How to become a better photographer through 'visual exercise' 

It seems a lot of you misunderstood my comment about shallow depth of field, which might be my bad communication, so let me clarify. I said that "I can't hide behind a shallow depth of field" and by shooting deep DOF "I'm not being lazy", precisely because I know I've been guilty of this in the past. If you look at my portrait work you'll see I consider shallow DOF to be a legitimate technique, but I also know that I went through a stage of trying to make boring shots look interesting by just shooting very shallow, instead of moving on to find a genuinely interesting shot. In my mind this is lazy, and bad photography. Shoot deep DOF when I'm out and about forces me to be more disciplined in my composition. It's an exercise, not a rule. If that comment got your back up, perhaps you are in the same boat and need to adjust some things. Ween yourself off shallow DOF and only use it when it's appropriate. Ask yourself honestly, have you been using it as a crutch, like I was?

Finally I see a smart video about photography that inspires me instead of overwhelming me with all the technical stuff

a true life poet...not just a great photographer...you sir inspire me.

I think every photographer should do a drawing course. It’s a great way to train your eyes. Sit down and look at the subject you want to draw. It helps to see the world visually. More in abstract underlaying patterns then in function.

'Photography in the end of the day is still an art'. Thanks for that.

Probably the best-spoken RU-vidr amongst photography circles👍🏼.

"Art is going to come out of experimentation!" Thank you Sean you are my favourite youtube channel.

Needed this! In this polluted ocean full of talk about tech specs and gear, this was truely refreshing and much needed. Thank you!

So many other photographers say go out and shoot. Its like if you don't feel creative that's hard. But with what you are suggesting is very different. Go out and observe and yes capture things in photo, but just that act of thinking and considering the "whole" world around you. Is a step in the right directions. Thanks you for the change in thinking

The two things that always make me hyper aware of my surroundings - riding my motorcycle and walking the city with my camera in hand. Great video as always my man!

Watched one vidéo last night and watched two more in a row right now. Last time I'll do that. Not because I don't like your videos or what you talk to us about, no, no. I drink it all and I am truly inspired by what you explain about your photography, about how your life has affected you being a photograph. It's like reading a good book, sometimes you have to turn it over to the page your on and just think about what you read. So now one at a time, maybe I'll go out and try some of your techniques or otherwise just think a while about what you said. Glad to see you tomorrow Sean.

I spent today taking photos on my few hrs in town and didn’t get any photos I liked and realised I didn’t have a clue what I was doing- but I had a feeling I learnt a lot by noticing the light, what people were doing and this vid confirmed it for me- thanks

Composition. Capturing light. Everything in place. Don't 'cheat' with dof. Video. Your video. A breath of fresh air. Thanks.

"Give me permission to be careless" I love that!

I've seen on youtube that this is a single photography channel have got thousands of like for each video. Just 3 days before I started to watch videos on this channel. Really @SeanTucker is an inspiration for all beginners.

Great , inspiring post, Sean. You're so right. My artist statement includes this line: "My camera's just a tool. It's how I use it that counts. It's not the camera that takes great pictures; It's the photographer behind the lens who makes great photographs." I'm always looking for and seeing patterns, visually interesting scenes & compositions, and light interactions in the world around me. I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder in 2008, and living with it has made me a better photographer. My brain looks at the world around me differently, and I see light, shapes, patterns and compositions in a way that I never did before. I was a good photographer before. Now people who see my work tell me that my images are outstanding. Photography truly is a therapeutic and creative art.

Telling stories is what photography is all about. Seeing the world through our own eyes. And in hopes we inspire others to do the same.

Wonderfully said. Even with professional photographers, you can see their personality and feelings reflected in the pictures.

One of the most sensible opinions regarding photography ever....

I have never ever commented on any RU-vid video but this video made me do so. I love shooting with my iphone, for me it's all about capturing that moment. I try not to use any filters, or edit my photos because I want my photos to look the way my eyes see it. Went through a couple of RU-vid accounts which were mostly about dslr technical know-how .. but I don't even own a proper camera! Was even tempted to send some pictures to those accounts for a critique but felt sort of shamed that my photos weren't professional enough or even taken with a dslr. BUT Your video, your message, is an encouragement. Thanks!

My great grandfather was a photographer during WW2 and looking through his printed work it's crazy to see how everything is composed in the frame where it should be and it makes it all so much more interesting to look at

Your voice, the poetic manner of speaking, the video composition, background music. Nothing less than perfect. Inspiring. Amazing.

No question about it a good photographer can find virtually anything to make an interesting composition. Getting that photographer's eye takes time just like everything else you learn. Great video!

this video kept popping up in my home feed. kept ignoring it and finally gave in to watch it.... yea I'm subscribed now...

