Hi Henry, my familiarity is Scotland, I'm a Scottish landscape photographer living in Dumfries & Galloway. I remember you standing high up on the side of a glen being very emotional over your surroundings. I get that every time I go out onto the stunning Landscapes that surround me. If ever the tears and the hairs on the back of my neck stop happening, is the day I hang my camera up for good.
When photography is your living, it is only natural that you set standards for yourself, there will always be that element of pressure to deliver week after week. As a keen amateur, I do not have that pressure but like to challenge myself in different ways, currently I am about half way through a 'fifty mm for fifty days project', which is challenging yet enjoyable at the same time. I have not long discovered your channel Henry, I am really enjoying the content you have produced, please keep them coming :)
Taking pictures of details like a tree trunk or a flower is completely liberating. Unlike well known landscape locations where hundreds of photographers have captured it before, the chances are you are the first person to photograph that flower. I love it
Love the enthusiasm about small things outdoors! So relatable 😁🤪🙌 glad to find out I'm not the only one out there, as sometimes it feels when I start talking with some of people in my circle about things like that,they have that weird look, disengaged 🤔😁🤪 it might be that need to review people I'm associated 😎💥 If there's anyone up for a day hike/photography mini trip, exploring and learning along the way and you in Devon area around Dartmoor , or anywhere Southwest really, hit me up, that includes you @henry 🙌 Nothing but love for outdoors, go out and explore
Hi Henry, Thank you so much, 8 years ago I retired to Rural Chiang Rai Northern Thailand, I am from the North West UK, today you took me back to one of my most favorite places Jenny Brown Point, I also know that Garlic wood as well, mate I could almost smell it! As always fab video loved the shots and presentation. GT
I live on the Isle of Wight which is great how ever I can't take advantage of the beaches as I'm a wheelchair user but I still find things / landscape type photos. I just like getting out and seeing what I can find .
I definitely get what you're saying. I live in the Flinders Ranges and landscape wise its hard to take a bad photo. I do understand but I like a challenge so I take allsorts of photos because I want to. I take dogs, cats, horses, chickens, wildlife, people, motorbikes, steam trains, farm equipment, abstracts, ICM, cloud patterns, astro, I'm addicted to taking photos. Ask my poor daughter lol. I even take the camera shopping just in case. Thats a bit sad really...
I do relate to a degree. For me though Henry it’s not that I don’t care if I don’t get a good photograph or that I’m not striving for it. Every time my camera comes out with me I’m eager to take a banger of a shot. However, I work mixture of day shifts, late shifts and night shifts and I can’t always go out in perfect or even ideal conditions. Due to family life and my location, I’m also not able to travel to these stunning locations all that often. When I do get to travel to them, I’m usually with my wife and she gets bored of stopping regularly to take photos. Often I’ll come away from a trip disappointed that I didn’t get a good shot. Even more so if someone says “if you’d just composed like this or gone for sunset / sunrise”. I find it frustrating because it’s true but there’s not a lot I could do in that moment fore one of the aforementioned reasons. However, it makes those occasions where I get lucky and the stars align to get good light, good weather, the right time of day and nailing a composition first time, even more magical. It’s only recently though watching your videos (along with a few others) where this has started to become less important and I just enjoy being out… and I appreciate those occasions where I get magical shots even more. I just have to accept that when I’m so restricted on when and where I can pursue my hobby, dictates the type of photos I can get and I can only do so much.
Great video, appreciate the honesty and perspective. I'm one of those hobbyists that found photography later in life, but much like my job and my other hobbies, I am very much a perfectionist about my results. Being out and about is the primary reward, but I really hate sharing what I think are mediocre pictures. One of the things I'm trying to do to 1) overcome that and 2) force myself to learn new skills, is do more "challenge" type photography. E.g. the recent one is to shoot the alphabet in landscape or architecture this summer season. In other words, find the letter "A" somewhere, then the letter "B", etc. It's making me think more creatively and teaching me to "see" the world differently.
Your openness and honesty is refreshing. The act of photography has it's challenges, and often the resulting photos are only fully realized once the post-processing has occurred. You share many amazing final photo results. Most photographers with YT channels also do the same. It would be very interesting to see some of the differences between the photos, the settings and thought process behind them, and how the "average" images are different than the amazing final photos that you share. Hearing you describe what you changed, why you changed settings and compositions, and everything else that goes through your mind in the field to get the final image would be very interesting to listen to you explain. Especially the images in the field that you thought were going to be amazing, but then weren't once you were back at the computer.
Alright lad. I missed "Henry Thursday" as the wife puts it... but here today! I think what you are saying is a perfectly valid point, push yourself out of your comfort zone and photograph other areas and things that aren't fells etc. However, also don't be too critical of yourself for trying to push your RUclips channel, because to be honest, anyone that follows you will watch you regardless of if you got a picture or not. Your channel is so much more than JUST about the photography. Thanks for keeping up the good work and giving me the inspiration! Be safe! Peace!
Henry, your honesty and passion will keep us with you , and learn from the good and the not so good, I’ve followed your tutorials for a few years and I’m still here. It ain’t easy but we keep looking for a MAGIC location and to remain safe.
Henry doesn’t have a clue what sort of tree he’s shooting, but randomly point at any fell, crag, loch or tarn and he’ll tell you its name. Frankly, his gift is more amazing that knowing all the tree names!
I prefer taking landscape vista photographs but I will photograph anything. I've been to Three Sisters racetrack in Wigan, walked through many woods (including Gisburn Forest) and usually come away with something. They may not be epics, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I've also been to Jenny Browns Point and took some reasonable seascapes. It's all in the experience and the process of making the best photo from what is available.
Even as an enthusiast, with a youtube channel, we still put the pressure on ourselves but at some point you have to realize its all about being out there, experiencing nature and showing it off. When we start nitpicking, we do ourselves and ither photographers a dis service. Its real to take less than stunning photos. Natures imperfect, not everythings going to be a hot plate of dinna. But its all landscape great or mundane. Shoot it and show it off
Can't stress this enough, but thank you so much for doing what you do! You've given me the stress free love for landscape photography back. Saturday morning coffee with your videos are golden mate! Incidentally, do you have any plans of travelling abroad and making videos from there? I'd highly recommend Lofoten Norway!
