Are You Expressing Your Creativity or Just Pressing Buttons? | Adam Marelli 

This is a very well put together list. Thank you, Adam and B&H, for putting this session out there. Here is his list in text form for those who want to copy and paste it into some kind of notepad. (B) = Beginner (A) = Advanced Point of View 1. What do you want to see? (B) 2. Where is it hiding? (B) 3. Why does it matter? (A) 4. What are you missing? 5. What is your point of view? Form 6. What is the subject? (B) 7. Is it a good expression? (A) 8. What is the background? (B) 9. Is there light on the subject? (B) 10. Do you have strong figure to ground? (B) 11. What is the notional space? (A) 12. What is the minimum shutter speed? (B) 13. What is the dominant direction? (A) 14. Are there any bad overlaps? (A) 15. Are there any lights that violate the subject? (A) 16. Are there alternating rhythms? 17. Do you have a good view? Content 18. Where are the details that reveal the location? (B) 19. What is the missing element? (A) 20. How are you looking at the scene? (A) 21. Is the picture a stand alone story, a description, or a moment? (A) 22. What does the picture mean to you? 23. What might it mean for someone else?

Excellent presentation. Hardly any of my photographers friends spends more than a passing second discussing creativity and the art of capturing an image. But as you can imagine, gear talk dominates every conversation. Sad state of affairs, but one driven by the many pundits out there who are obsessed with invitations by the camera companies to their shinny, new offerings every other year. They all push gear and specs in exchange for camera company perks while hardly ever, if at all, talking about the subjects of this video. Glad to see that Adam is helping to keep the art alive.

Come for the tutorial, stay for the jokes. Adam is absolutely hilarious! And then try absorb the life-changing content. I learned so much from this presentation. Absolutely brilliant.

Fantastic seminar. Great to hear him not recommend capturing thousands of shots and sifting through them afterwards to find the one good image. As someone who began with film, every frame is precious and I can't bring myself to waste them!

Adam Marelli is so full of information. I absolutely love his Event Space's. Also, he's a natural teacher. I learn so much from each one of his talks. Mainly how much I have to learn. lol

This was well worth the time. He used all the big words and taught some serious things without sounding pretentious or getting in to Tech side of things. This is what makes up the photography. The art, the expression, everything that constitutes it. There is so much to explore. Thanks again for this beautiful lecture.

i thought this was going to be a boring session on being creative. an hour and 30 mins later...2 pages of notes later...i'm super motivated to get out there and shoot. great lessons in the video. thanks!!

I watched two of Adam's videos this weekend - they are truly the best I have seen on B&H, if not of all on RU-vid. I appreciate his interest in connecting art and form with photography and the philosophical perspectives. Thanks!

That was one of the best mentoring videos I've watched and has definitely given me food for thought regarding the way I approach taking an image, thank you.

Admittedly, when Marelli started off, I thought this might be of the inconsequential-casual-waffle variety, but, boy, how was I wrong. This may in fact be one of the deepest and most worthwhile presentations about creativity and composition on this channel. Well backed-up with images and engagingly presented too. Took away a lot from watching it.

best work shop i have heard, so much value in these lessons. thank you!!!

Wow.. Amazing!! Adam Marelli... you are an institution. Thank you so much for keeping me glued till the end. There is so much to learn you made me realise.. and there is much you taught that i thought never existed. Absolute brilliance. Any one with any serious interest in photography... you will miss this session at your own peril.

this, I so needed this. Wow. So pedagogic. I normally have to re-listen to lectures and seminars over and over again, left still with questions but this feels super clear. Made some notes, had some self-reflection, re-found myself. All good. best 100minutes spent in a while. Thank you so much BH Photo video and Adam Marelli!

It's something unreal. I can't understand how it possible to describe so easy so hard staff. Thx a lot

This is great. Thank you Adam. It's all good but I love the explanation of the last point - it's not skill, or capability, or what you can do versus what someone else can do, but instead it's that moment when someone else starts to see themselves, their story, in your work. This can apply to any art and to me is what so many people miss, or as Adam says, they've never asked themselves if their work does this, or could do this. Brilliant. Worth the price of admission itself.

Adam great job! I've got a 30+ history with photography and I still learned a lot. Your framework for picture making is extensive and you've been very thorough laying it out…great job.

It's an honor & a privilege to watch your B& H sponsored programs , whatever the topic or whoever the speaker Settle in for an amazing experience. Thank You B& H And in memory of my Uncle Rudy who loved your store back in the day thanks for the photographic life.

Outstanding!!! Well worth the time commitment!!! Well done, Adam!

I thought as well that I would begin to watch this and move on, but after many years of trying to improve my work. I feel I have learned something that I can actually use to improve my perspective of not just my work, but what I am trying to accomplish... Thank you.

Despite having have watched several B & H videos, this is my very first comment. Adam forced me to do this just by the sheer power of his artistry and presentation! Adam is unique. He is an artist and his images are like paintings......real art as opposed to something commercial. He is supremely talented and passionate about his craft. His excellent on stage presence and communication skills add to his allure. And, he resists the temptation to use his "bully pulpit" to promote himself as a business. Adam is a real artist and his unique skill set will make him extremely successful (if that has not happened already) on professional and monetary terms. I look forward to hearing more from him. Cheers!

Adam Marelli never fails to inspire and educate me no mater where he speaks. He opens eyes.

This talk is fantastic! I learned so much from this. I'm definitely inspired to get out and take photos.

This was incredible! I’m at a loss for words. Captivating and thought provoking lecture.

Adam has been a fantastic resource over the years. I highly suggest you watch his other presentations on B&H.

Adam Marelli: you are absolutely Brilliant! Thank you for your prospective/knowledge well done Mate...

