Sorry for the ridiculous waffle at the start, I honestly try to be concise... 👉 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
Such "ridiculous waffle" adds character to you and your videos, watching them feels more like talking to a human, than just digesting technical information from a manual book. Please, continue to be yourself :)
There are people who think they make interesting and entertaining videos and there are those that do. Keep up the good work James, you always brighten my day.
Your advice of taking photos about things rather than of things has helped my photography for a long time James. I never knew why my photos felt so "boring" until I started actively trying to apply this. Thanks a lot mate
Agreed, I've always tried to take a shot, or compose a shot so when looked at, the viewer would be able to "place" themselves where I was standing. Then, hopefully their imagination would add the other senses. Maybe not hotdogs, but the smell and sound of the ocean, lol
All the images you illustrated this video with are beautiful, but I have to say that the portrait of the Husky in the snow is an absolute masterpiece. The subtle colours, the position of the dog and the gorgeous white of the snow are incredibly beautiful. It is totally captivating.
There's a saying I come back to repeatedly: "A confused mind always says 'no'." It's resonate with the message you share here, James. And I also appreciate the idea that *adding* something to the frame can simplify by way of providing a focus point. I admit to often thinking, "now, if that person would just move...," or wishing whatever I saw as "distracting" would get out of the way. I knew on some level that those a possible points of interest, but I would neglect to use them as part of the story if I saw my subject as something else. Thank you for the reframe! And to your final point, I'm laughing a bit because your friend Nigel (it was through him I found your channel) just posted about how he's moving away from Aperture Priority and towards Manual... I'm thinking you two could have a good little debate about the pros/cons!
I used to think that only “real” photographers use manual mode but I’m about to go out on a street session in aperture priority and am really excited to be able to experience the moment and capture on the fly instead of being buried in my settings.
Great video! I agree with everything you say - with one caveat. I think what you're referring to as "simplicity" is better expressed as "clarity". The examples you give serve to disambiguate the story in the image making it easier for the viewer to understand.
Mr. James... This is a philosohy youtube channel masquerading as a photography channel, and I absolutely love it. Im here for the ridiculous waffle. Please continue, thanks 😄
Some good examples to qualify your point, enjoyable waffle and made me smile when you completely undermined Nigel’s video this week with your comment on aperture priority… 😄👍🏻
I paused this video 11:05 to write this comment because I feel like I am one of those who felt a little asharted that after many years of taking photos, I am still using apparture priority most of the time. I do use manual or Blub but not as often. Your comment made me feel that I am not doing anything wrong or feel small about it. Other than that the topic of the vide is on point. I don't know I haven't heard anyone talking about adding things to make a photograph better but always "less-is-more". Thank you for another exceptional tutorial.
At around 3:13 you suggest that photographs can't afford to be complex or confusing, and that it should be clearly obvious what the photograph is conveying to the viewer. Actually, the opposite can be true. If you don't see the meaning of the photograph at first glance, then you realise there is a surprise somewhere in the image, you feel a connection to the photographer. Some photographs show more than some people think.
THANK YOU! this is the kind of video i was searching for a very long time, i know this kind of video can improve my photography a lot! please if u have time, make other like this!!!!
Have to admit that you almost lost my focus when you got to the Brushetta (which I love btw...) but once you got through that, it started getting super SUPER interesting very quickly. Very glad I stuck with it and watched the whole video. Bravo me! What an effort.... 😜 Thanks James!!
I've just recently sent one of those beginner emails, mentioning not knowing where to start. This is a great place to try, though, as my pictures are precisely the opposite of simple. For what it's worth, while I mentioned not knowing where to start, I would like to know how you got yourself to this point, especially that first step away from beginning photography.
Some very interesting points made here 👍I have a couple of questions though. 1 why don’t you get rid of the lawn and plant tomatoes instead? 2 If you can’t smell photos, why do so many of mine stink? 🤷♂️
Your distinction between minimalism and simplicity is very interesting - I think I've just l;earnt something about viewing minimalist works! And I agree, adding a centre of interest can paradoxically make the image less interesting. Pretty deep topics, thanks for discussing them.
