Comparisons in Photography...a good thing or a bad thing? 

"You're just lucky I let you see some of them" Epic line, Craig!

Regarding the location, I been admiring your work for years strictly because you always shoot in conditions other photographers put their cameras away, and how you take pictures of per se bland objects and still get something great, I remember the running joke how you insistently refused to shoot sunsets. It helped me a lot when I was starting out, when the conditions weren’t right, I always thought Craig would still manage to get a picture or two. In a way I stopped comparing myself to all the flashy works and started comparing to you

You produce such consistently thought provoking videos, Craig; In my book you're beyond comparison.

Very inspiring as always! Sometimes I struggle to remind myself, not to compare my work with others and compare my local area to the honeypots around the world. I should remind myself to see the beauty and the pictures in my local area. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. But I feel good every time I take a photo in my local area that I'm proud of and that I happily print and put on my wall.

Some very wise advice indeed!! I travel infrequently, so i am forced to be creative where i am👍🏻 I do know photographers who constantly travel to “ get that shot”…. those locations don’t need you to be creative… all the work is done for them 😂📸👍🏻

Good discussion, Craig! So many see photography as competitive sport and too many see _camera ownership_ as competitive sport, but after probably too long I've learned to relax and just enjoy the craft and art of it. I enjoyed some of your images too and like to tell people when that happens. Enjoy!

The Dalai Lama of the youtube photography world... Brilliant video as always!

Thank you for this…comparison is rife in the club environment and can become toxic rather than uplifting…Wonderful video that I have just shared with 39 people

Great video, couldn't agree more with your observations. I am fortunate in that I live on the edge of the Peak District so my location is never a problem!

Fabulous content... Comparisons are always necessary, where consequently a better decision can be made...

I’ve got a Fuji X100v and every image I’ve taken with it has been better than the Leica Q3 I don’t own…..

Wise words as always Sir 👍

Have to confess I spent a day taking the same image with two different lenses over the festive period. My existing 'go to' lens is looking a bit battered and 'well used', so I am considering a new one. The free loan lens is 3 times the price and three times the weight, with a superb reputation. Over about 20 images, taken within a couple of miles of home, I could detect no difference in quality. The new lens is great, but, for my photography, no better than my current lens. I have decided I don't need a new lens, but if it fails, I now know a like for like replacement will be the way to go. A useful comparison, in my mind. Otherwise, I 100% agree with your message. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and I hope you have a productive 2024.

Great subject matter and content Craig, thank you.

"Hi Craig, deep and meaningful vid, and a great choice of mucic album on show! track 2(bad motor scooter) cheers," Kev

Human nature is to compare everything. It's good to compare, it helps us evolve and become "better" ...at something lol Cheers

Wise words - thank you. For me, looking at other people's work, meanwhile basically comes down to what you said: Enjoyment / appreciation. And learning ... new angles, new ways to see, perhaps new techniques for my own work in my own environment of my choice. And although I enjoy beautiful landscapes, I am certain, I will never get to Kathmandu in this life anymore. 😉

People worry too much about what others think, it's like they live life as if in a reality show. I am in between the Moors and the dales, good to able to see Whitestone cliff from where I live but I do prefer the dales. That said there are photographs to be taken amongst the industrial farm lands in between those two areas. I use the F2/23 because it is smaller and lighter, it's that simple.

I live just outside a National Park as well. Yippee ... nobody else's tripod getting in the bloody way; plus I get the more well known stuff pretty much to myself during the off season. I've had two holidays in the Yorkshire dales and moors, beautiful place. How does it rate in comparison to where I live .... who cares, its different.

Using hearing aids for mild / moderate high tone hearing loss has it's advantages.....blue tooth connectivity to my phone means that I don't have to take separate ear phones with me when out and about. O.K. the quality might not compare (ha ha) to the expensive, noise cancelling ear phones mentioned in your video but that's not really a problem.....taking photographs is the priority.....listening to music is an additional pleasure. Cheers.....and Happy New Year.

Thanks for the wise words Craig, totally agree with your observations, a great confidence builder.

Double thumbs up for the choice of album cover in the background. 👍👍

Wow Craig - Montrose! I saw them at Charlton Athletic Football Ground in 1974 when The Who topped the bill. Brilliant.

Just imagine comparing one rock or rap group, with another… What would be the point? Either you like one's albums or you like the others… maybe you like, or even hate both!… or maybe you like some of one's, and hate some of that same groups ones… I think with art, the comparisons in reality are pointless.