Excellent, thanks so much for making this available, learned loads and lots to consider now...

This is the best lecture about serious photography I've heard so far!

One of the best lecture in this series. Thanks!

Best lecture I have ever heard about the photography.

This is a wonderful seminar! Likely, the best I've watched from B&H, so far. Adam did a great job!

I rarely get through a whole B&H video, but this one is excellent!

One of their better presentations. Well worth the watch.

Marelli is always a great speaker with interesting content.

This is a fantastic presentation. I've watched it several times from beginning to end. Thank you

One of the best educational videos I have seen, will re-watch these valuable lessons again and again. Thank you.

Great value, can't wait to next presentation. Thanks, Tobias

Thank you so much for sharing this presentation.

Phenomenal Lecture! I learned so much. This video is being saved for another watch after I put the concepts I learned today into practice. Hopefully more gems of knowledge can be gleaned from this talk then. Thank you

Thank you Adam! So glad I found this video, what a gift you are🎁 🙌🏽

Very inspiring session..thank you Adam and B&H for a quality presentation!

And I watched it in one go. I don't watch a 10-minute video in one go. So interesting, helpful, entertaining as well in its own way, educating. Eye-opening.

For me, this was one of the most important photography videos I've ever watched. My photography isn't bad but on my blog or Instagram have never gained much interest/traction. And now I know (or at least suspect) why. Some of the concept in Adam's video ... I have never given thought. I'll be watching this video again and then I'm going to apply what he spoke about to my next pictures. Background, colour and notional space! I'm excited!

Awesome presentation! I learned a lot. I'm glad I did not shot it down early on when I thought it was long and boring. Thanks Adam Marelli! I will check his other sites and looking forward for his book early 2018

Absolutely enjoyed the session.! I have watched his first session on B&H too . Thank you !!!

My work seems to ebb & flow; over the last few months, my work has moments of good and moments of "huh?" The time spent watching Adam's presentation (thank you B&H!) was VERY well spent! Now it is time to reflect on the content of the video and do some writing, so as to etch the thoughts evoked from this presentation into something I can digest as needed!

I enjoyed your unique perspective on photography- thanks for sharing

this is one of the best presentations i have seen for creativity and process.

Always a joy to listen and learn from you.

One of the few quality and insightful sharing about the Art of Photography on RU-vid. Thank you so much Adam and B&H !!!! You guys rock'n'roll !!!!

one of the better presentations i have seen for a long time on B&H certainly one i will come back to many times

Well worth the time invested to watch this. Terrific job Adam! - Look forward to your book in 2018

adam has many unique ideas in his approach to creativity through the art of photography that i know will benefit my photography. i liked his departure from the conventional thoughts on composition and use of a map to explore our own creativity through both things we can be taught plus what we need to learn about ourselves. thank you, adam! i'll be watching more of your videos. - robert skoye, canada

Great talk. Very engaging and enlightening, Adam.

This was the most valuable information I have ever received on RU-vid. Simply wonderful. Thank you B&H and Adam.

Brilliant, thank you Adam and B&H more of this kind of videos please. exceptionally well put together lecture, loved it.

This guy is brilliant. I learnt loads from that presentation, thank you.

Adam is a very intelligent and informative instructor. To me this is video that can be for anyone interested in photography.

this is a WOW even after 40 some years of shooting

Adam is such a good presenter and teacher. Amazing talk

This is an excellent session, very well thought out and presented. I’d like to watch it several times.

Fantastic structured framework within which we can all create our art. Very watchable too...really well presented. Thank you Adam. And thank you B&H for yet another insightful and inspirational talk.

Great presentation, really interesting, food for thought..Many thanks.

Every time I see one of his vids..... it changes me!

Excellent in many ways.

I love you Adam, really i learned several things from you. Bug hello from Morocco

this is one of my best lecture , thanks a lot for those valuable infos .

Bill Burr knows photography

Thanks, great photographer and teacher.

Very informative, inspirational and useful, thank you Adam

Terrific presentation Adam. Thank you B&H.

Best lecture ever.

one of the finest talk I've ever heard

Thank you for the excellent presentation. This will be an additional knowledge to an aspiring photographer like me.

This is a very helpful, well done presentation!

Thank you so much !

Outstanding!

Great insights - ignores hi tech stuff - really thoughtful lecture to reflect on

Excellent talk

Hey Adam. Grandma's hair looked purple because it was purple :) Always enjoy your talks.

i feel extremely enlightened

Great lesson Mate & B&H! Interesting suggestion to grow ... grazie from Italy 🇮🇹

Adam Marelli is the Bill Burr of photographers! And this is a supreme compliment by the way.

Great presentation.

Just came across this. Fantastic!

I love the recipe vs ingredients comparison and the rules vs tools concept.

Excellent video with a lot of insight. As a long time customer of B&H, thank you for your video and for B&H being a great company, always responding to my needs.

One of the best presenter BH has posted. Thank you. Adam

Thank you!

This is gold

Very strong, very unique!

Love it

great, thanx!

Wonderful talk. Your jokes deserved much more laughter than they received.

I watch this at least ten times and I will watch twenty time more

Great Lecture! for someone like me that is not from Art school....

Adam, your talks are always so informative and accessible. I'm not an art student, but maybe that would be different if I had a teacher like you. Except for the critique part. That sounds terrible. I'll search on Amazon, but do you have a book? Cheers!

Really nice to listen to your talk and watch your presentation Adam. To B&H: can we pls get some more talks of this calibre rather than the usual: these-are-some-nice-shots-I've-taken-and-the-story/gear-around-them several B&H speakers seems to adopt.

Is this book available yet? Another great talk by Adam, and I'd like to hear more.

Thanks

this was actually very helpful