As a photographer, I take meditative walks with an empty mind and usually carry a compact camera with me. An empty mind makes room for new ideas and creativity. During my walks, I do not look for beautiful images, on the contrary, the photo finds me. I take the photo in an intuitive "this is it" moment.
I'm really digging into your channel Dylan and it's highly educational. You have the gift of teaching things very clearly, which is rare nowadays :) Keep it up with the good content!
Another excellent classic video I found enlightening. Composition, light, color, movement are definitely the key elements. But here the star is the subject of interest, what makes your soul tick. It’s the humanity that you as a unique person without the bias of the other elements. What is the subject? Fantastic!!! Thank you so much for putting this together.
Another great video Dylan, very thought provoking and you are getting some fantastic results already, keep up the good work (both aspects). The book looks like it is worth a read. Best wishes, David
I've had this book for a few years in which time I have read it (fully front-to-back) three times and I've found it very interesting. But I have yet to properly engage with the practices David Ulrich suggests. So I'm very glad, not just to hear you talk about it but to hear that you are actually engaging with it. I really must try harder!
Man, I already feel more zen just by listening to you. I bought the book, and will join in with the practice. BTW, thanks for not banging on and on about living in Seoul. I love how you proceed with your life and craft without it being all about how "exotic" everything is. Nice channel.
Nothing exotic about this place, mate. It's the same as everywhere else. Thanks for watching and I hope the book works out for you. I'm really enjoying it.
I walk between 7-12 kms por day. I never leave home without a camera; usually a Lumix ZS-50 point and shoot. What catches my eye I create an image. They are all over the lot. Many find their way into the circular file. Others, I keep to possibly revist at a later time. And, then there are the occasional gems that come to life as I view them on the big screen. I know this practice has paid handsome dividends in both quality of images; and, more importantly, in the satisfaction and joy of practicing the craft. Thank you for sharing your learnings.
Glad you're doing this as well, Stephen! It's such a beneficial practice even if, as you say, a lot of the images ended up getting tossed. It teaches you to be observant and ready to make images, which helps when the time comes to work in a more focused way.
Great video! I've been learning about mindful photography too lately. There have been a few studies that show the positive effects this type of practice can have on mental health.
Hi Pete! Long time no speak, mate! Didn't expect to see you here! Mental health is a big one, man. This last year has been a struggle for me as well and the simple practice of observing the world has been a huge boon. That and cycling have really kept me together. We need to get a call in! Miss your face, mate!
@@dummybert Sure, this article mentions a 2012 study of how mindful photography improved the mood of college students: www.nytimes.com/2021/05/04/well/mind/flourishing-languishing.html. And this article lists more research: positivepsychology.com/mindful-photography/
Excellent video, Dylan. 👍 Forms, feelings, perception, mental formations, and consciousness empirically observed and filtered through lights and shades. "Sati-photo-yana", the vehicle of mindful photography to awakening.
Lovely video and process Dylan, I have picked up a manual (no batteries needed) point n shoot camera/toy camera that I have been trying to do a similar process with, just trying to play around and experiment with taking more photos.
Another great video like many others from you. I like the idea and mindset behind the daily record what catches your attention - will start doing it myself. Thanks for the idea.
Interesting pratice. looking forward on your follow up. Myself i frequently switch between street, infrared nature and normal black & white or color nature photography. The technic is not leading but the diffent feelings i get from swithing. I'am trying to learn what realy interest me in the images i take.
This might just be the way to do it. Spend some time considering why certain scenes draw you in before you make your photographs. You might just discover something about yourself.
I think I was probably much more open to conveying what I felt through my photographs when I was way less proficient technically. Perhaps at some point technique became overemphasised and started to eat away the more pure and joyful desire to just create something. I am hoping to now get back to that joy :)
I couldn't agree more, Sami. I think when the effort gets pointed at gear and technique, we can easily lose a lot of our desire to actually SAY something. It's good to get back to focusing on it and forget about the marketing for the next sharp lens that we "need" to make our photographs "better".
@@DylanGoldbyPhotographer Part of that was probably also learning from more experienced photographers what an image "should" look like. As opposed to just going with my gut. And I don't mean to discount that advice, because obviously a lot of it is also very useful and made me learn, but it had the side-effect of becoming overly cautious and maybe starting to question my instincts a bit too much.
Your images look way sharper then the ones coming out of my new x100v - do you use the +sharpen option in the camera/ is it the filter or is it just me?
