Does BAD LIGHT exist in Photography?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
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I'm still on the Isle of Skye taking photos in this video, and against all the odds I woke up to a forecast of a hot, cloudless day after a week of mostly rain. So, I went out and tried to take photos in what a lot of people consider bad light. Harsh shadows, bright reflections and often uncontrollable contrast - but does that mean you shouldn't even bother going out with a camera?
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I did stick it on the website in the end...
It's worth it :-)
It's a really nice shot. Deserves a place on the site I think!
Haha, good. Very good compositions. Apparently, I'm a bit more of a rule breaker than I thought though. As you mentioned, I don't really get to choose the times I shoot. I just try to take advantage of what I'm given. Being in FL, more times than not, it is direct burning ass sunlight. I think I've squeezed out a decent shot or two over the years. One things for sure, you got some fine examples here, and in past videos where the rules are meant to be broken. I like to think it results in finer images, and pushing boundaries. Keep up the great work. You're an inspiration.
Was it the first week in August you were there?
If you're not aware, Avon Skin So Soft is a great midgie repellant. I was on the west coast, up by Arisaig, this summer; forgot to put some on when setting up camp, and came back looking like I had smallpox. Then I was on a wee island on Rannoch Moor. You're probably familiar with that area. Those islands are just spongy hummocks of heather and mosses, surrounded by water. Midgie nirvana. I and the tripod were in a cloud of midgies for an hour or so. I'd remebered the Skin So Soft that time, and didn't get a single bite. They sell it in the camping shops in the Highlands. I've also heard that tea tree massage oil is good as well.
Now that might sound like a wind up, but chack it out. I do not jest. You're welcome :)
When the light is shite think Black & White
Really good advice!
Good rhyme😄
do you pronounce the trailing e on shite and white ? :)
I think old color film stock
@@lylestavast7652 Yes. Important info I know.
There is "easy" light and "difficult" light... 😉
Definitely! 🙂
I am happy with any time I get out to take photos, especially this year!
Me too 🙂
WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!
WHAT. THE....A TRIPOD?!
I'm ashamed of you. 🤣
😂
Nice video! as usually :) Love the topic. Non-professionals, mortals, like me, usually we shoot when we have time not when stars do align for masterpiece, so it was very useful to see how you think about this particular situations. Well done!
Bag? Interesting idea, not sure if I am convinced but it is good to see somewhere, someone uses they brains and time to innovate in photo bag department instead of dance around old ideas.
You may need to clean your camera sensor or lens.
You can see two dark spots, one one your left and one on your right.
Great video by the way, would love to go to Scotland one day.
I just reached the end of your video and saw you mentioned the dust spots 🤦🏼♂️
I’m not deleting my comment though lol
hahah, caught that as well.. once I spotted it, my eyes couldn't move elsewhere.. :D
My bad 😂
Another problem on sunny days, and when you are out in the snow it's even worse.
I know he mentioned them in the video, but I can't see them for the life of me. My eyes are getting so bad :)
There is a prescribed ideal “light” that dictates so much landscape photography that we see, be it on youtube, in calendars, on photographers media pages. I happen to live in a place with scorching summers and bright almost unbearable light. As a photographer interested in the landscape here I feel it would be a disservice to the place itself to choose the ideal to represent it. That’s not to say I wouldn’t choose specific time or light for a place or relish beautiful light. I think it is important to consider a landscape in all its manifestations,
Hey man, while I know you’re a master of proper English self-effacement, you really deserve high marks for coming up with thoughtful ideas for your videos each week. It’s pretty impressive and there’s just about always something practical to be learned as you take us through the composition process. Great to see a well-thought title subject pop up in my feed amidst all the “Here’s a new gimbal, watch me walk around with it!” videos and the “Here’s why YOU should use a TELEPHOTO lens in your LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY!!” videos.
This is normal photography conditions for, me, hardly ever able to be out for sunrise or sunset. It’s bloody hard to get a decent shot
Hello James,
"There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing", is what your tongue is twisting. @4:06, you never have a JCB when it could be handy...😉... @9:07, note to self: "Bananas" Emily is correct, even if it's just a prompt from a query!
Otherwise, be well!
The person who came up with that saying obviously haven't been out in bad enough weather.
I've camped where you are... trying to pack tent in the morning was impossible. The tent was in the sun and seemed to attract them. Had to pack a bit, run up a hill and hide in the shade, pack a bit more, repeat. Also, don't wear an orange hat. Midges are attracted to orange. My hat went literally (not figuratively) black with midges.
