I Wish I Knew THIS When I Started PHOTOGRAPHY
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- čas přidán 13. 01. 2024
- These are some of the things that I just wish I had known as a beginner (and intermediate!) photographer.
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NIKON GEAR (Main STILLS camera)
Current landscape camera - Nikon Z7 - geni.us/nikonz7
Awesome telephoto lens - Nikon 70-200m f/2.8 - geni.us/nikon70200
Great ultra-wide angle lens - Nikon 14-30mm f/4 - geni.us/1430mm
Hiking mid lens - Nikon 24-70mm Z f4 - geni.us/nikon2470
Sharpest mid lens - Nikon 24-70mm Z f2.8 geni.us/2470mm28
Very long lens - Nikon 500mm F5.6 - geni.us/nikon500mm
FILM GEAR
AWESOME DRONE - geni.us/dji_mavic3
Nikon Z6 - geni.us/z6nikon
Nikon 20mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon20mmz
Nikon 24mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon24mm
Nikon 50mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon50mmz
Nikon 85mm Z F1.8 - geni.us/nikon85mmz
OTHER PHOTO GEAR
Clever camera strap (peak design) - geni.us/PDstrap
Microfibre Cloths - geni.us/microfibre
Rab Downpour Pants - geni.us/rainpants
Awesome sensor brush - geni.us/brush4sensor
GorillaPod - geni.us/Kb9mV
The great printer I use Canon P1000 - geni.us/cIIc
Great bag for hiking - Tenba 24L - geni.us/orPwh
Great bag for travel (carry on) - Tenba 32L - geni.us/tenba32l
Super light Benro Travel Tripod UK - geni.us/Benrotravel
A must have for tripod (L bracket) - geni.us/myLbracket
Lightweight tripod - Benro Mach3 Carbon Fiber Tripod - geni.us/benromach3
Paper I use for all my prints - Fotospeed - geni.us/fotospeed Use DANSON10 to get 10% off your paper.
I would be interested in a video where you take an amateur/beginner photographer with you on one of your trips and you help the amateur find compositions, set up camera settings, etc. It would be like a sneak peek on some of your workshops, which would be fascinating to see!
Yes I would absolutely love this as well! Maybe ask on one of your workshops if someone's willing to be the guinea pig for this.
great idea, i want to see it too,
Same here!
Yeah cool to be fair 👍
Great idea!
Many of us amateurs “cook” cakes…. the real pros “bake” cakes…LOL!… the scenery in your video is incredible, Nigel…
Finding winning compositions in “ your own back yard”. We can’t all make it to the epic locations often enough. But I would think that every location has at least SOME shots that would have both beauty and broad appeal.
Hi, Nigel, I would like to see how you prepare your files to be printed in such a beautiful book :) Thank you so much for keeping it going! All the best of luck!
Great idea!
He's made a video about it already, search for it on his channel - don't remember the name though.
Edit: or maybe I mean just about printint, not about printing into a book. so that's a great idea indeed.
Hi there - just to let you know that you were the top comment. Drop me a message on my instagram and I will send you the book... Well done Nigel
I think you can sum up this video very simply-
I'm almost 76 now and my lifelong enjoyment of photography started at secondary school at the age of 11, when I joined a lunchtime camera club run by a brilliant Art Teacher who, was also an amazing Photographer. I'll never forget the fun we, as 11 year olds, had when we learned the magic of making and using Pinhole Cameras. So, putting it quite simply... "Never forget the Basics".
But I've also realised that there are now so many "Experts" on CZcams (and other sites) and, the advice from every single one is different. They ALL have their own version of 'Rules'.
None are wrong, yet equally- Which 'Expert' is right?
Every one of us has our own pair of eyes, and through those eyes we see what we want to see.
Does your favourite photo conform to every rule? Mine certainly doesn't.
it's my favourite because "I Like it".
So remember- "Never forget the Basics" AND "If we were all the same, Life would be very Boring".