Dude this is the greatest video I’ve watched on this site. When I finally get around to teaching photography. This is the video I’ll introduce the class to. 10/10 my friend.

More than 2 yrs have passed since you posted this, your captured moment still gives ppl a good lesson. Thank you.

So happy to find you... These are the aspects of creativity that 90% of the content is missing on the internet. This pollution of imagery, video, sound and graphics is misguiding and disconnects us from great art - that great moment - which leaves an inspiration for a thousand lives. So glad.

Refreshing video. I searched RU-vid for “how to push yourself to become a better photographer”. So glad to find a video that doesn’t give 5 tips to improve your photos and tells me that I need to use rule of thirds and shallower DOF. We have to go deeper than that and unlock something within us so we can see differently. This was inspirational. Thanks.

I like the intimacy of the very close filming of your face. Sorry, that was not the point of this video, but I had to mention it.

I'm late but great advise. I can tell that you're Photographer, not by watching you're picture but by listening how you speak about.

It's the only video no youtube that actually teach about photography. Thanks Sean.

Great advice, used this to challange myself and use my eye, and think about light today 06/08/18 while walking in London with the Mrs and son...... the superb thing that while doing this I bumped into Sean, and went over and introduced myself. I've gotsome images thatim loking forward to editing tomorrow.

sean this is the second time I have seen this video I think you are one of the best photographers on utube

Excellent video. A few years ago I walked about with only my cell phone camera only for nearly a year. What I discovered first was that I could make good photographs by using the phone within the camera's limitations. The second thing I learned was that looking at the small screen at arm's length allowed me to improve my sense of composition because with my less than perfect eyesight I focused primarily on the geometry in the frame - the shapes, lines, color, and tonality. I would position the phone so what was in the frame looked "right." It was a valuable lesson in seeing.

Seeing Light and opportunities broke me free from the chase of the next best camera I still use my Leica M10 and Pentax K1 but 70% of the time...my IPhone. Sean is absolutley right. This video should be the Mantra for everybody who loves photography. plus your greens are still the best in the business. ;D

Being influenced by so-called "theme" in instagram made me had barriers that I mostly only take photos that will benefit my IG feed, however, you made me feel like I should explore more, and experience more on the photography. Thank you.

Wow. This has opened my eyes on so many ideas as a beginner photographer. Thank you for this.

Never have I ever NOT fallen in love, with awe and wonder, at what and how this man conveys simply, clearly and straight-forward. All that with depth. Next level genius, Sean. Always an admirer.

I keep coming back to this video of yours Sean. It makes sense, thanks mate.

One of the best online videos I've seen about developing the "photographer's vision" - life as lived and the importance of light...tchau.

This vid is probable one of if not the best video for explaining what it's all about. I work in a large camera store and most people are obsessed with the tech and not the image. Some people spend thousands just to take images so then can ooooh and ahhhh and the detail, sharpness, lens performance etc but the actual shot is visually sub standard.

This is an older video but the message will ring true forever. There is far too much emphasis on gear, specs, techs, than there is on actually building a photograph worth looking at. Long before I touched a camera, I was engrossed by photographs, not photographers and their gear of choice. Life, National Geographic, and Time magazines, etc, taught me the end game of photography, simply the image should be interesting to stare at versus a glance.

I just love the feeling when i walk slowly through town,stop and notice something that would be overlooked by milions of people that day.And furthermore,i love even more the feeling when i try hard to honor that moment by setting myself up in the perfect position to get that Moneyshot. for me photography is slowing down,beeing observent,feel the moment and recognize the details and most importantly,does it make me happy and proud to have that photo in my portfolio. The more i photograph,the more i get stuck in one place because i have so many ideas and angles to shoot and it is truly addictive and inspiring..almost meditative experience.I usually listen to ambient or chill music whilst taking pictures and it helps me to zone out,be out of time snd space and just convey my feelings through photos

"art is the elimination of the unnecessary"(Pablo picasso). the more I eliminate those technical thoughts about photography the more I love it.

Excellent video! I lost interest in photography when I moved from Philadelphia to the suburbs. I rationalized that suburban life didn't have the same visual interest as that of a city. Recently I started walking daily as part of rehabilitation after a motorcycle crash, and I have suddenly found myself once again seeing the world as a photographer. Never in a million years would I have made the connection between walking and photography. Thank you, now I know that so long as my feet are willing to carry me I'll always have photography.

Wow I just accidentally clicked on this video coz of that phrase"visual experience" and just a few seconds of watching-I'm already convinced that I will be inspired or learn a great deal subscribing to your site....grateful...

This video has driven almost 10% of your subscriber base and I can see why. Thank you for the inspiration and encouraging words!

