Excellent advice Mads, the tip about shooting with intention has flicked a switch in my brain and could be the piece of advice that helps me to take my photography to the next level. There so much on TH-cam about the technical aspect of landscape photography but comparatively little about approach and mindset. Cheers mate.
Chris Sale I'm so happy to hear that! Yeah there's really way too little! But it's also very hard to practice. I'm struggling with it myself and it's less than offen that I actually produce something which is better than "pretty"...
Mads Peter Iversen - me too Mads, I preach the whole slow down, take your time thing and then the minute we get some decent light I 'spray and prey' just like everyone else. But when we do take our own advice the results speak for themselves.
Chris Sale yeah, that's why I've never preached the slow down part. I don't really slow down myself. I always run around to get as many compositions in the camera as possible during good light. But it does help to come prepared or in good time as to find the good angles beforehand :)
Mad Peter Iversen - that at least we can agree on - landscape photographers live and die by their preparation. I bet the difference in our approach is down to the fact that I predominately shoot in a single area while you are always moving from location to location. I can always come back next week whilst you can't necessarily. I am more inclined to shoot multiple compositions if I'm somewhere new.
Mads, you are helping so many amateurs like myself with photography and not justwith how to use a camera but you also help us to think about ourselves, what ourartistic goals are and how to achieve those goals. Your advice is practical but yourinfluence on your pupils goes way beyond that. You are indeed a gifted teacheras well as a top professional. Thanks for all the videos, especially this one becauseit addressed so many important issues. Please continue inspiring us all. Bob Z
I really like your chanel since it seems that you are really practising photography on a high level. Watching other chanels it often comes to my mind that people are good entertainers but don't really know what they are doing - so thank you for that and your honest inputs! For me personally it often has turned out that i did not take the in advance intended shot but have come back home with really nice surprises. Thefore my advise is to always be prepared for multiple kind of occasions and rather pack a lens or a filter more than less.
Two things that have helped me the most that are on your tips list. Embrace the edit and shoot with intention. Embracing the edit gave me creative freedom. Shooting with intention allows me to be the storyteller I always wanted to be when I started photography. Thank you for this video.
All so well said. Thank you! Intention is so important. Sometimes I sit down and sketch out my idea and truly create everything that I want in the shot before I go and get it. Then I am not afraid to study and go get the shot again if I need to make adjustments that editing won't solve.
Connie Lowell, that's a very ambitious way of doing photography! I'm very impressed. So do you sketch scenes you've already seen or are you coming up with some and go find them in nature later?
Thank you - but not as impressive as all of your beautiful work! I usually have a specific setting (such as, there needs to be a road, and a hill and so forth) and look for places that will work. A lot of my scenes are set up indoors but I am also trying to work outdoors / in nature more. Sometimes, as I'm sure you find too, you find a scene and it just inspires you. : ) Thank you for sharing your wonderful work!
It were the best photography tips that I have heard!! It's a pleasure watching speaking about photography and art, you give enthusiasm, power, encourage to take more photos but with art! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and knowledge about "photoart"!😉
Thanks Mads. Excellent reminder that we can always get better by learning from others. I captured an image a few days ago just by wondering what it would like in black and white. Inspiration comes at strange times!
Mads your advice is always welcome as you provide great enjoyment and great insights in your vlogs. At this time my motivation is to seek improvements in my understanding in the principals and fundamentals of photography. Being a professional in my line of work for nearly 30 years has been developed on processes and evolving knowledge and understanding so I see photography as a release from the norm and an opportunity to examine a subject from different perspectives and to enjoy the experience
For landscape/nature photography I find that studying the natural history of an area (geology, dendrology, biology, etc.) keeps me interested and sometimes gets me out the door (camera in hand) when I might otherwise feel uninspired. And I definitely second your suggestion of studying and drawing inspiration from all other forms of art.
Robert Stokes that's very interesting as I myself is also very interested in science in general. My limited understanding of geology indeed further my fascinating with the landscapes! :)
Lucid and thoughtful, thanks. For me, learning to take my time is crucial: My rookie mistakes have often flowed from a quite misguided sense that I must do a lot, at speed. In fact, patience is key: the eye must thoughtful, informed by an attitude of 'wise passiveness' which not at all the same as doing nothing.
Awesome video! Im a novice. What recently helped me immensely is going out shooting with an experienced photographer. I learned a couple technical skills but mostly the idea you mentioned...shooting with intention.
Excellent advice. Ref Tip 1 - I get so tired of photographers I know who "brag" that their images are "straight out of the camera." Each photographer certainly has the right to process the image as he/she desires. And if that means being as true to the original scene as possible, so be it. But to state that anything else is "not true photography" just burns my you-know-what!
Excellent tips and advice Mads. I learned a great deal on composition of landscapes from visiting art museums viewing oil paintings by Claude Monet who was an true artist in capturing the beauty of a scene in his work. I learned to study his and other great artist's work and determine what in the image drew my attention to it. Most of my career I shot film, so I had to get the composition I wanted in the field, because Photoshop or Lightroom did not exist then nor did computers!
Thanks, Mads! I'm so glad your tips went much deeper than the average beginner's tips. There's so much of that out there and I really found a lot more value in your tips. Greetings from Finland!
Nice one Mads, and completely agree that if you don't edit your images you are missing out of what the final image could be. I also read photography books that aren't landscape related, and I also follow cinema channels like Nerdwriters (which is particularly good). Great advice all round. Hope you are enjoying Iceland!
Sound advice, I like the idea of forming a group of photographers to get feedback from trusted sources rather than "desktop experts" found in Facebook etc. I have always found most people who complain about editing are folk who don't use editing tools because they don't know how or don't understand the reason raw files need to be optomised in order to get the best from them.
