Protect your Highlights: A lesson for Light and Life 

As a photographer and retired psychotherapist I wanted to take a moment tell you that you’re videos are always worth watching. And this one is over the top. Watching your videos is in itself protecting the highlights.

“Whether its your photography, your cinematography or your life in general, protect your highlights” … From a total stranger who is having a pretty rough time of it recently, those words have resonated and frankly moved me to emotion. Thank you.

I don't think there is a channel on RU-vid that I find more real value than yours, thank you again for a very timely video. Jason

I can actually feel my brain expanding when I listen to this guy ! cheers

This was really. Frickin. Good. An excellent lesson for Cinematography and an even better one for life. Thank you Sean!

Beautiful perspective and very well visualised, Sean! I too have recently been focusing a lot on the highlights in my photography and letting the darkness fall confidently. It's been a refreshing change in the way I've been shooting and definitely for the better! I'm not sure how long you've been working freelance, but the worry of feast or famine does eventually get suppressed as time goes on. Good luck with it all!

This is, by far, the best RU-vid channel for photography

This for me is your best video. Love them all, but this one in particular packed in so much. Well done!

I will protect my highlights. Thanks for sharing man! 👊🏽

I've spent years on RU-vid watching boring guys talk about lenses and compare lengths, and then this guy came along. A real gem. Thank you.

Superb as always Sir!

This channel has become like a tv show for me. I start my day with a cup of coffee and motivational speech from Sean Tucker. THanks for great content that really resonates with me!

Written, structured and executed to the top levels, very well done!

This isn't the first time I've watched this one. Thank you Sean, needed to hear (and see) this. Again.

1.1k likes, 1 dislike... guess that guy just likes blowing his highlights

I'm freelance, was having a shit day, thought I'd watch some educational photography guides to distract myself from the hopeless feeling I was having - instead I got a positive talk that pulled me entirely out of the shitty day I'd been having. Cheers man. Keep up what you're doing, it made a real difference to me :)

The life advice in this video is even more important than the photographic tips. Thanks, Sean.

I was once here for the photography. I've decided to stay for the insights and perspective.

Sean could start a cult, his wisdom is insane. It's brilliance!

Sean, I’ve just “discovered” you. I’ve been a lazy photographer most of my life, in spite of my love for the craft. Your videos are inspiring me to ‘up my game’. Thank you.

Magnificent. Really touching. Thank you Sean. I will protect my highlights more, in life and in photography... You just made me choke up completely... Thank you.

I've been a DoP/Director for many years now and I totally agree with you. Especially in/with dealing with life's issues. I know you help me and I'm sure that you helped a lot of people by posting this video. Very inspiring and thanks again for posting.

Great video Sean. And an early congrats on 100k subs :)

I'm watching this again while reviewing some images I recently took of my 92 year father. He was on the covered back porch wrapped in blankets watching me roast coffee. I wanted to capture the moment with the wonderful bright blue sky with puffy clouds in the background. I focused on keeping the highlights so I could get that sky but at first glance I was worried I missed my subject who was in total darkness. I did lose a few images due to my inexperience but I think I have several that will keep that sky and still give me wonderful images of my dad. There's a bit of grain due to my error but I think it will still work out. Since I'm just an amateur it didn't occur to me to try protecting the highlights AND the trying the same shot without. It would have been interesting to see which was the better shot in that case. But I do think about this with most of my shots now.

Since I have watched this video, I am not afraid of going out in a broad day light to shoot. I believed that there were no drama when Sun was over your head and there is no drama, but your can create it protecting highlights. A lot of pro photographers are telling us to use any light source available, but your explanation put everything falling into a piece making a sense. An amazing and inspirational video to watch. Thank you very much.

Absolute mint video. ........ I strongly believe that those 94 people who have disliked this video should see a Psychiatrist before it is too late ! - Dr Raj

Very wise words Sean and for me you are one of the most realistic individuals out there not only sharing your knowledge and talent with us, but also your perspective on life

Sean, this is lovely. Thank you for the thoughtful, philosophical and technical perspectives. Subbed.

Oh stop it already! This content you're putting out is insane! I LOVE this "protect you're highlights" analogy. Also, I've been suffering a bit from the nagging doubt of freelancing as a photog (still there after nearly 10 years!) so it was great to hear some of the strategies you put in place. Cheers for another quality video!

