Hey all! This video has drawn much more interest than I ever expected! Thank you all for watching and for your comments. My newest video is all making great travel photos under natural light, even under so called "bad light". Check it out! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iBvZ4vyuA3Y.html
as a wedding photographer I shoot up to a 1000 photos at a wedding. Fifteen years ago we stopped using film, at that time I was taking 5 rolls of 120mm film, 60 shots. It kept me disiplined but the benefit of being able to evolve my style and vary my shots has certainly improved my photography. It's not spray and pray, It's constant learning and evolving and improving my skill. So I agree with you vary your angles and exposure until you get what you want.
Well, that's one style, and works better in the digital age, not "wasting film." But... I prefer the Ansel Adams approach: Visualize what you want and set it up to happen. Yes, I still take more than one "sniper" image, but not more than 7 or 8, usually fewer than that. Sometimes, yes, just one, if I got what I wanted. And yes, I learned and mostly practiced photography using film, often medium format and even 4x5. Did my own darkroom work, too. So I guess my habits involve being frugal.
Hey, it does make total sense for stationary subjects and medium format film cameras. Perhaps I should have emphasized more that my approach is particularly aimed at dynamic subjects or when you can be dynamic around the subject itself, like with the drone. Nothing against Ansell Adams or the great portraitists, but I shoot different type of stuff. The main lesson was that - it's ok to take more shots, but with intent and purpose.
Everyone has their own approach. - In my case, I get one or two shots of a given moment of inspiration and it usually works out. If there's nothing of interest, I don't shoot as if I'm digging for something in the hopes to captures something (and yes, despite what is said in the video, of course it's fishing for results). - I'd rather indeed see the image already and then capture it instead of waiting or hoping for it. I stare into the world and through the viewfinder a lot, otherwise I might as well just shoot video and select a frame afterwards. - I now shoot film, which kind of forced me to do this, but I already did the same with digital cameras automatically. - Just my approach...
KutWrite I have no doubt you get the shot you wanted with all your skills and practice. I'm curious though if you are limiting your creativity to thing that are familiar. I often find new creative ideas I haven't explored before when I take the restrictions off myself.
This to me at least seems like one of those tips where it's so obvious and seems like something that everyone should already automatically do, but for some reason I don't think I do it properly and this simple tip will really help me. I look back at some of my favourite pictures and think 'if only I got slightly different angles or slightly different lighting... So thanks.
I call it working the shot. I frequently explore a subject from a variety of angles and perspectives. My best image is often one I hadn't originally seen in my minds eye.
Yep, sketching with the camera, working the shot and yes - that's the beautiful thing about photography - sometimes it's the little nuance, which you never expected that makes for the best image.
Yes, “working” the scene is a good description. Being curious and willing to adjust location, perspective and camera controls are the means to creative results. Patience and curiosity are key. Plus lighting and local environment situation may be constantly evolving. Exploring and working a situation is the excitement!
Thanks for making this. I used to do photography back in the film days and I have to admit, I was a photo sniper simply for economic reasons. Photography was not my job, so I had to shell out personal funds for film, travel (to shoot), developing and printing. I would always try my best not to waste a single frame, though--without immediate feedback--I did end up wasting a lot of them. Then I put it away for a very long time, but now I am getting back into it. I have digital cameras and I know that taking more shots is free and it gives me a much higher success rate, but I am having a really hard time changing my mind set. This video helps with that. I will start making a conscious effort to take more shots.
Back years ago when I took a photography class, digital photography was only just becoming accessible to the regular consumer and I was still shooting with film. The rule of thumb back then was that you probably will only get one good image per roll (24-36 images). So there was the cost of a roll of film, then there was the cost of developing and if you did black and white photography in a darkroom it was time consuming to produce each print, so it was more likely to just give up a subject if you couldn’t find an interesting way to frame it. Today, you can snap several dozen images and see them immediately and delete the ones you don’t like or transfer them to a flash drive and you don’t have to go buy another roll of film. Some of the gear can still be expensive, but you don’t have the ongoing cost of film, special batteries or developing. It is easier not to be a “photo sniper.”
