Want Better Photos? The One Thing You Should Spend On
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ธ.ค. 2024
- If you want to take better photos, there's really only one thing you need to spend your money on. So in this week's photography tutorial, I do exactly that, spending my money on a week of peaceful landscape and travel photography in Wales. I explore the beautiful surroundings of Snowdonia and the Dinorwic quarry and show how I find compositions and take my images.
I also discuss my settings and other tips and tricks for taking what I think are some of my best ever photos. I'm so pleased with this video and I really hope you all enjoy watching it. Please let me know which images are your favourites in the comments below.
Also, be sure to check out @KyleMcDougall 's videos on Wales:
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I really like that you are a photographer with a photography channel that actually takes pictures.
A week dedicated to photography would be absolute bliss! Nothing wrong with cloning distractions out. You’re an artist, pure and simple. I also appreciate how you frame your video clips. Lovely, lovely work. 👍
Thanks very much, Peter, I really appreciate that sentiment!
As soon as I saw the title of the video I knew the answer would be travel. There's several places within a few hours drive I would love to take the camera to, if I could get away for a day.
Andrew, your quarry photos were spectacular!
I loved sharing this adventure with you, Andrew! You got some amazing shots. Thanks for letting us join you.
Thank you for watching!
This was an awesome video
Stunning!
Thanks!
Epic adventure, nice work Andrew.
Andrew, you are quite justified to be "intensely happy" with the "stories the images tell." As you acknowledged, the trip's "value goes deeper" in that it allowed you, as you said, "to reconnect with my photography" and "engage with my environment." Thankyou for sharing this exhilarating experience. WELL DONE!
Thank you very much!!
LOVE THIS VIDEO!
The quality of this video is absolutely spot on, my friend! It will bring back the sweet scent of cotton candy when you look back on it several years from now. Well done! 😉✌
Thank you so much!
Not much to say really. What an absolutely fantastic video and some (i.e. a lot) of truly marvellous photographs. One of my favourites - there are several - is of the prancing goat. Cheers. Ken
The Lone tree shot at sunrise! brilliant!
Thanks!
What an excellent video and set is such an amazing setting! I dream of finding a place like that where one could spend unlimited time photographing amazing scenes across times of both day and of the year as well. Thank you for this!
Thank you!
Nice compositions with both photography and video.
Thoroughly enjoyable video that totally feeds me energy to getting out for myself. Glad you enjoyed your solitutde
Excellent video from a fabulous and familiar location. Loved the goat images.
Thank you!
Thanks Andrew, so many stunning images it's hard to pick out favourites, a lovely video
Thank you!
Excellent video Andrew. It's my home area and I have visited and photographed all the places you cover so beautifully here. So you probably won't be too surprised to have me say my favourite images are those with the goats. I have come across them in woodland near Beddgelert and up above Llyn Ogwen - but not up here. Both images are fabulous 👍and the whole video is a great advertisement for North Wales as a destination for the photographer.
Thanks so much! Interesting to hear about the goats -- I assumed these shots would be common for those folks who get to visit this area often!
@@AndrewLanxonPhotography No; not for me anyway. I do often see them, mainly in Winter alongside the road when they come down from the higher parts of the mountain, but I have personally only ever had one 'close encounter'. I was photographing a woodland scene near the foot of the Watkin Path - in the zone, concentrating on getting it right - when I became aware of a gentle rustling in the long grass behind me. I was alone, so wondered what it could be. Turning around I was confronted by a huge goat (size of a Shetland Pony) head down and grazing nonchalantly as it slowly passed by about ten feet away. Paid me absolutely no attention at all - didn't even look up - which I was quite pleased about! I have a pic somewhere but it's just a snap really 😀.
Amazing video and taking a trip to focus on photography is definitely on my bucket list! Thanks for this video!
I highly recommend it. Thank you for watching!
Great video Andrew, well done!
Thank you for taking us on that beautiful escape with you! Dead jealous of you roaming around and exploring those quarry and barrack ruins, and of course the mountain goat encounter!
Thank you! I felt very honoured to get such a great encounter!
OUTSTANDING video and still images!
Hi Andrew: This was an amazing video. Thank you so much for creating and sharing it. The images you have collected are stunning. This is an area that is currently becoming part of my bucket list locations. We do a great deal of traveling and capturing the history/experiences through photography is a key element. I have subscribed to your channel as well. Cheers, Keith (Canada)
Thanks for sharing. This was the perfect video to start my Saturday morning with.
Thanks so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it!
Oh and I forgot to mention I liked the B/W a little more and also liked the locked horns image.