Thank you Sean......You taught me again how to get rid of negativity and start a new beginning...

Always a pleasure to watch you: quality image, warm sound and text that speaks the truth and experience.

bro i totally agree with you but i have most people telling me it underexpose or too dark but with this i dont think i will mind their details anymore

Great analogy to positive thinking Sean. Protect your highlights and your positive thoughts....that I will remember, thanks!

I was looking to understand highlights, didn't think that I would walk away with a life lesson. This is so well timed. Thank You Sean.. You gave me a new perspective.

Finally understood ETTR today. For the past half year, I have been working to improve my RAW shooting and editing skills. Today, I’ve realized that it’s not always about creating a technical image where everything can be adjusted for optimal lighting (shadow recovery etc). Instead, learning to appreciate the highlights is an exercise in image capture - the way we humans intuitively remember the a scene. Thank you!

Thank you for making this a better world!

This is certainly another reading for "a camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera"... great video dude, a great lesson of life with style! Thanks for keep on providing such high quality contents.

Your latest entries are very vivd, very alive. I admire your non-pose attitude, your opened mind and your ability to to share things that realy bothers you. You are not playing any role, you are not a reflection of what you (maybe) would like to be. You are who you are now, that's very inspiring. Please, continue, stay being you... thanks. And great lesson about highlights by the way, completely blew my mind, thanks :)

This was not only a great teaching about photography, but also about life ! Thanks for sharing Sean ! I will protect my highlights as well !

Concur with a lot of Sean's wise thoughts. Sort of person you would happily have has a good friend. 294K view for a reason methinks... and also informative. Latterly another great RU-vidr (Mathias Burling) describes "Protecting the Highlights' (Re settings Ricoh GR III) as 'very trendy', well I guess he could be right at this moment in time (?). It's not new but this is so well explained and illustrated. Another great video ......even though I must be a bit late to the party in trying to catch the little devils in a digital world .... very trendy :-)

Thanks very much for this great episode. I watched it numerous times already. Sometimes it is really hard to *protect your highlights* in life. Videos like this help to focus on the important bits and pieces of life. Great channel, Sean.......

Hi Sean. I've just found (and subscribed!) to your channel. Very taken with this video. "Life" and "Light Lessons" in one. Thanks. I'm an amateur but photography is my escape, my go to place when I need. Lift and what you say resonates very clearly wth me.

Just seeing this now, a little more than a year after you published it. I appreciate the spiritual message as well as the technical one. I hope you're having a great year Sean! I always enjoy these presentations.

nice insight! would be great on a shirt as well ---> "PROTECT your HIGHLIGHTS" only few people will interpret it in a photographers way

This episode is so deep ! Thank you for making this video and sharing your experience with us !

Your video is unlike any other "photography" video I have seen...unique and valuable both in photography and philosophical approach. Thank you for this. I liked and subscribed.

Wow this is amazing; because while I have known this for years I've never fully understood the reasoning or philosophy behind it and I find when I don't fully understand why decisions are being made it's hard to improvise them or know what to do when situations aren't ideal. But this explains why we expose for the highlights and what the end result of that choice is and explains so much around how you apply this technique in various situations. Thank you Sean this is great

absolutely brilliant and fabulous!! Mix of photography and philosophy....indeed my mind is more inclined to be velcron for negatives, i will try to train it to be not like teflon for positives..thank you!!!!!!

I’m so impressed by you and I’m so thankfull to have find you on RU-vid. You’re an inspiration as a photographer and especially as a human. Your videos always go deeper than talking about photography and I really need that in my life. Thank you, Sean.

Love your work. Thanks for the insight and great advice. I'm working towards starting my own photography business by the end of the year and I think this advice with get me through my doubtful days...

This is such an inspiring content. Your message of positivity is like a good photo that I will keep for a long time. Cheers! now you gotta think of this for 10 sec.