Totally agree with you, the the great shot should be searched and the right moment should be waited, but the knowledge you should already have, because is pointless to wait and to search because you won't find. I have the same technique and I'm so happy to see that you do the same. Thank for your videos, was very useful!
Thank you for traveling to Georgia! My home country is very small so not a lot of people know about it but when I find stuff like this on the internet it warms my heart to see people viewing the wonders of my small country ❤️
this man is living my dream, i was in Georgia last summer it's a great country, i however didn't have a 4 by 4 as a car / home / office therefore i didn't fetch good unique pictures. sadly i ended up with dull pictures taken from the most popular places where every Tourist got.
I think you make a good point there. Shooting many pictures but definitely with a purpose is a great strategy and I think the three photos you showed were perfect examples for when it's very useful. However, I also think it depends on the purpose of the shoot. For a professional job I would take as many shots as I could, no question. However, I started shooting film around two years ago and what I found is that by limiting myself to the essential compositions I had a much better learning effect. It was of course extremely frustrating at times but I got to know myself and what I can and cannot do. In a way I take fewer steps forward because film slows me down but the steps are bigger because I get angry at myself when I didn't capture what I wanted and only find out two weeks later in the darkroom. ;)
Took me a moment to appreciate what you meant by “photo sniper” - I got fed up yesterday with a photographer spotting where I was shooting, and literally running in front of me to steal my shot, but I really get your message - thank you. Great shots, and the trip looks amazing!
People who think a photographer should shoot one, perfect shot is stupid. Your process (same as mine) is immensely better. I love the shot of the old man. Wonderful!
I have mixed feelings about this. In one hand you are ABSOLUTELY right, you shouldn’t just take a couple of photographs. On the other hand I mainly shoot film, so I can’t do that I have to think about the composition and take one or two photographs at most and they come out really good because I took a moment to think about the shot.
Thanks for commenting. If you're dealing with still subjects, it's totally manageable to get the shot in 1-2 attempts. The main reason why I shot the landscape with the drone many times is because I could and I was curious to see it from different angles later. However, if you're dealing with dynamic subjects... 1 or 2 frames, well, it's still possible, but basically you have to get incredibly lucky to get something great.
i'm shooting film as well. I always only take a single shot of a subject. it makes it way more special and valuable, as, just like you said, you invest so much more into the shot before pressing the shutter
I think shooting with film makes you slow down. You know you have limits with film; so you tend to be more thoughtful before you press the shutter. One of the benefits of going back to film from time to time.
@xavpaw -I think this is a great point for hobbyists, but if you're a pro and you're showing an editor your photos, no one cares about how special you think the shot is, if it's not actually special. :) And no one cares how many shots it took you to get it.
As someone who frequently switches between shooting film and digital, this is pretty much exactly how I shoot when shooting digital. Of course with film I have to snipe because I don’t want to waste exposures, and even then, it does help add a different perspective to my composition because I have to take the time to stop and make sure I get the perfect shot. This idea of shooting more on a single idea has been a huge help to me on learning how to use my camera and understand what kind of composition I like, which in turn translates over to composing shots with film. Great video!
This is the proper philosophy of a pro photographer. Actually the title of this video should read 'Don't be a machine gunner'. A sniper is a shooter who picks and does not waste a shot. You are living the dream.
I've always wondered how do people get their living expenses while traveling in SUV like these? How about internet? It looks really awesome, but I never figure out how...
Expenses can be super cheap. Gas and... depends on where you eat. Internet - Georiga is a bit special in that sense they have amazing 4G mobile internet almost everywhere. About 60 USD per month, unlimited. :)
Dang, that's awesome, may I ask how do you charge your gadgets like phone and notebook? Built-in car charger port? Do you cook or eating out? I really appreciate your reply man
Having an interest as a child I grew up with film. Observation and timing were key. Old habits die hard. I’ve increased the number of shots, my sons shoot many multiples of my number. My gear is much more capable than I am.
