STOP Telling Beginner Photographers THIS! 🤦🏼‍♂️ 

Great advice, Henry. The rentless pursuit of perfection is two things: relentless (never ending) and pursuit (never attained). Photography is about capturing our world as it is, not as we think it should be. This includes the reality of our own level of ability with the camera. I encourage everyone to look into the Japanese concept of wabisabi and the approach of the great Japanese photographers such as Daido Moriyama. Accept what the camera captures and work with it, warts and all. Glad to see you happy, hiking, and enjoying yourself again.

there is no failure only experience and learning

Welcome back Henry, I watched last week’s video and felt for you! I wonder how much of your pain was coming down from your brilliant Advent series. Anyway it’s great to have your happy phisog back… thank you for sharing your story. As for this week’s topic, the pursuit of ‘acceptable’ rather than perfection is something I have struggled with for a very long time! This video is a great help to settle those feelings of inadequacy when I look for imperfection in an otherwise decent photograph. Crack on Henry, you are doing good things for all of us.

I love Madeira, those mountain paths and Lavada trails can be insane, and all cut by hand hundreds of years ago. Amazing. So glad you got over the negativity and enjoyed Madeira's unique landscape.

Good to see that you are embracing the spirit of Madeira, knew it wouldn't take long.

To fail is your First Attempt In Learning. It should be embraced

What a location - I've added Madeira to my travel wish list! Love the misty black and white landscapes

Might not have been striving for perfection but that 1st mono was an absolute banger Henry and the final image wasnt that far behind either. Definitely 'failing' is good for improving and I dont class it as a failure as for me, photography is a forever learning process and if the picture doesn't materialise there is always new knowledge to look back on. Hope you had a good day out on the Dales today

These are some really beautiful mountains.

Nice to see you a bit more chilled out and relaxed m8, have been in the same frame of mind once or twice especially on trips that you have been really looking forward to, namely Iceland. You get to a location that really excites you but due to circumstances (mostly conditions) you don’t feel inspired when you get there. I have come to the conclusion that you very rarely ever get what you hope for and when that happens I just rejoice in the fact that I am lucky to be there at all 😉 the photography becomes secondary. Every once in a while you get perfection and those moments make up for any prior disappointments 👍

The mojo is back! This reminds me of our Victorian high country, except our peaks are worn and not so "pointy" but I have similar intimate cloudy shots from nearby Mt. Buffalo. I must get back there... soon!

What a lovely place. Worth remembering, though, that Madeira used to be completely covered with laurel trees. But, about six hundred years ago, people decided to clear the land for farming by setting most of the island on fire. it took them seven years to burn off the tens of thousands of laurel trees which formed the dense forest.

Nobody ever fails we just learn lessons.

Madeira looks stunning, definitely added to my list of places to visit! Regarding your previous video Henry, I saw a video from (I think) Chris Orange, and he was talking about how when he gets to a place, he spends a while just being there and soaking it up before he starts shooting. I’ve had some mental health struggles in the last couple of years, and I try and do that wherever I am, whether I have my camera with me or not. It’s good to just slow down and just enjoy some time occasionally.

Nice video. The Canucks hat is a great touch as well.

Great video of a fabulous hike! Great to say you have experienced it !!

Loving the Vancouver Canucks hat you've been wearing lately. BC Canada representing 🙂

Glad you found a little bit of your mojo back mate awesome B&W images

Yooo Henry, loving the Canucks hat! The classic skate logo too!! 1st in the NHL right now 😂

Very beautiful mountain.

Well done! I did it one way and it did for me!

That's more like the HT that inspires us to love our surroundings and try to capture the essence of the moment. Sometimes the most imperfect shots are the ones that please people the most, because they see something we haven't without a critical eye... Keep on trekking mate..

May each of our mistakes be better than the last. You learn a lot more from a hard fought mistake than a lucky success. Bit disappointed you didn't get that velociraptor photo though.

Wow, thanks Henry, thoroughly enjoyed that.🍷

There you are! Back on form! Nice couple of mono’s and good to see shots that didn’t quite work as we all have them

Loved the images, Henry ! The stress just came from having to drive on the correct (right) side of the road :-) Kind regards, Guy.

I'd like to say something wise and meaningful right now, but all I can say is that I wish you a happy heart and a healthy head. Love your videos.

Thanks Henry, great upload.

Glad you are feeling better, Henry. I like the look of Madiera and the hike you were on.

And that last B&W? Stunning. As worthy as any that my mentors, Minor White, Aaron Siskind, my own father, Ansel or Weston ever made. The very best image for the last to close that video.