Subscribing both for the amazing lessons in your videos, as well as for how you connected a life lesson at the end - "Protect your highlights"....true for photography, true for life 👍

One of the most profound, thoughtful photography videos I've ever seen

Very interesting videos , regarding cinematography , have you seen Christopher Doyle’s work in Wong -kar-wai film in the mood for love? It’s really beautiful.keep the good work up ... very good work and gets you thinking. George Hurrell was a great photographer who used light and shade well to create drama.

Why was this so emotional for me? Left my in tears. Such a lovely video😭

quite a different approach to sharing knowledge. I found your clips by accident. I was watching Peter McKinnon before. Now I will stick with you. Definntely my kind of approach. No need to shout and use a drone to just explain what beuty can be found in the most unexpected places.

At last someone who knows photography, pro or learner this is a must to view, as a pro the learning curve will never end and i found that everything Sean talks about here is so true in every aspect, hundreds of videos of blind leading the blind telling everyone to pull everything out of an image to the extent there is no mystery, every shadow is ripped apart to reveal its hidden secrets, and even leading myself to question am i doing it wrong but fortunately like Sean i stick to what i believe is right. A new Subscriber .

This was such a wonderful video. Thank you for sharing. "Protect your highlights...", my new manta, thanks!

I learnt more from this video than hours, maybe days of other advice. Wow.

Thank you for this wonderful perspective on photography and things! I was about to leave for a walk in the woods to take some photos and relax before work. I have a good feeling about this one now... 10, 9, 8...☺

Beautiful.Explanation, tutorial and at the end some deep words that got me thinking. Cheers

Thank you very much Sean- brilliant, I am very impressed about your interpretation to protect the (also human) highlights.

That last bit was NEEDED. Thank you, Sean, for all the great videos!!

Thanks Sean. I really valuable and lovely vid. Made an impact. Off to Lisbon Saturday and have forced myself to look beyond the work I have to do between now and then to allow myself to become excited - sounds silly as I'm writing that but there you go!

This is what happens when someone lives, breathes and eats their craft.

Best RU-vid channel I have ever subscribe! I watch your channel every night. Learned a lot of knowledge about videography and photography. I am a freelance videographer, I never been to any film school and I started this journey of taking video for other people since 1998. Very happy to found your channel recently, love your channel very much. Every single words you said in your channel inspired me. Greatness takes a great deal of time,there is no substitute for time. Journey to mastery is a long one. Stay honest and humble along the way. Keep moving in the right direction one day at a time. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge,it helps me a lot. With love from Malaysia.

Alright, it has been seven months since we saw this video. And i can bet my money on the fact that this one tip, this raised my level of photography up by a few notches. I practiced this advice for 7 months and i have seen substantial growth, being honest with myself. This is something no one is talking about. Mind you i still shoot with my cellphone and it makes the images look so better that i have forgotten the last few regrets i had of not having a dslr or mirrorless camera. Thank you for this gem. :)

Thank you so much for your videos Sean. This one in particular has really struck a chord with how I am feeling about my business lately. You have really inspired me to “protect my highlights”. Thanks again.

Another informative and inspirational video. Bless you mate, your videos give new life to ones in the rutt.

Wow great video Sean, i seem to find your videos ad hoc between trying to keep myself busy in my freelancer's world. Thanks for your tips and great series taste! :-) I think you were at where I currently am in this self-doubting time of freelancing. Thanks once again!

Wow, what a video!! 😱😃😍 This was freaking good, thank you. 👍 This really resonates with me, the way you put together photography, filmmaking and personal growth, because that’s exactly what I intend to do with my channel about Creativity. I am just starting with it by associating for example filmmaking, sketching and photography in a video (Antwerp Vlog) or including personal growth in some of my videos through thoughts about believing in ourselves, being confident or not aiming for perfection, in my sketching, watercolor painting or photography video. I hope to be able to pair it all even more soon. Thanks for adding a bit more inspiration to my project. ☺️ As a photographer, I always adopt an extreme approach : chiaroscuro and protected hightlights sometimes, high key atmospheres at other times, wide angle sharp playing with perspective shot at times, or shallow depth of fields sort of close ups... Btw, It would be nice to make a video the same way you did with this one, about contrast. 😉 “Embrace and enhance contrast! A lesson for light and life. Live fully and make great impact photography”. 😌 If you want to make a collab, I’m in. :)

High , I exclusively use old 35mm cameras from 60’s-80’s , being a beginner , correct exposure is still a learning curve for me , how do I physically protect my highlights, some of my cameras have meters some dont , I use sunny 16 and sometimes a meter app from my phone , is it a case of moving to the area of the highlights I’m trying to protect and metering then moving back for composition or choosing a particular fstop range , or something completely different ?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on photography. I really appreciate your work a lot. It's really inspiring to watch your videos. Keep up the good work! Thank you Sean!