Great video, Mads! One of your best from an educational standpoint. Your tips reveal that you have a realistic and healthy attitude towards improving your craft. It is obvious that you take learning and improving very seriously while at the same time being open to criticism and remaining humble. The emphasis you put on studying art, and looking outside your field, is definitely right on for those who want to get better. The only thing I would add to this list that has been personally fruitful for me, is something that you conveyed in a previous video, and that's to embrace bad weather when it comes. Bad weather can present some of the most exciting photographic opportunities (for landscapes especially), but if you always want to stay dry, you'll never experience them. Accepting being cold and wet, and not babying my gear, has definitely helped me capture moments that I wouldn't otherwise have seen, and has made me a better photographer. P.S. THANK YOU for calling BS on the trite "shoot more edit less" motto that we hear so often these days, and the silly purists who believe that the only "real" shots are the ones straight out of camera (but still processed into JPEGs by the manufacturer!). Really cool to see your before/after post-processing comparisons of various shots, that was amazing! Makes me realize how far I still have to go on the editing front. Luckily, I'm a computer nerd, so I don't have any excuse not to learn similar techniques.
Another great video Mads. I'm thrilled you mentioned Guy Tal. I'm definitely a fan of his. I am just reading his new book, The Landscape Photographer's Guide to Photoshop. Although I'm very familiar with Photoshop, I am really enjoying his angle of attack on it. Visualization and the more philosophical aspects of photography are what I'm working on improving.
Brilliant Mads. A very enlightening video. It's true that people put a lot of emphasis on conventional rules without thought. Your DaVinci reference was absolutely perfect. Thanks Mads, keep these great videos coming!
"That's me in the corner... THAT'S me in the Spot-Light" I knew and was hoping that you were going too call it That! I always have a song in my head or listening too music while out shooting, I.E. Ed Sheeran. Then i try and "Visualize" the song or a line from a song for my "Composition." Thanks as ALWAYS!!!!!
Another helpful video ! I have been learning a lot through your channel And I’m starting to see the improvements slowly taking shape in my shots Thank you !!
So great to se your before and after edit images! You have done a great job in post process to clarify your vision! I am going to google Gestalt theory now :)
Awesome video. One thing an artist told me is to consider what your photo/image is saying. right along your philosophy. I also think it is important to show your work, either to friends or in an art show. Art, and photography is an art, is about communication. It only becomes real when someone else sees it...
If you are only communicating with yourself, your art becomes something between masturbation and meditation. That came out a bit pretentious, but I feel strongly that art should be shared.
One book I found extremely inspiring, was a book called "The War of Art" It is very thought provoking, and it makes you understand what keeps us from doing the things we want to do, and how we can overcome the roadblocks. It is a definite must read, or for those who don't have a lot of time, it is also available as an Audio book. When I find myself struggling, I return to this book again and again, and each time, it has something to teach me.
you have to do some editing videos, particularly the lone tree at Buttermere how you brightened the light and not the tree and clouds (1:40), the Iceland image with the small waterfall in the foreground and the dark sky colorized (2:00), and the side lit mountain (Dolomites?) at 1:10. It would be so cool to see how they were edited.
Thank you Mads for sharing your tips ! In Landscape photography i like to take a long tele and leave the wide angle in my bag(not al the time), this will push me to look for different compositions. Also study the weather is a great help.
In addition to that inspiring video, Mads, I would like to add: do not only accept and learn from critizism but also criticize others photos. And (in case of landscapes) the second point is you should practice „slow photography“ - Thomas Heaton is a good idol. Keep the camera in your bag untilgbar you know what and why you want to take a photo. You may usw. your smartphone to choose the right composition.
That is exactly right about the first point of yours, that's what I kinda did with my Britain series :) And yes, go "slow" but not so slow you miss the shot. Some people think faster than others, scan the environment faster than others and get inspiration faster than others. What experience can do is amazing. But it's kinda the same as photograph with purpose :)
Yet another cracking vid Mads, not only some top tips but great images as well. A couple of tips I like are, 1 shot for you and don't follow the crowd. 2 try different styles of photography, if you shoot landscape's then try to shot a car. 3 If your not sure about away to shoot a particular subject just ask, most other togs will offer advice. Oh and Bob Ross, awesome.
Mads this video has just reminded me of parts of myself & my photography that I’ve detoured from in my creative self thanks. I have to ask I love the large head band you wear in some of your videos to keep your ears warm, what’s it called & where could I get one from?
Haha! The brand is "Icewear" I got it from my parents when they visited Iceland on their first trip up there. But I'm very happy to hear my video affected you like that :)
I totally agree with you, but just be aware of the fact, that RAW files are also postprocessed within the Camera (for example noise reduction or contrast) where you don‘t have any influence on :)
Bob Russ - OMG! He will probably be on TV for the next 100 years - you won't escape. :-) My hint to all - better to have one bad picture from the milkyway than no picture at all simply because you've never tried it out. And I promize, it's absolutely worth trying out.
Great advice - thanks! I have been making a bit of a study of Gestalt and Dynamic Symmetry along with the golden ratio. My practice has been with trying to keep these teachings in mind and I find the more I do the more natural it starts to feel. What a great journey! Just love it. @TrudeauHalifaxPhotos Thanks
You're photos are so inspiring to get out and shoot more. Can you talk about how you're able to get photos like "conquerer" without other tourist and people in the background? Do you photoshop people out after the fact or are you able to find times and angles to avoid crowds? I'm curious about the volume of people in some of these touristy areas. Thanks
great video Mads, I also agree in post processing, how much in post is down to the subject matter, some images need more editing than others, where 'art' is concerned, I do believe that while the importance of rule of thirds, leading lines etc are relevant and intrinsic to photography, I think that there is an element of luck and spontaneity involved somewhere in the process, oh and a lot of patience :-)
I like watching movies, and not only the storyline, but what light did they use, what angles. It can sometimes grab me like the opening scene of James Bond Spectre, the scene in the market is amazing cinematography.