I just stumbled to this video that's 7 years old and found further confirmation of a truth I needed to see. I have been a hobby photographer for about 10 years now . I really enjoy taking pictures. Sometimes though I manage to find something really beautiful in the images I capture. Some of the images I have purposefully took, while others have came by accident (moreso the latter). I just recently upgraded my camera to a new mirrorless variety. I love it, but I feel as though I am a little overwhelmed by all the new bells and whistles. The camera takes a very nice picture indeed, but its making it even more clear to me that I tend to shoot while in awe of something new, rather than something I wish to capture to create something with. And it bothers me. This video reminded me to be present in the moment, wherever I am. To see the people, places, and things a little more differently. To train my eyes to see, and my ears to hear. You stated to just take a walk, and be present wherever you are. For some reason, the being present in the moment message is really resonating with me as of late. It's a very strong message and quite frankly I believe it's going to be a life altering message for me. I think not only will it improve my photography, but will improve me as a person spiritually. All life, whether good or bad, is a beautiful gift. While it is great to be in awe of new experiences, it's even better to learn to appreciate them, right down to the finer detail. Thank you for making this video. Whether you acknowledge God or not, I believe you were used by him to speak to me, confirming a message I have been hearing, about being present in the moment, and that will not only help me as a hobby photographer, but also as a human being. Thank you.

Spot on I finished Uni with a degree in commercal Photography, I left with a good grade, but found it clinical, lifeless. Now that is out the way I am truly free to be creative. .

I really appreciate that you create videos that touch beginner photographers like me to the core in a way that I stay inspired to keep pushing through to get better. Thank you Sean!

I LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!! It talks about what MOST photography/film RU-vidrs do not talk about which is the art of photography itself. It makes me appreciate that craft even more without over thinking about the technicalities. That's life sometimes, if not, most of the time. We CHOOSE to over complicate things instead of seeing, appreciating and being grateful for what's actually important. We focus on the cameras and not the photographs.

As soon as you whipped the phone out I was hooked. The best camera is the one you have in your hand. Since we always have our phones attached to our hip there is likely almost never a time we aren't a photographer ready to shoot. Given the quality of new phones coming out and the amazing apps we can work with it's a no brainer. Most people are looking at these photos on some digital format and the hyper-quality ($$$) gear would really be wasted resources. Great job !!!

Started watching this video thinking "What's this hippy dippy visual exercise crap?"... but then, totally agree with you on every point you make. Great video.

Up at 12 midnight. Really needed this.

The best advice i have ever got for photography. Thanks Sean

Why haven't I listened to you before? You speak from the heart. I am truly enjoying your content. ♥️

Wow! As an artist (drawing, painting digital) and growing videographer this was perhaps the MOST inspiring and honest teaching about how to shoot great photos and videos ....by experimenting, learning and being observant of your surroundings!!! I felt like I was back in art school with one of my favorite professors!!! Great job Sean! Thank you!

One of the best videos I’ve seen regarding the art of photography. Using a smartphone will indeed free you up to see, the light and composition, without being bogged down with camera technicalities. Then, all you have to do is capture the moment!

Another lovely vid, my friend. Legendary LIFE magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstadt purportedly walked to and from work every day from his home in Jackson Heights, Queens to his office in Manhattan - about six miles each way. And I STILL think if Cartier-Bresson were a 20-something today, he’d be shooting with a smartphone. But that’s just me.

This might just be your best video yet. It puts it all out there. The technique... The philosophy... The heart and soul of photography regardless of what fancy gear you have.

Within the first 2 minutes of this video after hearing you talk and reference Herzog I hit subscribe. You understand exactly what photography and what it is for, and I feel many camera crazed consumers (myself included) need to be reminded that what we photograph is more important than what we photograph with. Thank you for this video and I can't wait to see more!

This was such a pleasure to watch and listen to. I think being a gardener has made me a better photographer. Every day i walk around my ground (.75 acre) and study everything that i planted the previous year. Watch the trees as they bud, watch the green shoots as they struggle to pop out of the early frost in March. I can visualize how much larger of space they will take up this year than the next. That attention to detail has made it easier to compose photos when traveling (for me)

I been watching yr channel for a couple days what I love about your channel is you, the way you talk, yr ideas, yr vision, how you see things and yr suggestions not too technical, more reality, simple and easy to understand but still keep a bit of technical part that we should be aware. Keep up the good work.

One of the greatest videos on RU-vid if you really want to understand true photography

What an amazing video essay on photography. Thanks @Sean Tucker

This video revolutionized the way I saw photography

I need to watch this again and again. great advice.thank you

So refreshing to watch a video like this one. In terms of knowledge the technical side of photography is just there so the artistic side doesn't suffer. You master the technical side in about a month or two and yet a lot of people only talk about specs or camera settings. The only thing that maters is the art and the emotion in your work.

