I don't often comment on RU-vid videos, but I wanted to say that this video was superb. I think I will point others to this because it such a good explanation of not only the process, but important things in it. This video a grade above your others, and they are already great.
You have given me a new perspective. Yes...I will "focus" on more of what I like,,,and not what's trendy!! You've shown me that it all can be beautiful and interesting and unique! Thank you!
You asked for comments so... Your's is one of the best photography channels on RU-vid. The content is always fresh and interesting. It's so refreshing to find a channel whose main purpose is not to try to sell the latest gadget or camera upgrade. The mix of film and digital content in just right and I look forward to every video you produce. Thank you Steve.
You didn't mention dedication, experience, and love of craft! Of all the photographers offering videos you are the most profound and skilled. Your desire for personal perfection is awesome. I wish you a long and productive life!
Tools Not Rules. That's what I tell my students and it's pretty much lifted from Ansel Adams. Great to hear it echoed here. Really important points about shooting for yourself too. If you're a pro, you shoot for clients, if you're entering a comp, you need to shoot for the judge, but if it's just for you, then what you like is all that matters. I'm not so much a believer in light & location - obviously you need *some* light, but perhaps that's more a landscape thing. I prefer to look more at the environment wherever I am. I'm always cautious of people hitting up the Lake District, Iceland, or more exotic locations where it's just a button pushing exercise. Don't get me wrong, I love some of the eye candy as much as the next person but I'm more a Fay Godwin fan than Joe Cornish. I'd drop your 75% down to 40 I think :) Anyway, I hope you and your family have a great Christmas & New Year. Hope to see more of North Wales & Cheshire in 2019. Also, for what it's worth from me - not *too* much digital - there's tons of folks out there already doing that :)
no no, less typical more untypical... everybody shoots the tower of Pisa with the same shots of holding it up, pushing it over, etc... i'd rather see the unseen..
Yes... I second the "not too much digital" shout! Big film photography is so exciting. Although you say 75% is effort getting there etc., I do think it's more of a challenge to get the most out of film compared to digital.
Steve, I’m not sure how I missed this previous video. This video is a gem. As an hobbyist, I’m always looking for advice on how to make my photography better and that’s what I get from your channel. Landscape photography is the hardest for me and your composition are so well done. Thank you for this video.
The lens is the important thing. location and lens are the next important things. Tips from other photographers on locations worth trying are priceless
Well said. Landscape photography for me is an experience that includes planning, anticipating the seasons, traveling, hiking, composing and the climax of taking the image. Then developing and post processing. I do love interacting with a camera though. That's an important part of the fun.
I’ve always felt the important thing about rules is getting to know them so well you know when you can ignore or break them. Wonderful tutorial. I’m glad I found your channel, I absolutely love it.
Thanks for this superb video ... you’ve reminded me that as a photo enthusiast, it’s sometimes easy to take one’s eye off the ball and forget what PHOTOGRAPHY is all about !
@@SteveONions I'm with you on that one - but like you, I dare say - there's certainly some 'pleasure of ownership' to be had from owning a quality camera - especially though when it's used to take some great pictures.
Just recently came across your channel, and it's quite refreshing to see someone still using film-based medium format. I have a Mamiya RZ67 stored away, with the idea that I might want to pull it out again someday. From your sample images at the end, it's clear the film image has more color depth than the digital images, although I suspect that could have been tweaked in post-processing. Your 3 things remind me of something I read many years ago. "If you want better images, get your camera in front of better-looking scenes." The dedication to doing the work to get to those places is what separates the professionals from the amateurs.
Steve. You certainly know your photography. The tips I am picking up from you are unbelievable. Every percentage you gave to the effort required is spot on. You proved once again the camera is the least important factor. Brilliant .
Thank you for breaking it down in your way. To the point and understandable. The valley photo is top notch. Using what’s available in the scene is the hardest part to see. Repeated Practice makes it easier. Thank you again for putting these videos together.
Great video Steve!!! So true, today everybody is looking for special secrets. The real deal is like you said: Location, Light, composition and Exposure.