Hey Nigel, another great video. Here is an idea for a future video or maybe video mini series’. Work with a novice photographer over a week in your local area documenting them and their work from the beginning of the week until the end of the week, and show how much they have improved by focusing and learning from you and the techniques and experiences you teach. Yes, I would love to be your Guinea pig, but any novice would work I surmise…. 😂. Really do think it would be a great way to show how even a novice can become a better, dare I say “good” with a little work. As always, keep snapping…
willing to be an assistant! :D. great idea. that novice would then ask questions and cue up more content! Nigel, thanks for being my go to!
A video about photography in difficult conditions would be helpful. Sometimes its the gear, sometimes its the weather and it would be interesting to hear from you what in your opinion are the things you can sacrifice in order to still capture an interesting photo.
I'd LOVE to see a video of you critiquing images. I know you have done it before on webinars and things but to do one on CZcams would be awesome! Make it long so there's more images. I learn SO much from those. You can do a variety of our images and even critique some of your favorite photographers.
Yet another great video for all us Novices out there! I've learnt so much watching your you-tubes (steadily working my way through your entire back catalogue!) so please keep them coming. Id really love for you to do another video where viewers can send in their favourite pictures and you deliver constructive criticism on them, maybe even a group of you all feeding back? The one you did before was really good. So many of us out there just not sure if we are on the right track or not so this would be fantastic for the community
I would like to see a video where you talk about your favorite photographers and what you like about their work.
I’d love to see a video of you cooking a Christmas cake….
Believe it or not there is already a video on CZcams where Nigel makes some Rocky Road! I think it might be one of the videos on printing.
lol, this needs to win!
A video on what you do and how you plan your trips, from researching locations to weather and gear would be really helpful.
I loved the frozen foliage image. So right, experiment.
From being from a disabled household I’d love to see how you would prepare a day out shooting from the car or a few steps from the car , if it would be successful and incorporating any style of photography, best regards
What about a session on salvaging old photos? Going back to shots you'd previously done and discarded, to re crop or re edit into something you hadn't quite seen in it previously?
Great video!
I’d like to see you at something like a National Trust property, like Stourhead, getting your great shots in a place where so many other people go for photos. How do you “add value” and get your excellent shots which stand out from the thousands of others taken there each year.
I love Abstract landscape photography and a video on how to approach it in different environments ( woodland, beach, bodies of water, rocks etc) would be great.
inspiring in the best possible way - it's inspiring to go out
Hi Nigel, I would like to see a series of videos on:
1) Composition Challenge Series: taking multiple images of the same scene with different compositions. Each episode could focus on a specific composition principle, where you use only that principle for taking photos. In the end, I would like to know which composition you prefer the most.
2) Camera Settings Exploration: Taking multiple images of the same scene with different camera settings and exploring their effects on photography. This could include topics like long exposure, fast shutter speed, aperture, ISO, .... In the end, I would like to know which setting you prefer for that scene.
3) Editing in Lightroom/Photoshop: episodes where you take a single image and edit it in multiple ways using Lightroom or Photoshop.
Hey Nigel. I think it will be pretty cool to see 50mm woodland challenge between you Michael Shainblum, Mark Denney and Mads Peter Iversen . It will be pretty cool to see all four of you, one of the most talented photographers shooting only 50mm woodland photography ☺️☺️☺️
Hi Nigel, truly inspirational video as always.
As a suggestion for a future video, would be one on black and white landscape photography please.
I'd love to see a video where you expand on the idea of not being able to find a shot. As viewers, we know that you guys film a lot of your outings that don't turn out and it never gets posted. Show us that. Show us the struggle and frustration. Why didn't things work out? There's so much more to learn from failures than success. We talk a lot about the value of exclusion in a landscape scene, but maybe more importantly we can all be better at "excluding" whole scenes and conditions that are just not conducive to compelling images.
Hi Nigel! One topic I miss on your channel is regarding astrophotography. It would be awesome to see a video showing your approach to photographing the night sky and the Milky Way, and how you capture and post-process your night images. Thank you so much, you are a great inspiration for us!