I'm not sure you can judge the sharpness of a lens from a 1080p TH-cam video, so I really wouldn't read much into it. I don't use any sharpness settings in camera since I shoot raw. Do yourself this simple test. Lock the camera down on a tripod, shoot photos of a stationary subject that is easy to focus on - something high contrast like a printed page of text is just fine - and shoot photos at each aperture setting. Pull those up on your computer screen. If they look good, then it's something to do with your technique or settings when you're out in the field. :)
As a photographer, I take meditative walks with an empty mind and usually carry a compact camera with me. An empty mind makes room for new ideas and creativity. During my walks, I do not look for beautiful images, on the contrary, the photo finds me. I take the photo in an intuitive "this is it" moment.
It's a great way to make images, for sure.
I’m not even halfway through this video and have to say this is an excellent bit of content. Thank you! 👍🏽
I appreciate that!
I'm really digging into your channel Dylan and it's highly educational. You have the gift of teaching things very clearly, which is rare nowadays :) Keep it up with the good content!
Thanks, Roberto! I appreciate you watching my videos!
Another excellent classic video I found enlightening. Composition, light, color, movement are definitely the key elements. But here the star is the subject of interest, what makes your soul tick. It’s the humanity that you as a unique person without the bias of the other elements. What is the subject?
Fantastic!!! Thank you so much for putting this together.
Absolutely! I can't take credit for the concept, though. Do pick up the book. It's a wonderful read.
Another great video Dylan, very thought provoking and you are getting some fantastic results already, keep up the good work (both aspects). The book looks like it is worth a read. Best wishes, David
Very inspiring video, thank you for sharing this idea. I’ll be putting it practice from today as well. 😊
This video is so important and educational. Thanks for sharing your priceless knowledge
Glad it was helpful!
very rich content, sir! The philosophical content in the beginning, the perspective, the fast pacing… inspiring Wall to Wall content!
Cheers, Nate. We can all do with a little bit more naval-gazing from time to time.
I've had this book for a few years in which time I have read it (fully front-to-back) three times and I've found it very interesting. But I have yet to properly engage with the practices David Ulrich suggests. So I'm very glad, not just to hear you talk about it but to hear that you are actually engaging with it. I really must try harder!
Set aside the time, Ken. It's well and truly worth considering and practicing these things rather than just reading.
Great video. Opened my mind up to looking at some different ideas outside of my ordinary subjects....Thanks
Man, I already feel more zen just by listening to you. I bought the book, and will join in with the practice. BTW, thanks for not banging on and on about living in Seoul. I love how you proceed with your life and craft without it being all about how "exotic" everything is. Nice channel.
Nothing exotic about this place, mate. It's the same as everywhere else. Thanks for watching and I hope the book works out for you. I'm really enjoying it.
I walk between 7-12 kms por day. I never leave home without a camera; usually a Lumix ZS-50 point and shoot. What catches my eye I create an image. They are all over the lot. Many find their way into the circular file. Others, I keep to possibly revist at a later time. And, then there are the occasional gems that come to life as I view them on the big screen.
I know this practice has paid handsome dividends in both quality of images; and, more importantly, in the satisfaction and joy of practicing the craft.
Thank you for sharing your learnings.
Glad you're doing this as well, Stephen! It's such a beneficial practice even if, as you say, a lot of the images ended up getting tossed. It teaches you to be observant and ready to make images, which helps when the time comes to work in a more focused way.
Great video! I've been learning about mindful photography too lately. There have been a few studies that show the positive effects this type of practice can have on mental health.
Hi Pete! Long time no speak, mate! Didn't expect to see you here! Mental health is a big one, man. This last year has been a struggle for me as well and the simple practice of observing the world has been a huge boon. That and cycling have really kept me together. We need to get a call in! Miss your face, mate!
Same here, mate! Yes, observing with my camera and exercise have been key to keeping me sane. Haha. Cheers man and let's catch up soon! 🍻
@@PeteDeMarco Do you have any link to those studies? Thanks!
@@dummybert Sure, this article mentions a 2012 study of how mindful photography improved the mood of college students: www.nytimes.com/2021/05/04/well/mind/flourishing-languishing.html. And this article lists more research: positivepsychology.com/mindful-photography/
Excellent video, Dylan. 👍 Forms, feelings, perception, mental formations, and consciousness empirically observed and filtered through lights and shades. "Sati-photo-yana", the vehicle of mindful photography to awakening.