I think you nailed it when you said ‘I don’t care about the camera…’. That’s very profound, especially to those of us wading through the bogs of marketing influence, whilst on our simple quest for better pictures. And since you asked; I’ll share. I pursue images with a camera because what I see on a walk in the country, resonates in a nameless, deep place, and stirs me. Of course, a 2D image will always be a weak reminder of the 3 (or 4) Dimensional world. (I accept comments to the contrary, as well). It’s also clear that on your walks, you take immense enjoyment from the places you visit. In your case, I wonder if it is some of this enjoyment and soul-stirring that you’d like to bring home, and you do so with your camera? I really enjoy your directness Steve. You have nothing to sell, and many things to share. This brings a refreshing authenticity to your whole channel. It’s a wonderful legacy that you’re creating. I hope the house reno’s go well! Best regards to you 🙏
I do think the locations I go to are the stars of the show and often hard to do justice to in a still image. Often an image perceived by the eye looks totally lifeless when photographed, especially when the weather is good. I find it easier to convey a sense of place in poor weather when the likes of B&W film seem to capture the mood perfectly.
Clearly you possess a wealth of knowledge. I want to thank you for sharing these videos. I find your perspective on gear refreshing and, in my case, a timely reminder. Thanks again!
Great video Steve, and I definitely agree about the location... It's the biggest part of the job. I'm a hobby photographer, I love the morning light, but I struggle with getting up at 6am on a Saturday
A great explanation. It corresponds exactly to what I've been experiencing over recent years of taking mostly landscape photos and considering various approaches, techniques and cameras.
A nice, straightforward, honest video Steve. Well said. I liked the statement - There are no rules for a good photograph, just good photographs. Happy Christmas to you. Enjoy the holidays.
Nice video. I couldn't see much difference between the 3 cameras on my monitor. A good shot is still a good shot no matter what device is used. You forgot the fourth device ... that drone ... they take awesome landscapes that aren't possible without being airborn! Thanks for your efforts in sharing this video.
Thanks Rob. The images are very similar which isn’t surprising. It may be noticeable on a large print but I bet any of them would make a decent blow up. Good point about the drone too, I really must take the time to line up some stills with it.
Your points are all well taken, but you underestimate the strength of your compositions and even your post processing in making your photographs so beautiful. I have a friend who is absolutely technically capable and well equipped, but you could put him in front of virtually any beautiful scene and he couldn't take a beautiful photograph. In the end, I think it comes down to a heart, an eye, and perhaps a familiarity with fine art or fine photography. Love your videos. Keep up the good work.
Steve, Besides your three points that were the basis for your presentation you made a fourth at the subliminal level. That is, the photographer needs to make his own choices on lighting, location and compositions without regard for other’s desires. Taking an image for your own edification converts a photographer from an image taker to an artist. Well said and we’ll done.
Steve thank you so much for all your deep thinking videos. It’s like you’re in my head. I wish I could come spend a day with you chatting about photography. Love your content. Can’t thank you enough.
Great video. The basics of photography. Adams also said " twelve photographs a year that matter, is a good score for any photographer ". Sometimes in our haste to press the shutter we unwittingly produce the mundane, much more so with digital than with film . Really enjoy your videos and presentations. Thanks.
Hi Steve just wanted to say I’ve been loving your videos for some time now, I love your Black and Whites in the woods I’ve been inspired, I get it, some really interesting compositions. Thanks again and Im looking forward to your future videos
Thanks Steve for making it simple and driving home the fact there is no Rules and the picture that is being taken is YOUR photo the Way YOU like it. I struggled with this for years, but for the last while I photograph what I Like and in My style. Thanks for some great videos Steve !!
Thanks for the video and reminding me what a stunningly beautiful part of the world this is. And it's an area I've not been to nearly as much as I should have. Now planning a trip!
One of my early mentors told me that "if you can't get a good photo with a cheap camera then perhaps you shouldn't get into photography." I have been blessed to have won a few awards using nothing more than a Kodak X15. Your approach to photography is very much the same.
I was so pleased to see no secrets, just 3 things matter. Everyone has secrets these days….absurd & they all wannabe ‘personalities’. I want straight forward information & you’re providing it. Thank you. I’m coming to film in retirement. I’ve never shot it before so I just need simple info. From years shooting digital I know you’re right about preparation being 85% of the effort. Thanks again & I’m off to see your next video.
Just love it how you use so many different cameras. I also love traveling and shooting alone, well, my little dog comes with me. Usually carrying 3 to 4 cameras. Pentax K1/ K5 Fuji XT 3 and a 35mm point and shoot. The Mamiya RZ 67 goes alone; Really enjoy your blogs my friend
Steve O'Nions Same here Steve and what’s worse is I keep getting just one more camera or lens. Selling up shortly and going around Australia and around and around. Been renovating too long and life has slipped through my fingers. We are about the same vintage, though I might be slightly ahead of you: All the very best
Keeping it simple and bringing back to basics! Reminds me I dont need all the gear in the world - which seems to be the trend with 75% of youtube photography. Gear reviews etc. And a reminder of why my images turn out bad when I turn up at a poor location with poor light - Not even a top of the range pro dslr could rescue a bad scene.