One of the real joys of digital - can take a few photos and choose best without the fear (or cost) of using / running out of film. Great topic - and vehicle.
wow, you are right, I was making that mistake, thinking that if I'm getting good, I shouldn't take that many pictures, but thanks for this advice! Will keep up
In the midst of the argument about being an Ansel Adams purist and whether digital encourages people to "waste" shots, people seem to have missed your point about shooting with a purpose. To me, that's the point. I do some wildlife photography, and I get as many shots as I can while the subject is in front of my lens. I never know what movement is going to work, particularly with birds. With human models, there's a little less surprise because the model should have already bought into the vision for the image. With landscapes, I'm a little less inclined to shoot a bunch of images. Once I see what I want to capture, I know pretty quickly whether I've gotten the shot.
This is the best photography educational approach I’ve seen on RU-vid. Thank you so much for being a great photography ambassador and opening up your approach to make us all better. Looking forward to my purchase of your full package video course. You’re awesome! 👍🏻
I'm trying to get the best image, but also by having taken photos from different angles, I do have some to choose from later as well. Works well when sending work to editors.
Love the sentiment here. I know almost all of the great photographers of all time have contact sheets with MANY variations of a shot. Koudelka, HCB, Capa, Daido, Eugene Smith often used more than one roll of film on a single scene. That's where I learned this. That said, I think that you manage to dilute the information and present your argument very effectively with some great examples. I'm trying to mentor a friend of mine in photography, and this video has been one of the most helpful ones in terms of him improving his photography. Thanks!
Finally, shoot as many images as possible with as many composition variations as fast as possible. Not everyone thinks the same way, so it's normal that some people tend to hunt for that moment they imagine while the others need to actually see the moment to realize what they need. In the end, it's both that you need, the one leading to the other.
Subscribed! This is the first video I have ever come across from you. Fantastic. I love the pictures. I love your home/office/car and that you get to travel! Awesome video. Thank you for sharing!
exactly ! Im in Bali for 3weeks now and got over 4000shots (most of them is same shots with different expo to do stack and get long expo effec as i dont have an nd filter and still 1week left) . i plan each shot so not really randomly shooting and i think i end up with max 20-40images which actually alot , but eventually i want to be able to get only few shots out of thousands and i think thats the key of been good photographer. Thank you for great point Subbed 👍🏼
EXCELLENT!!! I just love how you make your van as your moving home and office at the same time. I've always want to do the exact same thing like this T_T
Wow. Of the many videos I’ve watched on beginning photography, I have gained so much from this one video. Each video ive seen, they always focus on making the image good after effects. But I’ve always liked taking photos of the natural landscape. And this is exactly the kind of help I was looking for. Definitely earned a sub
Mitchell Kanashkevich do the series man, i think there are lot of videos about journey out there, but an actual video about journey doing photograph is rarely seen.. could you just strap some 360 camera on your car and do some amazing timelapse journey video? maan i just hope you can make it..
Right now it is pouring rain outside my window and I am inclined to stay put ... but after watching your video, I will go out and experiment in the rain. :) Thank you for your video and the ebook on travel photography is great.
About the photo of the horse ... why I love this picture : the raindrops, the edge of the door and the horse watching you, make the photographer enter the picture. The point of view is no more anonymous ...
Yes, this is aimed at digital photography. If one shoots film, there are certainly going to be fewer photos, but not 2 or 3 either. In documentary photography, it's well documented that the Nat Geo photogs would come back with hundreds of rolls from assignments. No idea how much that would cost these days. :)
7 лет назад
Yes Robert, with digital you get biased on the try and error method. Who shoots film already know what the photo looks like when point the camera to subject, because you can´t see what you got until de film development. Don´t get me wong, I´m not telling one way is better than the other, both are valid upon your photography strategy. Who shoots film today must think like Besson, wait for the decisive moment, and would never use a motor drive.
