Nearly every week day in July after I finished a painful radiation treatment on my throat for cancer, I drove straight to a wildlife refuge along the Potomac River (McKee-Beshers) to try to capture a shy Indigo Bunting. I got him on the sixth try, which was also the sixth cancer treatment. It was my way to immediately replace a bad experience with a good one. By the end of radiation treatment I conquered cancer and captured the bird.
Photography is such a nice hobby for me. I love getting out in nature and taking photos while out makes me forget everything else. Thanks for all your videos over the years
Something Exiting: Your videos helped get my motivation back into landscape photography. So, this year I invested into new equipment and took advantage of my business trips to Brazil. I had a blast photographing some amazing waterfalls and forest scenery. Photography not only helped me get connected to nature again but also quite a mental healing moment when photographing unique lights and being 100% focused on the present moment. Please keep up with your videos, this is great content and motivation for us. All the best. Eduardo
Mark, thank you for all of the educational content and your inspirational videos. I appreciate you. In May, this 73 year old grabbed his Z8, 180-600 and the rest of my kit and made a 5500 mile solo road trip from SE Virginia to Yellowstone and the Tetons and circuitously back to photograph grizzly bears, wolves, badgers, elk, black bears, coyotes, bison and any critter that crawled, walked, ran or flew by me. Of course, landscapes and nature were an integral part of the trip as well. A terrific once in a lifetime opportunity! I’ve been passionately photographing for 53+ years and I hope to get at least another decade or more of images and experiences before hanging up the gear. Thanks again for all you do. Stay safe.
Mark, really enjoy your videos. Back in the summer, I took my camera to Tenerife to shoot the Milky Way. Not disappointed, it turned out to be the best trip out so far.
You're an inspiration of consistency. Every time I feel not getting out with my camera, I think of you're dedication to communicate your passion. This drive me to move...
I cannot begin to express how much I look forward to your video each week. I love your easygoing style and fine your style of teaching very relatable. I hope you are good to go for another 7 yrs.
For many including myself, photography has been a life saver. I got into photography 6 years after getting served with divorce papers two days before Christmas (a police office came to my house and handed them to me). Three weeks later my 13 year old pup passed away. I fell into a deep depression. I needed something to get me out of the house and help me see life in a different light. I made a trade on Craigslist for a used camera, I traded one of my used lawnmowers. This was in 2018. Fast forward to 2024, I stuck with photography and no longer go out to take photos for inspiration but as a lifestyle. This year I took a risk and began selling automotive posters, photo books and did a lot of client work. It was a rewarding year and it has been a great feeling to come out thriving on the other side. When life gives you lemons, freeze them and hurl them back.
Congrats to 300k. I remember you first video years ago when you made the jump from the corporate world. I’d bet I was one of your first 1k followers on my old TH-cam account. No one deserves the success more than you man. You are kind, informative and passionate. You have inspired me, especially during COVID to get back to Alaska and shoot full time. I figured if Mark was able to manage a way, I can too. And I did. Thank you
My biggest change for my photography was actually moving to the western slope of Colorado. I have lived along the Front Range since 1976. But as I have progressed and grown in my landscape and nightscape photography, I found that I need to drive further and further to get to beautiful places and dark skies. So my partner and I decided to make a move. We now live in Grand Junction, which is about 25 miles from the Utah border. We are surrounded by gorgeous scenery - the Grand Mesa, the Bookcliffs Mountains and the Colorado National Monument. Love it!
Merry Christmas Mark! Congrats on the 300K subs, much deserved... I'd have to say the most exciting thing I did with my camera in 2024 was to finally be able to get back out to take photos after a stroke in March and then a open heart surgery in June. I count every day as a blessing now and sitting watching your videos fills my needs, wants to get back out with my camera.... Now bring on half a million subs for you, much deserved
What a comeback Shane. My best wishes for your speedy recovery.Wishing you and all yours a very Happy 2025. I am sure it will be a very productive year for you, will bring you good health and happiness. God has been very kind to you 🙏. Stay blessed
@@anujasharma9677 thank you! My stroke wasnt as sevre as it couldve been, I have double vison in my left eye but while in the stroke ward for 2 weeks I saw people way worse that me so I count myself VERY lucky everyday 🙏🏻 I've JUST been able to walk around not too far to take photos because of my open heart surgery ALL the while I've been watching Marks videos as I've done for many years now and they give me photo landscape photography fix that I need while not being able to get out 👍 You are right, God has been kind to me for giving me these chances in life agian 🙏🏻Stay blessed too 🙏🏻
2024 is the year my camera and I started our landscape and wildlife photography business in Colorado. I will be keeping the job that pays the bill, so this will allow me to enjoy the journey, instead of stressing about bills being paid. Website is about to go live, and applications for art festivals will start soon. You’ve definitely helped me in my journey Mark, keep up the great work.
Thank you Mark for providing all the good stuff over the years. To me, your channel stands out as one that is informative and a joy to watch. Calm, unagitated and likeable. My most enjoyable project this year was to capture a kingfisher in the middle of a city 50km away from my place in January/February. Amazing how relaxed and confident these beautiful birds are despite the people around them. Unfortunately, I had my shutter speeds set to fast which made the ISO going through the roof. This winter I will try again with more variation in the settings…
I took a 3 week trip around the stunning South Island of New Zealand last May. Just me, my Motorhome Jolene, and my camera. The trip took in firey autumn colours, whale watching, the golden hues and straight lines of wine country, snowy alpine passes, the wild west waves and more. Thank you for your great, informative and friendly videos. I love that you are totally natural in them. You so deserve this amazing accolade and success 🙌
Hi Mark. Congrats on the milestone! Not an easy achievement. Photographically it was a slow year due to supporting my wife through health challenges but on the occasions I got out it was focused on birds and the odd landscape. The highlight for me was capturing my first images of a Barred Owl in the woodlands close to home. I spent over an hour just watching it and capturing images of it looking for its next meal and once almost falling asleep. This year I plan to spend more time behind the camera and documenting more of what I am doing.
I've learned a lot watching your videos. One of the things I really like is the way you explain the "why" and your mistakes. A little back story helps understand the reasoning. This year I've just decided to get out more with the camera - foggy, raining, cloudy - whatever. Sometimes the results are a pleasant surprise.
Hi Mark! Congrats on the big milestone!!! This has been the hardest year of my life with the passing of my best bud, along with other things, so my focus has been less about the camera and more about the person behind the camera. Moose was by my side on morning walks and would stay by my side as I thought myself how to shoot in manual mode as I photographed owls and other birds. I owe so much to him and his sister that I changed all of my social media handles to their names including this new youtube channel. Now I'm focusing more on who I want to be as a photographer and also the why.
Mark, I have been following you for some time. I'm not sure how many friends I have recommended to follow you and want to congratulate you on your milestone. You have helped me improve my photography both in taking photos and my post processing. Keep up the great work!
For a beginner like me, following you and watching your videos have been a very rewarding experience. Now I'm seeing the landscape of my country (Spain) with a different level of appreciation. Thank you for making my country more beautiful to my eyes 🙏
Mark, thank you for the content you share each week. Over the last few years I have rediscovered my passion for photography and the great outdoors. Your videos have helped tremendously in composition and editing! I’m now enjoying landscape and on location portrait photography more than ever!! Again thank you for all of your helpful insight to photography 📷🙏
I love the way you teach us. Can’t wait to watch your video each week. I have been taking pictures for years, even shot some weddings but because of you and your easy to follow teaching I feel I’m more of a photographer now. I am now retired and just shoot landscape and wildlife. Much better. No stress. I did enter some of my photos at our local fair to compare to others. Did better than I thought I would. Thank you for everything you do for us.
