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This is why I like Mike Brown. He talks in detail about this exact thing.

I think using a lens cap is just prudent, you lose very little from putting on a lens cap before putting a camera or objective into a bag. Tripods are most definitely needed for some types of photography, so this is more a question of "Do I need a tripod for the sort of photography I want to be working with". I find a small camera bag to be invalulable both for organisation and easy access, as well as to keep things safe while going somewhere, but if I was goin to go hiking and had a lot of other stuff with me, I might indeed do something with the actual general bag I would be using for that trip instead, but as I said, for when I just go out to take some photos, like while walking to the grocery store, absolutely needed. I only skimmed through this part though so it might very well be that you are speaking about a specific situation though and not photography in general. The second hand market part is absolutely spot on though, I bought two almost unused camera bags for my Nikon D40x and Nikon d5100 for very cheap and they are brilliant. Took me a bit of puzzling to figure out the best way to organize things but works beautifully now. I have a macro lens because I got a camera to photograph coins initially, haha, but to be honest I use it more as a general lens that has the added bonus of a fantastically low near-focus limit (which is absolutely fantastic as I do a lot of everyday urban or home/community-space sort of photography at the moment where not having such a short near limit would be rather annoying if nothing else). Also have a zoom lens and eventually I want to get a sort of nifty fifty very bright sort of lens as well, after that it gets far too niche and expensive for me. As for the camera upgrade thing, I cant really speak, my newest camera is a d5100, so I am not exactly in the market for the newest stuff available, hah.

I like my Sony cameras, they just feel right and work well for me. I've been told Fuji is a better camera for a photographer and something of a "lifestyle" but I don't understand that. Personally, I like your content that is more about the creative or artistic process.

Great words! Thank you for this video! I'm 44, I went from hobbist to pro, but still feel like im a mix of both worlds. Started building towards a business for 5 years straight when I had a fulltime job, last year said im done, its time for me to do it myself and now a fulltime photographer... But the moment when I dropped my job, was the most stressful mentally draining moment in my life, I was wrecked and completely burned out, but when I grabbed me camera and worked with clients, I didn't feel any of that. The inbetween periods I knew I needed to recover from burnout first before I went on with anything else. Jan, feb is always light for photography work, soo I'll use this time for me. Goal to get out everyday to exercise, if I have a camera in hand, I need to snap 20 photos :)

The cameras have no souls. The photographer does. The images speak for themselves.

Thank you, another very inspiring video. I recognise a lot of myself in you. The mental troubles, the trauma, the imposter syndrome, the procrastination. It's true, creating is therapeutic. I am an amateur photographer, I also sew and knit and crochet, I am a maker of things :-) I've been severely ill, my sewing was part of my therapy. It is mindfulness in myself. I did realise not long ago that the decisions I make the night before I could go out for a photography trip, have a great impact on what I actually do. When the weather forecast says it's going to be a grey morning, and I'm in a not so interesting location, I may already decide I won't go out the next morning. Even when overnight the forecast changes to more interesting conditions, I don't go out. I don't have the courage to go out anyway. So I actually have to decide the day before, plan where to go, maybe even put all my stuff ready so I only have to take it and go out. That's the trick to make myself go out, as stupid or as easy as it may seem :-)

Oh, when it comes to camera bags, I could write a book about it. I have so many bags for so many different "situations," yet I almost always end up tossing my camera into the same bag. The same goes for tripods. I have several, and for my style of photography (night photography), I definitely wouldn’t want to be without one. However, I’d much rather invest in one solid, high-quality tripod (without paying extra just for the brand name) and then have peace of mind.

I'm a hobbyist photographer, and I walk around my neighborhood a lot in my attempt to shed some pounds and keep in shape for the rare times I am able to go out and hike & take photographs. While walking, I wear a weight vest to help simulate the weight of a camera backpack, so that I don't notice the extra weight when out on trails. Also, I've had tremendous success with kettlebell workouts for adding muscle over age 40. I've watched a lot of photography youtube channels, and I've almost never heard anyone mention the physical side. Anything you can do to reserve energy for your creativity will help when taking photographs.