Even more than your stunning photos and amazingly well-framed video shots, I enjoyed that your exploration of the land united excitement and peace within yourself. We have so many places left to explore, and so little time compared.
Thank you so much!!
Honestly Andrew that has to be one of your best videos ive seen and ive seen most of them. So many fantastic images. Couldnt have asked for better weather too. With you tube videos flooded with gear oriented videos this was a wonderful breath of fresh air. Great advice too because ive been saving for some lighting gear ive wanted for awhile but honestly you have inspired me to spend it on a road trip! Great video!
Thank you so so much, that's incredibly kind of you!
A wonderful video! I preferred the subtle colors in the color version of that shot. The sheep shots were epic! So many great photos.
Thank you!
This is the first of your videos I've seen and it was an instant subscribe! The locked horn goat shot was my favourite.
Thank you! A pleasure to have you on board!
As to the long exposure: definitely the colour one, as the b&w is a lo-contrast grey collection of pixels... to me, at least.
Speaking of the 'investment', I agree that a holiday with photography in mind is really a good way to improve.
With one downside: selecting photos for a slideshow for friends and family, selecting images to put on social media (in my case, adobe portfolio), and finally, creating a photo book, take up so much time that again, you have less time available to actually take new photos.
Ah well, the earth keeps on turning anyway.
Thanks for sharing!
The entire video was amazing. You should get some kind of award for it. My favorite so far. 😊
If you know of any submit to I'd love to see how it would do! Thanks for your kind words
I think you’ve just become my new favourite photography TH-camr 😂 how pure… thanks for sharing
Thank you for watching, I really appreciate it!
Great video Andrew and some absolutely incredible images. Being lucky enough to live here in NW, I visit all of these locations from time to time and it's great to see the various ways these stunning landscapes can be captured. Thanks for bringing us along on your wonderful little holiday.
Thank you! Quite envious of your proximity to these spots. Though I suppose I do live in Scotland so I have a quite a lot here too!
Thank you Andrew, absolut great video.
Thank you!
Money well spent.
Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic video and brilliant place to photograph. I thought how if you took enough shots, it would make a fascinating calendar. One of my favourites from you, thank you.
Thanks Peter, I really appreciate that as it's probably one of my favourites I've put together too! I'm not sure about a calendar necessarily, but I'd definitely like to see some of these as prints!
Mmm yer ok, the quarry ones and the goats. Brilliant, i like to perhaps not B&W them just drain the colours a bit so people at first think"black and white " then as they look closer realise there's colour. Prints yes definitely do prints. Thanks for the reply take care. @AndrewLanxonPhotography
I thoroughly enjoyed the video. Thank you for sharing and talking us along the journey. I really liked the opening sound track of the piano and can’t get it out of my head, I would really appreciate if you would share any information on the opening music.
Thanks! The song is Bleed Me White by The Sweeplings.
@@AndrewLanxonPhotography Thank you!
Lone tree shot at 2:26 is so cinematically beautiful. Reminds me of the Tree of Life from the 2006 Darren Aronofsky film "The Fountain." All the frames in this video are simply sublime.
Thank you!
It must be amazing to be able to see the world the way you do. Great video and awesome photos as always! ❤
That's very kind of you to say, and very generous to suggest I have a particular way of seeing things. I think recognising image opportunities just comes with practice but I'm glad it works out!
@AndrewLanxonPhotography you absolutely do in my opinion. Watching your videos makes me wanna go out and explore myself...
My favorite problem is: seeing something, thinking 'this would be a great picture', taking the picture, not liking it, knowing someone would have absolutely been able to make it a great picture. 😂🤷🏻♀️
Your best video ever Andrew, (although I love al your videos). I loved the colour grading too. Your images were awesome and my favourites were of the goats but so many of them were fantastic, both the quarry and the coast. BTW, glad you got down safely from the quarry.
Thanks Chris, I really appreciate that and always love to hear your feedback on my images! All the best
Schöne Umgebung und eine tolle Landschaft, die besten Fotos entstehen wenn die Natur und das Licht genau passend vor Ort zusammenkommt und der Fotograf genau dort ist, er kann Warten oder links oder rechts gehen, er kann die Welt vor Ort nicht verändern, nicht der Beste unter allen kann es. Zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort, das ist eben Fotografieren.
I got so much pleasure from watching this thank you .
Thank you! That's really kind to say
A long post but I loved every minute!
That's really kind! Thank you for taking so much time out of your day!
A great video that showcases both the area and your excellent images! I think the sense of what’s about to happen captured of the goat is my favourite.
Thanks so much!
