Martin, I have been shooting for 65-70 years and I must say everytime I watch one of your videos I learn something new, BRAVO. Excellent video and I thank you from my heart. Keep up the tremendous job and thank you for your efforts.
Great advice, since you asked what our tips would be, and to help with the youtube algorithm I'll add some as well. My tips are all going to be aimed at people always obsessed in purchasing more camera bodies and lenses. I know, ive been there myself. I used to think I needed a certain lens and camera for everything to cover all possible situations. When the reality is I can probably do 99% everything I want to do with one maybe 2 cameras and 2 lenses. So my first tip would be, instead of buying another lens or camera body, spend money on trips specifically for photograpyy, from simple travel to dedicated workshops. Unless you're a macro shooter or you have your own studio where lighting equipment may be of more use, go have an adventure finding new interesting and stunning things to capture. My second tip would be, if you insist on buying expensive gear all the time, why not spend some money on printing instead. Either get some prints done of your work, or get your own printer. When something is printed it hits you different. It will also change how you shoot. Pros know this. There's not many things more satisfying in photography than seeing your work in print. your computer screen or instagram page shouldn't be the end result. My last gear tip would be either get cheaper gear that you can afford to replace, or get dedicated insurance. Sometimes you have to take some risks to get the shot. Or at the very least you need your camera with you in the first place to get the shot. Be it bad weather, harsh conditions,on a windy beach, or near fast moving water. Could be in a busy risky city, travelling, or on holiday etc. Mostly my point is don't spend all your money on gear then leave it at home because you're worried about damaging or losing it. I have a friend with a Leica M10, but he takes most of his street photography shots with his iPhone because he's paranoid about being robbed. I believe it's insured, i dont know what the excess is but hes still adverse to using it.
Solid advice. One of my mantras is "one good shot". By this I mean I expect no more than one good (not great) shot each time I shoot intentionally. And its never my first one either! Keeping this expectation helps to keep my feet on the ground and keep working through my process. I avoid becoming disappointed with the way a shoot is going and if it really doesn't go well then I've only missed out on one shot, but I've gained in experience and practice. If I come home with more than one shot, its a bonus!
Always try to tell a story with your images, whether they’re perfect or not. It’s through this narrative that we truly connect with the viewer. Embracing both the good and the not-so-good moments in your work is how we grow as photographers. Every image has a story to tell, and it’s in the storytelling that we find progress.
Thank you so much! You've described me to a t! I've been blaming every failure on my bad memory instead of sticking with one camera and practice practice practice... Love your videos
Love this. I've actually been creating story boards on pinterest and watching old time movies that I loved as a child and study the lighting techniques.
Reservoir Dogs from Quentin Tarantino and Sin City by Robert Rodriguez stuck with me visually. Thanks for video Martin, definitely gonna take your advice and create the mood board✌🏽
Thank you Martin, I always learn so much from your videos. My tip is for those who constantly get the latest cameras and are still frustrated. It is to get a very old camera! It will force you to focus on your skills, to really learn the basics. My first eye opener was to go back from mirrorless to the 5D classic, and the second eye opener was to step down to a 10D (the first CMOS APSc camera of Canon for those who do not know). The 10D is almost exactly a 5D in a crop sensor format (the only crop sensor Canon that has the exact pixel pitch of the 5D classic!), with the added limitation of being extra sloooow (and becoming a lot noisier at high ISO, although the 10D ISO noise is even more film-like than the 5Dc noise - ISO800 shots have a super phenomenal vintage look). The 5D in comparison is super snappy (and a low-light beast - however, the 10D has a built in flash, and I can take ISO100 shots where I am forced to take ISO3200 with the 5D - so, it all comes down to knowing your camera, and getting the right tool for the purpose...) The 10D forced me to really slow down, and recognize much better the time for the shot. I always knew that one of the most vital skills is to capture the moment, and it is something that you just cannot substitute with any burst rate. I needed a camera that forced me to absolute shot economy to start evolving. (While the 10D can still take 2.5FPS, and theoretically has a decent buffer for jpegs, but I always shoot raw and after a random number of shots the camera just stops responding and can be writing the buffer to card for a minute or longer.) Since I have the 10D even the 3FPS of the 5Dc is a lot more than I need. Also, the 10D forced me to framing economy: the 6MP resolution does not allow for much cropping for a screen resolution, so I was forced to evolve, and realize that I often take the 10D with me and not the mirrorless to shoot. For example I took with me today the 24MP mirrorless, and I really wish I had the 10D....