Film has become such a "romanticised" medium. Now we are steering towards film vs digital and that's a whole different topic. Also, what I'm talking about is similar to "knowing" what a photo looks like, in your mind. But, I'm talking about going beyond that and experimenting. That's what I love about digital photography, we can know, but without the limit of frames, we can let spontanity take over, shoot and see what happens. And not go broke. :)
7 лет назад
mitchellkphotos yes, I agree, digital is very good to bust the learning process. I started shooting in the beginning of digital era and with my DSLR I made all the try and error I needed to learn the basics. As I got older I started using film again, more and more, it's not so expensive if you know what your doing, I live in the 3rd world and my goods are all shiped from us. I'm not rich and I don't live from my photography, but it's still possible. The big difference is the mind set you have to achieve your goals. You could say rangefinders are better than SLR, you could say medium format is better than 35mm or silent is better than louder camera. But we see amazing work done with every medium. The think is, there are several strategies and styles, I completely understand you work process, I would do the same if I shoot only digital. But in my case, on daily basis I try the opposite, less is more. And I can't say it's better or worse, just a different strategy.
Sure - many options - many variations. Respect that style but its not for everybody. I tend to work on variations on a theme in a lot narrower range to get the one shot that works. Each to their own.
If you're using a digital camera with a big enough or multiple storage cards, then that's actually a good method of photography. Things happen once and your ideal shot is more likely to be one of many photos. But if you're using film, then its much harder because you have to wait for film to advance, or hand crank it yourself. 35mm film has 36 frames and 120 only has 12 so more planning goes into how this shot is composed, and not a lot of people are going to be willing to go through a whole roll of film for 1 or 2 photos, which is why people snipe to maximize cost per roll. You simply can't delete a frame once you've taken it, and it costs to buy and develop film. That being said, its good to use both methods. Sniping helps you think about photo-taking more and it helps if you're a beginner and/or testing out a different camera, and mini-gun it if things if you don't have the time to think much about it because either you're moving or what you're trying to shoot is. All depends on your style or chosen format. I personally use a Canon 7D and a Yashica 635.
Hey Michell. Great video and an important lesson. I have a small question you might be able to answer as a panasonic expert, I have a GX7 and have a load of dust thats apparently between the low-pass filter and the sensor, so it can't be cleaned with normal techniques and panasonic quote triple the value of the camera to fix out of warranty. This means photos like those you're showing at 4:31 would show up with loads of artifacts in the fog if taken on my camera (maybe only if above f/4). It makes me aprehensive to change to another panasonic camera. Is this something you ever had to deal with with your GX7? Has it ever been an issue with your GX8?
Hey, I am not too much help here. But, a friend of mine did have her GX7 cleaned in a normal place. If it's some weird kind of place, as you say in-between the low pass filter and sensor, it may be an issue. Perhaps try other places. I find that just because someone says it can't be done, it's not always the case.
I have a scratches on the sensor of my camera (bought second hand...), but really with a bit of cloning in post I can remove it all. Obviously doing it do every image would take ages, but just doing it on the ones you actually like isn't too much trouble
yep, thats my thought too. I upgraded to a new camera but ended up returning it because I thought it wasnt worth paying a lot of money just to get around this minor inconvenience
I'm traveling to Mongolia from the UK too this July, but in a rather unsuitable classic mini. Georgia looks beautiful! Can't wait to pass through there. I'll make sure to keep these tips in mind when im taking photos on the way.
Different, depends on road, wind etc. Goes from 600km - 1000km. Remote in Georgia is like 50km from a gas station. Over winding roads of course, but in actual distance - not so far. I think Mongolia itself will be the only issue from what I heard.
Digital really has changed the game. When I started out as a kid with my handed-down Rollei, I had to save up for weeks to afford a 12 exposure roll. The chemicals and paper were costly too. Clicking the shutter became a major investment, and each exposure was carefully considered. Digital enables a much more carefree, experimental approach.
