Why Good Photos aren’t Great.
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This week I'm doing some autumn photography, but mostly I'm talking about the difference between good photos and great photos, at least for me...
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My dad was a pretty good photographer, mostly documenting day-to-day life at home, piece of advice he gave me when trying to interest me in photography was to never take a picture of anything that was available as a postcard.
Unless you want to make some money selling postcards.
❤
Good advice!
why?
@@BunToomobecause you could always buy a postcard.
I've learned more from the exercise of going to a location and trying to get 10 decent and different compositions out of it, telling different stories, than I ever have from travelling to new places. It's like gym training for athletes, at least to me.
“Do you even shoot, bro?”
Love the gym comparison
As a native of north Wales myself, I love your local videos where I can play the game of "where did he take that?". Nice work, as always.
youre not alone dude! ive been doing that aswell haha :)
@@keegantheveganat0r And another playing that game tonight. Not a local but have spent so much time in the area, and recognised so many spots.
Yep. Fellow North Walian using a lot of these videos for inspiration!
Can anyone tell me where that bridge is, at 0:10 ? Definite deja vu vibe about that one, but I'm not sure if I've actually been there or not.
@@wearebikers5573 Llanberis Pass
Elevating mudanity is my favorite part about going somewhere and taking photos along the way. Everyone's taken photos of the big landmarks and all that, but in a certain mindset you can look at everyday spots, and some will frame themselves such that you go "Well, nobody else is going to capture that, but it deserves capturing, so I guess I'll do it."
Elevating the commonplace to art. A worthwhile objective I'd say. That was the goal of the impressionists. Keep up the good work!
9:59 The reason you prefer the second shot... it has a human element.
Nature in an uneasy juxtaposition with human made stuff is always compelling.
All of the photos you've suggested... are intriguing for the human elements within them.
Nature is excruciatingly beautiful... but a portrait of a person will always be of far more interest,
than one of a flower. It is the same innate psychological trait that compels us towards pareidolia.
"but a portrait of a person will always be of far more interest"
eh, not really
I have also been being drawn to those types of photos recently and I couldn’t figure out what was drawing me so much too them. But you put it so perfectly - it’s the skill of photographers photographing unremarkable things
I’d much rather spend my time photographing remarkable things to be quite honest..
I love doing "Mundane" photography. Its very fun to challenge myself to find beauty in the mundane. Eggleston is of course a big influence but also the people youve shown in your video today are big influences of mine too :)
I think the reason you like photos that are out of the ordinary, is that so often, they tell a story and that's something you talk about a lot on your channel. A great example is the dilapidated building in Greenland: it leaves the viewer wondering where it is, what is was originally used for, when was it abandoned, and why. I like photos that make you ponder. Yes, a beautiful scene is stunning to look at but a photo with a story creates a conversation.
I gotta say at first I wasn't very fond of his dry humor, but it's kinda growing on me now, makes a good pair with the honest introspections that I relate to so much. I'm a beginner/hobbiest photographer and I thought many of my photos were just wrong, although I like them, the more the more I do see the technical mistakes on them, but this channel is making me feel more comfortable with my style overall. So thank you
I'm not a photographer, I'm an artist, but the photos you took at the start remind me of something I love very much - the livelihood of the mundane backgrounds of Ghibli movies. Miyazaki has an eye for the wonder in the mundane, and captures it perfectly in his watercolours, and later in the process, in the finished backgrounds. I think there's something to love about the mundane and the unremarkable, and just like you, I hope I one day get to have that talent to beautifully capture that wonder within my own craft, of course.
Been a slow autumn in terms of the colour rotation - we're only just starting to get some reds down here in South Wales. Unfortunately the weather has also been utter bollocks (as per tradition). Wish I was in the north for it - looks lovely!
Fully agree with you, learning photography one tends to go to the "nice" photos, but it's always interesting to find a more personal look into everyday contexts
I think the snowstorm shot is great, weirdly for the reasons you talked about here. A giant mountain just barely struggling through, something we often see filling a whole frame just taking up a portion of the frame here, is lovely to me. Id take a print of that honestly. I agree it isnt a 'mundane' thing shot strangely or ingeniously to make it work, but it is a normal thing (a rocky mountain) shot in a way that makes me think of it differently. If you sell it let me know!
Well put James. Getting "remarkable" images from otherwise "unremarkable" locations is the main reason I enjoy the hobby. Smartphones make pretty quick work of converting Honeypot locations into Bangers and the internet is overflowing with them.