Loved this Henry, ive always been an admirer of your honesty and your infectious enthusiasm. It was refreshing seeing you wandering around shooting the kind of stuff we newbies shoot. In saying that ive always looked up to you as being the man next door climbing mountains and creating images the likes of myself can only imagine, i think what im saying is for the sake of people less mobile like myself don't ever change
I do like a challenge! And I have to challenge myself or I'll never improve. Loved the tree bark photo - so I thought I'd try my own: so I did during a recent drive. I haven't processed the results yet, but I will. I don't know why some trees shed their bark, but our lemon-scented gums do it each year and they turn from brown to a pale green for a while; others will shed theirs in long, irregular strips. My goal in the next few months is to get a handle on photographing the bush (woods) in The Black Spur, about an hour from where I live. The trees there just grow straight up till they're crowned with foliage, and they don't offer much interest. I don't have steady-enough hands to try a hand-held photo stack! One thing: my Fujifilm has a "focus bracket" setting where it will take a series of pictures at steadily increasing focal length. It won't compile them into a single image like some cameras do, but I can do that in GIMP.
I have just spent some time photographing the Northumberland coast and I got my best shots hand held so you are spot on about going hand held being liberating. You are not rambling, you are just having a conversation with us.
Grand video. Love that area round Silverdale and Leighton Moss. Not able to get out much at moment, waiting on NHS to replace a knee, but I hope you also realise that through your videos some of us can enjoy a vicarious visit to the lakes and Scotland. So, you may feel it’s ‘easy’ to photograph the more photogenic landscapes but we get to go there with you, so enjoy it for us.
For myself, I love getting out there in nature and taking photos. I have zero interest in making it into a business. As long as I'm out there I do want to take decent photos so I value the advice I get from the pros like yourself or Thomas Heaton, Mads, or Nigel, etc.. but at the end of the day, I'm not trying to be the next Ansel Adams. I just want to have fun. I've often wondered how people balance being serious about improving their photos but still having a good time with it. It's too easy to so get hung up on trying to create the perfect photo that you forget to have fun.
Babbling often, just like in this vid, springs upon us many nuggets of wisdom.. Loving all the images in this extremely enjoyable episode... All 'top Drawer'... Thank you Henry, look forward to the next one..
One of your best vlogs ever! Thank you! thank you for all the effort, passion and enthusiasm you put in. Thank you for giving me, unfailingly, food for thought. Thank you for enlightening our days. Well done! Keep it up.
No harm in trying something different, regardless if you get any images or not the pleasure of being out and the learning experience should be a good takeaway from the day. My normal genre is black and white architecture but learned a valuable lesson from a recent foreign trip about improvising and not being stifled by having a rigid plan so for me the challenge going forward is to be less structured in my approach and to freelance a bit more. Enjoyed todays episode Henry 👍
Excellent video Henry! Limited access to good locations means I probably overshoot when i do get out...not to miss something. But i enjoy it..take what i can when i can. Great channel! All the best
Another wonderful video, Henry. For me, I find that if I sit back and stay in my comfort zone I cheat myself out of more learning and I tend to get a bit bored always shooting the same types of images. Challenging myself to step out of that comfort zone and shoot something more challenging allows for wonderful experiences and learning insights. Whether or not you come away with a few winning images is really besides the fact, isn’t it🥰
I prefer this type of flog showing photos that are not bankers is more like viewers efforts it makes us realise that you are just like us even the great Thomas Heaton shows his whole experience now and that is it it's an experience with you showing how you achieve this and tutorial help in a natural way more like this please relaxed hand held great
Great Video ! What you are possibly experiencing is a product of your improvement and back catalogue of great shots. This can occur with portraits , landscape ... any type of photography. For a while you notice step changes in your shots and you shoot LOTS! ... sharper, more epic , better exposed, better post processing - but then you hit a plateau - now the only difference between you and the "greats" is location and luck ... at that point you start losing the urge to always have a camera , to be constantly shooting ... unless you are going to do something great - but your skills now are developed enough to know when it's not worth even raising the camera to your eye ... this where we assuage the loss with G.A.S. ... exotic locations and more and more challenging shots or more commonly a shift in Genres.
Thanks for sharing Henry.... your comments are spot on for me as I have been a hobbyist for nearly 70 years and just love taking pics of whatever interests me when I walk around a location....it is relaxing & I always feel free & close to nature.. although I have a tripod I always shoot hand held when wandering around...,.. another great video Henry... cheers from Australia 😀
Always interested to see what part of the English countryside you are visiting Henry. As for photography, your right, it’s not all about the BIG picture, there’s so much more. Just have to learn how to spot them. Thanks for sharing again Henry. Stay safe 🇦🇺
Great video Henry. It's a really great area with all sorts of magical hotspots to Photograph (slightly biased as I'm local), although I often wander with a camera I tend to just enjoy being out and about rather than concentrating as much as I probably should on the photos Your Lime Kiln isn't actually a Lime Kiln, it's a chimney from an old copper furnace from the late 1700's. It's original and grade 2 listed but has had reasonably recent restoration work to prevent it collapsing. The rest of the furnace has long since been demolished. The guy who built the furnace ended up not actually having the landowners permissions to mine copper so after a few years use, legal lawsuits etc they stopped mining copper. There are a few Lime kilns locally, easiest 1 to get to that is in decent condition is at the top of the field between church Hill avenue, Warton and the footpath up onto warton crag. If you head up crag Road from the village just at the top of the hill there is a layby on the right hand side of the road, the Lime Kiln is just opposite.
Hi Henry, another grand day out, complete with a spot of babbling! ... nice change of pace. A bit of variety never hurts, it get us out of our comfort zone and helps us stretch our skills. Another special Thursday evening, and thanks for sharing.