Hello everyone, I have a question: I’m starting a world trip this summer. I’ve been into photography for 3 years now and have collected several lenses. However, I’m not entirely sure which lenses I should take with me or if I should sell some and buy different ones instead. Thanks a lot for your support! Here’s what I have: Sony A7iii Viltrox 20mm f2.8 Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 v2 Tamron 70-300mm f4.5-6.3 Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Looking forward to your suggestions!

Thanks for this. Great advice. It's so difficult to be on it all the time and not want to go and hide under your duvet some/most/all of the time and videos like yours make us realise that we're not alone and give us the ideas for how we can help ourselves. The thing about embracing imperfection really resonates with me. we need to just do stuff. I've got this quote on my desktop that says "One Day you will wake up and there won't be any more time to do the things you always wanted." so thanks for an inspirational jog at the start of my week.

Thank you for speaking up. Very brave .

I have traveled to many countries and had a camera repair shop owner suggested that I try Nikon as they are vastly reliable so I bought a Z50 M2 and I thank God I did. My next full frame will also be a Nikon. My camera is an amazing video camera 10 bit N log and the autofocus sticks like Velcro even on a birds eyes. You should try one I believe you'll be so happy like me that you buy one for yourself. I am actually for the first time completely content with my Nikon.

Your videos and recent reels are really filling a void for me right now. Personally I am about 5 years from retirement in my full time gig and I never imagined that the last five years could be SO mentally taxing and stifling to my creativity, Your videos have really helped remind me to make time to do the things I love NOW… Thank you!

Terrific video, Rick. I think probably 'create every day' is something I need to commit to. And physical exercise.

I love your content about creativity. I feel like you explain a lot of what I've gone through. I've decided to put my photography on the back burner for the moment, and to do some writing this year. Should be an adventure.

Thank you for sharing that motivational and introspective video Rick! I really like all your process, shared recently through your TH-cam videos and Reels. It is very inspirational. Love your hobby vs. craft comparison. I never thought about it that way! I've started 2025 with the will to get out and shoot more. I'm the procrastinating and lazy kind, and I want this to change, because I know how much I love being out shooting. I just need so much energy for it to happen.

Amazing Rick. Trying to hold back tears here. I know exactly what you're saying. Cheers pal.

Two thoughts. 1. Yup physical shape is very important. I see it very often with my fellow photographers. During long shoot (even week long shoots). Being in a shape where it's an issue to shoot from ground, or jump on the stone, try another position, or run for piece of equipment to the bag is very very limiting. 2. Thinking about what is your photography target is pretty interesting. Because it will give you direction. You will figure out what you need to learn, to polish. It could be as simple as "I'll make a calendar", or as daring as "i'll become a pro". At that point it will be clear what you need to do.

Thanks for sharing. We have many similarities. I don’t talk to anyone. I don’t really like talking to myself! I know I need to do better with that. I have a good handle on my health and fitness. That is one area I do well. I stay on task 5 days per week with workouts and diet, then relax on the weekends. This greatly increased my enjoyment of doing things with the family. I don’t feel shame when I have ice cream on a weekend because it is part of my routine. I gave myself permission. I also like calling photography a craft and not a hobby. I feel like I am more than a hobbyist. Thank you for putting yourself out there and sharing …maybe I will work up to that this year.

2:48 I feel called out 😅 I decided on two habits for this year: 1) At least once a week I'll go out and take photos; no excuses. Yesterday it was cold and slippery outside, the light was terrible and I had a stomach ache, but I still went out and took some photos -- mostly meh, but at least I did it. 2) At least three times a week I'll sit down and just write for 10, 15, 30 minutes. Anything will do -- a diary entry, a random idea, a poem. As long as it's something I purposefully put effort in for that short moment by just sitting down and writing. In both cases the goal isn't to come up with something brilliant or perfect, as I would've expected of myself in the past. The goal is just to do it and not caring about the quality of the outcome. It's week two of the year, and so far it's going steady.