Thanks for all the great videos. The most memorable thing I did with my camera this year was capture the Northern Lights, especially one night when a large group gathered and some of them asked me for advice. Helping them get good images made a good night even better.
Thanks Mark for your tireless and faithful content - 7 years without missing a Wednesday video kinda makes you the Nolan Ryan of TH-cam! Just shot Christmas concert at church with children's choir and guest singers including Laura Story - it was a blast!
Mark, I sort through bunches of tutorials each week. I've been a subscriber for a while now because your style, tempo and instruction is easy to digest. It's inspired me to take my passion to the next level...I officially started my photography business and published my website just a few days ago. Thank you!!!!!!!
Long time subscriber. I like he deep dives into your thinking and how you do things in Lightroom, along with all the other tips you sprinkle in on a lot of different topics. I'm happy for you. Showing up is always the biggest battle.
My excitement this year with my camera was actually 2 things...I was able to purchase a Canon EOS R7 which I am in love with. Then just recently, within the last two months, I purchased a Canon Pro-200 and started printing my photos! It is one of the most satisfying things I have done in my photography hobby. It's actually made me look at composition of my photos in a whole new way. Congrats on 300K! Keep the videos coming.
2024 brought me closer to nature with a few wonderful trips to shoot landscape photography. My most memorable was to Death Valley and waiting for sunrise over Lake Manly, the temporary lake covering Badwater Basin. Seeing the moon reflected in the water as the colors started to appear was amazing. Mark I am so happy for you. This is very well deserved.
Thank you so much Mark for sharing your knowledge and expertise in photography. You have inspired me greatly and I look forward to your weekly tutorials. I love to learn all the tips and tricks you use in Lightroom. I have taken hundreds of raw photos over the years that I have gone back to process using some of your techniques. By doing this, you have made me concentrate more about composition when I'm out in the field. I also admire your dedication to the profession.
A big thanks to you! I have been a subscriber for several years now and what I most appreciate is your consistency of purpose. When I look over my images from year to year I have noticed an improvement; an improvement that friends and others have commented to me about. While your focus is on landscape images, much of what you cover can be applied to travel, nature, and street photography. Thank you and here's to a a great 2025!
Since it has been a very dull december with all grey cloudy weather I started bird hut photography. It's always such a pleasure looking at your videos your are an inspirational source for us photographers ❤
Blessings to you Mark. You're the genuine article. I think the most exciting thing I did this year with my camera was to take a photo of a lonely tree in a field just after the harvest. I saw the tree and knew I wanted to get the shot, so one day when I knew I was headed near the place of the tree, I grabbed my gear, threw it in the trunk, and hoped for the ideal shot. And low and behold, on the way home from my appointment, the sun was setting just beyind the tree with, some some foggy-smokey substance in the air all around, and I quickly pulled over and grabbed the shot while the hazards were blinking away. I think, all in all, it's one of my favorite pics off all time. (I'd be glad to share if you wish). Keep you the wonderful work. You have an authenticity about you that I appreciate. May you and your channel continue to be blessed.
I am so glad you found that silver lining in your corporate layoff 17 years ago! My primary genre is wildlife photography and in 2024, I traveled to Belize and Guatemala to photograph some of the most exotic birds I’ve ever seen. What an amazing experience!
This is my first year in photography, and I’ve learned so much! I started out never having picked up a camera before, but over time, I’ve discovered how much patience and observation wildlife and landscape photography require. One of my biggest lessons has been understanding light... how it can transform a scene or bring out the personality of an animal. Also, getting comfortable with my gear and learning to compose shots has been such a rewarding journey. Excited to keep improving next year!
Congrats Mark! I am a long time watcher/follower and am proud to say that I have watched you from nearly the beginning of your journey. You are by far my favorite. Something exciting last year... I finally got a long telephoto zoom (to 400mm)-- it has changed the way I see landscapes now that I am not just limited to wider panoramas.
Congrats! I usually do everything I can to avoid having people in my photos, but the most exciting thing I did with my camera this year was start dabbling in concert photography! It got me out of my comfort zone and has resulted in a good relationship with my local venue as well as getting out to listen to genres I wouldn’t normally listen to.
An impressive feat to say the least, Mark. Here’s to many more years. I had the great pleasure of traveling to Maui this year with my family and marveled at the diversity of the landscape. Yes, I shot some beautiful beaches but it was the unexpected scenes I was able to capture that will stay with me forever. From the mountains to the rolling farmland to the quiet small towns, I don’t think a day has gone by since I returned in October that I don’t revisit the images.
I love autumn. It has always held a special place in my heart. This year (2024) for my 71st birthday my wife, daughter and 3 grown grandchildren sent me on 4 week long Fall Photo tour of New England, Michigan's UP and the San Juans in Colorado. A guy can only be so lucky...
Living in the upper midwest the winters tend to be grey and not terribly photogenic. Yesterday (Christmas Day) we woke up to everything covered in hoar frost. (freezing fog) It was a great opportunity to get out and get some winter wonderland shots of everything covered in a delicate layer of ice..
Mark, I think I’ve been following you ever since the beginning. I started because I figured we were both pretty much the same on talent level 😂. You quickly surpassed me and have taught me so much. I very much appreciate you and sharing your knowledge. The most exciting thing I did with my camera in 2024 is started to photograph my 3yo son more and more and get into portraits. That’s another animal in itself!
Hi Mark. It has been my life’s dream to photograph the northern lights in somewhere like Iceland. In 2024, I saw the northern lights from the ground for the first time. About 15m away from my house! Could not stop shooting and then stayed awake to edit all of the pictures. Unbelievable experience and now I’ll have to travel to see more! Well done on 300k, well deserved.
Hi Mark, one of the most beautiful photographic moments of this year has been being able to enjoy time to plan and escape with the camera and the camper van to the mountains to be able to do what I like most, landscape photography. A big hug from someone addicted to your channel.
Hi Mark, and gratulations on your 300K subscribers! Here in Denmark we don't have the stunning landscape opportunuties of your back yard, but I have been watching and learning from your videos for some years now. I think you do a great job. Your videos are easy to follow and the motives aren't really important. I do a lot of photographing in my garden - macro and close-ups of wild flowers and plants + plus a bit of street as well, and your masking tips are truly a great help. So cudos to you and may you have a truly prosperous New Year.
Hi Mark, for the past several years, you have been an inspiration to me as I begin my transition to retirement and photography. Learning about composition and Lightroom techniques from you have been majorly helpful in my continuing development as a photographer. So, many thanks for that. This year, I was able to bring my camera on a trip to Hawaii and take some decent shots. You are an inspiration to many. Happy New Year!
2024 was the year I put what I've learned in the last 5 years to use. When I retired in 2020, I decided to pick up photography as a hobby. I took some lessons online and got out with my camera as often as I could to practice. I discovered your channel and found a teacher who could help me in my efforts to put together a good photo. My wife and I packed up the gear and drove from PA to Utah and took four weeks to do the grand circle starting with Arches and ending with Great Sand Dunes. The sights and photos I took turned out great. Thanks for all your photo and post tips. I'm looking forward to this year's opportunities.