I think the one thing I have learnt,and that is the use of negative space.You do not have to fill your photo with various objects or subjects as these can be a distraction to the viewer.I hope you understand and that I am going in the right direction.Would like to see you using some more what I would call consumer type equipment,as those of us that love photography do not have the budget to spend on the top end cameras and lenses.
Thanks for sharing, great presentation and showing the inspiration that fires you're way of creativity. It's also enables us to perceive the living elements which is also the score of music & colour.
Try out Patrick Rochon and what he writes about Tao. It is mainly aimed at lightpainting but his articles in the TAO LP series are an awesome read for any kind of artist because he talks about art and inspiration in general.
Thanks for these great tips. I love the idea of studying art. This is inspiring. My tip is to become interested in people. I do not mean, random shots of people in the street. I mean people who have made life interesting for themselves, i.e. farmers, artists, market sellers. They can be very obliging and you do not have to take intrusive shots of their face. It could just be a little detail. Works for me.
Hey mads i really enjoy your you tube videos they are very interesting and capturing, now i would like to comment on the idea of post processing, while i agree with you that your raw image is just a negative to be developed and which you absolutely must know how because its really the last 30-35% addition that will make or break the picture, the real work of capturing the image with composition and light is really in your camera, and as u say there is no right or wrong in the style of photography because after all its an art and taste and vision of how u want to express an idea or a feel as such if u are a realist like my self you just want to show reality as is and hence the minimalistic post processing but if you would like to add another feeling to the image then u may add contrast or saturation to your image to enhance that feeling , and while this is not wrong, its really somehow philosophical as how you want to portray your self just like different artists have different concepts of what art is about, so i agree you must must learn editing and must know how to do it perfectly but i believe in minimalistic additions to the picture because i dont want to add colour or contrast that didn’t exist because my philosophy here is that I’m trying to share and express what i saw in reality not creating something from my imagingation.
Love the Thumbnail! 😁 - Your knowledge is beyond the standard photographer, from you we can learn a great deal! Will you edit my photos, I'm crap at PP! haha - Hope you're enjoying Iceland.
Ginger Photographer only you can edit your photos because only you know what you wanna tell with the photo ;) But thanks a lot! Always appreciated and I'm happy you feel you can learn a lot :)
Most unique tips i would say. Most photographers say do everything in the field and less processing but I love the way I have the power to change the scene as I want in post processing. It's like God. I can bring light, make it dark, bring mist, clone a person or a object. Althought that's way too far from reality
There’s nothing wrong about specializing. Monet had his lily pond; Cezanne had Mt St-Victoire. Many very successful landscape photographers stay that way their entire careers. You and Toma Bonciu are fascinating because you both are expanding your horizons as photographers. Good luck and may neither of you suffer the fate of many pioneers!
Interesting vlog Mads. I agree & disagree with some of your thoughts. It would take a live Q&A session to discuss all you have mentioned methinks. Will watch this episode with interest to see how and what others have to say. :)
I have a tip for shooting people (phrasing). A lot of people like myself cannot pose well. They look unnatural. I find the best thing to do is make them think they are going to pose but catching with a natural smile by making them laugh a bit. Usually the results are a lot better but be ready for the shot. Take it with a grain of salt but worth trying. I liked the results.
Great teaching video. I think so many TH-cam creators do not have the production and editing skills. As usual your segments are just great. They are the correct skills on teaching yourself better photography. One negative, can you cut down on your edits on yourself or change the shot or dissolve. I find it distracting to an otherwise great tutorial.
Tom Duncan whether the edits are distracting or not is quite a matter of preference, I think - they surely help to get life into talking head stuff. But although I like it, I can see why not everybody would...
Penta Sonic Nature Photography yes I agree it is a matter of taste. Coming from a news and documentary background jump cuts make me unhappy. So many TH-cam clips from other people distract me so much I give up watching. The quick use of overlay can make the viewing experience so much better.
Tom Duncan I've tried with the fading but it looks weird to my eyes. Jump cuts are not optimal, but I prefer these to fades. I'm trying to keep them to a minimum, but I'm really bad at memorising my scripts and I don't have a teleprompter :p
Wow. Finally something truly useful. You touched many good points on photography which I believe to be very important. I am one of those photographers who tries to portray the picture as close as what I saw in the moment but as I progress in my work I find it harder and harder to stick to that because I want to sometimes enhance something in the picture that wasn’t punctuated. And as you said, photography is and art and the camera is only capturing data so it does makes sense to do with that data as much as you can to make that place or moment your own. Also about studying art, I’ve found that to be the most important aspect because most of the photographers I follow and I’ve read on use art (sculptures, paintings, music, etc) to inspire their photographs! Sorry for the long winded comment. Thanks for this great video! Just subscribed! If you could take a peak at my work I would be very grateful :) Web: www.bliphotography.com Or Instagram: beliveinc
BeLiveInc thank you very much! It means a lot that you understood my point. I fully respect people for having their goals with their photos. And if they want to portray what they see, it's really cool! It's also nice to hear you have that itch to optimize your photos. I do the same - always :) Had a look at your photos and I think there's certainly some really great ones in there :)
I respect author but even if for landscape this advice can be PARTIALLY true, essentially this is not. Optics (lenses) and technique: this is what generally make the product perfect. Most award winner life photographers never ever use editing (we don't count crop and zoom in zoom out here). This applies also to architecture photo and churches interior shooting. And for example 2:49 "before" IS better.