Very insightful and useful advice! Thank you. I’ve been following you for a while, and you try to pass yourself off as a goof, but you really are quite brilliant.
James, that bird was clearly eating some bruschetta 😂 Another thought provoking video and very helpful, thank you and fabulous example photos to explain your rationale 👍👍
I'm very keen on using shallow DOF in my landscape photos, a lot of the time (not always but often) a photograph with everything in focus feels a bit directionless. I keep thinking to myself "a photograph of everything isn't a photograph of something".
Just came across this video I will subscribe to you when you said do you like the photo that's all that matters and then try to make it better that really got me I'm a beginner photographer and that just spoke to me because my family doesn't understand how I enjoy photography so much a lot of people don't have the vision that I have just wanted to say thank you
Waffle or not, it was interesting. I'm still at the start of landscape photography as a hobby and hoovering up as many tips and techniques as I can to give me a head start. Your point regarding a focal point within a photo really helps. The idea of giving perspective by adding a question, and something that isn't part of the permanent view giving that question (my garbled interpretation of your "waffle" as you call it) was informative and useful. Thank you.
Another topic for the photography book I'm hoping you're going to write at some point 😀 I do own the other three books of yours but a tips one could be fun too.
I use manual, shutter speed and aperture mode depending on what iam doing. Landscape: aperture, concerts: manual and wildlife: shutter speed. Its good to know your modes and what you can use them for.
Def one of your most thought-provoking videos...I think what you showed here is a more concrete and useful way of illustrating the need to tell a story with a photo. When we simplify a photo to the point where there is no story, it's "That's nice...next."
Bit late watching as been in Anglesey all weekend, I was just thinking about cutting a pair of gloves up instead of spending loads that i don’t have only being 16. I might get some little magnets or something so i can hold them in place when open. Great video as always bring on this weeks.
Even though I don’t do landscape photography, I love your videos and all your insight. It’s definitely made me a better photographer. I especially loved your thoughts about “do photographers take or make photos?” I would love if you did more of this analysis type vid 🔥
It does make sense to add details and make the picture more simple. To a viewer that is. It reminds me to put myself in a viewers pov more. Thanks for your video!
You’re a great teacher! Thanks. I’ve been photographing for a while, and I recently started shooting 35mm. Anyway, I’ve always wanted to be able to take simple photos, or simplistic or minimalistic, and you explained it so clearly and it was easy to understand. And, a good teacher repeats a lot - so no worries about that ;)
Hi James! Love this weeks video from you as it has inspired me to be more cognizant of the simple things in my images thus making them more interesting. Oddly, a push-pull scenario is going on as I watched Nigel's video before yours in regards to using aperture priority vs. manual mode. In the end, I guess it just comes down to what you're most comfortable with and the end result you want to achieve just as long as you understand (the key) why you're in a particular mode.
one of the best and straitforward photography tutorials I ever saw. I wish more content on YT would focus on that and not on the sensor size comparisons.
Excellent point. Well Made. Thank you. FYI, re the Cornish seabird shot, that's not a crab or mussel, it's probably a chip. Chips are the staple diet of gulls in Cornwall.
Off topic sort of: we don't see enough of your son, JP, and of Emily, too! The Kiffness and his wife had a son about the middle of this month (Jan 2022), and as you have the arts in common, and TH-cam as well, it's nice you (photographer/videographer in UK) and TK (musician video mash-up maker, in South Africa) are bringing more artists into the world.
Too often with YT photography content, we're seeing a talking head instead of actual visual content. Really appreciate the time that went into carefully selecting and crafting examples that illustrate your point. Made the video much more interesting.
Nicely argued. Thanks for these thoughts, they are helpful. I was quite often thinking about this simplicity by adding, but I never managed to come to a conclusion. Many thanks.