I’m exhausted just watching you hike! Hahaha. Good on ya! Striving for perfection can lead to madness. So for me, I just try to be better, learn something new, and have fun doing it. Thanks for sharing your journey!

You aced it again!

Nice seeing you in a better frame of mind this time around. And remember, not every Beatles jam session resulted in a Strawberry Fields. Don't force the magic. It'll come naturally

great images Henry. Don't know that my vertigo would allow me walk some of the sections on that walk🤣

I knew you would recover! Good reminder to relax and enjoy.

Hi Henry, another grand day out thanks for sharing. It just goes to show that if you relax, it unlocks the talent ... I once heard photography as "the art of failing well" ...meaning of course that perfection is hardly ever possible, but learning from mistakes helps you improve ... as it does in so many things in life. The thing about striving for perfection, and particualrly for beginners, it only leads to becoming disillusioned .. and if you're not enjoying photography, then you'll ultimately give up. As with all things, set yourself some reasonably achievable goals, or as I do none at all, and just enjoy it. For most people the only person you need to please is yourself.

Beautiful location and pictures! I love that you like fog in your landscapes! Thanks for keeping it real!

just keep pushing forward you are better than you think you are and what you're doing is amazing. we all have bad days(times) we just need to learn from them and push forward even if it's hard things will get better ❤

Hey Henry, additional pressure comes with travel and the need to justify the expense with your images is always in the back of your mind so it’s too easy to be critical of yourself. Love today’s vlog (like all of them!) and especially like the last B&W image, top drawer!!! Keep inspiring us please! 🙏

Commented last week that I was in Madeira probably same time doing same routes and today's vid was no different. Did exactly the same route and it was epic, if exhausting. Inevitably I got some of the same shots. I was also there for sunrise and got a fantastic cloud inversion. Glad you ernjoyed it, I did too. Great vid.

Glad you were doing better again and really got to enjoy your trip! Even though it's beautiful there, I'm not sure this would be for me. Some of those roads seem really scary! Love that last image!

Thank You for the Inspiration. It is amazing as I have gotten older, I realize that no matter what, I am going to post everyone of my photos on my Flickr page. I figure if they are good and people love them, great, if they are not good, then I can learn and they can see it and like or dislike it. Not every shot is going to be liked by every single person. I know for me, some of my family love some of the shots I have in one genre and other members love the shots in another genre. I try and shoot in whatever genre I am feeling and not restrict myself in any specific vein or genre. All in all, you have to enjoy what you are doing and try and have fun while doing it. Thanks again Henry!!!

Good to see you have been able to get past the blip from last week and find some joy in your time in Madeira. Sounds like you have had one of life’s essential lessons, if I may presume, as an oldie with some life experience, but perhaps less photography experience. I know you are making a living from this and need to consider your path and the steps required to be “successful”, but I would argue that it may be unwise to compare yourself to others. You are unique, as are we all, and I would urge you to just to be you, as you are. Enjoy every day, enjoy the ride, the ups and downs are like sunshine and rain, and you can always find a shot whatever the weather. But is it the ultimate shot you are after, or finding ways to enjoy your days? At my stage in life I aim for both, but will happily settle for the latter. Keep on keeping on, Henry, and remember to enjoy the journey.👍🖖

Love that last image, couldn't do that trail these days but it's great fun riding along with your adventures

Thanks for sharing this wonderful adventure! I don’t believe we have photographic failures…just learning experiences that make us better in the long run. I loved all of your images in this video! Thanks for taking me along!

This is a beautiful video, and I think it's good advice for all photographers, regardless of skill level. Madeira looks beautiful, and you made some amazing photos!! Keep those videos coming, and thank you for what you create and share!!

Good timing for this talking point. After last week's video, it's clear you know what you're talking about. Good on you for talking about the mental aspect of photography. Nice Canucks hat, by the way😊

just wanted to say how'd from the USA. I enjoy all your craziness, from my couch in North West Alabama. Great video as usual.

Not sure what the title is referring to, but I may have been distracted by that path you were on. Thanks for sharing since it's highly unlikely I'll be attempting it. I have neither a head for heights nor a body. My legs turn to rubber just looking at pictures of a trek like that. Stopping to smell the roses or to admire white trees is a great message for daily life in general. Carry on. 👍🥂

"The per-shoot of perfection" @ 1:27... well played, sir!

Well done Henry. Great to see you back on form, after yesterday’s hiccup. Looking forward to the next adventure with you.

Sweet hat! Go Canucks Go!