Well said! Camera gear is like cell phones and we no longer have any innovation, just tiny incremental updates. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Great video, Craig! If I watch a photowalk video I always see different images I would grab from the POV footage than that photographer found and that's the juice of it, yeah? I shoot EM-10 because small and light is where it's at - have it with you, make it a pleasure not a chore. Any new gear has to fit both that and a new shooting experience - just picked up my first manual focus lens in decades (inexpensive) and it's fun renewed. As you say, fancy gear doesn't make better shots even if the captures might be slightly 'superior'.

Great discussion, Craig. totally agree. I'm not ditching my E-1 or E-30 and Pen cameras anytime soon. KB.

I think learning what everything does helps you produce better results.

I think some comparisons can be useful if one learns something from the process. Regarding gear, most cameras made in the last 5+ years can take amazing photos. Unfortunately today so many people what everything yesterday. So buying the latest and greatest will get them there faster. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong. But hey, if buying new gear gives you pleasure and you can afford, go for it.

Really good points to remember! Thank you.

Superb! I love your more thoughtful approach and to anyone else reading this, the day I spent with you on one of your one-to-one's was the most useful of 20 years of photography!

Really well said and articulated. Can never be said enough, really, especially in this vast ocean of gear reviews and comparisons.

The problem I was starting to have was seeing other peoples photos and seeing how they have progressed in their journey and the quality they are producing. I started to question how good I really am and even if the subjects in my photos are interesting enough - call it superiority complex if you will. I decided the only way to stop myself from going insane and giving up is just to keep going and keep taking photos and growing as a photographer without trying to compare myself to anyone else. I've never compared my photo gear to anyone else though. There isn't really such a thing as a bad camera, just maybe certain cameras with limitations that we can learn to work around.

I'm quite happy with your photography too Graig but I think that mine is brilliant 🤣🤣🤣

We all know which one is micro four thirds in the headphones analogy

Always a sensible and balanced approach Craig. And very true.

I had to look at the dog @ 15.16. Nice capture.

Lucky I live in snowdonia 👌 13:44

This philosophy can last a lifetime.

Great video as always!

Great discussion!!!

Ronnie Montrose!!!

Cheers Craig, it’s Sean in Atlanta. I have done something that I rarely ever do with RU-vid videos and that is watch this a third time. I think it’s insightful and thought provoking. You are so right about the creators that almost only provide videos from the beautiful and interesting locations around the world that I will never see! I take images from my own patch like you. You were one of two UK photographers who inspired me to make images. Derek Forss is the other photographer. And because I admired your talent, I bought into the Olympus System. I am happy you switched to Fuji, which I also owned earlier on. You have grown and it is evident in the content you create. And, it is obvious that you love your new direction and system! Good on you! Thanks for sharing another of your great creations! I am watching… Sean

Well said Craig!

Wisdom 👏

I always like what you're saying. It is intelligent, responsable and very clever. You are a great photographer and i like to meet you. For what you're saying and what you' re showing. Côme from Québec

Good introspective philosophical expression; 'learning to love yourself' aspect was excellent. Love your channel and photography. Ever thought of e-biking instead of running(walking)? Mike in Oz

Very sensible and practical advice. In recent years, I've been comparing my images taken with a M43 kit to those taken on a smartphone by family members. As smartphone technology advances in leaps and bounds to enable anyone to take a well-exposed and sharp photo, I feel the pressure to continuously improve my photo-taking and post-processing skills to maintain a qualitative advantage, lest my kids start to make fun of "that old man saddled with that ancient device".

Beyer Dynamic buds. Not bad at all. I don't compare them against my AKG K92. 😂

I am a self confessed gear addict 😱 I love to have the best I can afford, at the moment I use a Canon R3 and some nice RF L lenses, BUT, my favourite images that I've ever taken were taken on my old Canon 7D and my little Canon M5

Brilliant ! That gave me a light bulb moment, thank you. As Bill said 'comparisons are odorous' but then he was being ironic. Thanks once again for a very thoughtful post. Happy New Year.

Hi Craig, I used to Compare my camera and lenses to other photographers when I first started out, but I don't do it anymore. There's always going to be a photographer that's better than another photographer, and so on. I used to have a Sony Walkman back in the day and I was very happy with the sound, and the Headphones they had. Another great Album, thanks for this video Craig and happy New year 😊

Don't wear those headphones on your "Bad Motor Scooter" Craig! On a serious note, good content. I just do my own thing and I'm constantly looking out for things to shoot....bit dangerous whilst driving but I can't help it.

Great content as usual, I totally believe in looking for the detail in your local area with the correct light. Enjoy

Compares brilliantly :-)

I have the 33 14 and the 35 f2 and love them both in different ways, if I had to keep one it would be the old 35 f2 simply because it is my all time favourite lens

The nice thing about a 100 mega pixel camera is one can do street or beach photography and crop what you like also onei can do the multi shot exposure

With new gear one is forced to deliver the payout