James, You really drive the point home about adding an element to a simple seen making it more interesting. I had a photo of a fog bow on a dam and wanted to have someone under the fog bow with upraised arms. It would have made the difference between a boring photo "of a thing" and a more interesting photo "about a thing." My Sony a7rlV with a 20mm, f1.8 could not pick up the fog bow. If it could have, I would have set the timer and ran up and got under it myself. I had to use my iPhone 11 with no timer on it.
If I've understood well, the images with an active action (walking, moving the hands, etc.) are more intesresting because we can understand what's going on. Even though a photograph is only a frame (static), a picture with an active action creates movement because we imagine that movement and pay attention to that happening. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
You know sometimes I get crap for not shooting in manual for 100 percent of the time as I prefer aperture priority with auto ISO but you know what, I want to focus on the scene and capturing what I see and what I want to capture, I don't want to fiddle and worry about my settings all the time. Just because someone shoots in full manual all the time doesn't make them a professional. I know plenty of pro's who shoot in P mode. Stop the gate keeping! Great video James!
I also often use aperture priority but with exposure compensation, which is essentially the same thing as using manual mode, as I set the aperture with the front wheel either way, and use the top rear wheel to adjust either the exposure compensation or the shutter speed. Either method results in the same f-stop and therefore exposure, except using manual makes you more aware of the SS (easy to overlook if you're in a hurry to get the shot before the light changes). Auto ISO can help as well, if your SS gets lower than desired. the main thing is to not rely 100% on any light meter--experience-based judgement is essential as no camera is "smarter" than you (probably)...
Thank you for this, it really does help. I'm glad that I also use the aperture priority, that means I'm not doing everything wrong 😂 because I don't quite understand shutter speed yet 🤣
Great advice James, thank you so much! PS: You wear the coolest clothes, including your outer gear. Wear do you buy your clothes? My husband could use some of your awesome clothing!
Sorry for the ridiculous waffle at the start, I honestly try to be concise...
👉 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
So sorry but not sorry.
Such "ridiculous waffle" adds character to you and your videos, watching them feels more like talking to a human, than just digesting technical information from a manual book. Please, continue to be yourself :)
There are people who think they make interesting and entertaining videos and there are those that do. Keep up the good work James, you always brighten my day.
you know we love it!
I love waffles (with plenty of maple syrup) so continue to waffle and we will continue to watch.
Your advice of taking photos about things rather than of things has helped my photography for a long time James. I never knew why my photos felt so "boring" until I started actively trying to apply this. Thanks a lot mate
Very true
Same
Agreed, I've always tried to take a shot, or compose a shot so when looked at, the viewer would be able to "place" themselves where I was standing. Then, hopefully their imagination would add the other senses. Maybe not hotdogs, but the smell and sound of the ocean, lol
You waffle all you like James, there’s little photography gems in there for all of us to pick up on. Thanks for sharing.
All the images you illustrated this video with are beautiful, but I have to say that the portrait of the Husky in the snow is an absolute masterpiece. The subtle colours, the position of the dog and the gorgeous white of the snow are incredibly beautiful. It is totally captivating.
Vaguely related, so see:
*The Kiffness X Haiku The Husky - Ancient Husky Melody - TH-cam*
th-cam.com/video/ihe9zV07Lgk/w-d-xo.html
There's a saying I come back to repeatedly: "A confused mind always says 'no'." It's resonate with the message you share here, James. And I also appreciate the idea that *adding* something to the frame can simplify by way of providing a focus point. I admit to often thinking, "now, if that person would just move...," or wishing whatever I saw as "distracting" would get out of the way. I knew on some level that those a possible points of interest, but I would neglect to use them as part of the story if I saw my subject as something else. Thank you for the reframe!
And to your final point, I'm laughing a bit because your friend Nigel (it was through him I found your channel) just posted about how he's moving away from Aperture Priority and towards Manual... I'm thinking you two could have a good little debate about the pros/cons!
