You're not a fool for talking to a "camera". You're not a fool for enjoying being alone, you're not a fool for doing any of that or whatever other thing you might think of as a "different" behaviour. There are others like you across this earth, and if you need and example... here I am. All of the above I can relate to. I like to lose myself while looking for a photo, I love having no One while shooting and manage my time alone, not feeling obliged to stop or to move. Of course, there are times when I take some of my students along, or when I'm providing a group workshop I'll have other people with me, but on those days i'm mainly a teacher and photographer persona stays dormant. Photography allowed/allows me to show people my interpretation of Mother Nature. Keep up and be proud!
I know I sent a message saying the same thing ages ago, Adam but before I took up Photography again it was my second go at Photography because I took a big gap. I was depressed, sad and at times even suicidal it was a dark place that I just don't want to go back to and it's funny because I'm actually a counsellor by day so there I was helping people try to rebuild their lives and my own life was a complete mess..... I now wake up every day with zest and opportunity to see what's out there. I'm running a heap of Photography programs at the moment as well and selling plenty of work doing lots of things and loving life. I'm even running some photography programs for people at risk and it's been highly successful and I'm getting paid which is great.
Adam, you are an amazing man! Your photography is always spectacular, but above all, your words always inspire me! Thanks for continuing to do what you do! And, as always, thanks for taking me along!
Absolutely. Staying grounded in reality feels more important than ever as we are forced to operate in all these systems that attempt to warp and distort our reality.
Hi Adam, many thanks for making these videos& I always look forward to them. I had noticed that it had been a while. Also thankyou for sharing your life & struggles. It resonates so much with me & a camera for me is my happy place that you can block out what's going on in the world . I always come home refreshed after I have been out. It's a really good feeling. Once again thanks for all that you do, keep it up.
I do enjoy hearing people's story of their journey to the lens. Thank you for sharing yours. I always found "hiding behind" something (like a pub bar or a camera) the best way to interact with people. Short conversations with purpose, which sometimes led to friendships. But it wasn't until I found a love for the outdoors that my love for photography developed.
Brilliant! Although I wasn't a Police officer, I can totally relate to your past as someone never feeling like you fitted in. I'm in my 50s now, the only child of divorced career parents, from Bristol originally. But I ended up in London for a few years, Holland for 6 months, Jersey for a year, Germany and now Poland for the past 12 years, I think that in itself says everything. As a teenager I had an Olympus om10, but girls followed and life put pay to photography. But 5 years ago I started again, I love bnw street photography, but landscape and wildlife is a massive passion of mine also (Mother has a cottage near Snowdonia) I have since bought another OM 10 to keep things real, but my Canon 80d is more than enough for my landscape and wildlife exploits. I love your channel, your approach and what you have to say, and I love the fact you are still rocking an old Canon dslr💪📸 Thank you for your inspiration!
Thanks for sharing this, I love hearing stories like this. I always find it fascinating when people live a nomadic style existence. I felt like for a while put since having kids have started to put down some roots and become part of the local community. Both ways have their merits and interesting points.
Thank you Adam, just thank you for speaking your mind and being yourself. I enjoy the outdoors as well as photography and sometimes, as you shared, just want to in nature...
I can't have anyone around me when I take photographs. They distract me from connecting to that place I need to. It's often about seeing what others don't for sure. Once I was in a busy downtown core with dozens of people all around. I watched and watched as not one of them noticed the extremely rare fox in the busy city core. People often look but rarely see. They are too distracted. Thanks for all that you do.
Hi Rick. For me it's definitely about my ability to make that connection to a place. However, I can still achieve this if I am out with one or two people and it lovely to share these moments with a friend.
@@Firstmanphotography Hey Adam. Nice to hear from you. Whatever works is all that matters. To me there's something magical about photography. It's the only place that I feel at home. All the best.
I understand the aspect of photographing alone. There is an element where we compare our work against others and sometimes feel that I am doing this right or that the other photographers have a shot that I do not see. That is why I have avoided camera club outings with 30+ at one location. Either way, keep up the content
100% agree with how you were feeling at Bamburgh. There's no point standing there getting almost identical photographs as 20 others. Your photography stands out as you move away from honeypot locations and find scenery that you can make your own and unique
Hi Adam, thank you for continuing to make these videos, they are inspirational life coach therapy for me! Far more than just about your passion for landscape photography, which did change my life too, getting me outdoors and travelling to places I wouldn't have visited without a camera, mostly at silly o'clock in the morning! For personal family reasons I am no longer able to indulge in this passion at present, even local outings are rare, so I live my passion through watching people like you and Henry. Please keep going guys! As a creative professional all my working life I think the feeling of not fitting in, seeing things different to others, is a key asset for the creative thought process. It's a positive not a negative, embracing it leads to originally and the euphoria of forging your own path. Be a path finder not a sheep!