Bla bla bla.... So here's my tip on improving your photography! Just do it like Mads - simply go to every damn place out there that is absolutely instafamous and take the shots everyone else does. You literally can't take a bad picture there, processed or not. Wasn't that a simple tip?
Well no. And you are the best example for what I was saying! Why suggest editing? Yes it can improve the look and mood of an image, but it doesen't compensate for a bad composition or a bad subject. I mean cmon, Eibsee, Lago di Braies, Seceda, Geroldsee, Burg Eltz, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway etc. etc. etc. ... you get it. An instagram search on these places immediately states the obvious. You can take bad images infront of your doorstep, but you literally can't take bad images in these places, just because they are simply stunning - and that is even without editing. So it's not about editing it is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION that makes for a good image. And your videos match 100% with instagrams most famous locations, so whats the point here directing everyone to editing, instead of recommend doing it like you do - which is basically taking the same compositions that everyone else does? Sorry but i don't see anything innovative here (especially not in the compostitions - they're all "sure shots")... I'm gonna repeat my "pro-tip" - get a smartphone, snapseed or vsco and some plane tickets to these locations - et voila the landscape photographer of todays age is born!
no... If you are going to somewhere new, you may be inspired, but you can still take bad photos. I know a couple of world travellers who take "snapshots" of where they have been. Not good photos by any stretch. On the other hand, a good photographer CAN take a good image on their doorstep.
Of course I was exaggerating to clarify my point, and yes of course a good photographer can take good images infront of his/her doorstep BUT that is exactly my point!! Why does Mads only travel to the absolute marvellous and iconic landscape photography hotspots to then tell his audience how important editing is? Why not (as a good photographer) show how editing or composition can improve images taken infront of your doorstep instead of an image of divine icelandic shores or faroese waterfalls? Let me tell you why! It is fear! It is the fear of not suceeding, of not "bringing home" marvellous images, of not getting enough likes because (of thinking) the content cannot compete with other images in the social media, that drive people like Mads to go to these "instagram brothels" over and over again! You know it's sort of preaching water and drinking wine?! What I expect from a "5 TOP tips how to ACTUALLY improve your photography" video from a "professional" like Mads who seeks to appear as an authority in this case (otherwise he wouldn't produce such a video I suppose...), aren't vague statements of "study other forms of art", "get into review groups" and blablabla while he travels from iconic landscape to iconic landscape taking pictures of some of the most rewarding landscapes in the world (while not including that into his "TOP 5 TIPS"). I consider this kind of dishonest and that's why I was saying Location matters more than anything else (which is solely based on the impression you get when you look at Mads uploaded videos which add up to a good list of top places to visit and easily come home with great images).
for all I know, Mads lives in Scandinavia (which is probably a good bet based on his name) and many of these locations ARE his front door. He is also allowed to travel and get inspiration from a new location just like any other person Also the point is more strongly brought home with good images. If he made mediocre images from "bad" locations would he have as much credibility? Or at least as many views? Maybe, maybe not. This is the first video of this producer I have seen, and he has some good advice whether you believe him or not...
Excellent advice Mads, the tip about shooting with intention has flicked a switch in my brain and could be the piece of advice that helps me to take my photography to the next level. There so much on TH-cam about the technical aspect of landscape photography but comparatively little about approach and mindset. Cheers mate.
Chris Sale I'm so happy to hear that! Yeah there's really way too little! But it's also very hard to practice. I'm struggling with it myself and it's less than offen that I actually produce something which is better than "pretty"...
Mads Peter Iversen - me too Mads, I preach the whole slow down, take your time thing and then the minute we get some decent light I 'spray and prey' just like everyone else. But when we do take our own advice the results speak for themselves.
Chris Sale yeah, that's why I've never preached the slow down part. I don't really slow down myself. I always run around to get as many compositions in the camera as possible during good light. But it does help to come prepared or in good time as to find the good angles beforehand :)
Mad Peter Iversen - that at least we can agree on - landscape photographers live and die by their preparation. I bet the difference in our approach is down to the fact that I predominately shoot in a single area while you are always moving from location to location. I can always come back next week whilst you can't necessarily. I am more inclined to shoot multiple compositions if I'm somewhere new.
How to use an ND filter and how to buy a quality ND filter?
Your comment about seeking criticism reminded me of the quote, “If you are the smartest one in the room, find another room.”
It is good that someone with your credibility finally said it. Editing can help so much in telling the story.
Extremely helpful video, Mads. You are a very good teacher. Off to explore Gestalt Theory. Thanks for sharing!
You're much welcome, Gord! Gestalt theory is super interesting :)
Mads, you are helping so many amateurs like myself with photography and not justwith how to use a camera but you also help us to think about ourselves, what ourartistic goals are and how to achieve those goals. Your advice is practical but yourinfluence on your pupils goes way beyond that. You are indeed a gifted teacheras well as a top professional. Thanks for all the videos, especially this one becauseit addressed so many important issues. Please continue inspiring us all. Bob Z
Robert Zimmerman I'm so glad to hear that! It means a lot that you learn something and that you appreciate the content! I'll continue for sure 😊
Lots of great thoughts here, Mads. Well done!
Tony Gouge thank you very much! :)
I really like your chanel since it seems that you are really practising photography on a high level. Watching other chanels it often comes to my mind that people are good entertainers but don't really know what they are doing - so thank you for that and your honest inputs!
For me personally it often has turned out that i did not take the in advance intended shot but have come back home with really nice surprises. Thefore my advise is to always be prepared for multiple kind of occasions and rather pack a lens or a filter more than less.
Thank you very much for the kind words :)
Two things that have helped me the most that are on your tips list. Embrace the edit and shoot with intention. Embracing the edit gave me creative freedom. Shooting with intention allows me to be the storyteller I always wanted to be when I started photography. Thank you for this video.