I used to think that only “real” photographers use manual mode but I’m about to go out on a street session in aperture priority and am really excited to be able to experience the moment and capture on the fly instead of being buried in my settings.
Great video! I agree with everything you say - with one caveat. I think what you're referring to as "simplicity" is better expressed as "clarity". The examples you give serve to disambiguate the story in the image making it easier for the viewer to understand.
Thanks for that much better word. Clarity.
You are my new favorite vlogger. You shoot hand held in aperture priority. A kindred spirit !
Mr. James... This is a philosohy youtube channel masquerading as a photography channel, and I absolutely love it. Im here for the ridiculous waffle. Please continue, thanks 😄
Some good examples to qualify your point, enjoyable waffle and made me smile when you completely undermined Nigel’s video this week with your comment on aperture priority… 😄👍🏻
I paused this video 11:05 to write this comment because I feel like I am one of those who felt a little asharted that after many years of taking photos, I am still using apparture priority most of the time. I do use manual or Blub but not as often. Your comment made me feel that I am not doing anything wrong or feel small about it. Other than that the topic of the vide is on point. I don't know I haven't heard anyone talking about adding things to make a photograph better but always "less-is-more". Thank you for another exceptional tutorial.
This concept and the way you've explained it is genius
At around 3:13 you suggest that photographs can't afford to be complex or confusing, and that it should be clearly obvious what the photograph is conveying to the viewer.
Actually, the opposite can be true.
If you don't see the meaning of the photograph at first glance, then you realise there is a surprise somewhere in the image, you feel a connection to the photographer.
Some photographs show more than some people think.
Adding a "point of entry".... It's like the first word in a sentence.
You've illustrated it brilliantly.
I enjoy your waffling! 😁
Thanks for sharing!
Waffle on, James. Always enjoyable. 😄
Hi James, yes you have managed to simplify my confusion quite well.
Have not watched your videos in a long time. I return and suddenly you sound like you should be narrating a School Of Life video 😆 .
Fantastic.
Well done James. Best photography vid I've seen for a long time.
THANK YOU! this is the kind of video i was searching for a very long time, i know this kind of video can improve my photography a lot! please if u have time, make other like this!!!!
Have to admit that you almost lost my focus when you got to the Brushetta (which I love btw...) but once you got through that, it started getting super SUPER interesting very quickly. Very glad I stuck with it and watched the whole video. Bravo me! What an effort.... 😜 Thanks James!!
I've just recently sent one of those beginner emails, mentioning not knowing where to start.
This is a great place to try, though, as my pictures are precisely the opposite of simple.
For what it's worth, while I mentioned not knowing where to start, I would like to know how you got yourself to this point, especially that first step away from beginning photography.
I like the waffled the info. Keep 'em coming.
I could listen to you all day, thanks 🍻
Love the steel bezel black bay!
Stunning photos
Enlightening, appreciate the use of your photos to demonstrate your points. Thanks
Some very interesting points made here 👍I have a couple of questions though. 1 why don’t you get rid of the lawn and plant tomatoes instead? 2 If you can’t smell photos, why do so many of mine stink? 🤷♂️
Your distinction between minimalism and simplicity is very interesting - I think I've just l;earnt something about viewing minimalist works! And I agree, adding a centre of interest can paradoxically make the image less interesting. Pretty deep topics, thanks for discussing them.
Very insightful and useful advice! Thank you. I’ve been following you for a while, and you try to pass yourself off as a goof, but you really are quite brilliant.
Very interesting ideas that definitely don't get discussed as much as lens sharpness and other techie stuff. But way more useful and to the point.
James, that bird was clearly eating some bruschetta 😂
Another thought provoking video and very helpful, thank you and fabulous example photos to explain your rationale 👍👍
Except bruschetta is pronounced bru-sketta...the ch is a k not a "sh"
Not to ne too picky
One of the best and most thought provoking photography tips in a long time
I'm very keen on using shallow DOF in my landscape photos, a lot of the time (not always but often) a photograph with everything in focus feels a bit directionless. I keep thinking to myself "a photograph of everything isn't a photograph of something".