Mark, I very much appreciate your weekly videos and have leaned so much from them. I do short local photo excursions as an outlet while my wife battles brain cancer, and they have been a wonderful diversion for me. More importantly, my wife likes at least a few of the images I've gotten using your tips and advice. Thank you so much!
Thank you for honing my Visual Voice. I started taking pictures with a film camera that I got when I was 12. I was hooked. Could not wait to get the pictures back. I made every mistake possible- many times. Despite that I kept at it. And then digital cameras came along. No more waiting for the pictures. Instant photos. Wow. Still making those mistakes, but I get to see them as soon as I make them. Your videos have helped me so much. Specifically the one on composition. Where you put the visual puzzle pieces together. Genius. What a difference in my photos. Now I am capturing what I “see” when I am on location. Every Wednesday a new inspirational video comes into my inbox. Always looking forward to them. Thank you for helping me with my Visual Voice. - Matt Denton
Congrats on 300K!!! I know this may sound simple, but what I did with my camera in 2024 was to follow your advice by making a committed effort to get out more. I put it on my calendar and headed out no matter what the weather or the conditions were. Some just turned into mostly scouting trips, but that was OK. I also did a whole lot more spontaneous one or two hour local shoots when everything lined up as far as the weather and the light. The results clearly show in my images and my skill set. Thanks for all your great instructional videos.
It sounds like many of us have had some medical reasons that kept us from our passion for photography. I finally was able to get out again and started photographing live events with people as my subjects. I know people can be difficult to photograph, but getting these once-in-a-lifetime captures is great fun. It gives me another type of photo to add to the many other types of photos I have done in the past. Mark, you, too, have pushed me to try new editing techniques that make my photos better. Thanks.
This is great! Glad you're getting the recognition your channel deserves. I've begun exploring vintage lenses to expant my artistic side of photography more instead of the astro and landscape. Thanks for all your work!
Thank you for your years of advice and inspiration with your TH-cam channel. Probably the most exciting thing I did with (one of) my cameras in 2024 was to give it to my daughter, who loves photography, and spend some time with her helping her to set it up. I hope your Christmas is also happy and merry!
Congrats Mark! I am currently in Germany visiting my daughter and grandchildren. Yesterday I attempted to photograph the Milky Way for the first time. Pretty pleased with the outcome and determined to improve upon this type or photography 👍👏
Hi Mark, congrats on the fantastic milestone achievement - trust me it’s well deserved. My most significant moment of 2024 was actually to pick up a camera again in September after several months of lethargy, self doubt and a lack of inspiration. It’s a dreadful feeling to loose something you were once so passionate about but with luck my motivation and passion are back to stay. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for all of your thoughtful insights. I really like your easygoing style. It's like having an old friend giving me his best tips. I just picked up photography again after a long hiatus and this channel is a great resource.
I cannot begin to thank you enough for sharing your incredible knowledge, skill and enthusiasm all of these years. I enjoy your tutorials immensely and have been following you for years. Through your tutelage, and easy manner you have helped me slow down, enjoy the process, get out there and have fun. This year I shed my fear, need for perfectionism, and so much more thanks to you and went on photography workshops to Costa Rica, and Iceland, and had a blast.
This was the year I replaced my old Nikon D80 and my old Mac, with Photoshop from over 15 years ago, with a new Nikon Z50 and a new Mac. What an evolution technology has had over all these years in photography! Thanks to the upgrade and watching tutorials on TH-cam, like yours, my photography has taken an exponential leap. Thank you!
Hi Mark, thanks for all the great tips and ideas during the all those years. You have made it possible for me to bring my landscaping to a higher level. Many thanks!
One of the most exciting things I did this year was hike to Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in February to capture the sunrise over the frozen lake. It was incredibly cold and windy, but also incredibly beautiful. Mark, thanks for many great videos, I've learned a lot from your channel.
My most exciting moment was watching a Pine Martin come out of the northern forest of Minnesota ( at -10F !) and explore some downed timber close enough to me to get some really outstanding shots. It made the days searching the woods in the cold all worthwhile 🎉
vintage photography! i grew out of my expensive is better phase and took my old phone around just clicking photos and taking videos. my hard drive is full of meaningful photos and videos with not so perfect WB, not so perfect ISO and not so perfect shutter speed but, I'm happier than ever looking back at those photos and videos as the year comes to an end. as i hope you are too. happy Christmas and new year! congrats on the 300k aswell!
This year, I had a great time photographing my son's volleyball games. At first, I had no idea what I was doing, but after a game or two, I started to get the hang of it. The photos turned out beautifully, and I was thrilled to share them with the players and their families. Now, we all have these wonderful memories to look back on and cherish the fun our team had throughout the season.
Last summer on Corsica I went out at night to the river next to the campsite to have my first try at astro photography. Catching the milky way core for the first time was magic! Cheers to you Mark, thank you for all the knowledge and inspiration.
This was such an amazing year for my photography! I was able to take my family on a photography road trip throughout June. We “rushed" from Indiana to San Francisco where we began taking our time going up the coast all the way to Vancouver. (Thanks for all the tips on outdoor photography, I think mine was much better because of you and others on TH-cam.) In the end we traveled just shy of 7000 miles in 42 hours drive time (3 1/2 weeks total). My wife and I have four kids that at the time of the trip were 7, 6, 4, and 2. Everyone else thought we were crazy, but we think we created amazing memories on a once in a lifetime trip. Thanks for your work and inspiration!
Mark - Thank you for all of your tutelage. It truly has helped me with framing a shot, using the right angles, day time/ night time, and editing to make my photos really pop. I truly appreciate you. I have had many opportunities this year to take what I have learned from you and apply it to not only landscape photos, but nature, using my own dogs, family members, and my passion... cars. So thank YOU for all that you do.
Congrats on your success! Best thing I did with my camera this year was chase my daughter around to document her third year of making me smile. Cheers!
Very grateful for your insights and willingness to share them with us. I've learned so much about the joy of taking pictures and editing them. This year I was able to travel to East Africa with a group as their designated photographer! While I felt some pressure, I felt very prepared after watching so many of your on sight suggestions. What a joy! Thank you!
The most exciting thing I did with photography right now is actually directly connected to your youtube videos: I watch your videos, among other photography videos, every week. My girlfriend started to watch these videos with me and picked up a used camera for herself. We now go on spall trips and hikes together, always trying to apply your teachings to our pictures. Thank you for that!
Ten years , top man. We will take another ten please. This year I started shooting the night sky, a little Milky Way. 2025 is all about travelling. Keep up the good work
I’ve been shooting social events for over seven years but had lost the passion for it. However, earlier in 2024, I decided to get a new (to me) E-M10 Mark IV and venture more "into the field" to explore my local state parks and wetlands, staying connected with nature. This has reignited my passion for grabbing a camera, feeling excited about editing, or simply admiring a photograph I took. Thank you for the opportunity and all the knowledge you’ve shared with us!
Congrats Mark! This last month I grabbed myself a 200-600 lens and I have been having so much fun with it lately. That is definitely the highlight of my photography journey this year
I applaud your courage and commitment, some of us can only dream of doing what you have done professionally. Seven years without missing a week is a remarkable achievement, made more remarkable by always having useful content. There is very little fluff, I have learned a great deal watching your videos and would like to say Thank you! Well done! Please keep up the good work. Happy New Year!