The drone shot is 👌🏾 the overexposure is a good thing on the house. I think photographers should start drawing literally so they can get out of their own head when it comes to certain details
There is one good thing that has come from Lockdown. Leaving the BBC and MSM and discovering youtube. thus finding content about subjects I am interested in. Entertaining, full of humour and inspiration, your videos are a great diversion from the nonsense that has been 2020. I binge watched the whole channel earlier this year, Last weeks video was one of my favourites. Mind you you need to be careful including Emily, She outshines you as a double act with some random facts!!
"Sharpish" is my favorite English saying. I think you just inspired me to take a photo a day for the rest of the year. That way I have to work with existing light. That's for the inspiration
Awesome David! I've tried that before and loved it 🙂
You caught me. I had just looked at the weather and decided to watch TH-cam instead of going out with my camera. Yours was the first video I watched. I'm going out now. Soon. After lunch.
Agreed James, backlighting can make a lot of subjects look much more interesting. Often very hard to photograph though.
Those blue skies sure illustrate the dust spots nicely.
I thought "Nice bag...but £88,869...that's a bit steep!" But then realised I was looking at an IndieGoGo site...
I checked out the bag too. I'm new to photography and as of yet don't have a backpack. Holy cow, they are expensive!
😂😂
Christina Kipfer if you are new to photography, you might not need an all featured bag yet. Check out James many videos on bags for some great advice.
That being said, I recently picked up the mindshift backlight and it's been worth every penny. There is a huge difference in quality and usefulness to me.
James: "I've found my new favourite camerabag"
Also James: "here's my new bumbag" 😂
Hour many camera bags have you tried already ? Quite a lot I guess :-) What's your recommendation for a combined hiking | photography backpack?
Personaly, I don’t mind contrast that much. In fact I quite like it. Otherwise pictures could be a bit bland. In “the old days”, shooting with film, you couldn’t up the shadow and down highlights, you just had to accept it. And I still do. Mostly.
Despite most serious cyclists looking down their noses at kickstands, there are some good reasons for them. One being changing lenses/cards/batteries without having to find a place to lean the bike. It also enables you to sometimes use your bike as a tripod, so you don't get teased as much by your viewers for seeing a tripod in a video. I normally use a high end compact on the bike, (currently a Canon G7x). It fits in a jersey pocket and does most of what a DSLR does. I really don't like carrying so much gear on my back when cycling and want to use a hydration pack there. I tried one of my Micro 4/3 Olympus with the pancake lens, but it's not quite a small enough package for the jersey pocket. If I am riding alone and specifically for photography or drone flying, I use a rack trunk or Carradice style bag with a little extra padding added for my Mirrorless kit. Check out the Pletscher double leg centerstand or some of the similar designs. It could be of use, the way you are using the bike.
Using a film camera with something like Portra 800 or 400 might be a nice way of dealing with high contract situations like a forest, right? That is of course a complete change of gear. I suppose one could also try some kind of HDRI method.
Really nice image of the cottage ... if there wasn't that bloody tourist in the shot ;-)
As for your new backpack. I've been using the same for years now, even wild camped a night using it (the tent was fixed on the bottom outside, but everything else, including Food and Jetboil fit inside. Good pack if don't need too much photo gear (or if your gear is small enough). I found two caveats: First if you tighten the hip belt for better carrying comfort (putting the weight on your hips), you cannot rotate, but you must first loosen the belt and re-tighten it afterwards. Second, with the photo back out, the "rest" of the pack can't stand upright on the floor for easy access to the top compartment.
Yo James! Great video as always. Just noticed (and no offence intended) you’re looking tired at the end of the video dude. Hope it’s just because you’re working hard. Stay strong 🤟
As always, I enjoyed this one James. Lots of ideas! Hope everything is ok and that things are picking up, although I see things going downhill again... take care
Yep. I don't have the luxury to plan and choose when I go out. My bag is always packed, so if I get a couple of hours I can grab and go.
There is no bad light, but there is *wrong* light.
Case in point: at 3:59, you've got the wrong light for the kind of sweeping landscape shot you described, and you explained why. If you had a camera with crazy dynamic range you could maybe get an exposure that would preserve both highlights and shadows, but the lighting is clearly not ideal for that shot.
But at the same time, I do see a good photo in that scene. Split the scene up into 9ths (so thirds horizontally and thirds vertically), and the lower-middle ninth with that little pool and the sunstar would make an interesting photo, especially in black and white. Definitely not a traditional landscape, but it a neat play on lines.
Personally I prefer the drone shot of the house to the foggy shot of it. The composition of the foggy shot is missing some interest in the composition, it looks like a pretty bland house in a pretty bland and grey landscape. The drone shot with the road creates a lovely leading line and the mountain in the background shows how remote and lovely the surroundings are. Sure that shot would be better with more interesting light, but the composition is just so good
ALL the "rules" are there to be broken. Photography is art; there are no set rules, only good judgement and bad judgement, lol.