This is simply the best talk I have ever heard on the topic as most of your videos always are. Well done. I recently chucked all my state-of-the-art gear and bought a Canon 5D Mark IV based on your thinking about all this. I think going back will make me go forward. As the Latin saying goes: "festina lente ("Go slow to go fast"). I have finally realized that new kit and all that has nothing to do with it. Keep this channel up because you have revolutionized how I look at photography and I have been doing it and teaching it for many, many decades. I am now adopting your attitude of what I would call "aggressive humility" towards getting better each time you push the shutter button. Thankyou deeply.
Martin, THANKYOU!! It's not so much the information that you impart (which is excellent), it's the way in which you speak to the viewer in a way that is both clear and understandable, and, more importantly, completley believable. Oh, in addition to that, you have a natural way of talking to your viewer that is both natural and intimate, captivating and energetic...perfect. I'm so pleased that I have found your posts, and will ensure to follow you for much more inspirational guidance. You would make a brilliant television presenter for the photographic arts...the BBC would snap you up, or maybe National Geographic...
Great video and I think one of the things we can't stress enough is practice practice and more practice. That is what helped me the most. I was using the Canon 5D classic with the 50mm f1.8 STM and like you said about knowing the camera, I got to know the camera and I did many things with that camera. When at the start of 2024 I was able to upgrade to a Canon 5D mark iii at first I had a hard time with the pictures. My 5D classic would handle a little over exposed pictures better than under exposed and I had gotten used to that. My 5D mark iii is not as good with over exposed pictures (not bad) and at first I was like why are the pictures looking like they are washed out and so. Also the screen on the 5D classic was not good but I had gotten used to it and was able to see well enough if the pictures were good or not. Then with the 5D mark iii which has a very good screen in comparison I had to get used to and still need to get used to it to know just by looking at the screen if the pictures are exposed good or not. So again knowing your camera is one of the main things I would say together with practice. I think for me something that also helped me was enjoying it, enjoy taking pictures, not every time I would get a picture that would set me appart from others, but I kept going and some other day I would get that amazing picture I was hoping to get.
Excellent advice as always. Photography is a journey, not a destination. Acquiring the latest gear is also a journey, just one with a different destination. Good photography is techniques, good photographer is having the eye…
Not my favourite movie by any stretch but I've recently been to the cinema to watch Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. It was the first time when I was watching a movie and deliberately analysing the colour palette of each scene. I loved how the big city at the beginning was all shades of tan and brown. When Astrid and Jeremy first meet, they both wear matching dark teal + burgundy clothes. The world of the dead pulsates green-blue, with an orange contrast here and there. I wasn't doing this on purpose initially, but the idea of building the identity and mood of a location/scene seemed really interesting to me. And yes, I do realise every movie does this to a greater or lesser extent, but it was the first time I was so conscious of it. I think it's a good exercise to use later in photography.
Thanks for some more valuable insight - to chip in, I simply try to love the craft. By being present in and recording my slice of a bonkers world, any result I get brings me a wee bit of joy 🍻👍 Others? I value how they feel about this and that but in all honesty I don't really care as they weren't in that place at that time with my head!
I have kind of different levels of equipment with me, depending on the circumstances. The phone is always in the pocket, the full frame camera only when I deliberately go for photography. Sometimes, even often, I see something that is worth shooting just on a non-photo-occasion. Interesting question is often which gear to take with me. Anyway, your videos are well done, you are a good speaker and do visually good videos which inspire me.
It's coming into the best season of the year,, Autumn,, macro, falling leaves, fresh air,, serenity,, go out and enjoy it,, snap what I like because i don't follow hype.
Great advice. I once attended a wedding workshop that used music videos, Michael Jackson as inspiration. Sound turned off, watching shadow and how dancers were aligned. Really a great workshop. BTW Michael Jackson's Gangster was a great teaching video.
The biggest problem with the majority of camera owners (not the same as photographers), is the mind boggling array of features baked into their modern cameras. The best thing for a budding photographer to do is apply the principle of Occam’s razor. That is cut out everything but the most basic functions of the camera, and then practice them until you can do it in your sleep. Then, and only then, dig into the menu and discover what else the camera is capable of doing.