Great video! It helps to think the pictures are about something rather than of something
Love the fact that you actually have b-roll of you smelling a photo ☠️😂
The most philosophical photography video I've seen in a l-o-n-g time. Loved it... Thanks James!
Just came across this video I will subscribe to you when you said do you like the photo that's all that matters and then try to make it better that really got me I'm a beginner photographer and that just spoke to me because my family doesn't understand how I enjoy photography so much a lot of people don't have the vision that I have just wanted to say thank you
Your work is stunning!
The one at 3.50 is stunning! By the way all images are great!
Waffle or not, it was interesting. I'm still at the start of landscape photography as a hobby and hoovering up as many tips and techniques as I can to give me a head start. Your point regarding a focal point within a photo really helps. The idea of giving perspective by adding a question, and something that isn't part of the permanent view giving that question (my garbled interpretation of your "waffle" as you call it) was informative and useful.
Thank you.
Loved your video as always!
Another topic for the photography book I'm hoping you're going to write at some point 😀 I do own the other three books of yours but a tips one could be fun too.
I use manual, shutter speed and aperture mode depending on what iam doing. Landscape: aperture, concerts: manual and wildlife: shutter speed. Its good to know your modes and what you can use them for.
I loved all these simple photos which are also nicely edited
Good advice, thanks 👍
Well said !! It makes good sense! Thanks!
Def one of your most thought-provoking videos...I think what you showed here is a more concrete and useful way of illustrating the need to tell a story with a photo. When we simplify a photo to the point where there is no story, it's "That's nice...next."
James
I agree with everything you pointed out in the video
I like the way you explained it and used your pictures to explain your thoughts, definetley interesting and food for thought. Thank you
An excellent vid and very philosophical. Thank you.
Yep very true! Which the opsite can be true to if you are going for a wall of wonders like never give the eye and mind a secounds rest.
Great video James! Thanks!
That intro about grass made my day 😂
What a great video, on such an important aspect of photography, so well put across, brilliant 👍
I like the beginning, very relevant and concise. Not at all drawn out lol. I enjoyed it regardless
This is an amazingly simple yet profound way of putting it. Loved the video. I'm just now learning...
Bit late watching as been in Anglesey all weekend, I was just thinking about cutting a pair of gloves up instead of spending loads that i don’t have only being 16. I might get some little magnets or something so i can hold them in place when open. Great video as always bring on this weeks.
Excellent tip on adding interest by keeping it simple. Thanks!
I love the points you made here. Thanks. Where are the sheepies? Have a good week.
Even though I don’t do landscape photography, I love your videos and all your insight. It’s definitely made me a better photographer. I especially loved your thoughts about “do photographers take or make photos?”
I would love if you did more of this analysis type vid 🔥
It does make sense to add details and make the picture more simple. To a viewer that is. It reminds me to put myself in a viewers pov more. Thanks for your video!
I totally get the point, really learned from this. Oh and the example images were beautiful
You may be promoting simplicity, but it's something a lot of advanced photographers may have forgotten. This was a great reminder.
Your advice is always spot on mate,always inspiring!
You’re a great teacher! Thanks. I’ve been photographing for a while, and I recently started shooting 35mm. Anyway, I’ve always wanted to be able to take simple photos, or simplistic or minimalistic, and you explained it so clearly and it was easy to understand.
And, a good teacher repeats a lot - so no worries about that ;)
Good video James, thank you!
I agree simplicity is the best! I heard that before from you and always keep it in mind, take photos about and not of things! Cheers!
Very good video demonstrating what is often a common but not very well explained concept covered in videos. Thanks!
Great video. Very good advice and I especially liked the examples you used. Thank you for the work you do to make and post these!