What you said about why you got into photography really resonated with me. It matched me almost to a T, except I was a firefighter instead of police. I still prefer going out on my own to shoot, seeing things may not see. Photography is an escape, an adventure, and, to some of us, a way of life. Keep it up.
Thanks for your videos. I am a huge fan of both you and Henry Turner. Finally getting a chance to catch up on your videos and his videos and I just watched his yesterday. It is amazing how two or more photographers see things very differently and capture things differently.
Adam, I'm much older than you but my experience in photography is not too much different then yours, perhaps due to my introvert tendencies. I started in photography in my early 20's, then life got in the way and I stopped for a while. My first exposure to a RU-vid Photography channel was one of yours and since then I am deeply back into photography again, thanks to your inspiration. For me, my most enjoyment in shooting is when I'm alone, with my camera gear, and the composition I've been searching.
Thank you for a great message. I totally relate to what you have expressed. I am a hobbyist and have never been able to express to my wife how important it is for me to have this time with the camera alone. I believe you have provided the best explanation i have heard, and I fully intend to have my wife watch this video with me. Cheers!!!
I do like the emotional content you share too. I am starting to push myself with my photography and enjoyed three early sunrise mornings last week up in the Lakes at Rydal and Grasmere. It is sooooo rewarding to be in the open air, creating a little piece of art, but with each one being so unique because it’s weather dependant. Love the channel, keep making the Vlogs👌🏻
Been waiting for this since Henry posted his video Adam, the Bamburgh scene wouldn't be my idea of fun I must admit. Love your words from on top of the hill. Funnily enough ive turned my hand to woodworking this past year or so, renovated our full kitchen, fitted out a cupboard with shoe cubes etc, and a few other things. It's another expensive hobby with gear heads posturing over brands though lol.
Couldn't agree more with what you said and identify with how you feel! Even at family events I still take the photographs and always asked if I want to be in the photo, but I prefer to capture it and feel part of it that way than be in the frame. It's the best position to be in that doesn't involve me being the subject or the main thing, I like observing and snapping. Yes when looking back at photographs I am missing from almost all of them which disappoints the family but I'm ok with that.
Indeed. Although I've been constantly surprised by the good things that have come from stepping in front of the camera too. In the past I never really thought that was something I wanted but my actions have since shown me otherwise. Great connections occur when we give a bit of ourselves away to good and positive people.
I made a frame the other day and mounted one of my photographs that I had printed in A2. When the product was finally finished I was extremely pleased with what I had created and I feel the quality is high from start to finish. I will buy a new camera eventually, but I believe we reached "peak camera" many years ago and any upgrade is a marginal gain, especially for stills.
Hi Adam and welcome back. Wonderful vlogand images. I totally understand where you're coming from , a few weeks ago I was photographing up in Scotland, shooting Bow fiddle rock. I was sat on the ground tripod low doing a few long exposures. And from behind me came a load of folks with phones out , one even stepped in front of me , I absolutely detest lots of people around when I'm shooting, just feel really uncomfortable. I did actually get a couple of images but wasn't keen on the crowds .
Great to see you post again, hear your story and the joy and enthusiasm is still there. I completely get your feeling on the outside looking in, that was/is me, though in my younger days I was like that as my father was the Local PC! :-) When I'm out with the camera I get in that zone, being at one with what's in front of me or the hope of what might happen. It's like a drug but it's getting harder to drag myself out, will it continue, who knows.
I still find it hard. I get constant creative anxiety worrying that my "next thing" is not going to match up to what I have done before. However, it always seems to get easier after putting in the effort to take that first step out of the door with my camera.
So much of what you talked about resonated with me so much, my parents divorced at quite an early age, teachers telling me I wasn’t achieving my potential etc etc. I felt the same, a bit of a misfit although I had friends.. But photography took me to a happy place, away from the madding crowd. I love just seeing the light hit the landscape, even if it’s out of the window out of my kitchen looking at the garden, seeing how it lights up a tree or the shadows it casts. But photography has been my savour since I was a teenager, but I don’t like it when there’s a dozen other people there (as you said, not their fault) Generally lucky in Cornwall, as sometimes you do get the peace and solitude to be able to see an image. Massive respect to your profession as a police officer, and a very challenging job. And absolutely beautiful images!
Thanks so much. I am extremely grateful for my 14 years as a cop, it delivered so much and it has been foundational in building the philosophy I now live my life by. Having said that, I do not regret the career change to full time photographer/creative that i made in 2018. It's also amazing how time flies by, and the photographs and the things we make serve as a meaningful documentary.