I’d go so far as to say that a pro range DSLR can actually hamper you at times as you are always thinking about the possibilities of the high resolution and noise free sensor. In poor lighting I prefer to add atmosphere and grain by using faster films and even going with a toy camera to accentuate the conditions. Who wants a pin sharp image of a dull lifeless day?
Great video Steve. It popped up and I realised I hadn’t seen this video before. I shoot with all manner of cameras. I was in Ireland last week and shot my landscapes on a Samsung NX300 and 20mm pancake. Ultra compact and all handheld. You are so right with all your points.
Excellent video, Steve. I participated in a workshop here in North Carolina with a talented photographer, Dave Allen, who had us a recite a mantra that is similar to yours - "Analyze the scene, compose, focus, expose, click the shutter". You're right that just getting there is half the work at least, but the rewards are so great when we enjoy the natural world, and maybe even get a good image! Love your work. Hope you don't totally give up film in the coming year. Your work has helped inspire me to explore medium and large format over the last year. Film helps me slow down, and make all the steps to a good image. THanks for sharing and I hope your next year is as successful as this one was.
Your skills and prowess at the camera are without question. Your real gift in this over- emphasized, top- heavy world of photographic technological proficiency is reliance on the value of the human eye to select compositions. Following human instincts and intuition are the camera adjustments in hopes of trying to capture what inspiration has already composed.
Great summary Steve. Very much on point in my opinion. One of my favorite parts of the video was the end when you took the same shot with all three cameras. When photos are displayed digitally or in small format prints it is amazing how one can't really tell the difference between the iPhone shot and the expensive camera. Truly shows what you said; just get out and shoot with whatever camera you have. Happy Holidays to you! Look forward to more of your content in the coming year.
Thanks Larry. There really wasn’t that much difference between the final shots and the iPhone looked the best straight out of camera. All the best for 2019.
Absolutely to the point! Great! Most of all fotographers are always afraid about something and sit at home and study - something. Go to the field! No matter the quality of the picture. What matters is taking pictures! If you don’t great bad pictures you will never learn to take good pictures! Thank you for this nice video again.
You’re always very good value, Steve and hugely watchable. A confirmation that it’s not about the ‘gear,’ but about the ‘guy or gal’ behind the camera.
Steve Bravo ... spot on the money. It's how the photographer creates with his or her's eye: the composition. Being able to see is the key but the light, is almost as critical . Merry Christmas Peter
Amazing as always Steve :) I really enjoy all your videos and especially like this one. I agree with the three point system you talk about. I would have thought you'd give the composition more than 15% given that with a good composition you may rescue a day when the light is not playing along. It is like those days when you decide to focus on textures instead. great video as always
Excellent stuff! If you have good light, and an interesting composition (with just those two elements) you can shoot with any camera equipment you happen to have. Keep up the good work!
Well said Steve. As with Harlequin565's comment, I teach my students that compositional aids are tools not rules and that just as using tools in a toolbox, you would never force yourself to use all the tools or to use the wrong tool to effect a repair. You would use the tool that bests suits your purpose. That seems to help them grasp the purpose. I also use the "strongest way of seeing the subject" phrase you mentioned. Enjoyed the video Steve!
I really appreciate the comparison and the statement about camera being the least important piece. We all hear about the best camera is the one you have with you but it's hard to put into practice. I have captured really great shots on my entry level DSLR but I often struggle with letting myself know I still have more to learn. That jumping at a 5D III sounds appealing, but won't make my pictures better with me practicing
There is very little in age quality between a basic and advanced camera, most of the improvements are in the weatherproofing and speed of processing. I can’t see much point in the super high resolution models of recent years unless you crop regularly.
Hi Steve. Can't fault the logic here - you're spot on ! Doesn't stop us drooling over new kit though ! I've really enjoyed following your channel throughout the year, especially the videos from my home county of Cheshire, so a huge thanks for sharing and please keep 'em coming in 2019. All the best to you and your family for Christmas and the New Year.