I relate to this comment. My no. 1 camera forever is my Pentax MX which is just shutterspeed, aperture, light meter, and DOF preview when it comes to actually shooting. So few controls that you learn to play it like a trumpet. A modern camera is a computer with masses of tools for many different styles of photography. After a lot of tests I found that with my new-to-me Nikon D600, I could just keep it on manual like the MX but, thanks to a tip from Martin, flip it to auto ISO with a twist of the front command dial if conditions are changing too quickly to keep up with in manual. So in a way, I think one thing is to learn what tools your camera has that you personally _don't_ need for a given kind of photography.
thank you for your great advice and motivation you always give me 💪 I think that it's useful to watch movies, illustrated books, photography books etc to help you visualize better the things you want to see coming out of your camera, no matter which which equipment. Taxi driver inspires me a lot from the lighting and mood! Even though my shots are very different hahah
Very good advice, plus if you know your equipment you can, to some extent, fight GAS, but it is hard to resist the new and shiny things which "solve all your problems?". I just got an x100 VI, no manual came with it, can you imagine that? There's a zillion page PDF you can download, but I do not find that a substitute at all. Now I think the original 5D had nearly everything I wanted in a great menu; I would have liked auto ISO in it and maybe dual cards, but, even that simple camera can take some study. Now this x100VI - not any improvement on menus, I got it to get more resolution from the original I have had for many years, and hopefully some better focus tracking or focus speed. You are absolutely right know the equipment dynamic range etc. Like the original X-[ro 1 came with glacially slow focus, you had to work at it, hard. As for low light, I found out the hard way but a good thing to know. At high ISO the colors may fall apart etc., but you do have opportunity in black and white especially on the original 5D at 3200 and the xpro-1 at 6400. Plus you do need to exercise and shoot different subjects. Steve O'Nions had a video on how his shooting of an event got worse due to lack of practice in that genre. To me, I think finding your eye is the important thing, some would say finding your style, perhaps those two things are truly the most important thing to develop. I think if you do that the equipment and knowledge may come along for the ride, and also the interchange of ideas with others. Good work, good value video. Best wishes for your continued success in all your endeavors. God bless!
I do mood boards about once a year for photography, but including movies has got me thinking. For me I Guess it would include Silence of the Lambs, Bladerunner, Grand Budapest Hotel, The Batman, Eraserhead, Delicatessen, Book of Eli, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and the new TV version of Shogun. All excellently lit and coloured. Cheers for another thought provoking video :)
Favorite film in regards to cinematography is Diva. It is an French movie from the 80s. The blue color tone is based on the cigarette brand Gitane. Absolutely gorgeous.
Dear, sir, thank you for inspiring me to take up my camera gear again and blow off the dust! You gave me new insights (and motivation) to keep on photographing in the specific views that we all have hidden in our way to approach the way of writing with light (literally what photo-graphing, in the original language, conveys) So, I take my hat off, and salute and bring you my grateful greeting from Sweden, (sorry for my poor English) and I am (kind of) ruminating further on, about your important content of thoughts, and quotes you shared so generously in your video! (Now subscribing!) Best regards, from Sweden!👍👌
Interestingly, I just watched a video "Why Rear Window was shot from exactly one position", which was published on RUclips at approximately the same time as this one. Definitely recommended!
Wolfcrow has a great channel. Like, Martin, he is a fan of what he does. Have a look at the videos about, Greg Toland, if you haven't seen them already.
Love your videos my friend truly appreciate all the advice you give us. You asked for a tip so here goes. I was a wrestler back in the day and the one thing my coach would beat into us was you can on do one move at a time slow down work on that one move until you can do it without thinking. I have taken this advice and applied it to my photography. One shot at a time until I know how to perform that style of shooting. Slowing down and really working a scene has helped me shape my shots better over the years.
as a musician i can say the Same thing applies for music. when you listen to songs they can become an influence in how you play and how you sound same thing goes for photography, looking at images show possibilities and this open your mind to creativity
I can't imagine going thru life and not being interested in everything, just everything around you. I'm obsessed with history and archaeology... Caravaggio and Miro. Burroughs and Brecht. And there's so much I'm missing.