I’d also love to see a video about this!
Good Morning Nigel. Coffee and a Nigel YT remain a great way to start Sunday mornings. At 19:30 I was very interested in your discussion of being in a nice scene but not able to discover a shot that worked. That is a predicament I find myself in often. I don't live in an area with vast vistas, but everyone has access to smaller shots, such as your shot of the frosted fern. I would like to see you do a video of smaller subjects, macro or just close-up, with backlighting. I have seen some great images of that style, but my results are inferior. Thanks for all.
Hello Nigel. I’d love to see another video series like you to create the “Spirit of Luskentyre.” Your enthusiasm and perspective during this series was stellar. It seemed so different from your other videos and my wife and I could hardly wait to watch the next one, and purchased the lovely book. Thank you for your dedication. It shows.
Hi Nigel - great video as usual! Here's my idea: Travel to some really iconic UK landscape locations, e.g. Elgol, Seven Sisters, Porth Nanven, Ashness Bridge, Durdle Door, Lindisfarne, Dark Hedges, and try to find and photograph a new composition at each place.
I think we all go through the same process, kind of learning how to focus on the essentials. A good friend said to me once, go out and take pictures. Over time you will find your own style and what you like to shoot. Thanks for bringing it up.
Fantastic work Nigel! I appreciate you sharing these with us.
I'd love to see a video about planning a photo project, how do you start with an idea, get the information you need, tide times, etc, what to take with you in you bag and finally how to have an idea of composition before you get there.
Hi Nigel, another idea is Photography as art, composition is something that all photographer cover, but landscape art photography is something beautiful!.
Suggestion for future topic is you creating a book and how you choose the photos and image layout in the book. Love your videos Nigel, thank you so much.
Very inspiring - as always, Nigel. I love how - even when the weather isn’t what you’d hoped for - you keep going, keep looking and are often rewarded with some great captures.
Another great and very instructive video! I started your masterclass II this week and even I am only in the first module I learned a lot! Especially on how to use light to improve the scenery! So happy with everything I learned so far!
First off, it is very good to see you healthy and out pushing yourself physically and enjoying life and photography.
Apparently I was one of the relatively few that had already watched last week’s video. It’s interesting that the videos I learn the most from are not necessarily my favorites. After watching last week’s video I immediately opened Lightroom and applied much of what you offered. I’m so very appreciative of your insight and others like you. Please don’t stop with this type of content.
Oh so cool! Thanks Nigel for sharing. Kudos for yet another great adventure with tuns of useful tips. Unbeleivable!
That spinning shot made my brain melt! @7m20s
Awesome video Nigel. Also really like the idea of printing a book...we do albums but the book idea offers a lot of versatility ...as far as video ideas go I'd love to see how you plan out your year. Scouting locations, time of year you're going to go, sun rise or sun set...how you mesh your creative vision with planning and prep and deciding what tools to bring. I'm sure a lot of what you do is spontanious and lots is planned ...so I'd love to see the planning side of things.
Hey, Nigel, I’m so happy your back healed up and you’re able to hike around in these beautiful settings again. Good for you!
Thank you Nigel. Great video.
Brilliant video again and totally agree I love printing at home.
Another terrific video Nigel. I would love to see a video showcasing your favourite photography trips you've taken and also places you've yet to visit but are at the top of your list to go to. Thanks and have a great week :)
sunrise is so much more peaceful than sunset and a much cooler light, the air is a lot more clear
Belated Happy New Year Nigel. So great to see you taking big hikes again. Hope that means the back is way better! As an idea for a video, I think it would be interesting if you and Mads and James and/or maybe Michael Shainblum would exchange RAW images of two of your favorite images from 2023 and have the other photographers do the post-processing work and compare the results.