I know exactly the point you're making with this vlog Henry and it's a good one. Although I wouldn't say your landscape photography work becomes "easy" in the Lake District mountains or in Scotland. Maybe a better way to put it is you have a greater chance of making an impactful photograph in these locales. You still have to do all the hiking, get the right weather conditions and lighting, and then make the right choices to capture a great photograph, and that is not altogether "easy"! I live in the Upper Midwest of the U.S. and our landscapes aren't all that dramatic (or all that boring) but with the right conditions and effort, great landscape photos can be had. I also put as much effort into macro nature photography so that if the landscapes aren't popping, maybe the macro opportunities will rescue the outing, and vise-a-versa. One thing that remains constant is feeding off the enthusiasm and information from your videos...much appreciated!
I love the idea of challenging yourself with new locations and subject matter. I do something similar in my weekly routine. I put on one lens and commit to taking images with only that lens for a couple days. I retrain my eyes to "see" with that lens and retrain my brain to think of new and creative ways to use the tool at hand. Amazing what you can do when you're forced out of the comfort zone and into a new creative space. And for what it's worth, you do a fine job hand holding rolling with a light kit. Well done as always.
Great video, if I have learnt anything in my very short journey into photography it is is we take pictures of the things we love, and so many of the Landscape photographers I follow take photos in parts of the country I love, I however don't enjoy the scenery near me, and that's a challenge. I would like to see more videos of people going to places they don't naturally connect with and being able to find and take great pictures there.
Second video I've watched of yours. This is a LOT more like what it's like in "rest of us" world. Very nice and I love your videos... from Tejas with best wishes.
I think I agree. I care, but also don't care, about what photos I might bring home. Just being out in nature is often therapy enough, and the photos are just the bonus. A couple weeks ago I went to a local wildlife refuge that I visit frequently. Didn't take a single shot there, but I got to see some of the wildlife. I don't have super great locations without driving a ways, so I make do mostly with what is close and hope for something decent.
I was in Glen Coe at the weekend taking pics, very windy but wanted to get up before the Summer when the trees are still bare and the mountains and grasslands are still not green. I was taking pictures of the people taking pictures of the womans hiking lodge (the small white croft house at the foot of the ski-resort) always interesting things going on up there.
Great shot of chimney with clouds Henry, Liked the change from a "classic" day out up in the lakes or some Scottish mountains. I found it refreshing as it was something a bit different from you this time. I would bet on reflection you found it quite a pleasant day out.
I agree, Henry. Once you become familiar and proficient in any endeavor it's time to push the boundaries and move out of your comfort zones. That's how we continue to learn and grow. Love those kiln shots! Really enjoyed this one.
I think you're very honest here. I recently recorded a video for my own channel were I talk about this aswel. I had to learn how to manage my expectations. Lots of times I was disappointed when I was out for photography. But now I realise that those epic portfolio peaces don't happen every trip. So I started to concentrate on exploring different areas to give me more experience. In the end I hope to be able to shoot everywhere and in every weather condition. And I enjoy the search for these more hard to find shots just like you mention. Going out in sunrise with fog just got to easy. But to be honest Henry I don't care if you share some bad photos on your channel. I think you and we can learn from the mistakes and that is the only way we can get better at photography. But in the end it doesn't mind where you photograph just keep your enthousiasm 🙂 grt guido
Once upon a time I was a pro photographer, I began having health issues so I retired from pro photography. I still produce photos just not in quantities or better yet as often. I shoot what I feel, I shoot for me and what peaks my interests. I hardly ever manipulate my photos, I'm more of a purest. Why the rant, Photography is my zen, my relaxation; I'm in no hurry and consider every shot even if its one. Even though I still make some money but Im not in it for money. I try and train my brain to see the image without a camera and then set out to produce that image, I even see the focal length of my lens. I guess what I'm trying to say is as a pro/your living, you pressure yourself and more times than not your photos suffer but if you just have fun and eliminate as best as you can the pressure your photos improve.
The chimney at Jenny Brown's Point was for copper and (I believe) iron smelting. There is the remains of a quay next to it that was used for transportation of the produce by sailing ship. Keep missing you on your travels, I was there about the same time. I think the trees were both sycamores. Great pictures. Excellent close-up shot.
I really enjoyed this video and how you went to the opposite spectrum of your familiarity. I guess there’s nothing wrong with landscape vistas and tripods but getting out with hand held and finding so many great little shots that you wouldn’t always think of taking pictures of is quite liberating. And that focus stack - not knowing if it’ll come out but the fact that you know your camera and you know your skills enough to know it’s worth trying. Yep, definitely worth sharing with us and encouraging too 👍📷
Henry.. Henry I can smell the wild garlic also lol love it!! Beautiful woodlands you have and the trees are so amazing. We still have lots of snow here in Northern Ontario. The lime kiln photo is wonderful and the storm clouds so make it!!! I keep telling my camera store owner “ Photography is Great Exercise “ Take Care and Happy Easter!!
Hi Henry, although there are a lot of lime kilns in the area, I believe (don’t quote me on it!) that it’s actually a copper smelting chimney down there. Keep up the good work!
Fun video. I get what you're saying about leaning towards familiarity. Nothing wrong with shooting a favorite style/location if that's what you truly love doing, but I think you're correct that doing the same thing only because it's in your comfort zone might be ' the easy way out'. I get bored quite easily, so one day I might have it in my head to go shoot some landscape or sunset, and the next I might want to shoot some street, maybe long exposure night or milky way even. Many times if I'm out and about, I'm always just looking for a possible interesting composition, even if it's just running to the local shop and back. The great videos you and other's have, inspire me to try something new, whether it's lighting/comp or even Lightroom/Photoshop skills/tricks. Great video and pics... Cheers
Its good to know you aint perfect. I fit into that Hobbyist category and to a great extent agree with the premise that great photo's dont really matter. Maybe if you had an exclusive 'club' for the understanding people who know that not every picture is a banger and in there you could 'share the shyte ' LOL Personally I would love to see the less than perfect shots along with an explanation why you consider them inferior and what you could have done better. Never give up sharing your journeys whatever the content . Too many people would miss them.
I can really relate to what you're saying about it being 'easy' Henry. I feel like that about my photography at the moment. It's not really a challenge! I'm doing a lot of macro photography and don't get me wrong, I am enjoying it, but I cannot help feeling like I'm doing it because it's the easiest, or the best option, when what I REALLY want to do is hike up mountains and fells and stuff and photograph amazing vista's. But as I mentioned before, that's going to be a tad difficult from a mobility scooter!