I'm an illustrator, but the same principles work in my field too - you have to be curious about the world around you, train your brain to notice (and sometimes sketch down little things) so you build your own visual library and when the project comes you're ready/ or you find an idea for a project in something you saw. And experiment - it's absolutely inevitable for growth! Different fields of art, same things!

Loved the quotes at the start. Photography taught me to open my eyes to the world around me and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Playing with different depth of field is fantastic. Everything does definitely not need to be sharp. At all. But agree with most other stuff. Many people say" i see", but they don't

Really well said. I remember when I started photography in a more serious manner, two years ago, that I slowed down the pace, that I started to be more aware of people and everything around me, started to look for and find patterns, shapes and interesting angles to what initially seem a boring scene. There's still a lot to be improved but, I'm happy with what I gained so far. A great video and you got yourself a new subscriber :)

This and Adam Marelli's talk for B&H are the best photography lessons I've seen in a while.

You speak everything I think. Bookmarking this video forever!

Refreshing. Simple. Good sense. Priceless.

Thank you Sean! This video is everything. This is the essence of photography. And now I understand better why I have always loved to photograph. It helps me to be present in the moment. The small details, the light and shadow contrasts, the movement around me....everything matters. These moments of observation bring me peace and I feel connected with the place where I am, with life. And that is the essence of this beautiful ART.

I'm sure there's nothing to be said that hasn't been said; but you make some incredibly good points. Thank you for sharing your words, and your work.

I moved home (NZ) from London last year. So nostalgia to see your shots of places I've been or even same frame of photo I've taken walking past!

Being present. Not just looking at the bigger picture (no pun intended) but the details that come together to make it.

Thank you Sean. I appreciate all you do.

probably the best content I ever found on youtube! thank you!

I started reading The Peregrine because of this video. It is indeed a great book full of breathtaking descriptions and the author demonstrates an incredible level of visual awareness.

I walk, cycle, take the bus, never drive, never wear headphones outside the house. Got to take it all in. I am really enjoying your videos. Thanks for sharing.

The best bit of kit is your eyes! Using a smartphone is teaching me to see.

An acquaintance from VERO had shared this video. Pretty much sums up some of my worries about my photography. I've been shooting with point-and-shoot cameras or mobile for years up until recently. DOF was something that was always missing from my shots, so when I got a proper mirrorless camera and an f/1.4 lens, I started blasting DOF in almost all of my shots, because I never had the chance to play with it before. But then I realized that my compositions and 'stories' started to stall. So nowadays, I'm back to my phone and exercise composition by eliminating the DOF element, then looking around and observing more.

You are spot on! Photography is about seeing others and how to see and capture others true unhidden self, and sometimes this takes life experience, patience and just being able to wait for great light and real true emotion. You are a true artist! Love your work.

Something worthy of photography.... aesthetic photography

Excellent, excellent. I know the importance of having a "good eye" and I'm glad to see this addressed by someone. Thank you so much for sharing and kicking the cobwebs out of my brain. I'm not a pro photographer, but I like to take memorable images.

This is one of those videos that everyone should be watching because it's about the art of photography and not the gear of photography. Gear is something so easy to get into but distracts us from the real focus the 'art' of photography. Composition and light are everything the gear really is secondary. I agree with you about the iPhone. Some of my favorite shots have been taken with it. I's always with me and I really don't have to think about which lens, f-stop, shutter speed etc. Just take the pic. Thanks

I am an artist from India. Love your works and chanel so much!

Oh my.... you reminded me for waking up from being lazy since I am too needy with the Depth Of Field and blame my phone camera for that unpleasant ideas. Thanks so much

I love how you are making your videos. You are teaching and showing your style, your taste. I love it

Absolutely agree with this...loving your videos Sean.

I clicked subscribe 35 seconds into the video.

Fundamental for any artist, but worth reminding ourselves 😊

This is honestly the best photography video on RU-vid. Extremely valuable lessons to be learned here.

Perfectly inspirational. I'm a fellow pro photographer in New Orleans and your video inspired me. The things we do in a daily basis you forgot the why's! Why do I capture I every the way I do...then we explain it and realize all of the experience we have perfecting this craft. I'm motivated to create a video like this from my view as well. Great job!

I've watched a few of your videos recently and they've really made me stop and think about myself. In my mind there's nothing more important in film or photo than making people stop and think. I've subscribed to you now and I can't wait to dive into more of your videos. Thank you Sean.

So nicely said. Our advice is always to just start looking and shooting. Practice writing short stories and drawing to further expand your visual palate. Remembered that in the time it took one person to look at tech specs, several others who started at the same time, developed their unique eye and storytelling skills using nothing but film and early point and shoot cams (this was before digital was accessible). Lovely stuff.

I couldn't agree more regarding your comment about shallow depth of field. I totally agree with you.