James, I'm really glad you took the time to explain the reasoning behind some of your work, because, to be honest, I have spent some time thinking "Why on Earth are you taking a photo of that!?" I get it now, and actually it matches up quite well to my philosophy when I take photos. Years ago, I came across a saying that I kind of adopted, which goes like this.."Never overlook the miraculous nature of seemingly ordinary things." I now deliberately try to look for the 'seemingly ordinary things' when out with my camera.
Amazing video and amazing commentary!!!
6:40 “That is nice, but I’m not surprised that that looks nice.” You put into words so simply but effectively my attraction to amazing photography of ordinary things. And the two examples at the end blew my mind!!! When you showed the first picture, I was like well that looks hard to top. But the second picture made my jaw drop. Amazing work as always!!!
My favorite part of your channel is watching you work through the little mental issues that come with doing any form of art work for a long time. (and watching you try to rationalize gear purchases, which we all do 😉)
You make an excellent point. I live in a very "photogenic" city with lots of tourists. I feel like I've gotten every photo that I can of the area. Finding inspiration can be really hard when you are just looking at the same thing day-in and day-out. Finding photos in places other people can't is really where the rubber meets the road I think.
I love your blatherings, James, and they all make sense. I'm also drawn to that type of photography, but couldn't quite put my finger on the "why" of it. You've nailed it perfectly. I personally can't bring anything new in terms of creativity or vision to iconic locations, but I'm good at observing small moments around me and that's what I enjoy.
An interesting photo of an interesting scene is interesting, but an interesting photo of an unremarkable scene is fascinating
I've always loved your work, James. There's a sense of peace with them, while still giving the viewer things to explore and take in in-frame. Thank you for all your sharing!
Yes!!! Love this video. I was just on holiday in England and Scotland and have been on largely this exact same kick. Making the mundane beautiful and telling a compelling story of wherever I happen to be - not looking for the obvious "good" photos, but making a compelling image out of the ordinary. Theres an element of honesty to it that is so motivating and rewarding to me. Which I think is also why i enjoy your videos and editing style of them. Cheers.
Totally understand! There are lots of 'pretty' things to make images of, but the unusual is what I've become drawn to, also... I've found myself wandering down alleys and streets that are not common walking lanes.
Once you move away from honeypot locations and classical rules of composition there's a fine line between originality and mediocrity. Easy to rely on post processing as well. iIt's hard to assess your own work objectively. Living where you do probably has the biggest impact on pictures I find. It's also a refreshing reaction to the more glamorous locations as well. Alex Soth's pictures do it for me in that regard. Nice to see your career continuing to do well 👍
Nail on the head there. It can end up being an exercise of taking pictures of things that seemingly look interesting, but lack substance (to be completely honest, the shots early in the video with the sign and bushes are.... pointless and largely uninteresting in my subjective perspective). Fine line and who is to say what distinguishes good from bad at that point. Still need to have a good subject and coherent composition (even "unconventional" compositions still need to let the eye be caught and follow some sort of logic through the image)
I found this channel as an absolute beginner to photography, and what you’re still teaching me is the “how” is not as important as the “what”, and to think more about what I’m taking photos of, instead of which setting, what exposure, or lens etc.
I would describe it as contrast. Your human/nature philosophy contrasts two characteristics, as does your red huts in snowy scenery contrast two colours. I think the photos you showcased were environmentally contrasting too. As a related side note, that’s why I prefer autumn scenes with a clear sky, the autumn hues against a blue background are opposites on a colour wheel and go together so beautifully. Excellent work as always James.
Just wanted to mention that all the photos you highlighted had fujifilm-like color editing or filters on it. That makes 'ordinary' photos stand out more generally.
The longer I’ve been a photographer the more I’ve been drawn to simpler scenes that rely on a photographers skill and creativity. I think this happens to a lot of us, hence the draw to more simple cameras or even film. Loved the message here, great video James.
The landscape and scenery is just absolutely insane! Beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe it 📷 thank you for sharing, always love your videos and photos
I have to agree although I did go out to shoot autumn this year I have been leaning more towards street/urban work lately. Always enjoy the videos James
It's interesting you put this conversation of "good"/"great". I agree completely. But, ironically, I think I prefer your "good" photo more (the mountain in the complete myst) than your "great" one. Because the mountain in the myst seams like a suspension, looks unreal, impossible, and so it's more surprising, knowing that it is real.
James, I've been watching your channel for quite some time... and you're consistently one of my favorites - if not THE favorite - I watch on TH-cam. I really appreciate both your photographic and presentation styles. Thanks for the effort and talent.