OFGW you're very welcome! :)
All so well said. Thank you! Intention is so important. Sometimes I sit down and sketch out my idea and truly create everything that I want in the shot before I go and get it. Then I am not afraid to study and go get the shot again if I need to make adjustments that editing won't solve.
Connie Lowell, that's a very ambitious way of doing photography! I'm very impressed. So do you sketch scenes you've already seen or are you coming up with some and go find them in nature later?
Thank you - but not as impressive as all of your beautiful work! I usually have a specific setting (such as, there needs to be a road, and a hill and so forth) and look for places that will work. A lot of my scenes are set up indoors but I am also trying to work outdoors / in nature more. Sometimes, as I'm sure you find too, you find a scene and it just inspires you. : ) Thank you for sharing your wonderful work!
It were the best photography tips that I have heard!! It's a pleasure watching speaking about photography and art, you give enthusiasm, power, encourage to take more photos but with art! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and knowledge about "photoart"!😉
victor ferreira you are very welcome and I'm happy to hear you can use it! :)
Thanks Mads. Excellent reminder that we can always get better by learning from others. I captured an image a few days ago just by wondering what it would like in black and white. Inspiration comes at strange times!
Exactly, I often find myself stumbling upon things out there, which I wouldn't have had a chance of planning :)
Mads your advice is always welcome as you provide great enjoyment and great insights in your vlogs. At this time my motivation is to seek improvements in my understanding in the principals and fundamentals of photography. Being a professional in my line of work for nearly 30 years has been developed on processes and evolving knowledge and understanding so I see photography as a release from the norm and an opportunity to examine a subject from different perspectives and to enjoy the experience
scotty4418 ah that's a very nice perspective to the subject :)
For landscape/nature photography I find that studying the natural history of an area (geology, dendrology, biology, etc.) keeps me interested and sometimes gets me out the door (camera in hand) when I might otherwise feel uninspired. And I definitely second your suggestion of studying and drawing inspiration from all other forms of art.
Robert Stokes that's very interesting as I myself is also very interested in science in general. My limited understanding of geology indeed further my fascinating with the landscapes! :)
Excellent message! I agree 100% with your perspective of the photographic art. Thank you and keep up the great work.
Randy L thanks a lot and happy to hear that :)
Just stumbled upon your channel through Fstoppers and found your videos seriously helpful. Thank you for the amazing content.
You're very welcome, I'm happy to hear that :)
Lucid and thoughtful, thanks. For me, learning to take my time is crucial: My rookie mistakes have often flowed from a quite misguided sense that I must do a lot, at speed. In fact, patience is key: the eye must thoughtful, informed by an attitude of 'wise passiveness' which not at all the same as doing nothing.
1spitfirepilot that is very right, not sure I do that myself. I kinda feel I work quite fast compared to other photographers! :)
Thanks mads, you made me step back and rethink but i need more of an understanding in photoshop tecniques.
Jim Cooke yeah it all work together, luckily you can always watch some of the videos from Phlearn if you need more photoshop ;)
Awesome video! Im a novice. What recently helped me immensely is going out shooting with an experienced photographer. I learned a couple technical skills but mostly the idea you mentioned...shooting with intention.
Yes, that's so important. Thinking about why you do what :)
Excellent advice. Ref Tip 1 - I get so tired of photographers I know who "brag" that their images are "straight out of the camera." Each photographer certainly has the right to process the image as he/she desires. And if that means being as true to the original scene as possible, so be it. But to state that anything else is "not true photography" just burns my you-know-what!
Michael Cothran I feel you mate! It's just unnecessary arrogance...
Thank you for such intelligent, relevant remarks.
I am struggling deciding on which editing software to use, but I agree that editing is a must.
Excellent tips and advice Mads. I learned a great deal on composition of landscapes from visiting art museums viewing oil paintings by Claude Monet who was an true artist in capturing the beauty of a scene in his work. I learned to study his and other great artist's work and determine what in the image drew my attention to it. Most of my career I shot film, so I had to get the composition I wanted in the field, because Photoshop or Lightroom did not exist then nor did computers!
Richard Higgins that's very nice to hear! And yes I can only imagine how photography was back then! :)
Everyone with a camera should watch this video and take the message on board Mads !
Andy Astbury thanks a lot! Yeah, at least I wish I knew this when I started :)
love the depth bro please make more of these!
Terrific suggestions for broadening one's approach to photography. Thank you!
Thanks, Mads! I'm so glad your tips went much deeper than the average beginner's tips. There's so much of that out there and I really found a lot more value in your tips. Greetings from Finland!
Nice one Mads, and completely agree that if you don't edit your images you are missing out of what the final image could be. I also read photography books that aren't landscape related, and I also follow cinema channels like Nerdwriters (which is particularly good). Great advice all round. Hope you are enjoying Iceland!
Sound advice, I like the idea of forming a group of photographers to get feedback from trusted sources rather than "desktop experts" found in Facebook etc. I have always found most people who complain about editing are folk who don't use editing tools because they don't know how or don't understand the reason raw files need to be optomised in order to get the best from them.
Thank you. Very good.
Great video, Mads! One of your best from an educational standpoint. Your tips reveal that you have a realistic and healthy attitude towards improving your craft. It is obvious that you take learning and improving very seriously while at the same time being open to criticism and remaining humble. The emphasis you put on studying art, and looking outside your field, is definitely right on for those who want to get better.
The only thing I would add to this list that has been personally fruitful for me, is something that you conveyed in a previous video, and that's to embrace bad weather when it comes. Bad weather can present some of the most exciting photographic opportunities (for landscapes especially), but if you always want to stay dry, you'll never experience them. Accepting being cold and wet, and not babying my gear, has definitely helped me capture moments that I wouldn't otherwise have seen, and has made me a better photographer.