Photography became the release from the pressures of my job prior to my retirement. I still get the same release to this today. Whether im on a secluded beach on on a street corner in new york city, i love the feeling of being in the moment and being able to block everything else out. Lovely images today Adam and as always its a pleasure to hear your thoughts as well as seeing your work
absolutely brilliant vlog, ive been doing photography on and off for a few years now, but more seriously over the past year. and totally agree with what you say about photography. it has certainly got me out and about taking shots, mental health has improved. thank you for sharing your thoughts
Welcome back.. I to have a similar background to you. Photography is my escape from the rat race. My passion is wildlife.. But I do love to watch your channel and get inspiration from your enthusiasm and drive.. Keep up the great work.
Very nice. I was just wondering yesterday when you would drop your next video. Always enjoy your content. Thank you 🍻. And as a fellow Aussie, I never knew you were friends with Andrew. 🍻
Yep, every word about why resonates with me. I kind of regret not coming to photography earlier in my life but I'm very glad that I eventually did. It's become so much more than some bloke trudging through the woods or up on the fells. It's my escape from my work life and my mental health. As for the birch at Hodge Close, it's been down for a while now, I saw a photo of it lying flat several months ago and then someone had actually tried to prop it back up with rocks, sadly it was never going to work. You were also very close to a great favourite tree of mine, which sadly is quite sick with what I suspect is fireblight. At least that side of the transient nature is natural, unlike the birch which is purely man's fault.
Even though it's often sad, I relish our relationship with the trees. It's so intrinsic to the history of man and I feel it's important to remember. The felling of the Sycamore Gap showed that many people still understand this meaning. And I am sure there has always been the people who say "it's just a tree", and in some ways, they're not wrong, they are also a resource. I've always enjoyed Tolkeins point of view towards trees.
Hey I’m a weirdo too. Wildlife and bug photographer here…I’m the weirdo in the park caught in the long grass, with his ass in the air, looking for sleeping bees early in the morning at first light. Those early-riser dog walkers catch me every time. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but still get embarrassed.
When we are alone in nature we are one, we don't have this feeling to be aside. When we see twenty photographers, the feeling of being aside comes back..maybe.
Without RU-vid, must be said, I wouldn't of met yourself and many more friends. The table and frames look first class! I love that walk and area. Belter buddy! Where did you go for Henry dinner :)
What really made me giggle about this video Is near the start he complains that there's 20 something photographers on the beach...In most of his videos he's telling people to get out there with their cameras whatever the weather lol...looks like they all took his advice! And he don't like it ha
Always felt like a misfit myself and my parents were delightful. It's not about that. Interesting point about the crowds photographing the castle. Is it the photography or the solitude that TRULY appeals? You're not a weirdo if you see things other people don't see. We call such people mystics. In Islam they are Sufi's. In Christianity they are mystics....etc.etc.etc. I've found it impossible to share ethereal moments with other people over the years because you can't. They are your own moments. So we make art instead. Now don't get me wrong here, but we need to `dumb down' these high moments of consciousness to an `image' or a `poem' or a `song' because the ethereal insight itself always transcends any expression we can give it in this life. These moments of awareness of the transcendent; and if we could ex-plain them they wouldn't be transcendent to us anymore but simply exist on our own level. The arts are out best way to try to express them. I know, we're an atheist society now so there are no spiritual truths anymore, meaning we try to make this life paradise. I think your work in the police is enough to debunk this theory. The creative person is society's spiritual person and they keep the pulse of eternal life alive so don't ever under estimate this special grace you've been given Adam. Your name sake, the fist man, had it and sold it for a lie.
I am certainly seeking those transcendent and meaningful moments. But I also see a lot of value in staying grounded in reality and truth, even when it may be uncomfortable or unpleasant, which often it is. I believe many of the systems we are forced to operate in have become detached from reality, and the limits of the physical world, and it's driving a lot of the problems we see in society today. To answer your first question, the photography alone is not enough for me anymore if the experience does not match up. Personally it's not about total solitude, but my ability to feel connected to a landscape.....like I am have a 1-2-1 conversation with it. I can still achieve this if i am out with one or two people, and it's often even more fulfilling to share these moments with a friend. Cheers Tony, really appreciate your thoughts.
Great to see you back - and inspirational as always! Lovely images, I might have gone easier on the vignette in the second one. The third one is my favourite. Photography keeps me going. Two days ago I went off to a local "brook" and spent nearly five happy hours just working two small waterfalls about 20 metres apart. Time flew and all my worries faded into the background as I became completely absorbed into the process and the experience. It gives us so much more than images.
Very good content and very honest! Thx. I think I don't know why I started photography … yet. And I d'ont think it changed my life so far, maybe because I always saw the world with the eyes of a photographer even when I wasn't. I'll keep that in mind and hopefully I'll ended finding answers.