My favourite is the last one!. Great video!
Thank you!
All your photos are fantastic, great inspiration
Thank you so much!
Didn't know that Wales has its own Wanaka tree. Beautiful photos!
I had to Google that, because I'm horribly uncultured, but yes! Very similar thing. I think there's a few around and I'm sure they're all flooded with photographers most days all trying to get the same shot! The one in Wales looked nice but there's really only one angle to work it from so there's no much variation. Thanks for watching man!
Superb! I love the goat on hind legs. I'm in N. Wales a lot but I've not been to the quarry for ages. I might have to go now.
I love watching your videos, but the location episodes are the best . The Isle of Kerria and this one really stand out. Not only are the locations interesting but how you handle the compositions is inspiring.
Thank you so much for saying this, I really appreciate it! I'm surprised that the Kerrera video resonated so much as it felt a bit rushed at the time. I'm so pleased you got something from it! I'd love to do more on location like this but unfortunately I can't always find the time!
Not to take away from all your awesome videos but this has to be one of the best yet. Fully enjoyed this, thanks for bringing us along.
Thanks so much, I hugely appreciate that!
Id love to go there and do what your doing. Brilliant photos, brilliant scenery. Hope you enjoyed your little get away 😊
Thank you! I definitely recommend going there if you get the chance. It's a great place to slow down and just enjoy the experience.
A perfect Sunday morning watch - particularly loved the goats well done! 🐐
I hope you had a nice big cup of tea or coffee to go with it!
Relaxing and beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Some beautiful shots, your pics where you included yourself are amazing
Thank you!!
Really enjoyed this video. you found great locations and compositions.
Thanks so much John!
Great trio, great insight, great images. Really liked the "still life" table with window, and the lighthouse/fence post combo. Hard to call on the best goat photo, but I think the colour long exposure seascape works for me.
Thanks! Good to know on the colour seascape. I'm still not sure but I think I'm leaning a bit more towards the colour version.
So amazing , beautiful places. Andrew thank you so much for bringing
such a nice place for us.
My pleasure! Thank you so much for coming along!
Your best video Andrew. Best photography I have seen from this location.
John, you're an absolute treasure of a viewer, thank you so much for such kind words!
where to start !? Inspirational locations, topped by inspirational images. Due to my personal circumstances, I could never take time away to do something like this, but it is great advise for those who can. I can satisfy myself with the shots you've shared. i think it's impossible to select any overall favourite photo - but the 2 goats locking horns with the mountainous vista behind might edge it. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Robin, I really appreciate your kind words here!
@AndrewLanxonPhotography no problem. Thanks for sharing
Gorgeous shots and what an adventure! I especially loved the goats 🐐
Thank you! I think the goats were my favourite part too.
Brilliant video, I have been to these places myself a few times but never seen the Goats
Fantastic shots you got of them.
Plus great images at the slate quarry.
Hope there's a bit of snow this winter for my next trip.
Thanks mate! I definitely felt very lucky getting to see them like that on my first trip there. That said, would definitely have liked to know how difficult it is to walk around some of the quarry!
I love them all. So inspiring thankyou so much.
Thanks so much and thanks for watching!
You absolutely nailed it in one! no it was not the super pictures you took it was the title you used eg. spend your money on travel, in your case it was a photo holiday and what a great place you chose! well done and thank you for showing us your pictures!
Thank you so much for watching!
great video - lots of great shots
Thank you so much!
Man! what a fantastic video, congratulations :)
Thank you!
Really enjoyed the video. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
The quary, what an amazing place. Fantastic video and some superb images. Didnt want this video to end.
That's extremely kind of you! It felt like a really special place to explore and I'm really pleased I was able to get so many images out of it!
@AndrewLanxonPhotography forgot to say, it's difficult to chose one special photo... but as I love wildlife, I will pick the two goats fighting with one standing up with the little cottage on the right.
A good choice, I think that's my fav too, although some of my friends say they prefer the version where the goats have locked horns. I'm really not sure which one I'd pick as the 'better' photo, but I feel the one where the gist is rearing up has more action to it. What do you think?
@AndrewLanxonPhotography I had to watch that part again. With the one rearing for sure, there is more action. And I also feels it gives more scales to the photo. Watching it on the big screen, with the one rearing, my eyes locked fully on the subject and then I looked at the rest of the photo. The one with the horns locked, my eyes only briefly locked on the subject but I could see the entire image if that makes sense. The one rearing, you have a proper action subject and the landscape as the amazing supporting subject.
I couldn't agree more, and it's really great to hear your perspective on how they look on a bigger screen. I'd like to think it would have the same impact if the image were printed for wall display. Thanks so much for your thoughts here!