As an beginner/amateur I try my hand at any genre that presents itself to me, I’m not particularly good at any of them 😂 but enjoy the challenge of improving. There are times when I am extremely pleased with the results and other times when not so. I’m not adverse to getting critique either and quite often seek advice on what I could have done better from more experienced photographers, it’s all a massive learning curve. I completely understand your position as a professional, you have got to the position of having to set your bar high but you are humble with it. I would enjoy seeing some of your “pants” efforts and you explaining why you think they are 🤔👍
I notice a difference between you and I as a photographer. You take a few carefully composed shots where as I tend to take a lot more. That is partly because I was keen on hiking on the mountains before I became interested in photography. I do not really have many photos of my hikes during the 80s and 90s, so now I am keen to document my routes. It is not just about artistic shots but keeping a a diary of my mountain days. I do write walk reports that I share on my website (Weebly) which can also act as a guide to anyone who fancies repeating my routes. Most are hand held, though I usually carry a tripod for those summit selfies. I am really interested to see what you have achieved hand held. I particularly like the first one - and taken without a macro lens. BTW I think I can make out patterns on the trunk where the bark has peeled off that suggest a pest/parasite that has eaten its way beneath the bark.
Wow, hand-held focus stack. I'll have to think about that one. I enjoy the challenge of getting the best out of any landscape. I was despairing in the Brecon Beacons during a short visit to the UK at the weekend, thinking that I wasn't going to get anything up on the hills. And then it all came together and I got some shots of Llyn y Fan Fach that I'm very happy with. A good photographer should be able to create images where a less experienced image maker might struggle. It's good to stretch ourselves though.
I enjoyed that Henry, a different aspect of your art away from the usual landscapes. Food for thought for the hobby, and I am very much a hobbyist and like Eric Shetney started photography late in life. I am still struggling with the technical aspect of the R6...soooooo many setting's LOl. I am living in Corfu and have decided to try to put together a catalogue of the Island but not of the normal touristy shot's done so much over time.....we will see?
Love the lime kiln. Puts me in mind of the furnaces I saw in Pennsylvania that were used for melting the iron out of iron ore. They would run them 24/7 until they needed repair, or even until they collapsed. The job of loading the iron ore into the top was so dangerous that some places banned the sale of alcohol for a 2 mile radius while the furnace was in operation.
Great Vlog Henry, I'm off to the Lake District this week, 2 dedicated days of photography and 2 days of sightseeing with as much photography as possible thrown in (got to keep the other half happy) 😂Like you said, I've been making do with local and local'ish areas and to get to a place as gorgeous as the Lake District will be something very special for me, I'm vlogging the 2 days of photography, so hopefully, I'll have photogenic weather as well as the beautiful scenery, wish me luck 😃
Nice video Henry, those early pics of the bark have inspired me to get out in the garden and photograph my trees. It's so easy to loose confidence and worry that my pictures are not all epic landscape shots and just focus on some local images, thanks!
Just watched the intro to this video and had to comment. We are all harder on our own photos then of other people. What you think is rubbish might not be to others. I try not to be so critical of my photos but that is hard. Main thing is you got out and tried
You've hit the nail on the head there Henry, I find it so much easier to take better looking images when I'm in an inspiring landscape which is what I always go for. My local countryside is much more of a challenge, it's quite restricted and there's always something on the horizon that I'm trying to avoid. It can be a bit frustrating at times and then I just don't push myself as much to be more creative and explore it. Thanks for today's video!
Another great video. You give some super advice...as always. I'll take the oppotunity to mention a great lime kiln at Langcliff just outside Settle, definately worth a visit.
Fair play to you for doing this video. It will improve you as a photographer. We don’t care if they are perfect everytime it actually makes us feel better about our own photography. You can’t get bangers all the time and that’s cool. Like to see more of this type from you
Thanks for showing us something different and presenting us with the idea of trying a different challenge. Great results with your handheld shots. I dislike using my tripod as I find it cumbersome. As a hobbyist, I feel I have enough to think about and that is just another thing.
Thanks Henry. It's terrific to feel your enthusiasm for photography. i appreciate all your photo tips and suggestions. Very interesting adventure. Please keep them coming. I know it takes a lot of effort and work. 📸 ⭐ 👀 👍
I love the picture at 13:25!! And as always a great video, I understand what you mean! Every time again though I do try to get home with the best possible results!
Great video and excellent honest thoughts. It's always good to take a break from your usual style of shooting. Hand holding makes it so you have to think differently, working with restrictions that normally aren't an issue with a tripod.
I always look forward to Thursdays, and sitting down with a cuppa to enjoy your latest video. I'm never disappointed, and today is no exception! Makes me want to get out tomorrow to get some shots!
Hi Henry, my familiarity is Scotland, I'm a Scottish landscape photographer living in Dumfries & Galloway. I remember you standing high up on the side of a glen being very emotional over your surroundings. I get that every time I go out onto the stunning Landscapes that surround me. If ever the tears and the hairs on the back of my neck stop happening,
is the day I hang my camera up for good.
When photography is your living, it is only natural that you set standards for yourself, there will always be that element of pressure to deliver week after week.
As a keen amateur, I do not have that pressure but like to challenge myself in different ways, currently I am about half way through a 'fifty mm for fifty days project', which is challenging yet enjoyable at the same time.
I have not long discovered your channel Henry, I am really enjoying the content you have produced, please keep them coming :)
Really appreciate the extra creativity that comes with leaving the familiar.
Sun showers are great to see. They're so rare that I just feel like standing in the rain to enjoy the moment.
Taking pictures of details like a tree trunk or a flower is completely liberating. Unlike well known landscape locations where hundreds of photographers have captured it before, the chances are you are the first person to photograph that flower. I love it
Love the enthusiasm about small things outdoors! So relatable 😁🤪🙌 glad to find out I'm not the only one out there, as sometimes it feels when I start talking with some of people in my circle about things like that,they have that weird look, disengaged 🤔😁🤪 it might be that need to review people I'm associated 😎💥
If there's anyone up for a day hike/photography mini trip, exploring and learning along the way and you in Devon area around Dartmoor , or anywhere Southwest really, hit me up, that includes you @henry 🙌
Nothing but love for outdoors, go out and explore
I appreciate the conversational tone as well as the content.