Wtf, I don't geek out about gear but that camera is doing magic tricks. That's a camera bag omg that works so well.
I like Matti's picture but I must confess that Peter's picture was better. One idea for Peter is if one uses f8 instead of the smallest aperture you can get bigger star effect. But great job guys! It was FUN!
James
I beg to differ with you we have been having a heat wave in California every day this week has been over 100 degrees Fahrenheit not weather to hike or photograph in
Can’t agree with this video more. TH-cam landscape photographers seem to be terrified of contrast.
Really enjoyed this trip with you for a number of reasons. Mainly, I'm not a crazy man in the field basing that on the normalcy of your first person dialogue....LOL!!
Oh James, the reference to your bag is such an obvious ad. It isn't a 'game changer'. I've had a similar swivel bag for at least 3 years. There are loads on the market
I love my Mindshift 180, but now I carry more gear than it can handle. If you have a small set of gear, I agree, it's a game changer in the field.
Bad light does certainly exist, come to Dubai in the summer and very high humidity, it's just not possible to make a picture 😩
You need Avon Skin so soft dry oil to repel the midges. Not specifically a repellant but the pleasant smell repels the insects. Used by the military.
Also... does your bike not have a side stand and a basket on the front. That would be much better for photography rides.
Something else and not saying you shouldn't clean your lens but even if it had spots, my cellphone is far worse right now with finger prints, smudges, and looks like food of some sort. Just one of those things like who's screen is squeaky clean when viewing this sorta content. As long as it's not blatantly obvious like a black spot I'd think you're a ok.
There are no bad photos. There are photos we don't like and photos we do like but no one will agree on what those are. Even if you think the photo might be terrible, take the picture. Some of my favorite shots are ones I almost didn't take for many of the reasons you stated in the video.
You might be getting a copyright strike from Brendan Van son as that selfie image style is his signature lol.
Fab video as always. And your looking rather trim...good on ya.
0lease clean your sensor. Spent two minutes scrubbing my phone screen only to go - Doh?
another great video !!!!!! I always learn alot from your videos.
any great photographer can take a photograph of a shoe in any lighting conditions and make it look semi presentable imo
"The sun is the whole point of the shot"... that certainly eliminates the need for compelling content.
“No such thing as bad weather only bad clothes” that’s the actual saying as you put it.
She's busy working, and I've come... to take photos. LOL
A good fun video.
quite like the reflection of the mountains in the little pond or what ever it was ...not to big of a fan of the greens in that picture tho tbh
What does Emily do? Just wondered what a normal job is😇
Ohhh I like that bag for one reason I can buy one and toss out the upper part and only use the lower bag woooohooo
I dont think there is ever a bad time its what you make of it especially at the moment with how everythings been this year need to make the most of it
So, there's no such thing as bad light, but there is such a thing as lazy photographers.
i got the habit of shooting against the sun in harsher sun conditions lol. backlit is nice sometimes
Was on Skye a few years back, to deal with the midges we had smuggled in a bottle of Muskol with 30% DEET. They (the midges) didn't have a chance.
Solid strategy! 😂
Does nobody call it contre jour anymore, am I a dinosaur?
What happened your sound levels; they are all over the place?
If I've learnt anything from you about picking locations, it's pack a lunch, and snacks, and maybe a second lunch!
If you like it, keep a bag of jerky in your bag.
That bag looks incredible!!
F16 on MFT?
This is an FF aperture. ;)
What tripod would you recommend me to buy ?
1 "keeper" is a good day for me 🤷🏻♂️
Clean your lens pleasee. Great video btw
Isle of Skye, sunny and windless,... with Midges. Sounds like a McGregor's vacation paradise .... ;)
I've wondered why I love your videos so much- as almost everything I do photographically is the exact opposite of what you recommend LOL I too hate being restricted when I can shoot - so I bring 1200w of flash with me to a shoot - that I shoot with my 50mp full frame Canon ... oh, and I rarely do Landscapes! ...and yes James ... I use tripod ... a lot.! Keep up the great content ;-)
That bright blue Scottish sky just made me realise I have a dirty laptop screen! As always, I get something new out of each of your videos, thanks James. That bag would be great when the ground is wet too!
There's no bad light in my mind. Only bad ways of using it and bad editing. And honestly, outside of traditional portraits, I never understood the obsession with completely flat lighting. Not everything has to be dull or dark, and not every subject needs flat light to look nice (evidenced by the two house shots you showed). Half the time that ends up making me think people are just trying to make up for wanting their cameras to be so light and small that they can't get a big enough sensor to get the dynamic range to deal with hard light. I get personal preference, but it's done so often that it seems like people take it as a hard rule rather than a suggestion.