An Idea for future video: Do a co-lab with Sean Tucker. You doing some street photography, then Sean doing landscape. Sean is awesome regarding his creativity, especially how to make light work for you. Additionally, his knowledge of the psychology behind taking images and how it influences us, whether consciously, or unconsciously would be interesting to see how you both tackle each other's gengre.
Another stunning video Nigel. Thank you. How you get out so early in the back of night and freezing cold is beyond me but it what makes your photography so special.
I would like to see you do a shoot with slightly more accessible camera equipment. Not all of us amateurs are able to afford such high end lenses and cameras. I would like to see how you approach a shoot with more limited equipment and to see how it compares to using your mirrorless camera and top end lenses. Keep up the great work.
Lovely Vlog Nigel. I really appreciate your thoughts and musings. Great work thank you!
I would love to see a longer more talky style video with you, Mads, and James. It’s always great to hear what inspires you guys and what you look forward to.
You have lots of helpful and valuable information that helps many of us newer photographers. I'd love to see a view of a photo you take that goes from beginning to result. What I mean is the whole process. How you go about the process from an idea, to planning, taking the photo, processing the photo through to what your happy about. I do understand there's lots of variables involved with this but just to give people an idea/glimpse of how to put the puzzle together.
Great and informative video Nigel. I am very impressed by your laid back approach to imparting information and your knowledge of your subject. I am not a drone user, However, I would love to see a video on how you use your drone both in your work and in capturing such stunning images. Keep up the great work.
I know you mentioned last weeks video, I wanted to say that was fantastic, helped me massively to understand the capabilities and how I can improve my future edits!
What about a video, showing how you approach the sequence of photos you choose for your books? I would love to know how you decide the general order or photos as well as what photos are presented next to each other.
Super video Lots of great tips and info.
Its always interesting to see progress, sometimes its very evident and clear and other times is not so evident, the advantage of having the videos for each is that we can see the evolution on the approach anf thought process too.. great video
I always love your videos, learn so much. I second the idea of maybe having a novice going along with you with you giving them guidance and seeing the difference between the two shots. Not to say one is better than the other, but to view the differences in perspective and composition. Also, it would be great if you did this same video, but changed lenses and showed how the final photo may change with using different lenses on the subject. I struggle with which lens to use and how tightly to crop in with the lens.
Really love the frosty ferns shot! I'd love to see a deep dive on setting up and making the best of custom modes on your camera, I know they're all a bit different but I've never really been able to get the hang of it
These types of video are so awesome Nigel. I learn so much from these and they are so motivational. Like Nike once said..."Just Do It". That's what we have to do as landscape photographers. Thanks so much..
I am an amateur landscape photographer from Canada. I started my journey a couple of months ago and enjoyed exploring the entire process, especially long exposure. I would like to see a video of overcoming laziness and just go out and explore, make memories, and enjoy shooting.
Hi Nigel! This was a great one, I would like to see a video about where you identify your weaknesses and then go out in the field and focus on those weaknesses.
Your drone POI commentary at 6:21 is a brilliant piece of videography. Always appreciate your content
Hi Nigel, I would like too see two videos in the near future, 1 a video of how you prepare for your trips be it Iceland or Scotland everything you do, to be ready. And number 2 just a video of Nigel Danson the man himself, how you manage your work and family life balance, a day or a week in the life of sort of thing.
I'd like to see a video about planning. How do you decide where and when to go, everything from weather apps, equipment, clothes, areas. Etc.
Your images looking over the valley are amazing,beautiful “love them” . See what you mean about the difference with the quality
of the light, but the images you’ve taken are fantastic 👍👍
Hi Nigel, you commented that last weeks video was not watched by that many people. I really enjoyed the video and picked up a lot of great information from that video. I really enjoyed this weeks video as well. Great job as always.
This is excellent advice, and I am just starting out with a full frame. I am waiting to learn raw and processing and am learning what I like and how my camera and lenses work. Plus I am just enjoying being out and nature.
Watched half of this before I got interrupted.... Very cool place Nigel. Will definitely finish this a little later.