P.S. THANK YOU for calling BS on the trite "shoot more edit less" motto that we hear so often these days, and the silly purists who believe that the only "real" shots are the ones straight out of camera (but still processed into JPEGs by the manufacturer!). Really cool to see your before/after post-processing comparisons of various shots, that was amazing! Makes me realize how far I still have to go on the editing front. Luckily, I'm a computer nerd, so I don't have any excuse not to learn similar techniques.
I enjoyed listening to your thoughts! Excellent examples from your work.
Another great video Mads. I'm thrilled you mentioned Guy Tal. I'm definitely a fan of his. I am just reading his new book, The Landscape Photographer's Guide to Photoshop. Although I'm very familiar with Photoshop, I am really enjoying his angle of attack on it. Visualization and the more philosophical aspects of photography are what I'm working on improving.
Tom Martinson yes! Me too. I gotta read that book. It's still in front of me :)
Brilliant Mads. A very enlightening video. It's true that people put a lot of emphasis on conventional rules without thought. Your DaVinci reference was absolutely perfect.
Thanks Mads, keep these great videos coming!
Great video Mads! Thank you for sharing!
"That's me in the corner... THAT'S me in the Spot-Light" I knew and was hoping that you were going too call it That! I always have a song in my head or listening too music while out shooting, I.E. Ed Sheeran. Then i try and "Visualize" the song or a line from a song for my "Composition." Thanks as ALWAYS!!!!!
Another helpful video ! I have been learning a lot through your channel And I’m starting to see the improvements slowly taking shape in my shots
Thank you !!
Thanks for the video, it was interesting and helpful!!!
So great to se your before and after edit images! You have done a great job in post process to clarify your vision! I am going to google Gestalt theory now :)
Hans Gunnar Aslaksen perfect! And thanks Hans :)
found that refreshingly different and useful, thank you!
neil cooper that's just so good to hear! :)
Great advice - Thanks Mads
Simon Breede Uldal you're very welcome :)
Thanks for a very informative video Mads. Sound advice as usual.
Jim Hamilton thanks a lot! Happy you liked them :)
wonderful video Mads.
Thank you very much Sal! :)
Awesome video. One thing an artist told me is to consider what your photo/image is saying. right along your philosophy. I also think it is important to show your work, either to friends or in an art show. Art, and photography is an art, is about communication. It only becomes real when someone else sees it...
Well, I agree with almost everything but I would add, that it could also be used to communicate with yourself ;)
If you are only communicating with yourself, your art becomes something between masturbation and meditation.
That came out a bit pretentious, but I feel strongly that art should be shared.
Alan Klughammer that sounds intriguing 🤔🤣
Great advise , really deep vision.
One book I found extremely inspiring, was a book called "The War of Art" It is very thought provoking, and it makes you understand what keeps us from doing the things we want to do, and how we can overcome the roadblocks. It is a definite must read, or for those who don't have a lot of time, it is also available as an Audio book. When I find myself struggling, I return to this book again and again, and each time, it has something to teach me.
Candice Watson thanks a lot for the tip! I'm gonna check it out :)
you have to do some editing videos, particularly the lone tree at Buttermere how you brightened the light and not the tree and clouds (1:40), the Iceland image with the small waterfall in the foreground and the dark sky colorized (2:00), and the side lit mountain (Dolomites?) at 1:10. It would be so cool to see how they were edited.
Steve H thanks a lot for the interest. I might do something in the future :)
Brilliant and Informative, your words are both inspirational and challenging... Kudos
Thank you Mads for sharing your tips ! In Landscape photography i like to take a long tele and leave the wide angle in my bag(not al the time), this will push me to look for different compositions. Also study the weather is a great help.
Mario Valkenborg yes that's right. It does help to know the weather :)
In addition to that inspiring video, Mads, I would like to add: do not only accept and learn from critizism but also criticize others photos. And (in case of landscapes) the second point is you should practice „slow photography“ - Thomas Heaton is a good idol. Keep the camera in your bag untilgbar you know what and why you want to take a photo. You may usw. your smartphone to choose the right composition.
That is exactly right about the first point of yours, that's what I kinda did with my Britain series :)
And yes, go "slow" but not so slow you miss the shot. Some people think faster than others, scan the environment faster than others and get inspiration faster than others. What experience can do is amazing. But it's kinda the same as photograph with purpose :)
Superb video Mads, much food for thought :)
Robert Felton thanks a lot! I hope it'll benefit you :)
Yet another cracking vid Mads, not only some top tips but great images as well. A couple of tips I like are, 1 shot for you and don't follow the crowd. 2 try different styles of photography, if you shoot landscape's then try to shot a car. 3 If your not sure about away to shoot a particular subject just ask, most other togs will offer advice.
Oh and Bob Ross, awesome.
Those are some sound advice, Paul! :)
Mads this video has just reminded me of parts of myself & my photography that I’ve detoured from in my creative self thanks. I have to ask I love the large head band you wear in some of your videos to keep your ears warm, what’s it called & where could I get one from?
Haha! The brand is "Icewear" I got it from my parents when they visited Iceland on their first trip up there. But I'm very happy to hear my video affected you like that :)
Great tips and great job buddy ;)
Photography by KO thanks so much as always! ✌️😊
Great advice dude Many ty from Wales
69TonyBig you are absolutely welcome! :)
Fantastic, thank you!
Thanx for the great video Mads :-) hope you having a blast in the land of fire and ice ;-)
Bente Prestmo-Edvardsen you're welcome! And yes we're having a blast :)
Wise words Mads indeed!! Essential video of yours this one. ;)
Another great inspirational video. Thanks.