Thanks, Paul. That's the goal. Deeper understanding for deeper images and a richer experience.
Beautiful images, and beautiful project. Please, keep shooting Buddhist art and backlight leaves!
Will do! Nothing is going to stop that urge!
Very interesting. Helpful. And gear free!
Cheers Joseph! I needed a bit of a detox as well. :)
Lovely video and process Dylan, I have picked up a manual (no batteries needed) point n shoot camera/toy camera that I have been trying to do a similar process with, just trying to play around and experiment with taking more photos.
For sure! That's a great way to get this happening for yourself. With all this fancy gear, it can be easy to forget what photography is all about.
Another great video like many others from you. I like the idea and mindset behind the daily record what catches your attention - will start doing it myself. Thanks for the idea.
Thanks, Wolfgang. I highly recommend the book, as well. It's such a great read.
I am intrigued. I will pick up the book and give it a go.
Some nice images here and I appreciate the commentary.
Subscribed 😎
Welcome aboard!
Interesting pratice. looking forward on your follow up.
Myself i frequently switch between street, infrared nature and normal black & white or color nature photography.
The technic is not leading but the diffent feelings i get from swithing. I'am trying to learn what realy interest me in the images i take.
This might just be the way to do it. Spend some time considering why certain scenes draw you in before you make your photographs. You might just discover something about yourself.
I think I was probably much more open to conveying what I felt through my photographs when I was way less proficient technically. Perhaps at some point technique became overemphasised and started to eat away the more pure and joyful desire to just create something. I am hoping to now get back to that joy :)
I couldn't agree more, Sami. I think when the effort gets pointed at gear and technique, we can easily lose a lot of our desire to actually SAY something. It's good to get back to focusing on it and forget about the marketing for the next sharp lens that we "need" to make our photographs "better".
@@DylanGoldbyPhotographer Part of that was probably also learning from more experienced photographers what an image "should" look like. As opposed to just going with my gut. And I don't mean to discount that advice, because obviously a lot of it is also very useful and made me learn, but it had the side-effect of becoming overly cautious and maybe starting to question my instincts a bit too much.
I’m also in Korea right now. This is a wonderful video!
Have fun!
Great post and photographs! Love the exercise!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I appreciate & enjoy your backlit _green_ of life - thanks! =)
Glad to hear it! It's become quite an obsession. haha
A very good approach to growing as a photographer. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent discussion. Very good.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I recently did a short about this exact thing after reading the book.
Great book, eh?
@@DylanGoldbyPhotographer yes it is!
Last summer, I shot the bridges of Seoul most weekends-long exposures. I found it very meditative. Are you still in Seoul?
I am just reading this book now! Very interesting
It really is!
Very interesting, now I shall look for the book. Was it Minor White who said, "If you don't feel it, don't photograph it"?
Ulrich was a student of Minor White's. I do believe you'll enjoy this if you like his approach.
Awesome video and commentary 👌
Glad you enjoyed it!
I am part way through the book not done any of the exercises yet but need to nice video.
Definitely worth doing the exercises. It's hard to carve out the time, but beneficial for sure.
A very good exercise indeed. Personally I always think a mental exercise is as important as an exercise on techniques etc.
Definitely! We all have access to the tools and techniques, but only YOU can make photographs your own.
Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
I love your work and class. Did you attend a photography school?
Thanks, Michael! No, I didn't attend a photography school. This is just something I fell in love with over time.
Your images look way sharper then the ones coming out of my new x100v - do you use the +sharpen option in the camera/ is it the filter or is it just me?
I'm not sure you can judge the sharpness of a lens from a 1080p TH-cam video, so I really wouldn't read much into it. I don't use any sharpness settings in camera since I shoot raw.
Do yourself this simple test. Lock the camera down on a tripod, shoot photos of a stationary subject that is easy to focus on - something high contrast like a printed page of text is just fine - and shoot photos at each aperture setting. Pull those up on your computer screen. If they look good, then it's something to do with your technique or settings when you're out in the field. :)
@@DylanGoldbyPhotographer will try tri :) thanks for the answer!
Guess you do do some magic in lightroom with your RAWs 🪄
No magic at all. Straight into capture one and pretty much straight out again. Very simple since I hate sitting at the computer. 🤣
Nice idea
I can't take credit for the idea. That belongs to David Ulrich. I highly recommend his book, Zen Camera.
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thanks!
subscribed
Good stuff!!
Glad you enjoyed it