Also with regards to the bag, it's about time a backpack finally picked up on the convenience of a shoulder bag.
I have the Mindshift Rotation 180 Horizon, also a great concept to use at the beach if the tide is coming in or you are standing in water. The only negative I have found so far is the straps can squeak/creak.
C'mon dude! Emily has demonstrated what provisioning for a walk has to look like and here you demonstrate that you can't be left rambling about on 'yer own...
You see those black spots in the sky in spots of your video? I see those sometimes when I'm editing. Is that just little dust spots? Because I clean and clean and clean and I sti end up seeing those spots.
Nevermind. I just the part of the video where you brought it up lol. I should have watched it all first
hey james, thanks for all the videos you make. it encouraged me to finally pick up a camera and i ended up with a lumix gx85. not weather-sealed, but i'm loving it so far. you're a great ambassador for lumix!
I'm not as disciplined when I'm out... I tend to snap away rather than take my time and consider composition too much.. You consider everything exposure etc.. Be interested to know how you organise for your shoots.. Even in those bright conditions you got somme good pictures. By the way I sent you a £1 the other week. I hope you spent it wisely..?
Billy Connolly (Scottish comedian and actor) said originally, "there's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes"
Hi James. Great video. For those of us with kids, getting out at dawn or golden hour is a rarity.
For a number of years, I used a Lowepro Orion AW backpack bag. It split into two; the lower main section could be brought round your front for access, similar to your bag. The main drawback for mine was how bulky and heavy the bottom section was when loaded up. Also, the backpack top section was flimsy and lightweight with hardly any pockets so not great.
The Rotational 180 bags are awesome. I have the original 34L one but want to upgrade to the 50L+ model
The photo looks like an REI add.
I dont know if anyone mentioned it already in the comments, but you have to clean your sensor, from 7:37 and on there is a dust spot in the upper-mid-left side and one in the far right top corner :P
Other than that, great video as always, thank you very much!
James... great photos come and go.... the most important lesson from this video is that you didn’t let the “midgies” win.... 😀 Keep doing what you’re doing!!!
Good point and well made. Especially the bit about fitting photography (as a hobby) around general life stuff.
Answer: of course there is. But depends what you shoot. If you Shoot a nice and Open landscape, you can get a boring photo or a stunning photo depending on The time of day. If you shoot street and reportage, there are many more things to play with..., houses, cars, people etc that generate shadows
Thanks for putting all of these videos up. Not everyone is superb and some are a bit wtf but in some way, they are all really inspiring. Keep up the good work!
Hi I have one of those bags, had it a while I love using it, but I really don’t do enough photography to keep the bag, if anyone’s interested I’m open to offers. Not sure if I can actually post this message here or not, sorry if I shouldn’t have.
In Zen they suggest that there is no good or bad, it's only what we think of it that makes something good or bad. I guess this would work for light in photography too so I try to think along those lines when I shoot. Right now though, I'm always just really happy to be able to be out shooting whenever I can when so many are not with all the restrictions in different places.
i was in England once visiting the fam and Scotland once had a WEEK of 30C days then the next week it had 2M of snow.
I have a bag like that from mindshift. It is a good bag. I really like it when I am hiking and want to stop and take photos along the way. I find it a pain to get things in and out of when I am not wearing it, however. For this reason I now bought a second camera bag I use when I will be going to a location, setting the bag down and take pictures there.
Im named after the Isel of sky
This is the usual shooting condition in Australia. I often have to exposure blend with creeks etc and sometimes use b&w which suits high contrast.
Is bernout always bad?
I believe one can take a great photo at anytime of the day. But some situations require more skill to pull it off.
My problem with the rules is they tend to limit people to when they can take photos and fail to teach people how to take a great photo when the lighting is not ideal per the rule.
I tend to like to shot with the sun to my side, it gives some interesting shadowing. Also, I like to shoot reflections in water on bright, sunny days.
Saying comes from the nordics I think "finns inget dåligt väder bara dåliga kläder"
Just Kickstarted the new Rotation 180! So glad to hear you like it!
I think I prefer the good weather when in Scotland and except the challenge to get some photos in sunny weather ☀️😊
The only bad light is light with no 🐑 in it.
A TRIPOD! Who are you? Imposter.
😂😂
I am thoroughly sick of squarespace.
But they pay for so many good videos on youtube 🙂 the alternative is people having to pay themselves!
enjoyed that - thank you !