Great advice 👍🏻
Hi James! Love this weeks video from you as it has inspired me to be more cognizant of the simple things in my images thus making them more interesting. Oddly, a push-pull scenario is going on as I watched Nigel's video before yours in regards to using aperture priority vs. manual mode. In the end, I guess it just comes down to what you're most comfortable with and the end result you want to achieve just as long as you understand (the key) why you're in a particular mode.
Great video James - very informative as usual 👍
Great and spot on video James!
I am a new subscriber to your channel and really like the ”simple” tips You give.
👌👍🔝📸
killing the game. Implementing everything today!
one of the best and straitforward photography tutorials I ever saw. I wish more content on YT would focus on that and not on the sensor size comparisons.
This is amazing James, your work and your advices are so inspiring! 🤩
This reminds me of when you were talking about "spice" in photos back in Iceland. Not too much, not too little.
Excellent point. Well Made. Thank you. FYI, re the Cornish seabird shot, that's not a crab or mussel, it's probably a chip. Chips are the staple diet of gulls in Cornwall.
Off topic sort of: we don't see enough of your son, JP, and of Emily, too! The Kiffness and his wife had a son about the middle of this month (Jan 2022), and as you have the arts in common, and TH-cam as well, it's nice you (photographer/videographer in UK) and TK (musician video mash-up maker, in South Africa) are bringing more artists into the world.
Some nice examples.
Good point 👉
Very helpful. Thank you James.
Too often with YT photography content, we're seeing a talking head instead of actual visual content. Really appreciate the time that went into carefully selecting and crafting examples that illustrate your point. Made the video much more interesting.
Nicely argued. Thanks for these thoughts, they are helpful. I was quite often thinking about this simplicity by adding, but I never managed to come to a conclusion. Many thanks.
Thoughtful and helpful video. Thank you.
James, You really drive the point home about adding an element to a simple seen making it more interesting. I had a photo of a fog bow on a dam and wanted to have someone under the fog bow with upraised arms. It would have made the difference between a boring photo "of a thing" and a more interesting photo "about a thing." My Sony a7rlV with a 20mm, f1.8 could not pick up the fog bow. If it could have, I would have set the timer and ran up and got under it myself. I had to use my iPhone 11 with no timer on it.
Like it, makes sense, lots of info I hadn't thought about, thanks James
If I've understood well, the images with an active action (walking, moving the hands, etc.) are more intesresting because we can understand what's going on. Even though a photograph is only a frame (static), a picture with an active action creates movement because we imagine that movement and pay attention to that happening. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
Its a different type of photography lesson but I love your perspective on it
Your mind is great
Well well well isn’t it a first time a great analogy has come up in this channel. So there is hope hahaha
You're a Jewel James.
Food for thought 👍🏻 nice 1
You know sometimes I get crap for not shooting in manual for 100 percent of the time as I prefer aperture priority with auto ISO but you know what, I want to focus on the scene and capturing what I see and what I want to capture, I don't want to fiddle and worry about my settings all the time. Just because someone shoots in full manual all the time doesn't make them a professional. I know plenty of pro's who shoot in P mode. Stop the gate keeping! Great video James!
I also often use aperture priority but with exposure compensation, which is essentially the same thing as using manual mode, as I set the aperture with the front wheel either way, and use the top rear wheel to adjust either the exposure compensation or the shutter speed. Either method results in the same f-stop and therefore exposure, except using manual makes you more aware of the SS (easy to overlook if you're in a hurry to get the shot before the light changes). Auto ISO can help as well, if your SS gets lower than desired. the main thing is to not rely 100% on any light meter--experience-based judgement is essential as no camera is "smarter" than you (probably)...
Great topic. And totally makes sense
Thank you for this, it really does help. I'm glad that I also use the aperture priority, that means I'm not doing everything wrong 😂 because I don't quite understand shutter speed yet 🤣
Great advice James, thank you so much! PS: You wear the coolest clothes, including your outer gear. Wear do you buy your clothes? My husband could use some of your awesome clothing!
dang this video is so helpful thank you!!