All photographers need to unlearn this.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.พ. 2022
- Head to www.squarespace.com/james to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code JAMES.
This week I'm in the middle of running a landscape photography workshop in Antarctica, and I run through 5 things that I think photographers of all kinds need to unlearn. That is, stuff we get taught when we pick up a camera for the first time that actually ends up holding our photos back...
Books: www.jamespopsys.com/store?cat...
Presets: www.jamespopsys.com/store?cat...
Prints: www.jamespopsys.com/store
Newsletter: www.jamespopsys.com/newsletter
---
My Gear: www.jamespopsys.com/gear
---
MUSIC:
I get all my music for the videos from MusicBed, sign up for your free account: share.mscbd.fm/jamespopsys
---
Point 5 is spot on. I've now decided to leave my astrophotography niche behind and specialise in penguins.
Sounds highly sophisticated but In a way that would be nothing else than bird photography 😉
@@macsprotte1436 you need a strong resistance to the smell of penguin poo, they absolutely reak
😂 I genuinely think you could! …with a minor relocation.
@@JamesPopsysPhoto 😂 spotted plenty of penguins on the streets of Cardiff on Saturday nights
Can I come photograph penguins too? 😆
1. Shoot in mid-day sun.
2. Check your photos at home.
3. Avoid striving for technical perfection. "Good and done is better than perfect and not finished."
4. Not perfecting things in camera (e.g. composition). You can do it in post.
5. Step outside of your niche. Try other types of photography.
(my personal list)
6. stop using Instagram pictures as references
7. Focus on telling stories instead of trying to make a "pretty" image
8. Perfection is ugly. Ugliness is real. Real is thoughts provoking.
9. Be close of your subject (random viewer feel the long focal length and the distance with the subject).
10... to be continued
I’m not sure about your point 6. Instagram is full of inspiring photographs and is a great way to get ideas.
@@jonathandraper7065 But it's also full of heavy photoshop and barely any raw, unedited images
@@jonathandraper7065 Obviously most of photographers are sharing their unique work there (a follow a lot of them) But. The blue and teal filters, people wearing red/orange jacket in blue landscapes, the same feet/hands, the over edited people and landscape that are completely unreal, the uncountable amount of "insta places" that you repeatedly see (over and over), the exact same long brown hair cow... I don't call that inspiration but imitation and that's not art. We could argue that it is not only this, but instagram have "invented" this new prefabricated photography. Instagram can help you finding inspiration if you look for it in the right places. Sadly the majority of it is the same stuff. Instagram make you believe it helps you creat. But you are just repeating a nice effect you found. The thing is that I don't really care what people photographs and if they use the "insta style". Just I can't see any creative process behind such work. As they didn't watch closely, they copied something. No hater here (I promise). Just if you want to develop YOUR style don't follow insta guideline please. Just be interested in topic, people and places don't just be superficial and copy the grey/tile effect (we''ve had enough of it). Take a risk to shoot something different. You might be unnoticed but you will at least explore your creativity. I invite you to follow insta_repeat. You will get what I mean. My two cents ^^ Have a good day gents :)
@@gatheringmoments Yes, I agree with you here. I think you get your own style in art (photos, music, whatever else) by being open to all influences (including Instagram), but then, crucially, discerningly accepting and rejecting from your influences. That’s the key: don’t just blindly copy and think hey, that’s cool. Also, I think it’s a valid part of the creative process to use filters and effects if the resulting image genuinely communicates the vibe you’re after and it’s not just done on autopilot.
I started wildlife photography 2 years ago. It took me a year to accept the fact that it is OK to increase your iso (even with my old dslr) and noise in order to take a non blurry image instead of staying at iso 100 and having too slow shutter speed and ending not taking the shot. Many missed opportunities
"It's a bit cold, this snow" James popsys 2022
“Don’t feel adventurous at all”
> cut to clip of the man sledding down a massive hill on another bloody continent
You’re making the most of your years on this big rock for sure James!
Hey James, as a commercial photographer whose niche is sports, I still love watching your landscape videos because of the way you present your material. Great job, as always!