Mark, I absolutely enjoy your way of teaching. You have an absolute way about you that gets things across to me. I had four strokes so I’m not exactly the most brainiac person on the planet. But I hear you and I can understand everything you’re saying, and I apply it to my photography work as much as I possibly can remember to do Thank you so much for doing what you do if it wasn’t for people like you I wouldn’t be able to enjoy photography like I do. Thank you again! Ray Asiala
I always look forward to hear your latest comments and recommendations. I too enjoy the type of photography that you pursue, and have I been shooting since the film era. All though I am retired and in my 70S, I know that you can always learn something from watching another photographer. So thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Congrats on reaching 300K subscribers! That is a big deal. As far as the most exciting thing I did with my camera, I finally started using neutral density filters. I wish I had started doing that years ago.
Your photography and the videos you make are the inspiration that fuels many of us to be higher versions of ourselves. I have learned a lot from you, and recommended your channel to all the people I know who share our passion for photography. Thank you for being you and for sharing yourself with us all 🙏🏼
Thank you Mark, I have enjoyed your weekly videos for years. I always learn something new and exciting. I finally got out to do some macro photography in 2024, something I never did before and really love it.
Much thanks for all the information you've shared with us over the years! In April 2 of my friend and I traveled from Southern Oregon to Texas to veiw the solar eclipse, hitting 9 National Parks along the way and driving over 5000 miles!
Mark I have stumbled across you a few years back, I was completely lost with my focus and was getting frustrated with my journey in photography. You have inspired me to push forward and grow as a landscape/portrait photographer and I am starting to grow. I recently launched my website in 2024 and it is taking off as well. Keep inspiring, there are many more out there like me that need you. Happy New Year!
My most memorable moment this past year was when I discovered images that resonate with me. Those are ones that emphasize hue contrast over tonal contrast, find order in chaos, "otherworldly," and uplifting images. Thank you for informative and inspiring videos you have shared over the years. I truly appreciate your work!!
I’ve been the family photographer for many years. But had never provided the quality of gift in the family photo as I did this year. Every person, ornament and even the dog were pin point sharp. Thank you for giving me the confidence and inspiration to shoot like a Pro.
Thanks Mark for your absolutely tireless efforts to bring us all along on a journey of photographic development in terms of how to take photos and also tips n post processing. This year I've sought to challenge myself in terms of how I view a scene. It doesn't sound exciting, but it is both exciting and challenging. Right now I'm headed for Antarctica, a dream my wife and I have shared for 40 years. I'm so so excited about what I'm about to explore. Thanks for your inspirational insights.
Thanks, Mark, for all of the passion that you put in to creating your videos. Having retired from the corporate world four years ago, I have had the time and resources to indulge my own passion for nature and landscape photography. As a subscriber, your videos have been a great source of inspiration and knowledge. During this past year, I took to heart your continued messaging of “looking within your own neighborhood” and rediscovering and creating images of our own woods and nearby parks. Next year’s travels will bring many more opportunities to explore, experience and create. Cheers!
Congrats Mark, you've earned the subscribers with relatable and relevant content. As for excitement I took my camera to Iceland for a three week trip to celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary. We had many bouts of bad weather but I'm still working on the over 2k shots I took while we there. It was the trip of a life time.
Mark- thanks for all your uploaded instructional videos. They have definitely helped me become a better photographer and also assisted me in reaching out to do new photographic challenges these last 12 months. This past year I photographed the April 2024 solar eclipse and learned how to do a composite of the various phases of the eclipse in Photoshop. In May I traveled to Montana and shot some interesting birds in a wildlife refuge having never attempted that before. In June I attended my first airshow in Dayton OH with my son and grandson. Prior to the airshow, I did some research and viewed several hours of TH-cam videos on shooting airshows. I came away with about 15 fantastic shots including the Blue Angels! In October, my wife and I traveled to France for the first time. Our tour group had early access to Claude Monet's home and gardens and I got some fantastic images in early morning light. We also had first of the day access to the palace at Versailles and took some memorable outside and interior photos. Just recently, I downloaded the app you suggested in video that forecasts High, Mid and low clouds. This allowed me to get off my duff and shoot some great sunset shots. So, thanks for all you do to help us be better photographers!...Bill Howell
Merry Christmas Mark! One of the most exciting things I did in 2024 was believing in myself! I set a goal to treat my photography as my full time job now in retirement, I got invited into a local co op Gallery and the journey has been wonderful and other doors are opening up. Imagine that? All I had to do was believe in myself . Your channel is one of my go to for growth and improvement and I will always seek to grow and improve. Thanks for your channel and guidance and Merry christmas!!
I dubbed 2024 “The Year of Saying Yes.” This was a year in which I intentionally said yes to photographic opportunities that put me outside my comfort zone: sports photography, street photography, senior portraits, and even dance photography. For someone who prefers shooting trees and waterfalls this was a challenge. But I grew a lot as a photographer…and hopefully as a person! Congrats, Mark, on hitting 300K. Well deserved with all your hard work and generosity. Blessings in the coming year!
Since we are planning to go to Iceland, where landscape photography is key, I have been spending my time working on my landscape photography skills, using ideas which YOU have presented. And, when I further process the photos, again I've been using the approaches that you have suggested and demonstrated. It has opened up a whole new world to me!
Congrats on 300k subscribers! This year I got married and my wife and I went on a honeymoon cruise to Alaska! I brought my Z7ii for all of the amazing scenery and gave my wife my X100V to capture her perspective. She captured a ton of great photos and memories, and she enjoyed taking photos and wants to learn more :)
Most exciting thing I've done this year with my camera is pick it back up! Work absolutely slammed me going into this year and I had no time for anything. Looking forward to making time in '25 for it!
Mark, 2024 was a good year for myself and my wife. We shot our first wedding, we filmed and shot multiple locations around our state and have been actively photographing our marriage for the last 12 years. Before your videos photography was a hobby. Thank you, for all your do and share with the world your knowledge is important.
My partner came over from Canada to visit me in Scotland and we spent the end of July throughout the whole of August going round the country (5,500 miles), taking photos of landscapes, wildlife, urban scenes and portraits of her. I ended up having something like 12,000 photos to sort through. While now yes they're all sorted through, I've got to go back over them and fine tune them a bit further and I used one of your tricks in lightroom videos to help me with my editing process! Merry Christmas to you, Mark, and wish you all the best in 2025! Can't wait to see what you get up to!
Glad you’re finding success do what you love. I found I’ve been focusing a lot more on my landscape photography this past year and will even have some of my best pieces shown in a friend’s gallery in the New Year, which I’m really excited about. The toughest part was whittling it down to just a few. Made me realize I’ve got a lot of photos I’m proud of.
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Nearly every week day in July after I finished a painful radiation treatment on my throat for cancer, I drove straight to a wildlife refuge along the Potomac River (McKee-Beshers) to try to capture a shy Indigo Bunting. I got him on the sixth try, which was also the sixth cancer treatment. It was my way to immediately replace a bad experience with a good one. By the end of radiation treatment I conquered cancer and captured the bird.
All the best from a fellow (4 time) survivor. Photography is the best follow-up medicine.
This guy deserves to win.
I'm glad you are doing well.
Very brave of you and such a positive way to handle such a painful journey. Hats off to you Marsh. May God keep you healthy and happy always 🙏
Photography is such a nice hobby for me. I love getting out in nature and taking photos while out makes me forget everything else.