Hi Martin.... Nice one.... very thought provoking... you asked about films... 2 spring to mind... French connection... with that hi speed chase , and Gladiator, for its epic sets... especially the opening battle with balls of fire etc... Thanks for making me have a few thoughts... good health.. Yoki..
Ha! I hate Pintrest because of how it pollutes image search results. But I also hear the sense in what you're saying about creating an image mood board to recentre my efforts. This makes great sense to me as I'm very much the squirrel rushing after the latest source of inspiration.
Hiya Martin came across your RUclips yesterday, need some litte advice please if that's ok...I'm starting out buying my first camera October only have a budget of £400 it's not a lot I know. Question is I love taking portrait photos of people and things. Been looking at camera for the last week my head is spinning 😢 so it's other the Nikon 3500 or the 5600 till I seen a video tonight saying to go mirrorles 😮 now I'm confused. Kind regards Michael
Martin. I really am in love with your approach to photography. I’m a relatively young guy, and you are giving us so much value that isn’t just equipment.
Martit, I've been watching your videos for a long time. Thank you for the knowledge you share with us, it's very very valuable. I have one question.. I live in Estonia and I am trying to do landscape photography. I am actually having a lot of trouble with it, because in Estonia we have a pretty flat landscape: no mountains (even small ones), no ocean (seascapes), no epic views/vistas, waterfalls, etc. that I see in your photos (Scotland is a great example) or any other professional photographer's photos.. here in Estonia we have mostly coniferous forests (pines and spruces), fields, swamps (with paths and low pine trees). There are very beautiful sunrises and sunsets, but other than the sky it is very hard to find a composition. What to do in this case and what to photograph? (I really want to do photography but in this kinda "nothing to photograph" situation I really struggle with it). Thank You!
Ohhh good question what about going for loneliness and more isolated landscapes. Look up Nordic noir and see how the dramas look, I’d make photos like that.
I have a 5D Mark II with the 50mm STM and yes it is pathetic on the camera body I realized after shooting and shooting. I am a young photographer from Zambia, i got my first camera this year, I am kindly asking if you could just tell me what are the best lenses for the 5D Mark II?
sometimes it can just be that one copy of a lens doesnt work that well, i find ALL the L zooms are good and most of the primes but the 50mm lenses can all be hard work on the 5d mark ii, all of them. 35mm lenses all work well too, its really the 50s that can cause trouble on canon generally, dont know why.
I also recommend the EF 85mm F1.8 USM. It is a relatively affordable portrait lens, very dependable, fast and accurate focus, and beautiful rendering. I also had the 50mm STM and this lens is night and day in comparison. If you want the very best, I'd recommend the Sigma ART lenses. Those are a LOT bigger, and a LOT more expensive than the 85mm.
It seems that in this era of time most of us are not interested in exploring and philosophizing, but rather blame our shortcomings and quench our thirst by shopping in the hope that newer gadgets will increase our skills. Perhaps one of the problems with capitalism. Thx
Martin, I have been shooting for 65-70 years and I must say everytime I watch one of your videos I learn something new, BRAVO. Excellent video and I thank you from my heart. Keep up the tremendous job and thank you for your efforts.
thank you so much!
A film that I really enjoyed the cinematography of was The English Patient. (1996).
Great advice, since you asked what our tips would be, and to help with the youtube algorithm I'll add some as well. My tips are all going to be aimed at people always obsessed in purchasing more camera bodies and lenses. I know, ive been there myself. I used to think I needed a certain lens and camera for everything to cover all possible situations. When the reality is I can probably do 99% everything I want to do with one maybe 2 cameras and 2 lenses.
So my first tip would be, instead of buying another lens or camera body, spend money on trips specifically for photograpyy, from simple travel to dedicated workshops. Unless you're a macro shooter or you have your own studio where lighting equipment may be of more use, go have an adventure finding new interesting and stunning things to capture.
My second tip would be, if you insist on buying expensive gear all the time, why not spend some money on printing instead. Either get some prints done of your work, or get your own printer. When something is printed it hits you different. It will also change how you shoot. Pros know this. There's not many things more satisfying in photography than seeing your work in print. your computer screen or instagram page shouldn't be the end result.