Absolutely fabulous. I truly needed this video this week. My focus and devastation over our election has tunneled my vision as of late. Thank you for this beautiful distraction that has now inspired me to find a place of respite myself, a place to just get lost in photography, an activity that brings wonderful peace to my soul. Thank you, Andrew….and although I do enjoy b&w photography, there was just something a little more eye grabbing in the color image. It was so slight, but more appealing to my eye. I absolutely enjoyed several of these images. ❤️ Be blessed.
Thanks so much, Tamara, I'm really glad you found some tranquility in this!
Andrew glad you had a good time away, my pick is the solitary tree
Excellent video and some gorgeous images!
Cracking video amazing pictures. More please 😊
Thank you!
Great locations and great shots especially the quarry.Is there a better way to spend your time?I think not,I would be in my element if I was there.😊😊❤
I love how you find so many images within a scene as it’s something that I struggle with. I guess I just need to get out more and practice a lot rather than watch TH-cam from the comfort of my armchair😂 Great video as always and pleased you managed to decompress from the pressures of everyday life.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! It certainly makes a difference getting out there and putting those skills to use, though I still spend a lot of time myself watching TH-cam videos and trying to learn more!
Great video again Andrew. I think it far worse to add something to an image rather than take something out. I have no problem with using Photoshop or whatever to remove distracting elements from a scene as long as the photographer says so. As often as not, there will be something in an image which distracts from it, and it's simply not possible to avoid it. (I do a lot of wildlife photography and that's especially true in that genre).
Thank you for this, I really appreciate your thoughts here. I expected a lot more heat from people but I hoped that being honest about what I've done (and why) would assuage a lot of ire
Extraordinary video, Andrew. Thanks so much for letting us come along with you!
Thank you for watching!
Great video Andrew. I did think you were going to say "New boots" !! This was very a inspiring video and highlighted that you can just go out and enjoy yourself and it can improve your mental wellbeing. Just taking photos of what you want. I am just an amateur and like many others look through tube videos looking for inspiration ............ but there is just so much on line ..... This was a video i learnt a lot from and not necessarily techniques. Perhaps one important lesson is that even for a "holiday" you need to plan to some degree . I am retiring soon and hope to spend more time on my photography ... I will continue to look at your content.
fantastic video Andrew loved the variation of the images
Really enjoyed this video. All of the pics are my favs. Only wish I could visit that location one day. 🙌🏾👏🏾👏🏾❤❤
Thank you! I hope you manage to get to this part of Wales one day to see it for yourself! I'm not sure where you're from, but I know it would be worth the trip from anywhere!
Wow! One awesome video. So much here. Would like to ask around what time of the month did you photograph the lone tree sunset image found at 58 sec in the video. Just awesome.
Thank you! I shot this all in late October.
@@AndrewLanxonPhotography Thank you sir.
Lovely photos. I liked the ones with the mountain goats in particular. Thanks
Great video Andrew, capturing the atmosphere superbly. Oh, one small correction, the "house" with the window frames is a locomotive shed for the little engines that used to work the railway on that level, several of these loco sheds survive on the other levels throughout the quarry...... seriously, an incredible place......
Good knowledge! I think I was just using the word "house" as a generic term for "building" for the most part as I really had no idea what most of the buildings were for!
Great video and amazing pictures, I love the goat and ocean ones (B&W is my favorite).
If you don’t mind a suggestion, as a person that has been in search and rescue, long, long time ago, I am used to carrying a GPS device with me and when exploring I start the tracking function as soon as I hit a trail that I am not familiar with, allowing me to wonder without being concerned about how to finding my way back.
Thanks again!
A hugely enjoyable watch Andrew, thanks for sharing your experience. I can't pick a favourite image, but when you ask the question 'which of the seascapes we prefer' I'd say the colour image has more of a three dimensional look than the black & white image to my eyes, and so I prefer that one.👍👍👍
Thank you!!
Funny, i just got back a week or 2 ago from a photo holiday in north wales covering almost all the same place, dinnorwig, the lone tree near llanberis.
Also did llanddwyn beach as thats not far.
Great week some lovely photos, a bit jealous of some of yours though!
Superb!
superb stuff. really enjoyed the longer format 🙂
Thanks! I'd love to say I'll be doing more of them but it's taken a hell of a lot of work to put together and I really can't guarantee I'll be up for doing these videos every week!
Nice work. Well done
How do I book a photography week wales - Scotland
yes the best value for money is to get to different locations all my trips with my wife and the camera have to be filled photographic inspiration and potential, The best money I spent was 8 day trip to the Faroe Isles, Amazing!