Very good reasons for exposing the the right (highlights). No one has put this subject as plain and simple to life in general as you have done.. Thanks Sean, I love your YourTube channel.

Sean, thanks for a great lesson in photography and....philosophy as well. If you ever decide to write a book on life, I'll buy it. Love the quotes.

Just subscribed. I really appreciate your point of view and this content. I blow out the highlights too much, but will play closer attention now. I can always modify a photo later to bring in a little of the mid-range light (anathema to some I know). It seems most photos go darker when printing (vs computer monitor) so that is also a challenge. It may look perfect on screen but too dark when printed.

Thank you so much for your video, been struggling with my photography over last few months, but, after watching this I think I will look at why i'm struggling and take on board some of your very good advice.

I will chant the mantra "Protect the Highlights" whenever I am out shooting photos. Do you spot-meter the highlights or are you using the histogram to expose the highlights properly? You are an amazing photographer. I have learned so much from you. Thanks for being real.

Fantastic content 🙏 also a Mindhunter fan. There is a scene where Tench is playing golf, picture perfect. Will need to check out I Robot. Found the breakdown of the scenes very interesting, more of this would be welcome.

Really enjoy your channel Sean 👌

Sean ...you can doit..iam in the same boat as you...walking is really a great anecdote.. just moved here from Toronto, and wanting to do photography ..pretty hard getting a job here in the UK.

Protect Highlights at all costs!

Wow that was beautiful, philosophical and poetic. I didn't expect it. I thought it will be just some tips. Bravo sir!

This was my first video of yours that I have seen. I immediately subscribed! Very impressed with your style, thought process, and how genuine you are.

Nice info and good motivational advice too! 😃👍

Just discovered this channel. So many photography channels and many that I enjoy but WOW this stands head and shoulders above.

Thank you so very much to share your so rich manner of thinking things about highlights...and light, and enlighthen at a certain point. For the major part of my photography work, I protect my highlights, and it is so exlhating to do this and to see how the composition becomes organized around this...I think that it elevates my soul!

Always love your videos...this one is especially great! Love that you talk about photography but goes a bit deeper....thank you!

if i ever begin a serious youtube channel, it better have truly useful content like you are providing. New subscriber here. Please keep it up and know very well that you are helping your community. This has really helped me get a idea of why and where I place my DR in a scene. I have really been on a journey to understand the theory behind where my image falls on the spectrum of highlights and shadows. Thank you for your hard work.

Thanks for a great video, I'm learning that one good photo is a good day's work. I'm also planning to protect my highlights. your explanation and examples are great.

Thank you for this video and i wish you the best on your photography carrer!! Beeing freelance or whatever. Anyway, thats for shure that you have a theaching skill !! Cheers 👍

Great video Sean, I like the philosophy and psychology behind your thoughts and how you use these skills in life. I can relate to the importance of the commute too. Great work .

Thany you so much for this brilliant ,inspiring and timely video. Your advice will speak to so many people,whether they are photographers or not.

Great video, really enjoyed it. Good insights and reflections, speaking from my perspective as a clinical psychologist!

Thank you, Sean, for inspiring me! Your videos are so unique, your teachings are profound. I'm grateful for your generosity.

Thanks, Sean. First vid of yours that I’ve watched. V impressed with how you know your stuff!

I have only recently begun following you Sean. Very easy listening, enjoyable and thought invoking. Keep it up.

Sorry, meant to add, due to my number of health issues can make me feel down on occasion, I’ve noticed since starting taking photography more seriously I feel so much better. When I do get low I grab my camera and get out somewhere, anywhere.

Thankyou - again your suggestions have taken me along a fresh pathway of investigation. I must say by following your advice the results have an air of naturalism about their effect.

Awesome. Very aptly explained. With life and photography just superb.