The video with the pics: th-cam.com/video/DsmZYSIfAqY/w-d-xo.html
👉 Instagram: instagram.com/jamespopsys
👉 Twitter: twitter.com/jamespopsys
👉 Presets, Prints & Books: www.jamespopsys.com/store
👉 Newsletter: www.jamespopsys.com/newsletter
👉My Gear inc 5% off Kase Filters: www.jamespopsys.com/gear
Went to a zoo in Tokyo to see the penguins... Cute but didn't stay long, they absolutely hum
Sounds like the name of a novel....The Smell of Penguins by J. Popsys
...Cover photo by Nigel Danson...
Mmmm, fishy poop goodness. Under the building at Lockeroy…yikes 🤮
My two pence/cents is that many photographers by nature are quite technically minded people and, as such, they like a set of rules to live by. Rules can obviously be important in the very early learning stages of photography but after that, it's also very important to break out and try new things. I'm at a stage now where I think a lot less when taking pictures and go on instinct a lot more, which means I mess up in a big way on occasion but it also makes everything a lot more exciting in the process.
I agree so much!
For me the more unstaged/spontanious a photo is the better it works with my style of taking pictures.
I feel these to be more alive/real. I Cannot describe properly what I mean.
In Finnland my gf spottet something in thy sky and i totally random managed to capture a bit of NorthernLights and something flying throught it. 😂 Man was I startled by it and in kind of a hurry and nearly managed to totally eff-up the capture settings but I loved hearing to my intuition in that moment.
My first decent camera was the original Canon Digital Rebel. Thus, I developed some "rules" based on that camera's tech. Let's just say it probably took me longer than necessary to unlearn those rules as camera body tech advanced as well as learning better techniques.
@@johnchedsey1306 the og rebel. The memories! My old Konica Minolta system cam, cant remember the model tho, was low ISO and easily overwhelmed by medium to more fast moving objects/scenes due the slow a** focus 😂 I can relate too much. 🤭
Know the rules, throw the rule book away! Feel and artistic drive will set you free, when you know your craft mistakes are happy accidents not errors to edit away or filter out.
@@GaryParris wonderful words and straight to the truth. 🤝
6:09 he’s like did you get my good side, sir.
I’m only two years into my photographic journey and I have mainly concentrated on landscapes but I have tried my hand at every type of genre over the last year, wildlife, macro, portrait, abstract, Astro and even fireworks. Some with great results and others maybe not so good. It’s certainly helping me understand photography better and I hope to improve on my weaker subjects going forward. It’s certainly pleasing when you nail a few shots when trying something you haven’t done before. Look forward to the rest of yours and the other guys vlogs from this Antarctic adventure. I love Penguins 🐧
Totally agree . I want to try everything because I think you can take aspects from each and cross apply and come up with some unique perspectives as well
Welcome home. Excited to see the photos next week.
Thanks James - good to see your Antarctica adventures. One of the best books I've read was written by Capt. Frank Worsley called "Shackleton's Boat Journey". Epic story and a true biography of the expedition and efforts to be rescued. What a group of heroes those men were! Thoroughly recommend to anyone who hasn't read it. [Not much photography, sadly]
Fun to see! Anxious to see your images!
i LOVE SHOOTING MID DAY! IT'S MY FAVORITE COLOR TEMP AND LOOK AND SHADING
What a trip James must be amazing … I was watching this thinking I must recommend Endurance by Shackleton skipper Frank Worsley and boom you go & mention it absolutely agree mind blowing what they went through. I’d love to visit the island of South Georgia one day where Shackleton is buried what a wonderful man 🙏🏼
Was randomly recommended this video by YT and now I've subscribed. Lots of good information here that I just happened to learn myself by trial and error over the past decade (and some in high school). I grew up in Alaska and have traveled non-stop around the North American continent for the past nine years, so I've had many, many opportunities to hone my photography skills. I started out with landscape photography because landscapes are the least fussy subjects. After that I got into birding and general wildlife/nature (whales, moose, bears, porcupine, etc), street, architecture, real estate, portraits (family, Senior year photos, etc), automotive, nighttime, stars, food and Northern Lights (kind of its own thing, I think). For me, composition has been key.
Thanks for the video! Looking forward to seeing what the rest of your channel is about.
Thank you for sharing! Beautiful images!
Endurance is SO. GOOD!! Love the tips!
Some great advice and B.roll ! Looking forward to the next vid.
Longer Videos James! I’ve almost finished all of them. Pure comfort.
I have one.