Nice footage and beautiful photos👍The lonely tree is a stunning photo 😍
Thank you!
Glad to see you out and about again Andrew.
Dinorwic Quarry is a place i must visit sometime.
If you want to find out more about the Quarry, check out Jason Jones Photography as has many video's on it.
Also he has a video about the history of the Quarry.
You captured some really nice image's and i couldn't find the best one that i liked, as i liked them all.
Catch you on the next one.
Thanks Tim, I'll definitely take a look! It's such a fantastic place and I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like to work and live there when it was operational. It certainly would have been just as interesting for photography!
@AndrewLanxonPhotography It must have been brutal in the winter.
Forgive me for finding you losing the path amusing. Having done the same thing many times and even getting so immersed in that perfect pic I've had to find my way back in the dark! Not the cleverest thing I've done!
Anyways brightened my day and I really enjoyed the TH-cam video. Thank you
I'm glad I'm not alone then! I did have a headtorch with me, just in case, but I'm very glad I didn't have to use it! My alternative would have been to go into one of the ruined buildings and spend the night there, but I'm fairly certain that would have been the most terrifying thing in the world.
@ 😂 pussy! Maybe that can be a future video? Seriously though, you did make me laugh 🤭. I once spent so long on a beach photographing Magellanic penguins that my walk back to the car was via my mobile phone torch, not my best move when the little buggers burrows are everywhere.
😂😂😂@@AndrewLanxonPhotography
Great video and story telling. I was lucky enough to fit a day in the same area this year but it is a steep in places, massive site and found my self almost overwhelmed with structure or vista shots. Your video showed another lesson of slowing down and enjoy the day. I guess having the week helped but I did not have to film as well. Also coming from apc to ff, thank you for talking through the lense and setting choices. I never know whether to stick with fewer or more lenses. Weight is a factor on hiking sites like these. I also carry a 2nd full spectrum camera for mono and Chrome IR Photography. Your video inspired me to return and try again. Perhaps not in such a rushed day. Mindful of those slate covered paths up top are treacherous. Look forward to your next video. A def sub for me. Thanks
thank you for your PS honesty. Subbed
Top Drawer
The best expert on Dinorwig quarry is Jason Jones who lives a couple of miles away.
Eyri National Park never fails whether it’s Ogwen Valley, Dinorwig, Cwmorthin (valley & waterfall), Dyffryn Nantlle, Ynsypandy slate mill, Dolgoch Waterfalls, Panorama Walk at Barmouth for views down Mawddach Estuary and to Cadair Idris, Rhosydd quarry the list goes on.
Great video Andrew, thanks. Would you be willing to share what colour grade or preset you were using please?
Hi Mike, the color grade on the video was just a manual grade I did in davinci resolve. On the images I didn't use a preset but created a base edit across the set and adjusted the settings as needed for each one. I tend not to rely on presets too much but do create my own ones for sets like this.
ive been to north wales twice and you should spend money on visiting places, ive just been to glencoe one of my bucket list places that is a superb place to visit.
Glencoe is magical. Thankfully I don't live that far away so I should really head back soon. Wales felt a bit more of an adventure in my week off!
What did you use to film this video? Looks amazing
Love ya. Photo vacation in Scotland about $2k + air
See how funds go
kahma AI fixes this. proving photography requires strategic investment.
Hey Andy, Leo here in Barbados, West Indies, just wanted you to know that I cant give you an answer to your last question, i've so many images tht i've enjoyed, its really a shame to start putting them in some sort of order...I'm planning a trip to London next year, Aug-Sept '25 ...do you do work shops, or have you thought about it, any way where about is it in Wales exactly, if you dont mind me asking, I'll love the opputunity to shoot there, in relations to your work its very good and the style is differant to others, as you call out the actual tech info rather than putting it up as others do, which does be too small for me to read, as I've only got sight patialy in my left eye, which gives me trouble...please reply to this email, I sat that as many times i comment on videos and the author of the video don't reply, anyway thanks for sharing your images and looking forward to viewing some more of your work shortly..I'l be subscribing as well too, have a woderful week and keep shooting bro........Dephotobug
Hi Leo, thanks for your comment and I'm really glad to hear you liked the video. I'm afraid I don't run workshops or other in-person sessions. The area I visited is around Llanberis in North Wales, there's so much to see there, I definitely recommend a trip if you have time!
Thanks Andy for replying and the info on the location will try to get there during my trip to London....
Eoying the panos
Thank you! Any of them in particular stand out for you?