It about getting excited for the scene you see and the image you want to create. Its that simple.
Brilliant! Nice to see you stretching yourself. Keep living the dream!
Thanks Henry, always appreciate your openness with us.
Hi Henry, Thank you so much, 8 years ago I retired to Rural Chiang Rai Northern Thailand, I am from the North West UK, today you took me back to one of my most favorite places Jenny Brown Point, I also know that Garlic wood as well, mate I could almost smell it! As always fab video loved the shots and presentation. GT
I simply enjoyed that Henry. Magic!
I live on the Isle of Wight which is great how ever I can't take advantage of the beaches as I'm a wheelchair user but I still find things / landscape type photos. I just like getting out and seeing what I can find .
I definitely get what you're saying. I live in the Flinders Ranges and landscape wise its hard to take a bad photo. I do understand but I like a challenge so I take allsorts of photos because I want to. I take dogs, cats, horses, chickens, wildlife, people, motorbikes, steam trains, farm equipment, abstracts, ICM, cloud patterns, astro, I'm addicted to taking photos. Ask my poor daughter lol. I even take the camera shopping just in case. Thats a bit sad really...
I do relate to a degree.
For me though Henry it’s not that I don’t care if I don’t get a good photograph or that I’m not striving for it. Every time my camera comes out with me I’m eager to take a banger of a shot.
However, I work mixture of day shifts, late shifts and night shifts and I can’t always go out in perfect or even ideal conditions.
Due to family life and my location, I’m also not able to travel to these stunning locations all that often. When I do get to travel to them, I’m usually with my wife and she gets bored of stopping regularly to take photos.
Often I’ll come away from a trip disappointed that I didn’t get a good shot. Even more so if someone says “if you’d just composed like this or gone for sunset / sunrise”. I find it frustrating because it’s true but there’s not a lot I could do in that moment fore one of the aforementioned reasons.
However, it makes those occasions where I get lucky and the stars align to get good light, good weather, the right time of day and nailing a composition first time, even more magical.
It’s only recently though watching your videos (along with a few others) where this has started to become less important and I just enjoy being out… and I appreciate those occasions where I get magical shots even more.
I just have to accept that when I’m so restricted on when and where I can pursue my hobby, dictates the type of photos I can get and I can only do so much.
Great video, appreciate the honesty and perspective. I'm one of those hobbyists that found photography later in life, but much like my job and my other hobbies, I am very much a perfectionist about my results. Being out and about is the primary reward, but I really hate sharing what I think are mediocre pictures. One of the things I'm trying to do to 1) overcome that and 2) force myself to learn new skills, is do more "challenge" type photography. E.g. the recent one is to shoot the alphabet in landscape or architecture this summer season. In other words, find the letter "A" somewhere, then the letter "B", etc. It's making me think more creatively and teaching me to "see" the world differently.
Excellent thoughts, Erik. I agree. And I think I may join you on your "Alphabet Challenge", too. Love it! 👍
@@timschaeffer8874 thank you. I'm sure my photos will be quite unremarkable and very forgettable, but hopefully I will learn something taking them. :)
Your openness and honesty is refreshing. The act of photography has it's challenges, and often the resulting photos are only fully realized once the post-processing has occurred. You share many amazing final photo results. Most photographers with YT channels also do the same. It would be very interesting to see some of the differences between the photos, the settings and thought process behind them, and how the "average" images are different than the amazing final photos that you share. Hearing you describe what you changed, why you changed settings and compositions, and everything else that goes through your mind in the field to get the final image would be very interesting to listen to you explain. Especially the images in the field that you thought were going to be amazing, but then weren't once you were back at the computer.
Alright lad. I missed "Henry Thursday" as the wife puts it... but here today!
I think what you are saying is a perfectly valid point, push yourself out of your comfort zone and photograph other areas and things that aren't fells etc. However, also don't be too critical of yourself for trying to push your RUclips channel, because to be honest, anyone that follows you will watch you regardless of if you got a picture or not. Your channel is so much more than JUST about the photography.
Thanks for keeping up the good work and giving me the inspiration!
Be safe! Peace!
Our Eucalypts shed their bark here in Australia, makes for interesting abstracts.
Henry, your honesty and passion will keep us with you , and learn from the good and the not so good, I’ve followed your tutorials for a few years and I’m still here. It ain’t easy but we keep looking for a MAGIC location and to remain safe.
Henry doesn’t have a clue what sort of tree he’s shooting, but randomly point at any fell, crag, loch or tarn and he’ll tell you its name. Frankly, his gift is more amazing that knowing all the tree names!
I prefer taking landscape vista photographs but I will photograph anything. I've been to Three Sisters racetrack in Wigan, walked through many woods (including Gisburn Forest) and usually come away with something. They may not be epics, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I've also been to Jenny Browns Point and took some reasonable seascapes. It's all in the experience and the process of making the best photo from what is available.
Another good trip .. trying new things 😁😁😁
Love your videos Henry. You come across as a really genuine guy. Regards from Liverpool.
Even as an enthusiast, with a youtube channel, we still put the pressure on ourselves but at some point you have to realize its all about being out there, experiencing nature and showing it off. When we start nitpicking, we do ourselves and ither photographers a dis service. Its real to take less than stunning photos. Natures imperfect, not everythings going to be a hot plate of dinna. But its all landscape great or mundane. Shoot it and show it off
Can't stress this enough, but thank you so much for doing what you do! You've given me the stress free love for landscape photography back. Saturday morning coffee with your videos are golden mate!
Incidentally, do you have any plans of travelling abroad and making videos from there? I'd highly recommend Lofoten Norway!