You hit the nail on the head James. I'm finding I'm drawn to images of ordinary things made to look amazing by the photographer. Thats one of the reasons I like your style. I relate to that mindset as I cant travel due to work and money so I have to find images to take and I love doing that. Thank you James for another interesting video.
Can't really say that that way of thinking aligns with why I watch photography videos.
If I wanted the mundane, I'd go outside and shoot myself. No lack of the mundane around here.
I much prefer to watch the "honeypot" photography because that is something I don't get to experience every day and it helps as a source of inspiration.
With that said, I do still enjoy your work, regardless of if it's mundane or extraordinary subjects.
I lived in Nant Gwynant, near Beddgelert for 6 years, but had to move away for work. These photos really make me feel nostalgic for the wonderful time spent there. Thank you
"Making the unremarkable look remarkable" - one of the best quotes on photography I have heard recently. Thanks James!
Love love love this video and the concepts you’re discussing. You’ve been a great inspiration for my photography and following you has really gotten me to push myself to find the remarkable scenes in the ‘unremarkable’ places.
Cheers James!
I love these kind of videos! I don’t like gear review or basic tips because I don’t have money and know the basics. Complete vlog style videos can be fun but are hard to analyze and really learn from. These kind of videos really feel like they are about the honest art of photography, and it’s easily taught me more than any other photography TH-camr
you're putting to words some things that I had an inking of when doing photography. I LOVE showing the everyday world in interesting ways. Its very rewarding
I really appreciate this video James. While I did a lot of fall photography and I enjoy it, what really strikes me are the unexpected moments you talk about. Those are some of my most memorable photos.
A project I'm working on for the last few months is called "Industrial Austria", where I search for human and industrial made subjects in the most beautiful landscapes possible.
I learned a lot during this project.
Define good. We all make images that please our eye, and at times we have to shoot to please others, but the shots we take are the shots that speak to us. A well taken shot of a landscaoe may not be to all peoples tastes, in the same way that a well positioned piece of street furniture may not evoke the desired response the photographer is after. Unless I'm shooting commercially, I dont grade whats good or bad per se, rather I look at the shots that didnt chime and learn from them, and above all I shoot for me. If I like it then its a win. If others like it then it's an added bonus.
I'm not a photographer but I really feel the goal of elevating the mundane!
The way you photographed the mountains in both your "good" and "great" photos reminds me of Park Dae Sung's ink brush paintings, especially Mt. Halla (2019)
9:58 I actually thought the first photo you showed of yours was great and better than the other one, just because it was so mystical (we don't know what's going on -> mystery) whereas with the other one we see everything (but it's still good)
I love this! This is so inspiring. I live in a small town and all of a sudden, I feel like I’ve got a great new challenge. I really like that remarkable-image-of-an-unremarkable-setting aesthetic too.
Love that you featured so many of my favourite photographers. Most of them I've been following for years. Gustav is the only one I've met and he's an absolutely guy. He is as humble and friendly as his photography.
I also love that sort of images, obviously, and I agree with you about why they are interesting.
I also really really like your people/nature series. These shots in this video I really like, as it is at the same time obvious what is man-made and which is nature. But the palette makes it blend together and somewhat form an symbiosis.
I was already wondering what it is that I like your photography so much. Your thoughts helped me to understand better. Finding the surprise in everyday scenes. Very good. And I also like your subtle colors.
Thanks for sharing your work.
Thanks! I agree with you that sometimes we need to think outside of the honey pot box. I took a photo for a local contest. The theme is fall/autumn. It is looking out my front the window at a Japanese Red Maple which for some odd reason still has leaves, 10 days past its normal drop date. I included the inside window frame for a reference and a blanket of one of our fall sports teams on the back of the couch. Wish me luck.
Keep up the great work and I appreciate your nonchalant delivery.
Please keep up the introspective reflection portion of your videos! It really helps us beginners expand our thoughts on photography, so appreciated!!
It makes perfect sense. I got tired of always seeing the same incredible landscapes, the same photo 1000 times. Photographing the everyday has helped me to learn to look, to enjoy the light and the small moments. I notice things I used to overlook and I enjoy photography more than before.
Interesting. I liked both photos in the example at the end, but found the first one much more interesting. I'd easily buy a print of that one over the second.
I feel a very similar draw, both in what I like to shoot and the work that speaks to me. This is somewhat an extension of the street photography mindset - I've always been drawn to look for moments of decay, abandon, emptiness... the remnants of human activity, rather than the moment of that activity taking place.