My last gear tip would be either get cheaper gear that you can afford to replace, or get dedicated insurance. Sometimes you have to take some risks to get the shot. Or at the very least you need your camera with you in the first place to get the shot. Be it bad weather, harsh conditions,on a windy beach, or near fast moving water. Could be in a busy risky city, travelling, or on holiday etc. Mostly my point is don't spend all your money on gear then leave it at home because you're worried about damaging or losing it. I have a friend with a Leica M10, but he takes most of his street photography shots with his iPhone because he's paranoid about being robbed. I believe it's insured, i dont know what the excess is but hes still adverse to using it.
Solid advice. One of my mantras is "one good shot". By this I mean I expect no more than one good (not great) shot each time I shoot intentionally. And its never my first one either! Keeping this expectation helps to keep my feet on the ground and keep working through my process. I avoid becoming disappointed with the way a shoot is going and if it really doesn't go well then I've only missed out on one shot, but I've gained in experience and practice. If I come home with more than one shot, its a bonus!
So many true words, brings to mind the care one took in film camera days,
My tip…pretend you only have 36 Exposures and no LCD screen☺️
Your casual way to share your thoughts has been an eye opener. Your videos give me another perspective of the things that are important to me.
Always try to tell a story with your images, whether they’re perfect or not. It’s through this narrative that we truly connect with the viewer. Embracing both the good and the not-so-good moments in your work is how we grow as photographers. Every image has a story to tell, and it’s in the storytelling that we find progress.
Practice and thought, thought and practice.
Thank you so much! You've described me to a t! I've been blaming every failure on my bad memory instead of sticking with one camera and practice practice practice... Love your videos
Love this. I've actually been creating story boards on pinterest and watching old time movies that I loved as a child and study the lighting techniques.
198 of 200 shots were bad, 2 shots were great, it was a good day.
Reservoir Dogs from Quentin Tarantino and Sin City by Robert Rodriguez stuck with me visually.
Thanks for video Martin, definitely gonna take your advice and create the mood board✌🏽
I love your channel.
One camera, one prime lens, one look (bw,vivid, etc.), one genre, 6 months - 1 year or longer
Thank you Martin, I always learn so much from your videos. My tip is for those who constantly get the latest cameras and are still frustrated. It is to get a very old camera! It will force you to focus on your skills, to really learn the basics. My first eye opener was to go back from mirrorless to the 5D classic, and the second eye opener was to step down to a 10D (the first CMOS APSc camera of Canon for those who do not know). The 10D is almost exactly a 5D in a crop sensor format (the only crop sensor Canon that has the exact pixel pitch of the 5D classic!), with the added limitation of being extra sloooow (and becoming a lot noisier at high ISO, although the 10D ISO noise is even more film-like than the 5Dc noise - ISO800 shots have a super phenomenal vintage look). The 5D in comparison is super snappy (and a low-light beast - however, the 10D has a built in flash, and I can take ISO100 shots where I am forced to take ISO3200 with the 5D - so, it all comes down to knowing your camera, and getting the right tool for the purpose...) The 10D forced me to really slow down, and recognize much better the time for the shot. I always knew that one of the most vital skills is to capture the moment, and it is something that you just cannot substitute with any burst rate. I needed a camera that forced me to absolute shot economy to start evolving. (While the 10D can still take 2.5FPS, and theoretically has a decent buffer for jpegs, but I always shoot raw and after a random number of shots the camera just stops responding and can be writing the buffer to card for a minute or longer.) Since I have the 10D even the 3FPS of the 5Dc is a lot more than I need. Also, the 10D forced me to framing economy: the 6MP resolution does not allow for much cropping for a screen resolution, so I was forced to evolve, and realize that I often take the 10D with me and not the mirrorless to shoot. For example I took with me today the 24MP mirrorless, and I really wish I had the 10D....
This is simply the best talk I have ever heard on the topic as most of your videos always are. Well done. I recently chucked all my state-of-the-art gear and bought a Canon 5D Mark IV based on your thinking about all this. I think going back will make me go forward. As the Latin saying goes: "festina lente ("Go slow to go fast"). I have finally realized that new kit and all that has nothing to do with it. Keep this channel up because you have revolutionized how I look at photography and I have been doing it and teaching it for many, many decades. I am now adopting your attitude of what I would call "aggressive humility" towards getting better each time you push the shutter button. Thankyou deeply.
you are really welcome, thank you and wish you all the best in this journey!