I always enjoy your work, in life every one will fail at some point, the thing is you have to learn from that situation and move on, in photography to become a better photographer is to be your own critic. Look at your photos and decide why makes a photo work and what doesn't, if your photo is not sharp look at your camera settings see where you went wrong, if the photos are not interesting could a different angle or change of foreground be better, sometimes it could be the lighting. I was in Cape Cod photographing the Turo lighthouse in the Cape Cod National Seashore, it was the middle of the day and I wanted to photograph the lighthouse at sunset, during the time I was looking at where I would photograph at sunset a man and his wife showed up, walked up to the front of the lighthouse, took a quick photo, turned to me and said, not much to look at and left.i returned one hour before Sunset to find the area bathed in the golden light of the setting sun I photographed the lighthouse during the setting sun and the rise of the moon and got some beautiful photos. I only had 2 1/2 days to photograph different areas of the Cape so before going I got a map and photography guide book and spent time coming up with a listing of places that I would photograph at different times of the day. I slept while many people were out and about and drove to my locations early before sunrise while people were still sleeping, Sunset was the same, while people were having dinner, I was driving to the location of my Sunset shoot, if you want to get the photos that will end up being framed on your walls you have to plan and have a different mindset than a typical Cape Cod tourist. You can apply that to any location.

I'm enjoying this video. I'm missing the 1 video a day mate.

Excellent video Henry, great to see you back on form again. What a brilliant location. I totally loved the black and white shots...looking forward to your next video. Many thanks and best wishes.

Let your mistakes and failures fuel your curiosity and determination to advance your technical competence!

Good topic. Really worth addressing. Thanks for doing so, Henry.

The path!! 😂 OMG Henry great video again, the heights! Not a chance! Fair play 😊

Great video, Sir! Thanks!

Great to see you back Henry.... magnificent location & you captured some great images... your comments are very true about perfection & striving to improve...as humans we all like to set high expectations for ourselves...that is life.... cheers from Australia 🦘🦘😊

Glad to see your video, have been worried about you since last week’s. Good you are back to old self and getting out there.

Good to see you back in a better mind set Henry, another brilliant video, that was an epic hike to the highest peak.

😮wouldn’t want to put a foot wrong on that path! Looks great though

Hey Henry. nice to hear that things had worked out better since last weeks video !!!!

Brilliant photos - and great insights into the perfection issue, which I imagine many of us have faced in photography or other passions. Bravo on tackling that trail! Fantastic views and opportunities, but I could not handle the height, especially the parts where you were right on the edge.

Great video Henry. By the way your 2023 calendar I purchased is beautiful. My only regret is that it's a bit small and I cannot read the date area from a few feet away. You have to get close to the calendar to read it. Perhaps 2024's calendar can be made bigger?

Henry, I haven't mentioned this before, as perhaps the thought hadn't quite coalesced into something concrete for me to adequately express, BUT there is a thread of quietness and sometimes tenderness in your seeing that serves you well. You can approach a scene that others may work strenuously for the DRAMATIC, and give us an image of depth, drama (understated often) and with great sensitivity for the overall composition. I did ramble on when I commented on your "petit-breakdown" 😂 and as expected, and as we all do, you ruminated and chewed it over until you let it go. 👍

Another great video Henry. Glad you are feeling a lot more positive from your last video. What a stunning place to photograph. I think that all of us try to get the best image we can and yes sometimes it doesn't work out, just try and try again. Great images as usual mate.

OMG that little track your on turned my stomach, great video again but found myself closing my eyes a few times 😂.

Enjoy yourself man ! Learn to take in what you eyes see and less on what your brain is thinking 💭!!!! You have drop the your perfection thing and like the song " Go your own way " 😂 !!!

Great video, Henry! That's an amazing walk! I did it a couple of years ago there and back, but not, I have to say, carrying all my camera gear! I feel for you! Did sunrise at Arieiro first (which was awesome) and then ditched the camera for the walk.

Wow, what beautiful photos!

Don’t look down 😳 Some nice pics Henry !

Enjoyed this one Henry. Being a wildlife freak I liked the birds you filmed, so thanks for that. Look forward to your next vid.

Excellent photos and great presentation, very watchable 👍

Brilliant work, two videos, like the difference between night and day. Will try to guess which environment you felt more comfortable in. Great photos of the atmospheric mountains 😊

Another great video. I have a Nikon Z6ii and the 24-200 lens (amongst others) and it’s always encouraging to see the cracking shots you pull off with that lens. I have been clinging on to my 70-200 f/2.8 because it is such a sharp beast, but I rarely take it on trips because it is just too heavy! The 24-200 is still a lovely piece of kit and more than adequate for my tiny little RU-vid channel. A little less perfection will do no harm…

Blimey, thats some path Henry. Would most definitely like to walk that with camera one day. Liked the 1st black and white image and was good to see you back enjoying your trade. Maderia now on my list to visit sometime. Thanks for sharing tne journey.