Thanks for all your videos over the years
Something Exiting: Your videos helped get my motivation back into landscape photography. So, this year I invested into new equipment and took advantage of my business trips to Brazil. I had a blast photographing some amazing waterfalls and forest scenery. Photography not only helped me get connected to nature again but also quite a mental healing moment when photographing unique lights and being 100% focused on the present moment. Please keep up with your videos, this is great content and motivation for us. All the best. Eduardo
Mark, thank you for all of the educational content and your inspirational videos. I appreciate you. In May, this 73 year old grabbed his Z8, 180-600 and the rest of my kit and made a 5500 mile solo road trip from SE Virginia to Yellowstone and the Tetons and circuitously back to photograph grizzly bears, wolves, badgers, elk, black bears, coyotes, bison and any critter that crawled, walked, ran or flew by me. Of course, landscapes and nature were an integral part of the trip as well. A terrific once in a lifetime opportunity! I’ve been passionately photographing for 53+ years and I hope to get at least another decade or more of images and experiences before hanging up the gear. Thanks again for all you do. Stay safe.
Mark, really enjoy your videos. Back in the summer, I took my camera to Tenerife to shoot the Milky Way. Not disappointed, it turned out to be the best trip out so far.
You're an inspiration of consistency. Every time I feel not getting out with my camera, I think of you're dedication to communicate your passion. This drive me to move...
I cannot begin to express how much I look forward to your video each week. I love your easygoing style and fine your style of teaching very relatable. I hope you are good to go for another 7 yrs.
Nothing better than a good Teacher !
For many including myself, photography has been a life saver. I got into photography 6 years after getting served with divorce papers two days before Christmas (a police office came to my house and handed them to me). Three weeks later my 13 year old pup passed away. I fell into a deep depression. I needed something to get me out of the house and help me see life in a different light. I made a trade on Craigslist for a used camera, I traded one of my used lawnmowers. This was in 2018.
Fast forward to 2024, I stuck with photography and no longer go out to take photos for inspiration but as a lifestyle. This year I took a risk and began selling automotive posters, photo books and did a lot of client work. It was a rewarding year and it has been a great feeling to come out thriving on the other side. When life gives you lemons, freeze them and hurl them back.
Congrats to 300k. I remember you first video years ago when you made the jump from the corporate world. I’d bet I was one of your first 1k followers on my old TH-cam account. No one deserves the success more than you man. You are kind, informative and passionate. You have inspired me, especially during COVID to get back to Alaska and shoot full time. I figured if Mark was able to manage a way, I can too. And I did. Thank you
Merry Christmas, Mark! I have thoroughly enjoy your videos for years!
My biggest change for my photography was actually moving to the western slope of Colorado. I have lived along the Front Range since 1976. But as I have progressed and grown in my landscape and nightscape photography, I found that I need to drive further and further to get to beautiful places and dark skies. So my partner and I decided to make a move. We now live in Grand Junction, which is about 25 miles from the Utah border. We are surrounded by gorgeous scenery - the Grand Mesa, the Bookcliffs Mountains and the Colorado National Monument. Love it!
Merry Christmas Mark! Congrats on the 300K subs, much deserved... I'd have to say the most exciting thing I did with my camera in 2024 was to finally be able to get back out to take photos after a stroke in March and then a open heart surgery in June. I count every day as a blessing now and sitting watching your videos fills my needs, wants to get back out with my camera.... Now bring on half a million subs for you, much deserved
What a comeback Shane. My best wishes for your speedy recovery.Wishing you and all yours a very Happy 2025. I am sure it will be a very productive year for you, will bring you good health and happiness. God has been very kind to you 🙏. Stay blessed
@@anujasharma9677 thank you! My stroke wasnt as sevre as it couldve been, I have double vison in my left eye but while in the stroke ward for 2 weeks I saw people way worse that me so I count myself VERY lucky everyday 🙏🏻 I've JUST been able to walk around not too far to take photos because of my open heart surgery ALL the while I've been watching Marks videos as I've done for many years now and they give me photo landscape photography fix that I need while not being able to get out 👍 You are right, God has been kind to me for giving me these chances in life agian 🙏🏻Stay blessed too 🙏🏻
2024 is the year my camera and I started our landscape and wildlife photography business in Colorado. I will be keeping the job that pays the bill, so this will allow me to enjoy the journey, instead of stressing about bills being paid. Website is about to go live, and applications for art festivals will start soon. You’ve definitely helped me in my journey Mark, keep up the great work.
Thank you Mark for providing all the good stuff over the years. To me, your channel stands out as one that is informative and a joy to watch. Calm, unagitated and likeable.
My most enjoyable project this year was to capture a kingfisher in the middle of a city 50km away from my place in January/February. Amazing how relaxed and confident these beautiful birds are despite the people around them. Unfortunately, I had my shutter speeds set to fast which made the ISO going through the roof. This winter I will try again with more variation in the settings…
Thanks so much for all you do here on TH-cam Mark! You have become a very valuable source of encouragement and inspiration!
I took a 3 week trip around the stunning South Island of New Zealand last May. Just me, my Motorhome Jolene, and my camera. The trip took in firey autumn colours, whale watching, the golden hues and straight lines of wine country, snowy alpine passes, the wild west waves and more. Thank you for your great, informative and friendly videos. I love that you are totally natural in them. You so deserve this amazing accolade and success 🙌
Hi Mark. Congrats on the milestone! Not an easy achievement. Photographically it was a slow year due to supporting my wife through health challenges but on the occasions I got out it was focused on birds and the odd landscape. The highlight for me was capturing my first images of a Barred Owl in the woodlands close to home. I spent over an hour just watching it and capturing images of it looking for its next meal and once almost falling asleep. This year I plan to spend more time behind the camera and documenting more of what I am doing.
I've learned a lot watching your videos. One of the things I really like is the way you explain the "why" and your mistakes. A little back story helps understand the reasoning. This year I've just decided to get out more with the camera - foggy, raining, cloudy - whatever. Sometimes the results are a pleasant surprise.
Hi Mark! Congrats on the big milestone!!! This has been the hardest year of my life with the passing of my best bud, along with other things, so my focus has been less about the camera and more about the person behind the camera. Moose was by my side on morning walks and would stay by my side as I thought myself how to shoot in manual mode as I photographed owls and other birds. I owe so much to him and his sister that I changed all of my social media handles to their names including this new youtube channel. Now I'm focusing more on who I want to be as a photographer and also the why.
Mark, I have been following you for some time. I'm not sure how many friends I have recommended to follow you and want to congratulate you on your milestone. You have helped me improve my photography both in taking photos and my post processing. Keep up the great work!
For a beginner like me, following you and watching your videos have been a very rewarding experience. Now I'm seeing the landscape of my country (Spain) with a different level of appreciation. Thank you for making my country more beautiful to my eyes 🙏
I learned more about my camera this year than ever before. I started taking more hikes with my family and recording video for my church.
Mark, thank you for the content you share each week. Over the last few years I have rediscovered my passion for photography and the great outdoors. Your videos have helped tremendously in composition and editing! I’m now enjoying landscape and on location portrait photography more than ever!! Again thank you for all of your helpful insight to photography 📷🙏
I love the way you teach us. Can’t wait to watch your video each week. I have been taking pictures for years, even shot some weddings but because of you and your easy to follow teaching I feel I’m more of a photographer now. I am now retired and just shoot landscape and wildlife. Much better. No stress. I did enter some of my photos at our local fair to compare to others. Did better than I thought I would. Thank you for everything you do for us.