James - I love your work, mostly for the reasons you mentioned in the video. I've even tried to replicate a similar style in some of my own work, interspersed with my normal landscape photographs.
I think you may have missed a shot at 3:25 where there is a fleeting moment of interesting juxtaposition.
The white bungalow aligns with the top of the wall column thing, the telephone pole aligns with the edge of the white bungalow and the wall column, the diagonal telephone wire completes a triangle with the white bungalow and the telephone pole, the distant buildings are framed by the pole, the horoizontal wire and the trees.
It's not fantastic, but it's not bad.
I'd crop a bit off the left, of course.
That'll be £20, please. 😂
It makes all the sense in the world to me particularly I too am on this change in direction when it comes to photography. Taking more interest in the more mundane that surprises (with the human element) from a traditional landscape scenario. Thanks for making this video!
Thank you, I've vey much enjoyed your introspection in this video. At 07:20 you say "I'm trying more and more to focus more on unremarkable places and make them look remarkable"...which surprised me, I would have said what you do is to remind us what is remarkable about the remarkable places that surround us all in our daily lives, that we have become accustomed to and no longer find remarkable, having lost our childish wonder or being too busy as adults to pause and really look...
love the way you get introspective with photography, I thought I was the only one questioning what the random leaf in the background is trying to tell me
I totally agree with you here.
The funny thing is I was thinking recently that your photos are starting to have a similar feeling to the photographers you mentioned in this video, so well done on conveying the feeling you’re trying to convey.
Also love the human element in nature and have been thinking about creating a body of work around “Human Nature” too. Cool to hear you having the same idea. I don’t feel alone now haha
Great video. Inspiring to try and think outside of the box. I've always enjoyed spotting quirky things to take photos of, as well as the classic vistas.
I enjoy your slant on photography and always watch your videos. They show me a perspective that I'm unlikely to ever use in my own efforts.
Love the estethics going on here! Thanks for bringing us out in your countryside!
I completely agree with you. I find that out of any photoshoot I've done personally, I had low hopes for one location in a city near me as I mainly focus on landscapes, macros and aerial. However, this city proved to be the photoshoot that I have gotten some of my best images.
Always, always interesting. Very enjoyable to watch and informative. Thanks, James.
Making the ordinary appear extraordinary is a lifetimes work absolutely. I haven’t got there yet but it’s what gets me out of bed in the morning and standing like a weirdo in the middle of the street focusing on the road or a drain gutter 😂😂😂 Long May it continue I say…thanks for the content as always.
Great video! You've inspired me to go back through some old photo batches with this new viewpoint. I already have a few shots in mind that captured my attention initially but I pushed to the side for more idyllic shots.
You have described for me perfectly the style of photography I like to see and strive to create. Im new to photography so that’s very helpful! :) great video and channel all around!
Awesome content, it’s so refreshing to hear someone like you reflect on what makes a good photo. I’m an art student and I share many of your thoughts, in fact I try to do the same through painting 👍
This is quite interesting, I've never conciously thought about that. James you've inspired me once again, I think my next time going out I'll specifically look out for places most wouldn't take pictures of. Great video as always, I very much enjoy this philosophical side of the channel
This videos inspiring. The sports comparison is a really good way at explaining all art and the retrospective relationship to “the underground” part of that art culture.
For example: with most mainstream music, you know what your getting. It’s not entirely surprising and people love it and that’s cool! But if you look at underground music and who is creating it, the type of stuff that inspires those artists to create art of their own, tends to be surprising, fresh, or timeless.
I think this can apply to all art forms. Sure you can go the easiest route in any art form but easy isn’t always captivating. Captivating art inspires captivating artists.
I totally agree. It’s the ability to create something really evocative out of the everyday that always impresses me the most. Todd Hido’s Houses at Night series springs to mind or Finn Beales is really good at including these kinds of shots in his series. Speaking of which when are you going to have Finn on the channel? You both live in Wales so I assume his place is a a 20 minute drive from yours?
Thanks James for sharing your thoughts and comments on an interesting subject....as a hobbyist I don't have the technical knowledge of a professional photographer, however I always strive to improve my work & your (this) video helps me understand my shortcomings..... cheers from Australia 🦘🦘😊
A really interesting thought. I really liked the images from the other photographers that you showed (and yours of course!). Making the ordinary extraordinary is a really intriguing prospect and something that I will try to keep in mind going forwards. I like the idea of the challenge of it. Also, I booked a place on the trip to Svalbard yesterday and I can’t bloody wait! 😁
I really enjoy your perspective on photography. I've also enjoyed watching your style develop from the early days when you were doing composite photography. I also really enjoy the videos you make with Mads watching him go mental when you are photographing forklifts and traffic cones ... 😁
6:49 man i've been searching for why i don't like so much content that i see and hear... that's it right on the head. the shit that really pushes me is the stuff that isn't expected - be that comedy, yt vids, music, even life.
cool observations man
Oversaturation is an issue for me. A lot of photographers still use too much colors in their images, thats partially due to the new cameras oversaturating them as well. And this oversaturation starts too look very "cartoonish".