Photograph things you like, not things you're "supposed to." I tried to get into landscape photography so hard. But I was bad at it. I love it, but I'm bad at it. I then dipped into auto photography because cars are my other hobby. BAM. I have been loving and I'm proud of my photos for maybe the first time. I even get to drive cars that were unattainable dreams before. I had a mclaren 720s last weekend. It's great. All because I decided to photograph something else I loved.
Thanks James loved it
Great points James, Looks like you had an amazing trip too. Look forward to seeing the photos 👍
Excellent video James, always look forward to your videos!
Totally agree with point 5. From my experience as a freelance drummer you need to be able to play across a wide variety of genres. So I've applied that same mindset with my commercial photography, giving me more opportunities for work here in Ireland and I feel it has all made me a much better photographer all round.
Really looking forward to your video next week.
Brilliant, James! Well done. And good advice! I'm constantly practicing my wildlife photography while shooting landscapes by having one of my user settings set for capturing birds when they suddenly enter the frame. Doesn't always work, but when it does, it pays off that I didn't limit my camera settings to shoot landscapes-only. I'm looking forward to seeing your shots of Antarctica next week! :D
I really hope at least one person on that trip caught the atmospheric phenomena in their photos! Definitely saw a halo at the beginning of the video! I mainly do wildlife since I can't do landscape in our tiny backyard (and front yard and side yard), but halos and parhelia and the like fascinate me (and make me wish the neighbor's house was a mountain).
You may like to do intimate landscape or macro. Tiny landscapes isnt a problem on this niches
Another great Book on Antarctic expedition is Madhouse At The End Of The Earth
Thanks for your videos. 👍
Looking forward to seeing more from the cold place. I shoot lots of different kinds of photos and you so right you learn so much more
Dont get stuck in a niche - absolutely . Best advice of the video
Great video, as usual, James. Thanks! Also, Endurance is a wonderful read.
One thing that I'm proud of with my photography is that I'm a jack of all trades. I might not be particularly the best at any of them, but I pretty much do all types of photography. I just enjoy taking photos.
Love lunch time shooting! The bright light and shadows give things a bit of life and contrast.
Spot on James Endurance is an amazing read. What an incredible bunch of individuals with the most amazing leader in Ernest Shackleton
Just got back from there. Amazing place!
Excellent as usual, James. I enjoyed that slide 10 years ago (when I was younger).
'Alone on the Ice', about the Mawson Expedition (in 1912, I think) is a great read too.
Nice little trailer of what's to come from your trip to the Antarctic. Looking forward to seeing those photo's. Great tips, really liked the one "good and done is better than perfect and not finished" and no chimping.
You’re spot on with the ‘try other genres’ thing - one of the very, very few good things about the first COVID lockdown was that it forced me to experiment with macro (in the garden) and still life (in the back bedroom) photography, which both improved my photographic skills and saved my sanity when landscapes and wildlife weren’t an option.
Oh, and it also means that when I’m too old or incapacitated to climb mountains, I’ll know where to take my photography 🙂
Great video as always, man 🙂 Thanks for sharing your trip and tips 🙂
Thank you. 👍📷😎
This is a fantastic vide, amazing advise.
Kenneth Branagh BBC Shakleton series was an amazing two parter movie. Highly recommend!
As a hobbyist, who's favourite niche is railway photography (and transport photography in general), I find that dabbling within street, sport (more so Motorsport) landscape and wildlife photography (all very Accessible for me, living near the Malverns in England) often improves my skills in my niche. It's great advice. I'll add, I've taken alot of the talking points and lessons from this channel and what you do, James, and have applied it to my own photography and has helped me gain more photos that in happy with
Great advice !!!
Looking forward to the images that you captured!
Looks (and sounds) like you enjoyed the slide down the hill 😁
Great tips! I wanna go to Antarctica ;) Bucket list!
Can't disagree with you regarding the last point of trying other genres. I'm a street photographer but avid fan of your channel and do learn so much I can apply to what I do. Keep up the good work James.
You have to read the NGM book about Sakleton’s adventure. Bonus the great images of Frank Hurley. Amazing.
Here's a tip from Canada, where we know snow. Tobogganing is more fun with a toboggan. 😀
Great advice. Your explanations cover it completely, so nothing for me to add. 🙂
endurance is an amazing book as you say. The Kenneth Branagh film Shackleton isn't bad either - looking forward to your next video
Good tips! Great location. Shackleton's story is incredible. 👍 🥂
I'm looking forward to doing some landscape photography, but due to covid caution I'll keep practicing my plant glamor shots. Also looking forward to seeing your work next week. - Elaine
James, I think the book ‘Endurance’ that you were referring to is by Carolyn Alexander? Wonderful book!