Thanks for all the great videos. The most memorable thing I did with my camera this year was capture the Northern Lights, especially one night when a large group gathered and some of them asked me for advice. Helping them get good images made a good night even better.
Thanks Mark for your tireless and faithful content - 7 years without missing a Wednesday video kinda makes you the Nolan Ryan of TH-cam! Just shot Christmas concert at church with children's choir and guest singers including Laura Story - it was a blast!
Mark, I sort through bunches of tutorials each week. I've been a subscriber for a while now because your style, tempo and instruction is easy to digest. It's inspired me to take my passion to the next level...I officially started my photography business and published my website just a few days ago. Thank you!!!!!!!
Long time subscriber. I like he deep dives into your thinking and how you do things in Lightroom, along with all the other tips you sprinkle in on a lot of different topics. I'm happy for you. Showing up is always the biggest battle.
My excitement this year with my camera was actually 2 things...I was able to purchase a Canon EOS R7 which I am in love with. Then just recently, within the last two months, I purchased a Canon Pro-200 and started printing my photos! It is one of the most satisfying things I have done in my photography hobby. It's actually made me look at composition of my photos in a whole new way. Congrats on 300K! Keep the videos coming.
2024 brought me closer to nature with a few wonderful trips to shoot landscape photography. My most memorable was to Death Valley and waiting for sunrise over Lake Manly, the temporary lake covering Badwater Basin. Seeing the moon reflected in the water as the colors started to appear was amazing. Mark I am so happy for you. This is very well deserved.
Thank you so much Mark for sharing your knowledge and expertise in photography. You have inspired me greatly and I look forward to your weekly tutorials. I love to learn all the tips and tricks you use in Lightroom. I have taken hundreds of raw photos over the years that I have gone back to process using some of your techniques. By doing this, you have made me concentrate more about composition when I'm out in the field. I also admire your dedication to the profession.
A big thanks to you! I have been a subscriber for several years now and what I most appreciate is your consistency of purpose. When I look over my images from year to year I have noticed an improvement; an improvement that friends and others have commented to me about. While your focus is on landscape images, much of what you cover can be applied to travel, nature, and street photography. Thank you and here's to a a great 2025!
Since it has been a very dull december with all grey cloudy weather I started bird hut photography. It's always such a pleasure looking at your videos your are an inspirational source for us photographers ❤
Blessings to you Mark. You're the genuine article. I think the most exciting thing I did this year with my camera was to take a photo of a lonely tree in a field just after the harvest. I saw the tree and knew I wanted to get the shot, so one day when I knew I was headed near the place of the tree, I grabbed my gear, threw it in the trunk, and hoped for the ideal shot. And low and behold, on the way home from my appointment, the sun was setting just beyind the tree with, some some foggy-smokey substance in the air all around, and I quickly pulled over and grabbed the shot while the hazards were blinking away. I think, all in all, it's one of my favorite pics off all time. (I'd be glad to share if you wish).
Keep you the wonderful work. You have an authenticity about you that I appreciate. May you and your channel continue to be blessed.
I am so glad you found that silver lining in your corporate layoff 17 years ago! My primary genre is wildlife photography and in 2024, I traveled to Belize and Guatemala to photograph some of the most exotic birds I’ve ever seen. What an amazing experience!
This is my first year in photography, and I’ve learned so much! I started out never having picked up a camera before, but over time, I’ve discovered how much patience and observation wildlife and landscape photography require. One of my biggest lessons has been understanding light... how it can transform a scene or bring out the personality of an animal. Also, getting comfortable with my gear and learning to compose shots has been such a rewarding journey. Excited to keep improving next year!
Congrats Mark! I am a long time watcher/follower and am proud to say that I have watched you from nearly the beginning of your journey. You are by far my favorite. Something exciting last year... I finally got a long telephoto zoom (to 400mm)-- it has changed the way I see landscapes now that I am not just limited to wider panoramas.
Way to go Mark! Your hard work deserves credit! I took my travels and camera to Yosemite NP this year. You were certainly part of the inspiration.
Congrats! I usually do everything I can to avoid having people in my photos, but the most exciting thing I did with my camera this year was start dabbling in concert photography! It got me out of my comfort zone and has resulted in a good relationship with my local venue as well as getting out to listen to genres I wouldn’t normally listen to.
An impressive feat to say the least, Mark. Here’s to many more years. I had the great pleasure of traveling to Maui this year with my family and marveled at the diversity of the landscape. Yes, I shot some beautiful beaches but it was the unexpected scenes I was able to capture that will stay with me forever. From the mountains to the rolling farmland to the quiet small towns, I don’t think a day has gone by since I returned in October that I don’t revisit the images.
I love autumn. It has always held a special place in my heart. This year (2024) for my 71st birthday my wife, daughter and 3 grown grandchildren sent me on 4 week long Fall Photo tour of New England, Michigan's UP and the San Juans in Colorado. A guy can only be so lucky...
Living in the upper midwest the winters tend to be grey and not terribly photogenic. Yesterday (Christmas Day) we woke up to everything covered in hoar frost. (freezing fog) It was a great opportunity to get out and get some winter wonderland shots of everything covered in a delicate layer of ice..
Mark, I think I’ve been following you ever since the beginning. I started because I figured we were both pretty much the same on talent level 😂. You quickly surpassed me and have taught me so much. I very much appreciate you and sharing your knowledge. The most exciting thing I did with my camera in 2024 is started to photograph my 3yo son more and more and get into portraits. That’s another animal in itself!
Hi Mark. It has been my life’s dream to photograph the northern lights in somewhere like Iceland. In 2024, I saw the northern lights from the ground for the first time. About 15m away from my house! Could not stop shooting and then stayed awake to edit all of the pictures. Unbelievable experience and now I’ll have to travel to see more! Well done on 300k, well deserved.
Hi Mark, one of the most beautiful photographic moments of this year has been being able to enjoy time to plan and escape with the camera and the camper van to the mountains to be able to do what I like most, landscape photography. A big hug from someone addicted to your channel.
Hi Mark, and gratulations on your 300K subscribers! Here in Denmark we don't have the stunning landscape opportunuties of your back yard, but I have been watching and learning from your videos for some years now. I think you do a great job. Your videos are easy to follow and the motives aren't really important. I do a lot of photographing in my garden - macro and close-ups of wild flowers and plants + plus a bit of street as well, and your masking tips are truly a great help. So cudos to you and may you have a truly prosperous New Year.
Hi Mark, for the past several years, you have been an inspiration to me as I begin my transition to retirement and photography. Learning about composition and Lightroom techniques from you have been majorly helpful in my continuing development as a photographer. So, many thanks for that. This year, I was able to bring my camera on a trip to Hawaii and take some decent shots. You are an inspiration to many. Happy New Year!
2024 was the year I put what I've learned in the last 5 years to use. When I retired in 2020, I decided to pick up photography as a hobby. I took some lessons online and got out with my camera as often as I could to practice. I discovered your channel and found a teacher who could help me in my efforts to put together a good photo. My wife and I packed up the gear and drove from PA to Utah and took four weeks to do the grand circle starting with Arches and ending with Great Sand Dunes. The sights and photos I took turned out great. Thanks for all your photo and post tips. I'm looking forward to this year's opportunities.