Great video Henry beautiful photos 😊

awesome video. i could not do that walk scared of heights especially with that walkway. great views and photos. as a mater of interest i have just watched the video on an Oculas Quest 2 and believe me it's far better than watching on my laptop. 😄

I'm glade you are ok and enjoying Madeira. One question: whats de diference take a photo in WB vs editing to WB in LR. Thks

So pleased to hear that you've got over your wobble of last week. I do know exactly where you're coming from because I've been there all too often. The pressure under which we put ourselves can completely dominate and ruin what should, in the end, be an enjoyable experience. After all, why do we do it? Your trip to Madeira is particularly relevant to me since I am going there on a 6 day workshop in late June this year. That will be approximately 50/50 astrophotography (cloud permitting) and landscape. I was then either going to fly home (to the UK), or join in another workshop, the disadvantage of which is that it is going to be horrendously expensive! However, your video really made me think of an alternative which is only as high-pressure as I want to make it: to stay on for an extra week (after all, the flight will be the same), hire a car, rent somewhere to stay and then do my own thing. I'm no beginner, so don't really need hand-holding. The key thing is that it would give me the space to just RELAX and ENJOY, without pressure. Anyway, the decision is still pending, but am so grateful that your musings have opened my eyes to what is a very realistic alternative. Please keep up the good work, call it as you see it, for good or bad. It's so good to see that the trials, tribulations and insecurities that I experience aren't unique to me.

Am glad you're more content this week, love the pics. I read somewhere to use a wide angle as a macro, I tried it on sunflowers last year, seem to produce better compositions than previous. I was a bit worried about you last week

By the way, that second B&W is a very fine image, don't sell it or yourself short. Perhaps cropping up and taking out some of the weight, and yes mess of the foreground, up to the point where the two feathery tendrils at the middle left are and placing the frame edge right on the point where the mid-right one curves up would more accentuate the mid-frame where you have that dominant dark escarpment below the sky and clouds. The lacey bare white of the dead trees is lovely and overall and AGAIN, this is a very fine image. Often color photographers fall prey to thinking that their attempts at B&W have to be minimalist or encompass bold, stark or contrasty themes and elements to be worthy and that is just not the case. I'm not saying that is something you suffer from, however as we all see in color and have no choice in the matter, I was raised and taught the craft in black and white and I learned to SEE IN black and white first and for me making what I'd consider fine images in color is as hard as black and white may be for you. I don't even set my camera to monochrome anymore, after a brief period 12 years ago when I was making the switch to all digital, I realized that the monochrome setting was more a crutch than a benefit for me in the end and I was losing far too much of the digital info and dynamic range at the time of exposure. My cameras are a whole lot better and smarter now, but I still shoot in color RAW and make the conversion in post. We should talk about you converting a secondhand camera to shoot 720nm infrared, with the sole purpose of rendering B&W images and see where that takes you. I think you might discover a whole new series of video presentations or perhaps even a longer exploration of a whole new genre?

Of course, you can learn from other photographers and get experience from them. But you should never affoid your own style

With each new photograph taken, do ask yourself: Is it my best? - probably not Is it my worst? - definitely not The experience is more important than the end result.

Beautiful Madeira. One day I plan to go there and take some photos :) Thank You

Does your camera focus stack in camera that would be a cool feature, fuji doesnt do that 😊

Crackin' video, Henry. There's not much protection between those narrow trails and what looks like thousand-foot drops. But you were fearless, in search of magnificent shots. I have a question - why do you choose to switch to an in-camera monochrome setting, rather than converting a color shot to monochrome in post (either in LR, PS, or even aa third-party monochrome product, like Silver Efex? Thanks for all you do!

Jeez Henry, what views, and what drop offs!

Good photographers don't fail if they create learning opportunities.

shout out to those that built the foot paths lol..

Hi Henry can I ask please where did you stay to do this hike and how long did it take for you to drive to get to Pedra Rija I want to do this hike Henry ⛰️😊👊

Excellent video as always mate, see you using the tripod a lot, what's the news on the OM5?

What kind of bird is that?

I encourage folks to pursue the process rather than the result. the result COMES FROM the process...

Maybe one should define „perfection“ for photos. Just kidding. In racing you have laptimes, in companies KPI‘s, you can count steps or measure a heart beat. But what does it mean for photos. As professional you have to please your customers. That of course can be measured by your income statement😅 Apart from that, people may like or not like certain photos, but that‘s for sure not defined by the photo itself. For a start maybe just enjoying the process of taken photos and creating a personal vision of the world is all what it takes.

Who it is save to walk there?

What a brilliant video in a wonderful place great images glad you are back to your best thank you Burt

👍📷😎