Fantastic ideas and approach! Thank you!
Martin, THANKYOU!! It's not so much the information that you impart (which is excellent), it's the way in which you speak to the viewer in a way that is both clear and understandable, and, more importantly, completley believable. Oh, in addition to that, you have a natural way of talking to your viewer that is both natural and intimate, captivating and energetic...perfect. I'm so pleased that I have found your posts, and will ensure to follow you for much more inspirational guidance. You would make a brilliant television presenter for the photographic arts...the BBC would snap you up, or maybe National Geographic...
Great video and I think one of the things we can't stress enough is practice practice and more practice. That is what helped me the most. I was using the Canon 5D classic with the 50mm f1.8 STM and like you said about knowing the camera, I got to know the camera and I did many things with that camera. When at the start of 2024 I was able to upgrade to a Canon 5D mark iii at first I had a hard time with the pictures. My 5D classic would handle a little over exposed pictures better than under exposed and I had gotten used to that. My 5D mark iii is not as good with over exposed pictures (not bad) and at first I was like why are the pictures looking like they are washed out and so. Also the screen on the 5D classic was not good but I had gotten used to it and was able to see well enough if the pictures were good or not. Then with the 5D mark iii which has a very good screen in comparison I had to get used to and still need to get used to it to know just by looking at the screen if the pictures are exposed good or not. So again knowing your camera is one of the main things I would say together with practice. I think for me something that also helped me was enjoying it, enjoy taking pictures, not every time I would get a picture that would set me appart from others, but I kept going and some other day I would get that amazing picture I was hoping to get.
I cannot state how refreshing your views on photography are! You have changed my entire outlook. I am truly grateful!
Excellent advice as always. Photography is a journey, not a destination. Acquiring the latest gear is also a journey, just one with a different destination. Good photography is techniques, good photographer is having the eye…
Thanks for sharing your experiance
Not my favourite movie by any stretch but I've recently been to the cinema to watch Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. It was the first time when I was watching a movie and deliberately analysing the colour palette of each scene. I loved how the big city at the beginning was all shades of tan and brown. When Astrid and Jeremy first meet, they both wear matching dark teal + burgundy clothes. The world of the dead pulsates green-blue, with an orange contrast here and there. I wasn't doing this on purpose initially, but the idea of building the identity and mood of a location/scene seemed really interesting to me. And yes, I do realise every movie does this to a greater or lesser extent, but it was the first time I was so conscious of it. I think it's a good exercise to use later in photography.
Thanks for some more valuable insight - to chip in, I simply try to love the craft.
By being present in and recording my slice of a bonkers world, any result I get brings me a wee bit of joy 🍻👍 Others? I value how they feel about this and that but in all honesty I don't really care as they weren't in that place at that time with my head!
I have kind of different levels of equipment with me, depending on the circumstances. The phone is always in the pocket, the full frame camera only when I deliberately go for photography. Sometimes, even often, I see something that is worth shooting just on a non-photo-occasion. Interesting question is often which gear to take with me.
Anyway, your videos are well done, you are a good speaker and do visually good videos which inspire me.
It's coming into the best season of the year,, Autumn,, macro, falling leaves, fresh air,, serenity,, go out and enjoy it,, snap what I like because i don't follow hype.
Great advice. I once attended a wedding workshop that used music videos, Michael Jackson as inspiration. Sound turned off, watching shadow and how dancers were aligned. Really a great workshop. BTW Michael Jackson's Gangster was a great teaching video.
Love your videos! Always insightful, interesting and enjoyable; i hit the like button three times! Thankyou.
The biggest problem with the majority of camera owners (not the same as photographers), is the mind boggling array of features baked into their modern cameras. The best thing for a budding photographer to do is apply the principle of Occam’s razor. That is cut out everything but the most basic functions of the camera, and then practice them until you can do it in your sleep. Then, and only then, dig into the menu and discover what else the camera is capable of doing.
I relate to this comment. My no. 1 camera forever is my Pentax MX which is just shutterspeed, aperture, light meter, and DOF preview when it comes to actually shooting. So few controls that you learn to play it like a trumpet. A modern camera is a computer with masses of tools for many different styles of photography.