This really resonated with me - over the xmas break my flow was really good , mostly due to time off and lots of foot traffic in the streets leading to more photos . Now im back at work i feel like ive lost my momentum slightly - less foot traffic and dayjob taking up my time , this paired with freelance work just is a cocktail for burnout . But im definitely not doing myself any favours in terms if lifestyle- this reminded me to change what i can and let go what i cant and stop holding back work in fear of imperfection . This was a diamond video in the rough that is TH-cam. Thank you

Practice. Practice. Practice. That is how to become better. Even practice how to live a meaningful life. If you are ok your photos will be ok!

Absolutely great video. I film for a friend of mine, and we have a channel together, been doing it for about 3 years now, I struggle constantly to stay motivated to edit and get that stuff done, as sometimes it’s hard doing so much work, for very little reward(for now) But, for the first time, last night. Him and I, decided to have monthly or bi monthly meetings, specifically around the channel. Which, I feel is HOPEFULLY a step in the right direction towards feeling more creative and ready to produce more content. You have many points in this video that I ever even though about, that I will be implementing into my daily life starting today. A big thing that hit me, was about the mental health, I’ve struggled with this for the past year or two, feeling absolutely overwhelmed at any moment and almost, just shutting down and wanting to sell all my gear. But luckily, that friend I have the channel with, is an absolute gem of a human being, who will go out of his way to make sure you’re okay, or need help. So, I’m lucky to have him as a friend, a brother, a TH-cam partner. Some people, however. Don’t have these type of people in their lives, and that can be a struggle, but, to those people, even if you find friends in person, or online, speak with them daily, communicate your thoughts, confide in them and you will feel better, even if just being able to vent some of the things on your mind. This videos as so very informative, and to the point, I thank you for this, sir.

I wonder on what will youtubers moan about next when/if Fujifilm "fixes" the autofocusing

Next month I will turn 72. "... Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself ..." (anonymous?). It seems many (not all) creatives are/were tortured or suffering souls. Now, with more leaves on the ground then are left on the tree, I don't have time for crap. Thank you for having the strength, passion and courage to share.

Thanks for another great video Rick, a lot of what you said resonated with me. I am a hobbiest in every sense of the word and I need to become a craft person. Whilst I don’t rely on photography for an income, I still want to be the best I can be at it, but I am guilty of not practicing on a regular basis, this is something that I need to change.

Another excellent and *well crafted* video 😉 Excellent ideas and concepts explained well. I think I shall create a playlist called photography pep talks. Then, when I need it, I can draw inspiration and ideas. As a photographer that struggles with long term health problems that knocks into my MH videos like this are most welcome. I have ambition for a TH-cam channel and had a brief stab at it a few years ago. As and when health allows I am determined to give it a right go as I have video editing knowledge ready to go. Thanks Rick.

Loved this - a great reminder of whats important... Your channel is so much more than photography. Thanks again.

Love everything about this video! 🙏

We all struggle sometimes and is good to now that we are not alone with that. Thank you for being so honest and for bringing these topics out into the open. This year I want to meditate more and make it a habit.

Thanks very much, Rick!

16:42 "Clearly very active and could blow at any moment..." and it fricken did a month after you posted this video. OMG! th-cam.com/video/kdhonrrKHao/w-d-xo.html

First time I traveled to the mountains in Colorado I came home with absolutely nothing too. The biggest lesson I've learned with landscapes is you have to scout for spots and come back when the light will be better. Like the cabin at 14:09 might look amazing if you shot it when the sun is behind the mountains. I'm still working on getting better myself though. Mountains are a totally different animal than anything I'm used to.

who u are is more important guys but thats the difficult... to know that

Great video. Really enjoyed it! Thank you!