Fantastic video 👏
Hi James, after your recommendation of Endurance I read it on Kindle (my first book read for over 35 years..!) WOW, how these guys survived everything they endured is beyond comprehension and the amazing thing is 28 men set out on that expedition and 28 men returned..! Outstanding read, consequently I finished it on the same day that the Endurance was discovered...! 😯Spooky
Great points James, looks like an awesome adventure, can't wait to see the images.
Would highly recommend another book on Shackleton expeditions - "Tom Crean: Unsung Hero" has been one of my favourite reads.
Find Frank Hurley’s book about Shackleton’s expedition. His photos are absolutely remarkable.
Hi James, another interesting video, thanks for sharing. I have a niche I'm pretty happy with, I take photos of anything I like the look of. The pictures are usually pretty rubbish to be fair, but at least I'm enjoying myself .. but strangely the more I try, with a few notable exceptions, the less rubbish the pictures seem to get. Looking forward to your next aromatic penguin experience. Probably as well its cold there .. imagine how picante it'd be if the weather were any warmer!
I first read Endurance about fifty years ago, and it is still a favorite. I remember being surprised that the author was one of the expedition members because it was so well-written. Scott showed us how an expedition can fail; Amundson showed how to lead a successful expedition; and Shackleton showed how to turn what could have been a tragedy into an impressive success.
Concerning that last point, turning failure into success, I wish that whenever I slip on ice, I could slide away on my belly as nonchalantly as that penguin.
This was so relaxing and awesome! Could you do a video where you go over your recent editing style? It's changed and I'd love to hear your thoughts on what changes you do and what presets you prefer. And after applying said presets, what changes do you normally look for within that specific preset. And anything else really!
Love your delivery and down to earth advice. Looking forward to your images from that adventure James! PS. I think penguins know when they're on camera and will fall on purpose so they get more views on TikTok.
I came here for bear and pizza and instead got very useful tips, thanks, James!
Yes, Endurance is a fantastic book, I'd absolutely agree. I'd also recommend Ice Master too...
I'm a Landscape Photographer (LPOTY shortlisted), Deep Sky Astrophotographer, Wildlife Photographer, Aviation, and Sports Photographer. You could say I love Photography... :D
Great video as always James! It was great to meet you... lovely b-roll shot of me digging in my bag around 5:05. To everyone else, if you have a chance to go on a workshop with James... do it. He's very knowledgeable, helpful, and freaking hilarious.
😂😂 Star appearance! Thanks so much mate, great to meet you 🍻
I am a complete beginner, this was very helpful.
Nice boat!
First, was glad to assist you at Aurora expeditions and I hope you had a brilliant time
O God, another week to wait for the Antarctica photos.
Looking forward to seeing what you captured James.
No pun’s intended.
Stay safe 🇦🇺
for 3 I personally like to say "Any shot is better than no shot", and it's applicable to a lot of other things as well.
Great video and good advice! I enjoyed getting to meet and talk with you in Antarctica. Erik Pronske-Austin, Texas
Try Apsley Cherry Garrard's "The worst journey in the world" - that book gave me even more respect for what they undertook back in those days.
You do have a fairly noticeable spot of debris on your sensor for all the video shots in Antartica. It is small, but very apparent in the close up shot of the seal. In the future you can clean that spot up in Premiere by selecting it and adding a blur effect to smudge it out. They have tutorials here on TH-cam that give you the step by step. It doesn't take very long to do, and now you don't have to fret if you're in the field and have dust on your sensor.
If you enjoyed Endurance & you *really* want your mind blowing about the hardships some of those polar explorers endured. And a cracking good read/listen (I hope it's an audio book too - haven't checked). Can I recommend "The Worst Journey in the World" by Apsley Cherry-Gerrard from one of Scotts expeditions - they basically crossed the Ross Ice shelf - in WINTER (ie complete darkness and -40c)
I love wildlife photography, but i also love landscape, or any other type of shot that catches my eye. I just love photography as a whole, and I will always be an amateur, so I don't need to focus on one specific genre; I can do whatever I want.
That's the best form of freedom!