After a lot of tests I found that with my new-to-me Nikon D600, I could just keep it on manual like the MX but, thanks to a tip from Martin, flip it to auto ISO with a twist of the front command dial if conditions are changing too quickly to keep up with in manual. So in a way, I think one thing is to learn what tools your camera has that you personally _don't_ need for a given kind of photography.
thank you for your great advice and motivation you always give me 💪 I think that it's useful to watch movies, illustrated books, photography books etc to help you visualize better the things you want to see coming out of your camera, no matter which which equipment. Taxi driver inspires me a lot from the lighting and mood! Even though my shots are very different hahah
Very good advice, plus if you know your equipment you can, to some extent, fight GAS, but it is hard to resist the new and shiny things which "solve all your problems?". I just got an x100 VI, no manual came with it, can you imagine that? There's a zillion page PDF you can download, but I do not find that a substitute at all. Now I think the original 5D had nearly everything I wanted in a great menu; I would have liked auto ISO in it and maybe dual cards, but, even that simple camera can take some study. Now this x100VI - not any improvement on menus, I got it to get more resolution from the original I have had for many years, and hopefully some better focus tracking or focus speed.
You are absolutely right know the equipment dynamic range etc. Like the original X-[ro 1 came with glacially slow focus, you had to work at it, hard. As for low light, I found out the hard way but a good thing to know. At high ISO the colors may fall apart etc., but you do have opportunity in black and white especially on the original 5D at 3200 and the xpro-1 at 6400.
Plus you do need to exercise and shoot different subjects. Steve O'Nions had a video on how his shooting of an event got worse due to lack of practice in that genre.
To me, I think finding your eye is the important thing, some would say finding your style, perhaps those two things are truly the most important thing to develop. I think if you do that the equipment and knowledge may come along for the ride, and also the interchange of ideas with others.
Good work, good value video. Best wishes for your continued success in all your endeavors. God bless!
I do mood boards about once a year for photography, but including movies has got me thinking. For me I Guess it would include Silence of the Lambs, Bladerunner, Grand Budapest Hotel, The Batman, Eraserhead, Delicatessen, Book of Eli, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and the new TV version of Shogun. All excellently lit and coloured. Cheers for another thought provoking video :)
Favorite film in regards to cinematography is Diva. It is an French movie from the 80s. The blue color tone is based on the cigarette brand Gitane. Absolutely gorgeous.
We need more of this. Such good, solid, practical advice. Thanks...
Glad it was helpful!
Dear, sir, thank you for inspiring me to take up my camera gear again and blow off the dust! You gave me new insights (and motivation) to keep on photographing in the specific views that we all have hidden in our way to approach the way of writing with light (literally what photo-graphing, in the original language, conveys) So, I take my hat off, and salute and bring you my grateful greeting from Sweden, (sorry for my poor English) and I am (kind of) ruminating further on, about your important content of thoughts, and quotes you shared so generously in your video! (Now subscribing!) Best regards, from Sweden!👍👌
Interestingly, I just watched a video "Why Rear Window was shot from exactly one position", which was published on RUclips at approximately the same time as this one. Definitely recommended!
Wolfcrow has a great channel. Like, Martin, he is a fan of what he does. Have a look at the videos about, Greg Toland, if you haven't seen them already.
Another game changing video for me! Thanks a lot for your work!
Best regards from France
Very helpful, thanks!
I didn't know this one! :) Thanks Martin!
Watch the weather forecast, sunrise and sunset. If you see a scene, that looks perfect, take a picture of it and take one with yourself in it.
Love your videos my friend truly appreciate all the advice you give us. You asked for a tip so here goes. I was a wrestler back in the day and the one thing my coach would beat into us was you can on do one move at a time slow down work on that one move until you can do it without thinking. I have taken this advice and applied it to my photography. One shot at a time until I know how to perform that style of shooting. Slowing down and really working a scene has helped me shape my shots better over the years.
Makes me want to get better - really helpful to my understanding!
as a musician i can say the Same thing applies for music.
when you listen to songs they can become an influence in how you play and how you sound
same thing goes for photography, looking at images show possibilities and this open your mind to creativity
Great practical advice. Thank you
I can't imagine going thru life and not being interested in everything, just everything around you. I'm obsessed with history and archaeology... Caravaggio and Miro. Burroughs and Brecht. And there's so much I'm missing.
exactly this!