Haha. Yeh, I mean I partly made the video because of that. Many are enamoured with the idea, this romantic notion of just "nailing it" with one shot. Why? Is that some heroic feat? And yes, I'd say - show me what you got over the past 10 years. I mean, if you can get something in 1-5 shots - in an action scene or even a portrait that's beyond someone just standing still for the camera - great. But, most often that's not the case. Thanks for watching. :)
I partially disagree because I shoot more film than digital and can't afford to just keep taking photos. Your attitude claiming that people can't take good photos if they don't take a lot is incredibly short sighted.
Been to Cartier Bresson's retrospective. From the contact sheets that were there it was clear that he didn't settle on a single image, or two. It wasn't 20, but maybe that's just because he was limited by the amount of film he could carry on those long journeys. :)
This is the first video I've seen from you and it made me subscribe your channel. I still don't know what photography means to me but I feel like shooting things help me to explore and unterstand better and show me the different points. And what I actually understand from your video is to see and approach the different aspects of the people and the things we come across on our way. Thanks for that and have a great journey.
Thanks for the advice. You've been one of my favorite photographers for years. I'm glad I discovered your RU-vid channel. I can't wait to see what you do next.
Good tip. Back in the days of film, most pro photographers would say that if you get one good shot out of a roll of film, you're doing well. With digital, there's no reason to hold back.
I stumbled upon this, im new in photography world and its true im one of those photography sniper... And i notice what actually i want in my photos...and now while watching some photography lesson i saw this, thank you for sharing this to us, iit helps a lot to me and to others😊😊😊
I subscribed to the course a couple of weeks ago which I thoroughly enjoyed and have subsequently viewed the additional material that comes along with it and I must say that I probably learned more about the thought process behind good photography in those three or four hours than I have done over the last 30 years.Excellent and thought provoking stuff matched with brilliant photos . Thanks for the content . Just keep doing what you do and I will be there soaking it up.Cheers
Thanks for the positive feedback, Ian. Appreciate it. And I'm really glad that you got so much out of it. When I hear that - that's extra motivation to make more videos.
Sometimes I "snipe" or "shoot from the hip" by intent, even then I will probably take multiple shots of a subject, from a tripod, it's a no-brainer. This is a well-planned photography tip, not just for travel, given by a professional in a clear methodical manner. Well done by Mitchell. Some will certainly disagree with this approach, I doubt you will find a good professional photographer that does. Watch it, like space on a memory card, you have nothing to lose, a lot to gain from 11 minutes..
100 percent agree. I have people making fun of me all the time while others understand they have to wait five minutes while i find the one shot i chose to post or show them.
Definitely agree about the unexpected part. I think that's part of the magic of photography - a small nuance, maybe not even something you wanted, but then you end up with a special shot.
Brilliant. I've often felt guilty when coming home with so many shots from a trip but was so happy for having the options later on in post. I need to apply this to making videos as I usually don't record as much as I should.
I went to a dog beach recently with a friend and her dog. My purpose was to capture the playfulness of the dogs, and although I took heaps of photos, I still came away with a lot of good photos, because I used this awesome method.
I love the focus on the artistry of photography and less on the technical jargon of it all. Don't get me wrong. The techy stuff does turn me on but there is a limit to learning that stuff. And the more mature of a photographer i get i realize that there is limitless possibilities to explore when it come to the artistic side of it all. Please make more such photo analysis videos sprinkled with a little tech dust , like when you talked about the aperture settings and the lens flare. It helps us amateurs get an idea of the thought process that goes into a shot
Back in the day before digital photography when every photo you took meant paying for processing (unless you were processing your own photos and then you could be a little more selective) photos sniping was probably a lot more common. He wanted to make sure that you were really clear and certain about the photo you were going to take before you actually snap the picture. I still have this mindset unless I’m photographing flowers which I’m super passionate about. Then I just take massive photos and them and and left with thousands of photos to go through at the end of the day. But Bob Ross used to say there are no mistakes, just happy little accidents. 😊
Subscribed. You deserve much more views. This is a very god example of moving from the film mentality, to the digital mentality. I find that capturing movement, means many images. It can often result in some great results. As you say, sometimes its opportunistic, or with a bit of luck. The more you take, the more chance of that image of distinction.