Very enjoyable video , liked the feeling of exploration and experimentation. I would love to see a series of videos visiting the less known areas of England (I mean in terms of landscape photography on Utube anyway) the Cambridgeshire Fens, Somerset Levels ,New Forest ,Norfolk Broads etc. The challenge being to shoot the unique beauty of each with your own style. Thanks Nigel.
Not sure if you'd even be able to do this one: How would you prepare for winter photography? Partly equipment that's a must-have, but also, what do you look for when everything is covered in white stuff and the sky is grey for 4 months?
Hi Nigel, I’ve enjoyed following your journey as a photographer.
I believe one of the greatest challenges in photography is developing one’s unique personal vision and style.
Would love a video in which you go through the evolution that led you to landscape photography, how you’ve evolved as a photographer, developed your personal style and how you view your creative growth moving forward. Thanks for all your efforts building this channel.
Thanks for this. Very awesome ❤
Nice video. FOCUSSING ON INFINITY. Thats what I''d like to see a video about
Love all your videos and photos But the frosty fern leaves was my favorite today!
Thanks for another wonderful valuable video Nigel. Cakes tend to be baked!😀👍🏻
I would love to see a video where you talk about the photographic work that has influenced you the most and explain why.
Hi Nigel, thank you so much for your weekly videos. They are all very inspirational. I would like to see a deep dive video series on how you plan your shoots from a weather analysis stand point. How do you use weather prediction, what tools do you use and how you make detailed plans accordingly
Hello Nigel:
Once again, a superlative video. Thank you. For a future video, I would like to see you revisit some of your favorite places that you have visited and photographed over the past 5 years, or whatever time period you chose. Much in the same way you talked in this video about what you would change and do the same with your image making, it would be nice to revisit same of the places you visited in the past that brought you joy. Thanks again Nigel!
I think i would really love a video where you compare your favorite photo from every month of 2023 and talk about the why it's your favorite, what aspect or what experience of taking that photo.
Thanks for the content and hope to keep seeing such an awesome content
bonus idea, the cheap accesories for camera entusiast is never a bad video
Great job again Nigel! Love your pro-tips.
My suggestion for a future video would be all about mastering seascape photography.
Hi Nigel, great video for myself just starting out.
I would like to see a video where a camera phone is all you have to use as we don’t all have a Z8 camera, but many do have decent phones. I would like to see
1. how you get the most out of the camera phone with its setting, or using external apps for taking photos (if better than the in built camera app)
2. How you process these images to maximise quality
3. The print process and the maximum size the image can be pushed to for wall prints.
Being someone who finds that some of my preferred photographs are unfortunately on my iphone (14 pro max). Either due to not having anticipated the need for my camera on an evening stroll, or not wanting to bring it on active outings like mountain biking etc. or unfortunately because my phone can handle HDR better than my camera…. I would love to see what we can physically get from our phones and how big we can print them to put on our walls.
Also, Thanks for your commitment to this craft and helping us along on the journey.
Video Idea: How do you go about picking your favorite pictures from the year? Practical tips? Methodology?
I always struggle to pick my favorites. Or I feel like I pick too many pictures from a single trip, and it ends up feeling unbalanced.
Love you work thank you
Thanks for another fantastic video Nigel. This may be too much to ask, but it would be wonderful to see a “master class” panel discussion with a few of your favorite landscape photographers, either in the studio, or in the field.
Nigel, thanks for another fantastic video.
I would like to suggest you shoot a video about how you predict the weather for landscapes.
Fab video! My suggestion would be a video on noticing subjects. When you do the on location videos where you're talking about your compositions I can see why you chose that subject. For me a video on choosing a subject (and as importantly knowing when something isn't a good subject) would be amazing! I know you've done composition videos before, but I mean almost a video of you walking on location saying why things aren't catching your attention until something does!
Terrific, Nigel! For a future video, I'd love to know how you go about planning your photo trip calendar - filling the calendar with photo trips planned for the best conditions for each location, perhaps making a "tour" out of several locations, that sort of thing. I'm a believer in the "stop buying gear, go make photos" wisdom, and want to fill my calendar with trips near and far. Cheers!