You are very Welcome :)
I totally agree with you, but just be aware of the fact, that RAW files are also postprocessed within the Camera (for example noise reduction or contrast) where you don‘t have any influence on :)
Great great tips ❤❤❤
Bob Russ - OMG! He will probably be on TV for the next 100 years - you won't escape. :-)
My hint to all - better to have one bad picture from the milkyway than no picture at all simply because you've never tried it out. And I promize, it's absolutely worth trying out.
Westenberger Stephan that's a good mindset :) and don't we just all love Bob!
Really enjoyed this video, thank you.
Noroel you're very welcome! :)
Great advice - thanks!
I have been making a bit of a study of Gestalt and Dynamic Symmetry along with the golden ratio. My practice has been with trying to keep these teachings in mind and I find the more I do the more natural it starts to feel.
What a great journey! Just love it.
@TrudeauHalifaxPhotos
Thanks
Thanks Mads for another great video :)
Sven Iversen tak far ;)
You're photos are so inspiring to get out and shoot more. Can you talk about how you're able to get photos like "conquerer" without other tourist and people in the background? Do you photoshop people out after the fact or are you able to find times and angles to avoid crowds? I'm curious about the volume of people in some of these touristy areas. Thanks
On that day there weren't that many people and if some are in my way I just clone them out yet :)
great video Mads, I also agree in post processing, how much in post is down to the subject matter, some images need more editing than others, where 'art' is concerned, I do believe that while the importance of rule of thirds, leading lines etc are relevant and intrinsic to photography, I think that there is an element of luck and spontaneity involved somewhere in the process, oh and a lot of patience :-)
" love thy editing " 100% agree :)
Some great advice, we’ll done.
Some good tips there Mads.
I like watching movies, and not only the storyline, but what light did they use, what angles. It can sometimes grab me like the opening scene of James Bond Spectre, the scene in the market is amazing cinematography.
Yes, movies can inspire a lot! :)
I think the one thing I have learnt,and that is the use of negative space.You do not have to fill your photo with various objects or subjects as these can be a distraction to the viewer.I hope you understand and that I am going in the right direction.Would like to see you using some more what I would call consumer type equipment,as those of us that love photography do not have the budget to spend on the top end cameras and lenses.
Excelente, thanks
Can't stop watching 🙂 ... And learning
Another Top Rated Video You Nailed it Yet again........... Please have a view at John Free Talks Discipline in Photography
nice one, how exactly can I get some criticism for my photos
Thanks for sharing, great presentation and showing the inspiration that fires you're way of creativity. It's also enables us to perceive the living elements which is also the score of music & colour.
You're very welcome Michael. And yes, exactly :)
Try out Patrick Rochon and what he writes about Tao. It is mainly aimed at lightpainting but his articles in the TAO LP series are an awesome read for any kind of artist because he talks about art and inspiration in general.
Dennis Berka thanks for the tip! Gotta check that out!
If you are coming through Germany again let me know would be interesting to combine some epic landscape with lightpainting ;)
Thanks for these great tips. I love the idea of studying art. This is inspiring. My tip is to become interested in people. I do not mean, random shots of people in the street. I mean people who have made life interesting for themselves, i.e. farmers, artists, market sellers. They can be very obliging and you do not have to take intrusive shots of their face. It could just be a little detail. Works for me.
Chris Hunt that's a nice tip! Also you can learn a lot from people :)
great stuff!
Joe Choi tarheelgarden thanks a bunch :)
Hey mads i really enjoy your you tube videos they are very interesting and capturing, now i would like to comment on the idea of post processing, while i agree with you that your raw image is just a negative to be developed and which you absolutely must know how because its really the last 30-35% addition that will make or break the picture, the real work of capturing the image with composition and light is really in your camera, and as u say there is no right or wrong in the style of photography because after all its an art and taste and vision of how u want to express an idea or a feel as such if u are a realist like my self you just want to show reality as is and hence the minimalistic post processing but if you would like to add another feeling to the image then u may add contrast or saturation to your image to enhance that feeling , and while this is not wrong, its really somehow philosophical as how you want to portray your self just like different artists have different concepts of what art is about, so i agree you must must learn editing and must know how to do it perfectly but i believe in minimalistic additions to the picture because i dont want to add colour or contrast that didn’t exist because my philosophy here is that I’m trying to share and express what i saw in reality not creating something from my imagingation.
Love the Thumbnail! 😁 - Your knowledge is beyond the standard photographer, from you we can learn a great deal! Will you edit my photos, I'm crap at PP! haha - Hope you're enjoying Iceland.
Ginger Photographer only you can edit your photos because only you know what you wanna tell with the photo ;)
But thanks a lot! Always appreciated and I'm happy you feel you can learn a lot :)
Bruger du Lr/Ps eller Capture One, og hvorfor?
Jeg bruger Cr/PS, fordi det er det jeg har lært :)
Most unique tips i would say. Most photographers say do everything in the field and less processing but I love the way I have the power to change the scene as I want in post processing. It's like God. I can bring light, make it dark, bring mist, clone a person or a object. Althought that's way too far from reality
Great advice mass 😀
steven peachey you are very welcome :)
There’s nothing wrong about specializing. Monet had his lily pond; Cezanne had Mt St-Victoire. Many very successful landscape photographers stay that way their entire careers. You and Toma Bonciu are fascinating because you both are expanding your horizons as photographers. Good luck and may neither of you suffer the fate of many pioneers!
👍👍Thanks!
This vid is truth, and it took me a little while to acknowledge this very fact. Many old shoolers dont get it....