If you do nothing else; cutting alcohol and (as much) sugar as you can will have tremendous health benefits for you. Good luck!

Loved these tips. They’re like gardening for your life. We’ll go through periods of growth but forget to pull out the weeds and do some manicuring along the way. These are important reminders.

The 'less is more' approach is something I started doing last year. I have 3 cameras, and they all fill a specific niche for me. My Sony A7R2 might be older, but it was a flagship camera when released, and still has more capabilities than I have skills. I use it mostly for ladscape and macro photography. I have a Fuji X-H1, which was also a flagship camera when released, and I use it for stills. I absolutely love it's colours. And I have a Ricoh GRIII for travel and when I want pocketability. When I go shooting with the Sony or Fuji, I typically only take 1 lens, either a prime or a zoom, depending on what I am planning to shoot. And both are WR, which is great for inclement weather. All 3 have IBIS, which is another great feature to have. The GRIII has a fixed lens, so extra gear doesn’t apply with it. I feel like this is the trifecta for what I do, and a little planning ahead reduces my gear to comfortably fitting in either my little 8L Nomatic sling, or even just my pocket with the Ricoh. For me, less really is more, allowing me to be more engaged in the art of photography as opposed to the science of swapping bodies or lenses in the field. I am having a much more enjoyable experience each time I go out.

Very sound advice from my experience. I'm in the middle of sober January maybe that counts ;-)

You need the Lord Jesus Christ, He has the power to heal you!

I find viewing photography as an unpaid craft keeps me better focused on doing photography, often to the annoyance of various camera widows. Also, I strive to keep myself fit so I can hike with my gear many miles in the woods. Also, I tend to ignore most of the news outlets as they 1 often lie to be blunt, 2 don't know what they are babbling about when they don't lie, 3 they are incredibly negative ("If it bleeds, it leads").

Great video Rick 👍

the best camera bag is a milwaukee packout full setup with foam blocks cut to fit what you need

i love my tripod, $50 with arca swiss bawler

Yes, the limiting factor is almost always (well, in my case certainly) the photographer and deficiencies of knowledge and experience, not equipment. One more factor is that as I get older, my eyesight needs correction (reading glasses), which interferes with the natural use of many camera systems. Still, I am tempted to get "the best" of whatever there is to ---get. It's a curse.

Rick thank you for all your great videos. I’m a graphic designer and communications person at a nonprofit right now trying to start up this new idea of photography as a potential business. Have any advice on which camera I should start with? Open to a significant investment. Used for sure. Had been leaning cannon until I started watching you. Any quick advice would be great. Will continue to watch more of your excellent videos. Thank you.

Great video mate, agree 100% on all points. It's important to enjoy these things we do as much as possible, not put so much pressure on ourselves or compare with others - only compare with yourself. Enjoying it puts you straight into 'the zone' which is when the creativity just flows, then you can spend some time in January looking back at the past year, comparing what you did in the previous year. You really see progress.

Hobby vs craft. Brilliant. Going to make that thought the focus of my evening journal entry. I get more helpful take aways from your channel than most others I follow. Thanks.

Wonderful and inspiring 🤩Thank you for these simple yet important lessons! And I completely agree on working on what we love every single day; it makes such a big difference! I'm currently doing a 30 day challenge and I can really feel how it's impacting me, from my mental state to the outcome of it. Of course not all the pictures are to frame, but I wouldn't have gotten them if I didn't take them... Hope you have a great weekend and I look forward to see more 🥰

Great video Rick, it’s really inspiring hearing you talk openly about all these things! I’ve struggled with them a lot as well as a lot of other people so there’s huge value in it. That last point couldn’t be more true either! There’s so much to photography whether it’s the art, the craft or the world of photography and the community of people who just enjoy it for what it is and it can be a form of therapy as well just being out in nature with your camera