Ughhh yes the new iPhones are horrible with the over saturated colors too
This may be a bit random, but I think the way you say the word "photo" is really comforting haha
Nicely put. I was up in exactly that area a month ago, and the colours have changed. I've an interest in industrial archaeology, so your points have a lot of resonance.
Seeing such aggressively Welsh scenery in the first few seconds was like a jumpscare to me, lol
Love this video! I'm not a photographer myself but your talking points and the shots you show really interested me. Maybe I'll find myself out there with a camera sometime
Your first picture has some dynamic tension happening with the road curving to the left and the fence curving right. That’s what caught my eye.
For the very reason you are describing whenever I visit a new town or area I will always check out the local industrial estate. Preferably early on a Sunday morning when there's nobody about.
Thank you for your valuable insights! I really enjoyed this video.
Thank you for this!
Hey James, it could be quite nice to see a preview in the printstore for the up coming print that is going to be available to purchase.
Love your videos!
its amazing how much your have grown and how good you are now!
I went to an exhibition for Nan Goldin whose photography is a real testament to making the ‘ugly’ parts of life beautiful
Interesting to put it in words like this! It kind of blows my mind. Now I get why I find so many of my photos uninteresting ^^
I like these photos because they usually show life.. things you can relate back to thing seen in your own life.
Lovely video as always 👍
I love this video man! I totally resonate with your point!
Great video and for me, an introduction to you and your channel. I'm new to photography. I visited a friend and traveled by train from Amsterdam to Montpellier with him, and he gave me a cheap reusable point-and-shoot to try out. He'd brought along his old and customized Pentax Spotmatic. Once he got the photos back, the one that really stood out, was from Sete. It was a really foggy morning so the view was uninspired and the colours gray. He sneakily took a picture of me as I was leaning over the edge of the walkway to look at jellyfish. I think it requires a particular skill to be able to see something insignificant like that and know that it's worth capturing!
Loved this, first video of yours I have come across. Instant subscribe. Thank you!
What a good video. Darn. Totally changed what I look for in scenes, or rather, helped me identify why some scenes I thought should have tickled me, didn't.
Yep. 100% agree. Once you've learned how to frame, work shadows, rock the exposure triangle and all that, if you're going to make art - and at least strive towards something that has an aesthetic, maybe your signature approach - one part of this formula has to be finding the sublime in the mundane - and surprising the eye! It's like putting cards down on a table, counting them out: nope, nope, nice, Ok, meh, nope. But then you stop on one and go, Wow, or Ooh, or Whoa! This is what separates the wheat from the chaff, the also-rans from those who've taken their time, silently, often alone, walking the streets with the equipment and dedicating an hour or two a day to learning how to see...and then translating that "seeing" into a photograph that elevates, illuminates, inspires. I'm still on the journey, long way to go. Nice work here. I'm a fan. / P.S. Love the warm, clear, colourful studio setup. Gorgeous. And the sound is top. Bravo.
I *always* carry me polarizer with me. lol. Thanks for keeping making these videos weekly, Mister James. Much appreciated and always looking forward to watching the next one.
Hey this did make sense. A lot of sense actually. I think you've hit the nail on the head in figuring out what makes the difference between a photo that is technically competent and something that really... stands out. I love the concept of that being "the element of surprise." Gonna sit with that one for a while.
Entertaining & informative as always James, looking forward to the next. As a relatively new subscriber thanks to Roman, I'll more of your video library.
I really enjoy your videos and this one was no exception. Keep it up mate!
I’ve been thinking this a lot lately. Cool to see it put into words
I actually thought your "good" photo was Great... Absolutely loved it! And your "great" photo was good 😆hahaha... Thank you for these insights and thoughts, I very much relate!!
Could relate or kind of relate to your line of thoughts. For me, what I thought was going through were periods of stagnancy or burnout; what I used to like to shoot in certain way/manner/style... no longer could or no longer fancy...hmm... sustainable? And often it was photos that made mundane interesting... makes you think...question... start to gain attention more. Strange isn't?