Loved this Henry, ive always been an admirer of your honesty and your infectious enthusiasm. It was refreshing seeing you wandering around shooting the kind of stuff we newbies shoot. In saying that ive always looked up to you as being the man next door climbing mountains and creating images the likes of myself can only imagine, i think what im saying is for the sake of people less mobile like myself don't ever change
Wow
God bless you
I do like a challenge! And I have to challenge myself or I'll never improve. Loved the tree bark photo - so I thought I'd try my own: so I did during a recent drive. I haven't processed the results yet, but I will. I don't know why some trees shed their bark, but our lemon-scented gums do it each year and they turn from brown to a pale green for a while; others will shed theirs in long, irregular strips. My goal in the next few months is to get a handle on photographing the bush (woods) in The Black Spur, about an hour from where I live. The trees there just grow straight up till they're crowned with foliage, and they don't offer much interest. I don't have steady-enough hands to try a hand-held photo stack! One thing: my Fujifilm has a "focus bracket" setting where it will take a series of pictures at steadily increasing focal length. It won't compile them into a single image like some cameras do, but I can do that in GIMP.
I have just spent some time photographing the Northumberland coast and I got my best shots hand held so you are spot on about going hand held being liberating. You are not rambling, you are just having a conversation with us.
Grand video. Love that area round Silverdale and Leighton Moss. Not able to get out much at moment, waiting on NHS to replace a knee, but I hope you also realise that through your videos some of us can enjoy a vicarious visit to the lakes and Scotland. So, you may feel it’s ‘easy’ to photograph the more photogenic landscapes but we get to go there with you, so enjoy it for us.
For myself, I love getting out there in nature and taking photos. I have zero interest in making it into a business. As long as I'm out there I do want to take decent photos so I value the advice I get from the pros like yourself or Thomas Heaton, Mads, or Nigel, etc.. but at the end of the day, I'm not trying to be the next Ansel Adams. I just want to have fun. I've often wondered how people balance being serious about improving their photos but still having a good time with it. It's too easy to so get hung up on trying to create the perfect photo that you forget to have fun.
Babbling often, just like in this vid, springs upon us many nuggets of wisdom..
Loving all the images in this extremely enjoyable episode... All 'top Drawer'...
Thank you Henry, look forward to the next one..
One of your best vlogs ever! Thank you! thank you for all the effort, passion and enthusiasm you put in. Thank you for giving me, unfailingly, food for thought. Thank you for enlightening our days. Well done! Keep it up.
No harm in trying something different, regardless if you get any images or not the pleasure of being out and the learning experience should be a good takeaway from the day. My normal genre is black and white architecture but learned a valuable lesson from a recent foreign trip about improvising and not being stifled by having a rigid plan so for me the challenge going forward is to be less structured in my approach and to freelance a bit more. Enjoyed todays episode Henry 👍
Excellent video Henry! Limited access to good locations means I probably overshoot when i do get out...not to miss something. But i enjoy it..take what i can when i can.
Great channel! All the best
The lime kiln was lovely Henry, for the Irish trip check out the round tower at Glendalough
Another wonderful video, Henry. For me, I find that if I sit back and stay in my comfort zone I cheat myself out of more learning and I tend to get a bit bored always shooting the same types of images. Challenging myself to step out of that comfort zone and shoot something more challenging allows for wonderful experiences and learning insights. Whether or not you come away with a few winning images is really besides the fact, isn’t it🥰
I prefer this type of flog showing photos that are not bankers is more like viewers efforts it makes us realise that you are just like us even the great Thomas Heaton shows his whole experience now and that is it it's an experience with you showing how you achieve this and tutorial help in a natural way more like this please relaxed hand held great
“Beach tree...I haven’t got a clue.”
That’s had me in stitches. Love your video’s, they are inspiring 👌
Loved it! Very refreshing to see you take some different types of pictures! I thought they were all very good too.
Great Video !
What you are possibly experiencing is a product of your improvement and back catalogue of great shots. This can occur with portraits , landscape ... any type of photography. For a while you notice step changes in your shots and you shoot LOTS! ... sharper, more epic , better exposed, better post processing - but then you hit a plateau - now the only difference between you and the "greats" is location and luck ... at that point you start losing the urge to always have a camera , to be constantly shooting ... unless you are going to do something great - but your skills now are developed enough to know when it's not worth even raising the camera to your eye ... this where we assuage the loss with G.A.S. ... exotic locations and more and more challenging shots or more commonly a shift in Genres.
More please, love the variety and honesty in these videos.
I think that lime kiln and rain clouds shot could look even better converted to Mono.
Thanks for sharing Henry.... your comments are spot on for me as I have been a hobbyist for nearly 70 years and just love taking pics of whatever interests me when I walk around a location....it is relaxing & I always feel free & close to nature.. although I have a tripod I always shoot hand held when wandering around...,.. another great video Henry... cheers from Australia 😀
Great stuff Henry! Thanks for sharing!
Always interested to see what part of the English countryside you are visiting Henry.
As for photography, your right, it’s not all about the BIG picture, there’s so much more.
Just have to learn how to spot them. Thanks for sharing again Henry.
Stay safe 🇦🇺
Great video Henry. It's a really great area with all sorts of magical hotspots to Photograph (slightly biased as I'm local), although I often wander with a camera I tend to just enjoy being out and about rather than concentrating as much as I probably should on the photos
Your Lime Kiln isn't actually a Lime Kiln, it's a chimney from an old copper furnace from the late 1700's. It's original and grade 2 listed but has had reasonably recent restoration work to prevent it collapsing. The rest of the furnace has long since been demolished. The guy who built the furnace ended up not actually having the landowners permissions to mine copper so after a few years use, legal lawsuits etc they stopped mining copper. There are a few Lime kilns locally, easiest 1 to get to that is in decent condition is at the top of the field between church Hill avenue, Warton and the footpath up onto warton crag. If you head up crag Road from the village just at the top of the hill there is a layby on the right hand side of the road, the Lime Kiln is just opposite.
Hi Henry, another grand day out, complete with a spot of babbling! ... nice change of pace. A bit of variety never hurts, it get us out of our comfort zone and helps us stretch our skills. Another special Thursday evening, and thanks for sharing.
Beautiful first picture from that tower.