Thanks James! Did you see they found the Endurance? Perfectly preserved at the bottom of the ocean. Amazing story.
Very good advice, I agree with what you said , when asked what kind of photographer I am I reply “Creative” I like it all … good? guess that’s subjective 😏
There is also a great IMAX film about Shackleton. The expedition included a photographer and many of the photos were found. Amazing story.
I’ll have to see if I can track down that film! But I should note the photos were not found but Frank Hurley (the photographer) actually carried 100 glass slides with him through the entire ordeal, and was ordered to shatter the rest by Shackleton so he would not be tempted to try to go back for them. Hurley was an incredibly influential photographer both for his Antarctic expeditions but also as an important composite photographer in the first and second world wars, and later in life for his landscapes of Australia! Really fascinating life and career
Oh and in addition to his photos some of his film reels of the expedition were carried to safety as well, and some footage still exists of the Endurance sinking and the men on the ice.
shackleton exhibition at the rgs this month.. nice tips cheers
No, you should definitely wait for the sunset! Especially when you're in Antarctica. ;D
I went to see the "Heart of the Great Alone" photography exhibition at the Queens Gallery when it was on in 2011-2012. Photos taken at the time by Herbert Ponting. Some superb images that really showed what it was like at the time.
YES 👏 TO 👏 POINT 👏 1 👏
We are standing on the shoulders of giants. A phrase often quoted. Here’s what I mean. Did you hear that the worlds slowest race was decided by an oil painting. The point being the painters of old knew about compensation and lighting it just took a little longer. Great video and I have taken on board your done and good better than perfect and never finished good advice. Thank you.
In terms of point 5 about the niches. When i started i never went for just one thing. I went for landscape, architect, wildlife, etc. i feel like in a way that helped me learn quicker and adapt to new things when it comes to photography. Right now i do have a niche of astrophotography, but its not my only focus. Still do a little bit of everything. But astrophotography is my niche right now because im trying to get better at it.
The counter to not looking at your previews is if you’re not the photographer who remembers to check settings before you start. Antarctica especially… the light changes moment to moment and sometimes you want to shoot the flying Shag then come back to the intimate detail of the lichen on rock. 2 bodies helps for sure. But your points are spot on.
You threw me for a loop James when you are talking about the audio book then mentioned your sponsor Squarespace. Was sure it was gonna be audible 😂 great video, looking forward to seeing the photos
I am a landscape photographer but because of the unspeakable virus I started taking pictures of birds... now I take pictures of landscapes and wildlife... and sometimes I go out with a group of photographers to do street photography x
"The pinguin fall over". The video I terribly needed among war analysis vidoes.
Good gosh. Couldn't you find a cafeteria tray or a wastebasket lid?
Thanks for the tips. Especially #4. I came late to the digital picnic; some of my film techniques are bad habits in digital.
There's a story of failed expedition to the other Pole, "In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette." Very similar to "Endurance," without the happy ending.
I agree James. I started out as a wildlife photographer 4 years ago when I went from Nikon P610 to P1000 then to the Sony A7R III within a year a half's timeframe....its still what I love to shoot.....to shooting landscaps and cityscapes first year with my Sony to just recently shoot home construction, Air BnB (I think that's what it is called), to even doing photoshoots for people. I may not be specialized in one area but I do try my best for each thinf I do and research how to do it properly before attempting something Im unfarmiliar with. But yea, 100% agree that unless you a pro photography making multiple 6 figures a year doing only one kind of photography then you should be open to doing all types of photography. Maybe set up a website for each instead of trying to cash in on a specific type of photography. Who knows, maybe they may find something they are better at or may even find a nitch in photography that many others arent doing but ylu yourself may be great at
Try reading "Shackleford's Forgotten Men". They were the guys who set up the relay posts for the 2nd part of the expedition.
Good to here your are reading Shackleton's story after your trip. Otherwise your expedition, would have felt more like a 5* cruise!!!
shooting on mostly film has for sure helped me avoid chimping whenever I do use digital lol
Hey James, would love to see a vid one day perhaps on your video recording process? Especially when you are out and about. Seems quite difficult to juggle shooting video alongside everything else (especially from a beginners perspective), so it would be great to hear some tips or any general thoughts about this.
The penguins just messing around is so cute 🤦🏼♂️
Oh yes, Shackleton's adventure and heroics are unbelievable. More people should know about that.