I'd like to see a video on how you plan and prepare for a photography trip, especially when it's to a new place where you can't go and shout ahead of time.
At 11:25 that tree in the distance on the slanted hill back by the fog would have been amazing with a long lens. You are so lucky that you get all those inversions there. The frosty leaves were awesome.
Video Idea: Inversion Photos Only
20:32 Fantastic message. Sometimes we just can soak in the natural beauty while not being able to capture it on camera.
Thanks for another insightful video Nigel.
An idea for a future video is to show some “work arounds” you have tried when you don’t have the optimal gear with you. For example, how you manage to get a shot when you don’t have a tripod in low light, or have the “wrong” lens for the “obvious” shot. Basically, demonstrate how you manage to still find a compelling composition and light when having the additional challenge of sub-optimal gear with you. If possible to do in the field, show us an “ideal” shot with the “ideal” gear, then how you would manage with a limited gear situation.
An idea for future video, could be the steps/the ultimate guide of creating a photography book. But at the end of the day, you always make incredible videos to inspire all of us! : )
Yet another amazing video for us novices. For the future videos i'd like to see how you approach bird and wildlife photography, also some macro photography would be a nice addition. Another could be on having a beginner photographer with you and guiding him/her in one of your workshops.
I´m from Germany Frankfurt so my English ist not so good ;-) My suggest: On every exact locationpoint you have to make 3 photos with different focal length: 24, 50 and 100mm. You can turn your camera at the locationpoint, but you don´t have to change the position (you will use a tripod ;-). So will we see I there will be nice fotos.
I love your channel and your lovely manner. A lot of good wishes to great britain!!!
I have never seen a video done on shooting reflections....when is the best time of the day...positioning..etc...love your channel...thank you for your efforts for us amateurs!
You bake a cake Nigel .Amazing video again
Thanks Nigel. I was intrigued by the horfrost shot @19:40, The Bokeh bally were all different colors, like Christmas lights. Pretty cool.
Hi Nigel, It would be nice to see you take 3 young people under your wing and watch them grow and bloom under your tuition, an the possible acceleration their futures by giving them a head start on avoiding some of the pit falls and mistakes most of us make! I say 3 because 4 can travel easy in one vehicle.
One can only imagine the sense pride and achievement knowing they helped the next up and coming artist that could very possibly grace or screens one day and deliver as much beautiful art and images as your good self! you could ask one of the camera brands to sponsor the series and kit out the 3 recruits and possibly keep the camera gear if they show great potential and produce some lovely stunning vistas!
As always its great to sit on a Sunday and watch with a coffee in hand!
Great video once again Nigel, thank you. I'd actually like to see a video where you step out into something completely different like street photography. I think it would be very interesting. I completely agree with your comment of not settling on a genre and challenging yourself. Thank you once again
An emotional connection to a photo can be a very powerful part of landscape photography … Given that, An idea for a video could be to demonstrate how to connect the emotion you felt in taking a landscape photo and transferring that same or similar emotion to the viewer.
Hi Nigel as someone who has a lot of mobility issues, the only way I get to see awesome locations is through people like you. So thanks many thanks 👍😁 Also my wife baught me a signed copy of your Luskentyre book. I bloomin love it. Now sorry for the ramble but how about a roadside photography video/easy access, for folks like me for a bit of inspiration 👍
All the best for the new year 😊
Great video Nigel! Id like to see a video where you focus on taking shots in really less than ideal situations and how to make the most of what’s available to you (such as terrible lighting, an uninspiring scene etc)
Something I often try and fail with is shooting blue hour silhouettes against the color gradient of the twilight sky (or even just spelling silhouette). So, a video on that sort of thing would be interesting.
I ordered my personal book of photos from 2022-2023 from Saal and it is due tomorrow. Can't wait. This will be my second book from them and I was very pleased with the first.