Congrats, Mark! Something special I did this year with my camera was take a tour of The Netherlands with my mom. So many great photos from that trip!
Mark, I very much appreciate your weekly videos and have leaned so much from them. I do short local photo excursions as an outlet while my wife battles brain cancer, and they have been a wonderful diversion for me. More importantly, my wife likes at least a few of the images I've gotten using your tips and advice. Thank you so much!
Thank you for honing my Visual Voice. I started taking pictures with a film camera that I got when I was 12. I was hooked. Could not wait to get the pictures back. I made every mistake possible- many times. Despite that I kept at it. And then digital cameras came along. No more waiting for the pictures. Instant photos. Wow. Still making those mistakes, but I get to see them as soon as I make them. Your videos have helped me so much. Specifically the one on composition. Where you put the visual puzzle pieces together. Genius. What a difference in my photos. Now I am capturing what I “see” when I am on location. Every Wednesday a new inspirational video comes into my inbox. Always looking forward to them. Thank you for helping me with my Visual Voice. - Matt Denton
your in-depth photo-processing videos have helped greatly in my work.
I look forward to them every week
Congrats on 300K!!! I know this may sound simple, but what I did with my camera in 2024 was to follow your advice by making a committed effort to get out more. I put it on my calendar and headed out no matter what the weather or the conditions were. Some just turned into mostly scouting trips, but that was OK. I also did a whole lot more spontaneous one or two hour local shoots when everything lined up as far as the weather and the light. The results clearly show in my images and my skill set. Thanks for all your great instructional videos.
It sounds like many of us have had some medical reasons that kept us from our passion for photography. I finally was able to get out again and started photographing live events with people as my subjects. I know people can be difficult to photograph, but getting these once-in-a-lifetime captures is great fun. It gives me another type of photo to add to the many other types of photos I have done in the past. Mark, you, too, have pushed me to try new editing techniques that make my photos better. Thanks.
This is great! Glad you're getting the recognition your channel deserves. I've begun exploring vintage lenses to expant my artistic side of photography more instead of the astro and landscape. Thanks for all your work!
Thank you for your years of advice and inspiration with your TH-cam channel. Probably the most exciting thing I did with (one of) my cameras in 2024 was to give it to my daughter, who loves photography, and spend some time with her helping her to set it up. I hope your Christmas is also happy and merry!
Congrats Mark! I am currently in Germany visiting my daughter and grandchildren. Yesterday I attempted to photograph the Milky Way for the first time. Pretty pleased with the outcome and determined to improve upon this type or photography 👍👏
Hi Mark, congrats on the fantastic milestone achievement - trust me it’s well deserved. My most significant moment of 2024 was actually to pick up a camera again in September after several months of lethargy, self doubt and a lack of inspiration. It’s a dreadful feeling to loose something you were once so passionate about but with luck my motivation and passion are back to stay. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for all of your thoughtful insights. I really like your easygoing style. It's like having an old friend giving me his best tips. I just picked up photography again after a long hiatus and this channel is a great resource.
I cannot begin to thank you enough for sharing your incredible knowledge, skill and enthusiasm all of these years. I enjoy your tutorials immensely and have been following you for years. Through your tutelage, and easy manner you have helped me slow down, enjoy the process, get out there and have fun. This year I shed my fear, need for perfectionism, and so much more thanks to you and went on photography workshops to Costa Rica, and Iceland, and had a blast.
This was the year I replaced my old Nikon D80 and my old Mac, with Photoshop from over 15 years ago, with a new Nikon Z50 and a new Mac. What an evolution technology has had over all these years in photography! Thanks to the upgrade and watching tutorials on TH-cam, like yours, my photography has taken an exponential leap. Thank you!
Hi Mark, thanks for all the great tips and ideas during the all those years. You have made it possible for me to bring my landscaping to a higher level. Many thanks!
One of the most exciting things I did this year was hike to Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in February to capture the sunrise over the frozen lake. It was incredibly cold and windy, but also incredibly beautiful. Mark, thanks for many great videos, I've learned a lot from your channel.
I've watched many of your videos that have inspired me in my photography journey. Keep up the great work. Greatly appreciated!
My most exciting moment was watching a Pine Martin come out of the northern forest of Minnesota ( at -10F !) and explore some downed timber close enough to me to get some really outstanding shots. It made the days searching the woods in the cold all worthwhile 🎉
vintage photography! i grew out of my expensive is better phase and took my old phone around just clicking photos and taking videos. my hard drive is full of meaningful photos and videos with not so perfect WB, not so perfect ISO and not so perfect shutter speed but, I'm happier than ever looking back at those photos and videos as the year comes to an end. as i hope you are too. happy Christmas and new year! congrats on the 300k aswell!
This year, I had a great time photographing my son's volleyball games. At first, I had no idea what I was doing, but after a game or two, I started to get the hang of it. The photos turned out beautifully, and I was thrilled to share them with the players and their families. Now, we all have these wonderful memories to look back on and cherish the fun our team had throughout the season.
I enjoy your channel as you seem to de-mystify techniques and enable us to get the best out of our images. Thank you
Last summer on Corsica I went out at night to the river next to the campsite to have my first try at astro photography. Catching the milky way core for the first time was magic! Cheers to you Mark, thank you for all the knowledge and inspiration.
This was such an amazing year for my photography! I was able to take my family on a photography road trip throughout June. We “rushed" from Indiana to San Francisco where we began taking our time going up the coast all the way to Vancouver. (Thanks for all the tips on outdoor photography, I think mine was much better because of you and others on TH-cam.)
In the end we traveled just shy of 7000 miles in 42 hours drive time (3 1/2 weeks total). My wife and I have four kids that at the time of the trip were 7, 6, 4, and 2. Everyone else thought we were crazy, but we think we created amazing memories on a once in a lifetime trip.
Thanks for your work and inspiration!
Mark - Thank you for all of your tutelage. It truly has helped me with framing a shot, using the right angles, day time/ night time, and editing to make my photos really pop. I truly appreciate you. I have had many opportunities this year to take what I have learned from you and apply it to not only landscape photos, but nature, using my own dogs, family members, and my passion... cars. So thank YOU for all that you do.
Congrats on your success! Best thing I did with my camera this year was chase my daughter around to document her third year of making me smile. Cheers!
Very grateful for your insights and willingness to share them with us. I've learned so much about the joy of taking pictures and editing them. This year I was able to travel to East Africa with a group as their designated photographer! While I felt some pressure, I felt very prepared after watching so many of your on sight suggestions. What a joy! Thank you!
The most exciting thing I did with photography right now is actually directly connected to your youtube videos: I watch your videos, among other photography videos, every week. My girlfriend started to watch these videos with me and picked up a used camera for herself. We now go on spall trips and hikes together, always trying to apply your teachings to our pictures.
Thank you for that!
Ten years , top man. We will take another ten please. This year I started shooting the night sky, a little Milky Way. 2025 is all about travelling. Keep up the good work
I’ve been shooting social events for over seven years but had lost the passion for it. However, earlier in 2024, I decided to get a new (to me) E-M10 Mark IV and venture more "into the field" to explore my local state parks and wetlands, staying connected with nature. This has reignited my passion for grabbing a camera, feeling excited about editing, or simply admiring a photograph I took. Thank you for the opportunity and all the knowledge you’ve shared with us!