Great video, this really resonates with me! It reminded me of an explanation I gave to some people while wilderness camping. They were asking why I took so many photos from different perspectives of the same thing. I tried to explain that I was trying to achieve the image I could see in my mind's eye. Anyway, I love the video!
When you do not work in studio, but outside you should shoot like this, you never know until you try. You can not control the nature, the light, but you can work with it. Look at all angles, think outside the box. I do agree with you.
Thanks Mitchell. I really liked the pace of this video and the clarity with which you spoke. I do marine photography and certainly agree there's no point sniping. Sometimes I think I've got the shot only to find I haven't. Now I go back down and keep going, even after I think I've nailed one. So much can go wrong! Also my brain compensates based on what I am looking at, particularly regarding light, so sometimes the camera captures something different, so I go back in with different settings. Couldn't agree more about changing angles too. Nice job!
One of the best photography videos and recommendations I ever seen. Thanks. I was a photo sniper. But now I know I have to get rid of that purist sensation and shoot plenty with a purpose. Thanks again. An also I loved your edition and the way of explaining it. Excellent
Great style and beautiful images! I really like the style/layout of your videos, showing us what you're doing and where you're going then providing us tips/tricks with concrete examples to back it up. Killer videos! I can see you and your channel really taking off!
Thanks a lot! I hope it'll do well and I hope that I'll have enough time to make more vids. I do have another one that I've almost finished planning. I try to make these videos packed with info.
Fantastic advice! I always have a problem with getting photos from different angles. When I find a composition I like, I tend to stick around and shoot it with slight variations. I'll have to make a conscious effort to recompose.
This was beautiful, and i think this knowledge can be applied to more than photography ,i'm a learning logo designer and i discovered that practice makes perfect when the practice is not just random repetition but focused on gradually improving a specific skill
It's funny how I hear a lot of people saying "you shouldn't spend so much time with a single subject, just take a couple and move on". I never agreed with that and this video confirms my point.
amazing vid! stumbled upon it accidentally. THANK YOU! I did not know how to express my methods but you've explained them exactly. I whole-heartedly agree that its not pray & spray. Its methodical, perhaps unconventional, but its definitely not a random lottery win. Ultimately what matters is that it works, and it works for me!
There are a lot of photographers who spray and pray. I think your 100 % . Have an idea. Talk to your subject. Some areas it is a lot of work. Sometimes good. That man's face told a story. Love the background of the fog.
I thought the opposite until I saw this video. If you have a vision of what kind of pic you want eventually to take and you are familiar with your settings, why do people need a bunch of quite similar pics? But your approach definitely makes a lot of sense, thank you for sharing your experience. What do you do with other pics by the way? Recycle bin?
Thanks. No, not the recycle bin. With some of them it's not a clear choice. I try to keep all of even the half-decent images on HDDs. I upload different versions of the same image in my online archive and sometimes an editor might choose an image I overlooked. The beauty of digital storage. No need to have boxes and boxes of stuff. :)
Excellent advice. I've been guilty of sniping in the past but have never been a spray and pray type. I've always had a purpose behind my actions but think I'll follow your advice and resolve to take my time and create more captures. May as well take advantage of the capabilities that digital gives a photographer.
thank you for sharing your work technique, you are a great inspiration, many times as a photography lover, I thought that the great photographers are people who were born with a predisposition and great talent for photography, and that everything is easier for them because they were born for this, but in this video I can see that behind a great final result, there is a lot of work involved, than you.
