      I believe the manual focus made me pay more attention..

  • @paulhudson117
    @paulhudson117 2 дня назад +1

    Thank you so much for this great advice. I wish I had seen this several years ago when I was becoming frustrated.
    My dealing with this was to take a week off of shooting photos. Then decided myself that I was going to continue doing what I love and the heck with the rest. I love your videos