I know exactly the point you're making with this vlog Henry and it's a good one. Although I wouldn't say your landscape photography work becomes "easy" in the Lake District mountains or in Scotland. Maybe a better way to put it is you have a greater chance of making an impactful photograph in these locales. You still have to do all the hiking, get the right weather conditions and lighting, and then make the right choices to capture a great photograph, and that is not altogether "easy"! I live in the Upper Midwest of the U.S. and our landscapes aren't all that dramatic (or all that boring) but with the right conditions and effort, great landscape photos can be had. I also put as much effort into macro nature photography so that if the landscapes aren't popping, maybe the macro opportunities will rescue the outing, and vise-a-versa. One thing that remains constant is feeding off the enthusiasm and information from your videos...much appreciated!
Thanks for another video, the peeling bark is just old bark which will be replaced with new bark underneath
I love the idea of challenging yourself with new locations and subject matter. I do something similar in my weekly routine. I put on one lens and commit to taking images with only that lens for a couple days. I retrain my eyes to "see" with that lens and retrain my brain to think of new and creative ways to use the tool at hand. Amazing what you can do when you're forced out of the comfort zone and into a new creative space. And for what it's worth, you do a fine job hand holding rolling with a light kit. Well done as always.
Great video, if I have learnt anything in my very short journey into photography it is is we take pictures of the things we love, and so many of the Landscape photographers I follow take photos in parts of the country I love, I however don't enjoy the scenery near me, and that's a challenge. I would like to see more videos of people going to places they don't naturally connect with and being able to find and take great pictures there.
Loved today's video I love the different stuff..
Thank you. 👍📷😎
Second video I've watched of yours. This is a LOT more like what it's like in "rest of us" world. Very nice and I love your videos... from Tejas with best wishes.
I think I agree. I care, but also don't care, about what photos I might bring home. Just being out in nature is often therapy enough, and the photos are just the bonus. A couple weeks ago I went to a local wildlife refuge that I visit frequently. Didn't take a single shot there, but I got to see some of the wildlife. I don't have super great locations without driving a ways, so I make do mostly with what is close and hope for something decent.
Of course, I say that, but I also know how disappointed I am when I come away with absolutely nothing. It's really a mixed bag.
Sycamore tree, Henry. They grow fast and that causes them to split the bark.
I was in Glen Coe at the weekend taking pics, very windy but wanted to get up before the Summer when the trees are still bare and the mountains and grasslands are still not green. I was taking pictures of the people taking pictures of the womans hiking lodge (the small white croft house at the foot of the ski-resort) always interesting things going on up there.
Great shot of chimney with clouds Henry, Liked the change from a "classic" day out up in the lakes or some Scottish mountains.
I found it refreshing as it was something a bit different from you this time. I would bet on reflection you found it quite a pleasant day out.
I agree, Henry. Once you become familiar and proficient in any endeavor it's time to push the boundaries and move out of your comfort zones. That's how we continue to learn and grow. Love those kiln shots! Really enjoyed this one.
I think you're very honest here. I recently recorded a video for my own channel were I talk about this aswel. I had to learn how to manage my expectations. Lots of times I was disappointed when I was out for photography. But now I realise that those epic portfolio peaces don't happen every trip. So I started to concentrate on exploring different areas to give me more experience. In the end I hope to be able to shoot everywhere and in every weather condition. And I enjoy the search for these more hard to find shots just like you mention. Going out in sunrise with fog just got to easy. But to be honest Henry I don't care if you share some bad photos on your channel. I think you and we can learn from the mistakes and that is the only way we can get better at photography. But in the end it doesn't mind where you photograph just keep your enthousiasm 🙂 grt guido
My kind of photography, handheld in the woods, no tripod restrictions #freeshooting .
Once upon a time I was a pro photographer, I began having health issues so I retired from pro photography. I still produce photos just not in quantities or better yet as often. I shoot what I feel, I shoot for me and what peaks my interests. I hardly ever manipulate my photos, I'm more of a purest. Why the rant, Photography is my zen, my relaxation; I'm in no hurry and consider every shot even if its one. Even though I still make some money but Im not in it for money. I try and train my brain to see the image without a camera and then set out to produce that image, I even see the focal length of my lens. I guess what I'm trying to say is as a pro/your living, you pressure yourself and more times than not your photos suffer but if you just have fun and eliminate as best as you can the pressure your photos improve.
The chimney at Jenny Brown's Point was for copper and (I believe) iron smelting. There is the remains of a quay next to it that was used for transportation of the produce by sailing ship. Keep missing you on your travels, I was there about the same time. I think the trees were both sycamores. Great pictures. Excellent close-up shot.
I really enjoyed this video and how you went to the opposite spectrum of your familiarity. I guess there’s nothing wrong with landscape vistas and tripods but getting out with hand held and finding so many great little shots that you wouldn’t always think of taking pictures of is quite liberating. And that focus stack - not knowing if it’ll come out but the fact that you know your camera and you know your skills enough to know it’s worth trying. Yep, definitely worth sharing with us and encouraging too 👍📷
Henry.. Henry I can smell the wild garlic also lol love it!! Beautiful woodlands you have and the trees are so amazing. We still have lots of snow here in Northern Ontario. The lime kiln photo is wonderful and the storm clouds so make it!!! I keep telling my camera store owner “ Photography is Great Exercise “ Take Care and Happy Easter!!
Oh Henry you did it again, fantastic mate, loved it
Hi Henry, although there are a lot of lime kilns in the area, I believe (don’t quote me on it!) that it’s actually a copper smelting chimney down there. Keep up the good work!
Hi there Henry, how's your van coming along ? I'm looking forward to seeing it completed. 😄 all the best.
Fun video. I get what you're saying about leaning towards familiarity. Nothing wrong with shooting a favorite style/location if that's what you truly love doing, but I think you're correct that doing the same thing only because it's in your comfort zone might be ' the easy way out'. I get bored quite easily, so one day I might have it in my head to go shoot some landscape or sunset, and the next I might want to shoot some street, maybe long exposure night or milky way even. Many times if I'm out and about, I'm always just looking for a possible interesting composition, even if it's just running to the local shop and back. The great videos you and other's have, inspire me to try something new, whether it's lighting/comp or even Lightroom/Photoshop skills/tricks.
Great video and pics...