Interesting vlog Mads. I agree & disagree with some of your thoughts. It would take a live Q&A session to discuss all you have mentioned methinks. Will watch this episode with interest to see how and what others have to say. :)
I have a tip for shooting people (phrasing). A lot of people like myself cannot pose well. They look unnatural. I find the best thing to do is make them think they are going to pose but catching with a natural smile by making them laugh a bit. Usually the results are a lot better but be ready for the shot. Take it with a grain of salt but worth trying. I liked the results.
Brian B yes, that worked for me too in the past :)
Great teaching video. I think so many TH-cam creators do not have the production and editing skills. As usual your segments are just great. They are the correct skills on teaching yourself better photography. One negative, can you cut down on your edits on yourself or change the shot or dissolve. I find it distracting to an otherwise great tutorial.
Tom Duncan whether the edits are distracting or not is quite a matter of preference, I think - they surely help to get life into talking head stuff. But although I like it, I can see why not everybody would...
Penta Sonic Nature Photography yes I agree it is a matter of taste. Coming from a news and documentary background jump cuts make me unhappy. So many TH-cam clips from other people distract me so much I give up watching. The quick use of overlay can make the viewing experience so much better.
Tom Duncan I've tried with the fading but it looks weird to my eyes. Jump cuts are not optimal, but I prefer these to fades. I'm trying to keep them to a minimum, but I'm really bad at memorising my scripts and I don't have a teleprompter :p
Ecellent :)
Wow. Finally something truly useful. You touched many good points on photography which I believe to be very important. I am one of those photographers who tries to portray the picture as close as what I saw in the moment but as I progress in my work I find it harder and harder to stick to that because I want to sometimes enhance something in the picture that wasn’t punctuated. And as you said, photography is and art and the camera is only capturing data so it does makes sense to do with that data as much as you can to make that place or moment your own. Also about studying art, I’ve found that to be the most important aspect because most of the photographers I follow and I’ve read on use art (sculptures, paintings, music, etc) to inspire their photographs! Sorry for the long winded comment.
Thanks for this great video! Just subscribed!
If you could take a peak at my work I would be very grateful :)
Web: www.bliphotography.com
Or
Instagram: beliveinc
BeLiveInc thank you very much! It means a lot that you understood my point. I fully respect people for having their goals with their photos. And if they want to portray what they see, it's really cool! It's also nice to hear you have that itch to optimize your photos. I do the same - always :)
Had a look at your photos and I think there's certainly some really great ones in there :)
I respect author but even if for landscape this advice can be PARTIALLY true, essentially this is not. Optics (lenses) and technique: this is what generally make the product perfect. Most award winner life photographers never ever use editing (we don't count crop and zoom in zoom out here). This applies also to architecture photo and churches interior shooting. And for example 2:49 "before" IS better.
Bla bla bla.... So here's my tip on improving your photography! Just do it like Mads - simply go to every damn place out there that is absolutely instafamous and take the shots everyone else does. You literally can't take a bad picture there, processed or not. Wasn't that a simple tip?
Waldo Wolf, it was simple, but not one I'd go with for improving your photography.
Well no. And you are the best example for what I was saying! Why suggest editing? Yes it can improve the look and mood of an image, but it doesen't compensate for a bad composition or a bad subject. I mean cmon, Eibsee, Lago di Braies, Seceda, Geroldsee, Burg Eltz, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway etc. etc. etc. ... you get it. An instagram search on these places immediately states the obvious. You can take bad images infront of your doorstep, but you literally can't take bad images in these places, just because they are simply stunning - and that is even without editing. So it's not about editing it is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION that makes for a good image. And your videos match 100% with instagrams most famous locations, so whats the point here directing everyone to editing, instead of recommend doing it like you do - which is basically taking the same compositions that everyone else does? Sorry but i don't see anything innovative here (especially not in the compostitions - they're all "sure shots")... I'm gonna repeat my "pro-tip" - get a smartphone, snapseed or vsco and some plane tickets to these locations - et voila the landscape photographer of todays age is born!
no... If you are going to somewhere new, you may be inspired, but you can still take bad photos. I know a couple of world travellers who take "snapshots" of where they have been. Not good photos by any stretch. On the other hand, a good photographer CAN take a good image on their doorstep.
Of course I was exaggerating to clarify my point, and yes of course a good photographer can take good images infront of his/her doorstep BUT that is exactly my point!! Why does Mads only travel to the absolute marvellous and iconic landscape photography hotspots to then tell his audience how important editing is? Why not (as a good photographer) show how editing or composition can improve images taken infront of your doorstep instead of an image of divine icelandic shores or faroese waterfalls? Let me tell you why! It is fear! It is the fear of not suceeding, of not "bringing home" marvellous images, of not getting enough likes because (of thinking) the content cannot compete with other images in the social media, that drive people like Mads to go to these "instagram brothels" over and over again! You know it's sort of preaching water and drinking wine?! What I expect from a "5 TOP tips how to ACTUALLY improve your photography" video from a "professional" like Mads who seeks to appear as an authority in this case (otherwise he wouldn't produce such a video I suppose...), aren't vague statements of "study other forms of art", "get into review groups" and blablabla while he travels from iconic landscape to iconic landscape taking pictures of some of the most rewarding landscapes in the world (while not including that into his "TOP 5 TIPS"). I consider this kind of dishonest and that's why I was saying Location matters more than anything else (which is solely based on the impression you get when you look at Mads uploaded videos which add up to a good list of top places to visit and easily come home with great images).
for all I know, Mads lives in Scandinavia (which is probably a good bet based on his name) and many of these locations ARE his front door. He is also allowed to travel and get inspiration from a new location just like any other person
Also the point is more strongly brought home with good images. If he made mediocre images from "bad" locations would he have as much credibility? Or at least as many views? Maybe, maybe not.
This is the first video of this producer I have seen, and he has some good advice whether you believe him or not...
Some good tips there Mads.