Congrats Mark! This last month I grabbed myself a 200-600 lens and I have been having so much fun with it lately. That is definitely the highlight of my photography journey this year
I applaud your courage and commitment, some of us can only dream of doing what you have done professionally. Seven years without missing a week is a remarkable achievement, made more remarkable by always having useful content. There is very little fluff, I have learned a great deal watching your videos and would like to say Thank you! Well done! Please keep up the good work. Happy New Year!
Mark, I absolutely enjoy your way of teaching. You have an absolute way about you that gets things across to me. I had four strokes so I’m not exactly the most brainiac person on the planet. But I hear you and I can understand everything you’re saying, and I apply it to my photography work as much as I possibly can remember to do
Thank you so much for doing what you do if it wasn’t for people like you I wouldn’t be able to enjoy photography like I do.
Thank you again!
Ray Asiala
Im still learning every day. I can not thank you enough for your helpful videos!
Im really excited to see my landscape photography improving everyday.
I always look forward to hear your latest comments and recommendations. I too enjoy the type of photography that you pursue, and have I been shooting since the film era. All though I am retired and in my 70S, I know that you can always learn something from watching another photographer. So thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Congrats on reaching 300K subscribers! That is a big deal. As far as the most exciting thing I did with my camera, I finally started using neutral density filters. I wish I had started doing that years ago.
Your photography and the videos you make are the inspiration that fuels many of us to be higher versions of ourselves.
I have learned a lot from you, and recommended your channel to all the people I know who share our passion for photography.
Thank you for being you and for sharing yourself with us all 🙏🏼
Thank you Mark, I have enjoyed your weekly videos for years. I always learn something new and exciting. I finally got out to do some macro photography in 2024, something I never did before and really love it.
Much thanks for all the information you've shared with us over the years! In April 2 of my friend and I traveled from Southern Oregon to Texas to veiw the solar eclipse, hitting 9 National Parks along the way and driving over 5000 miles!
Mark I have stumbled across you a few years back, I was completely lost with my focus and was getting frustrated with my journey in photography. You have inspired me to push forward and grow as a landscape/portrait photographer and I am starting to grow. I recently launched my website in 2024 and it is taking off as well. Keep inspiring, there are many more out there like me that need you. Happy New Year!
My most memorable moment this past year was when I discovered images that resonate with me. Those are ones that emphasize hue contrast over tonal contrast, find order in chaos, "otherworldly," and uplifting images. Thank you for informative and inspiring videos you have shared over the years. I truly appreciate your work!!
I’ve been the family photographer for many years. But had never provided the quality of gift in the family photo as I did this year. Every person, ornament and even the dog were pin point sharp. Thank you for giving me the confidence and inspiration to shoot like a Pro.
Thanks Mark for your absolutely tireless efforts to bring us all along on a journey of photographic development in terms of how to take photos and also tips n post processing. This year I've sought to challenge myself in terms of how I view a scene. It doesn't sound exciting, but it is both exciting and challenging. Right now I'm headed for Antarctica, a dream my wife and I have shared for 40 years. I'm so so excited about what I'm about to explore. Thanks for your inspirational insights.
Thanks, Mark, for all of the passion that you put in to creating your videos. Having retired from the corporate world four years ago, I have had the time and resources to indulge my own passion for nature and landscape photography. As a subscriber, your videos have been a great source of inspiration and knowledge. During this past year, I took to heart your continued messaging of “looking within your own neighborhood” and rediscovering and creating images of our own woods and nearby parks. Next year’s travels will bring many more opportunities to explore, experience and create. Cheers!
Congrats Mark, you've earned the subscribers with relatable and relevant content. As for excitement I took my camera to Iceland for a three week trip to celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary. We had many bouts of bad weather but I'm still working on the over 2k shots I took while we there. It was the trip of a life time.
For the first time last year I captured a sunrise and loan tree that I liked so much I printed and framed - so excited by that
Mark- thanks for all your uploaded instructional videos. They have definitely helped me become a better photographer and also assisted me in reaching out to do new photographic challenges these last 12 months. This past year I photographed the April 2024 solar eclipse and learned how to do a composite of the various phases of the eclipse in Photoshop. In May I traveled to Montana and shot some interesting birds in a wildlife refuge having never attempted that before. In June I attended my first airshow in Dayton OH with my son and grandson. Prior to the airshow, I did some research and viewed several hours of TH-cam videos on shooting airshows. I came away with about 15 fantastic shots including the Blue Angels! In October, my wife and I traveled to France for the first time. Our tour group had early access to Claude Monet's home and gardens and I got some fantastic images in early morning light. We also had first of the day access to the palace at Versailles and took some memorable outside and interior photos. Just recently, I downloaded the app you suggested in video that forecasts High, Mid and low clouds. This allowed me to get off my duff and shoot some great sunset shots. So, thanks for all you do to help us be better photographers!...Bill Howell
Merry Christmas Mark! One of the most exciting things I did in 2024 was believing in myself! I set a goal to treat my photography as my full time job now in retirement, I got invited into a local co op Gallery and the journey has been wonderful and other doors are opening up. Imagine that? All I had to do was believe in myself . Your channel is one of my go to for growth and improvement and I will always seek to grow and improve. Thanks for your channel and guidance and Merry christmas!!
I dubbed 2024 “The Year of Saying Yes.” This was a year in which I intentionally said yes to photographic opportunities that put me outside my comfort zone: sports photography, street photography, senior portraits, and even dance photography. For someone who prefers shooting trees and waterfalls this was a challenge. But I grew a lot as a photographer…and hopefully as a person!
Congrats, Mark, on hitting 300K. Well deserved with all your hard work and generosity. Blessings in the coming year!
Since we are planning to go to Iceland, where landscape photography is key, I have been spending my time working on my landscape photography skills, using ideas which YOU have presented. And, when I further process the photos, again I've been using the approaches that you have suggested and demonstrated. It has opened up a whole new world to me!
Congrats on 300k subscribers! This year I got married and my wife and I went on a honeymoon cruise to Alaska! I brought my Z7ii for all of the amazing scenery and gave my wife my X100V to capture her perspective. She captured a ton of great photos and memories, and she enjoyed taking photos and wants to learn more :)
Most exciting thing I've done this year with my camera is pick it back up! Work absolutely slammed me going into this year and I had no time for anything. Looking forward to making time in '25 for it!
Mark, 2024 was a good year for myself and my wife. We shot our first wedding, we filmed and shot multiple locations around our state and have been actively photographing our marriage for the last 12 years. Before your videos photography was a hobby. Thank you, for all your do and share with the world your knowledge is important.
My partner came over from Canada to visit me in Scotland and we spent the end of July throughout the whole of August going round the country (5,500 miles), taking photos of landscapes, wildlife, urban scenes and portraits of her. I ended up having something like 12,000 photos to sort through. While now yes they're all sorted through, I've got to go back over them and fine tune them a bit further and I used one of your tricks in lightroom videos to help me with my editing process! Merry Christmas to you, Mark, and wish you all the best in 2025! Can't wait to see what you get up to!
Glad you’re finding success do what you love. I found I’ve been focusing a lot more on my landscape photography this past year and will even have some of my best pieces shown in a friend’s gallery in the New Year, which I’m really excited about. The toughest part was whittling it down to just a few. Made me realize I’ve got a lot of photos I’m proud of.