Cheers
Its good to know you aint perfect. I fit into that Hobbyist category and to a great extent agree with the premise that great photo's dont really matter. Maybe if you had an exclusive 'club' for the understanding people who know that not every picture is a banger and in there you could 'share the shyte ' LOL Personally I would love to see the less than perfect shots along with an explanation why you consider them inferior and what you could have done better.
Never give up sharing your journeys whatever the content . Too many people would miss them.
I can really relate to what you're saying about it being 'easy' Henry. I feel like that about my photography at the moment. It's not really a challenge! I'm doing a lot of macro photography and don't get me wrong, I am enjoying it, but I cannot help feeling like I'm doing it because it's the easiest, or the best option, when what I REALLY want to do is hike up mountains and fells and stuff and photograph amazing vista's. But as I mentioned before, that's going to be a tad difficult from a mobility scooter!
In many ways technology has made it "easy" or easier. But, one still needs an eye, passion and patience, mixed with a little bit of luck I think.
As an beginner/amateur I try my hand at any genre that presents itself to me, I’m not particularly good at any of them 😂 but enjoy the challenge of improving. There are times when I am extremely pleased with the results and other times when not so. I’m not adverse to getting critique either and quite often seek advice on what I could have done better from more experienced photographers, it’s all a massive learning curve. I completely understand your position as a professional, you have got to the position of having to set your bar high but you are humble with it. I would enjoy seeing some of your “pants” efforts and you explaining why you think they are 🤔👍
I notice a difference between you and I as a photographer. You take a few carefully composed shots where as I tend to take a lot more. That is partly because I was keen on hiking on the mountains before I became interested in photography. I do not really have many photos of my hikes during the 80s and 90s, so now I am keen to document my routes. It is not just about artistic shots but keeping a a diary of my mountain days. I do write walk reports that I share on my website (Weebly) which can also act as a guide to anyone who fancies repeating my routes. Most are hand held, though I usually carry a tripod for those summit selfies. I am really interested to see what you have achieved hand held. I particularly like the first one - and taken without a macro lens. BTW I think I can make out patterns on the trunk where the bark has peeled off that suggest a pest/parasite that has eaten its way beneath the bark.
That Lime Kiln would be sick in black and white too I think
Wow, hand-held focus stack. I'll have to think about that one. I enjoy the challenge of getting the best out of any landscape. I was despairing in the Brecon Beacons during a short visit to the UK at the weekend, thinking that I wasn't going to get anything up on the hills. And then it all came together and I got some shots of Llyn y Fan Fach that I'm very happy with. A good photographer should be able to create images where a less experienced image maker might struggle. It's good to stretch ourselves though.
I enjoyed that Henry, a different aspect of your art away from the usual landscapes. Food for thought for the hobby, and I am very much a hobbyist and like Eric Shetney started photography late in life. I am still struggling with the technical aspect of the R6...soooooo many setting's LOl. I am living in Corfu and have decided to try to put together a catalogue of the Island but not of the normal touristy shot's done so much over time.....we will see?
Good points. Thank you.
Love the lime kiln. Puts me in mind of the furnaces I saw in Pennsylvania that were used for melting the iron out of iron ore. They would run them 24/7 until they needed repair, or even until they collapsed. The job of loading the iron ore into the top was so dangerous that some places banned the sale of alcohol for a 2 mile radius while the furnace was in operation.
Nice video, good honesty and good simple composition advice.
Great Vlog Henry, I'm off to the Lake District this week, 2 dedicated days of photography and 2 days of sightseeing with as much photography as possible thrown in (got to keep the other half happy) 😂Like you said, I've been making do with local and local'ish areas and to get to a place as gorgeous as the Lake District will be something very special for me, I'm vlogging the 2 days of photography, so hopefully, I'll have photogenic weather as well as the beautiful scenery, wish me luck 😃
Nice video Henry, those early pics of the bark have inspired me to get out in the garden and photograph my trees. It's so easy to loose confidence and worry that my pictures are not all epic landscape shots and just focus on some local images, thanks!
It was fun, and each photo more than worth the try.
Just watched the intro to this video and had to comment. We are all harder on our own photos then of other people. What you think is rubbish might not be to others. I try not to be so critical of my photos but that is hard. Main thing is you got out and tried
You've hit the nail on the head there Henry, I find it so much easier to take better looking images when I'm in an inspiring landscape which is what I always go for. My local countryside is much more of a challenge, it's quite restricted and there's always something on the horizon that I'm trying to avoid. It can be a bit frustrating at times and then I just don't push myself as much to be more creative and explore it. Thanks for today's video!
i always look forward to the babble as i enjoy what you have to say as much as the photography thanks Henry keep it up
Another great video. You give some super advice...as always. I'll take the oppotunity to mention a great lime kiln at Langcliff just outside Settle, definately worth a visit.
Fair play to you for doing this video. It will improve you as a photographer. We don’t care if they are perfect everytime it actually makes us feel better about our own photography. You can’t get bangers all the time and that’s cool. Like to see more of this type from you
Thanks for showing us something different and presenting us with the idea of trying a different challenge. Great results with your handheld shots. I dislike using my tripod as I find it cumbersome. As a hobbyist, I feel I have enough to think about and that is just another thing.
Thanks Henry. It's terrific to feel your enthusiasm for photography. i appreciate all your photo tips and suggestions. Very interesting adventure. Please keep them coming. I know it takes a lot of effort and work. 📸 ⭐ 👀 👍
Great video Henry! Really enjoyed it. Sometimes the tripod is more of an anchor and leaving it at home simplifies matters immensely.
💯 Henry 💯
I'm no photographer but enjoy the videos I've a Canon slr I take pictures not photos . But your videos are making me think
Brilliant My friend. 👏👏👏
I love the picture at 13:25!! And as always a great video, I understand what you mean! Every time again though I do try to get home with the best possible results!
Great video and excellent honest thoughts.
It's always good to take a break from your usual style of shooting. Hand holding makes it so you have to think differently, working with restrictions that normally aren't an issue with a tripod.
Reminds me a bit of the difference between Ansel Adam's photography and Edward Weston's.
Liberating. Great video today.
I always look forward to Thursdays, and sitting down with a cuppa to enjoy your latest video. I'm never disappointed, and today is no exception! Makes me want to get out tomorrow to get some shots!