A very refreshing video.
Good advice thank you. I would add looking at other photographers work and printing your own images
Hi Martin.... Nice one.... very thought provoking... you asked about films... 2 spring to mind... French connection... with that hi speed chase , and Gladiator, for its epic sets... especially the opening battle with balls of fire etc... Thanks for making me have a few thoughts... good health.. Yoki..
Thank you so much for these reminders!
Thought provoking - as usual.
Great advice, thanks Martin!
Ha! I hate Pintrest because of how it pollutes image search results. But I also hear the sense in what you're saying about creating an image mood board to recentre my efforts. This makes great sense to me as I'm very much the squirrel rushing after the latest source of inspiration.
Hiya Martin came across your RUclips yesterday, need some litte advice please if that's ok...I'm starting out buying my first camera October only have a budget of £400 it's not a lot I know. Question is I love taking portrait photos of people and things. Been looking at camera for the last week my head is spinning 😢 so it's other the Nikon 3500 or the 5600 till I seen a video tonight saying to go mirrorles 😮 now I'm confused. Kind regards Michael
AMEN!
Another beautiful video .
Really enjoying your videos thank you.
Great advice and thinking about it my best shoot was inspired by seeing the work of a painter called Fabian Perez at an art gallery
Martin. I really am in love with your approach to photography. I’m a relatively young guy, and you are giving us so much value that isn’t just equipment.
I’m really pleased to hear that thank you
Thanks, this is a God sent 🙏
thank you
Martit, I've been watching your videos for a long time. Thank you for the knowledge you share with us, it's very very valuable. I have one question.. I live in Estonia and I am trying to do landscape photography. I am actually having a lot of trouble with it, because in Estonia we have a pretty flat landscape: no mountains (even small ones), no ocean (seascapes), no epic views/vistas, waterfalls, etc. that I see in your photos (Scotland is a great example) or any other professional photographer's photos.. here in Estonia we have mostly coniferous forests (pines and spruces), fields, swamps (with paths and low pine trees). There are very beautiful sunrises and sunsets, but other than the sky it is very hard to find a composition. What to do in this case and what to photograph? (I really want to do photography but in this kinda "nothing to photograph" situation I really struggle with it). Thank You!
Ohhh good question what about going for loneliness and more isolated landscapes. Look up Nordic noir and see how the dramas look, I’d make photos like that.
Hmmmmm, I don't know, I think I still need to buy some more gear. Cheers!
Got to fill the shelves somehow hahaha
My five cents, be aware of, and mitigate distractions while framing up. Don't wait until post production; unless you like doing that.
Tech junkies: you can't shoot landscape with 5dmk2
Also thech junkies: taking the ugliest over processed landscape photos
Always great advices, you are so inspirational. Thanks Martin.
I have a 5D Mark II with the 50mm STM and yes it is pathetic on the camera body
I realized after shooting and shooting.
I am a young photographer from Zambia, i got my first camera this year, I am kindly asking if you could just tell me what are the best lenses for the 5D Mark II?
I love old Takumar lenses on my 5D 1.
The 85mm 1.8 is beautiful.
50mm 1.4 of course, bokehlicious.
sometimes it can just be that one copy of a lens doesnt work that well, i find ALL the L zooms are good and most of the primes but the 50mm lenses can all be hard work on the 5d mark ii, all of them. 35mm lenses all work well too, its really the 50s that can cause trouble on canon generally, dont know why.
I also recommend the EF 85mm F1.8 USM. It is a relatively affordable portrait lens, very dependable, fast and accurate focus, and beautiful rendering. I also had the 50mm STM and this lens is night and day in comparison. If you want the very best, I'd recommend the Sigma ART lenses. Those are a LOT bigger, and a LOT more expensive than the 85mm.
👌🏼👍🏼
War Film - 1917 and saving private ryan
It seems that in this era of time most of us are not interested in exploring and philosophizing, but rather blame our shortcomings and quench our thirst by shopping in the hope that newer gadgets will increase our skills.
Perhaps one of the problems with capitalism.
Thx
Do not try to get every shot. Just get the shots you want.