Love your videos. I enjoy the different aspect you bring to your photography through the use of large format cameras, but i am really looking forward to some of the digital stuff you mentioned doing. As always, the best camera in the world is the one you have with you when the shot comes up.
I learned from an old photographer here in Norway that climbing to the right elevation really makes a difference shooting mountains and valleys. Too high or too low were both not as good as middle, I saw in his images.
Beautiful articulation and philosophy... Subscribed! I like your points about the camera type not being the principle important issue, but rather the light, subject and compositional aspects... Thank you for the video!
I love your simple approach! I have to agree, the most important step for making a good photo is showing up! It’s the biggest part of the struggle for me, getting out the door and hitting the trail. Once I’m out there I normally feel I can solve the technical aspects with almost any camera be it a Holga or a Hasselblad or a digi.
Very true Michael, I hate the start to every trip especially dragging myself out of the car into the wind and rain. I always try to take an image as soon as possible to take the pressure off me, once this is done I find subsequent images a lot easier to find.
I admire your talent and your communicative passion. The art and composition in photography cannot be learned, either we have a gift and a "photographic eye", or we do not have it. I have spent crazy sums on prestigious devices, I have always mastered the technique to have a technically perfect photo, but I'm bad at composition, and I'm not very young anymore. It's something innate, that we do by instinct. I've always been passionate about photography but that remains a great frustration for me. So the equipment has been sleeping for years in cabinets, in new condition. I am content to admire your videos which fascinate me, but also fill me with regret.
Thank you very much for taking us along on your day. I really enjoyed this video and one of the best I seen so far on landscape photography. Your photographs are beautiful.
Enjoyed the video and I very much agree with your sentiments. One of the best shots I ever took was at a local church parking lot in early morning. The sun broke through some clouds and a ray hit a patch of grass in front of me on an embankment. A single thistle was spotlighted and I just happened to have my D700 and a macro lens with me. No tripod but the embankment was right about eye-level and the light was good. I do need to start doing more deliberate planning around locations and dedicating time to the art instead of relying on serendipity though :)
A really excellent video. Tremendous advice. As an architect trying to become a landscape photographer and a dyed in the wool gear-head (medium format view camera, Pentax 67, Fuji etc etc, etc) it was really swell and super helpful to see images from 3 different cameras. So many young architects think precision is in their tools when it’s really in the mind. Likewise you’ve shown that photography is in the eye ( as long as your feet take you to the locale ). Many thanks for this straight forward refreshing demonstration.
Another great video Steve. Everything explained so well. Nice to hear someone who doesn’t place lens sharpness, dynamic range and high iso as the most important factors in photography. But instead the only factors that really matter.
The three images look great. You have proved the point. Looking through the comments with everyone making comments on which they like best I’m kind of hoping for you to say in your next video that you switched the labels up 😀
That’s actually a good idea Paul and I wish I’d though of it but sadly they are correctly labelled 😀 The iPhone shot was by far the best straight out of camera but didn’t give any latitude for post processing, the film shot was the best in this regard.
The speeches you give on your videos are somewhat captivating and inspires me to push my photography while keeping it simple. Your philosophy is really something i hope i'll be able to teach later on to others. You're a true photographer and vlogger. Maybe you like doing all those stuff (photography, vlogs and going on trips), but im not sure you realize how much it means for viewers (or me at least). You would certainly be a great teacher and in some way you are. Thank for sharing those experiences with us. Happy holidays !
Hi Steve - very encouraging advice, and I really like the comparison of the three cameras to prove a point. The tools we have available today are incredible, but we can't short-change the great tools from the days of film. Thankfully we have so much to work with depending on our need and desired result. Merry Christmas, and a bright new year to you and yours! (And like you, much prefer the solitude!)
Another cracking episode Steve, agree with everything you went through - but the thing that stuck with me was taking the image that YOU want to take, rules are guides but at the end of the day you take an image because you like the scene. All the best for 2019.
I think as you mature into an artist the gear tends to get in the way more than anything. As you said location, light and composition are paramount. I do love my film cameras, but they tend to fill my head with too many variables and so I shoot digital 90% of the time. Good video.
Thanks Steve. A nice reminder of what matters. Especially when I was looking at new gear and my current stuff is fine. :-) I think I will spend my money on petrol and food and get out instead.
I like what you're doing telling fact not too much fiction... I never considered a drone until I started watching your channel. Yes other people use them but it's never talked about, so now I thinking about getting one.. more tool for my box..
