This is such a valuable video for anyone who wanna add that extra spice to their photos! Thanks for the kind words, Nigel and I'm looking so much forward to Antarctica!
I love your ideas, your attention to detail, your concise explanations and understandable pronunciation, your voice, the general tone as well as your photographic knowledge and your well structured and comprehensive reviews. I'm sure your a great instructor. Now if I can only scrape that cash for Antarctica together...
Also I think being highly skilled in post processing in addition to all of the points you made really separates the pack. I've seen countless photos that have all the key ingredients such as amazing light and composition at stunning locations with top notch cameras, but it's the post processing that falls short.
You are absolutely right. Exspeacislly the photo of Faroer Island from Mads is a timeblended image out of 8 seperate images. You do not do this after A LOT of post processing exercise.
When that image transforms from just another pictures into extraordinary photograph that evokes emotion out of the viewer, it is a very special moment indeed. That moment in time when it all comes together so perfectly is what we photographers live for. When it has happened for me , so many times I pause and look around. Sadly, I am usually all alone viewing something magnificent and feel sorry for everybody who can't share in the experience. That is what photographers do so others can see through your eyes, see your vision of the world and how beautiful and magnificent this planet really is. When you go to Antarctica, keep a look out for aliens and their crafts. How phenomenal would a gorgeous landscape photo be if an alien spacecraft were in it? Definitely a portfolio booster to say the least! ;)
I guess it is good to build your composition for the time you have when the scene does not really pop, the extra bit "greatness" is often up to being at the right place in the right time (when we talk about light or let's say animals swimming by) ^^
Step one, go outside. 2 practice. Step 3 don’t get discouraged that you aren’t getting epic Nigel photos. Step 4 continue your journey. It takes time and practice. I have found I take far fewer pictures now than in the past as my skills develop. Nigels master class is very helpful.
Thank you for another great video. I can’t agree with you any more that “if you like the photo matters the most”. Learning a lot from you. I am expecting your videos every Sundays.
"It rarely gets better than this" or "It can't get better than this" Apparently James is happy to hire himself out to appear in peoples photographs, for a modest fee, lol. Great video Nigel, I'm glad you appreciate simplicity in an image, not everyone gets it! I do think you and James Popsys are a great combination, note to self, lottery tickets.
Excellent topic Nigel! I think emotion is what makes an image great. I dont 'believe great" is definable in words. It just appeals to something inside you that you cant explain. There are great images that lack one, or possibly even all, of your four characteristics. But they transcend the normal, the traditional, the usual and tug at your soul in a way that makes you want to stare, but is based on a style that is timeless.
Really great topic Nigel. And the examples you gave were spot on! AND, I found new photographers to inspire me. Your print of Vestrahorn is gorgeous! Thanks again.
So beautiful...... the photographs you used to illustrate.... What a lucky group of people who will go with you, James and Mads. Thank you, Nigel, for giving us followers so much to think about.
I've just decided to get back into photography after a few years of not doing much and I've been binge-watching photography videos on YT lately. I came across you a couple of weeks ago and have watched a ton of your videos. These have led me to watch a number of other YT channels, most of which are informative and entertaining, but I have to say that your best images, the ones you invariably show at the end of your blog, just have a certain 'something' that the photos from these other channels don't.
Great video Nigel! I think to get some of the tones, mood, and emotion to create a great photo- it comes down to this...you've got to have a processing style that is unique or you process each specific photo to enhance the mood that is there....so much comes down to post processing when trying to go from good to great. This is an excellent topic and a very important one for those that can't seem to get over the hump. Everyone must eventually come to the understanding that if photography is an art form...then your photos must have mood, emotion, and style...which in a lot of cases is all set up with effective post processing. You've got to live with a photo for awhile and understand it, to determine what it needs. And this is what artists do when creating a piece.
Fabulous intro, Nigel! Thanks for all the beautiful visual distinctions of photos going from good to great. Really helpful given that I’m closer to the novice end of the photography spectrum. Kudos on your Antartica workshop, Sylvia
Wonderful video, Nigel. I think it's great that you gave a shoutout to Morten's Ellesmere Island series - it is remarkable. People, go see it. Morten, like Nigel, is very positive and passionate about his work.
Another great video Nigel and lots to be thoughtful about. I'm looking forward to your video on split toning as I feel there's a lot in post-processing that is sometimes required for a great image.
Great video! Clearly illustrated the differences between good and great. I agree that the photographer must think his photo is great, first. When he or she feels that way it colors how we approach editing and presenting the image. Between this video, and your video on editing with a painterly approach, you've presented wonderful techniques. You've made my work better in the last month!
Very cool print this week! It looks stunning! Also very jealous of the Antarctic trip, been on my bucket list forever. Looking forward to seeing some photos from it! You should come out my way for a trip one day, PEI or Newfoundland. You can even stop in for some Yorkshire tea and Hendersons relish.
Hi Nigel, ICANN opened up the top level domain names to be anything you want now, not just .com, .org or .net. So you can register "itdoesntgetbetterthanthis.photo", for example, which is much more descriptive than .com.
Great video as always Nigel! I was in Iceland same time, the weather was exceptionally good, 6 days of blue skies, aurora 4 nights out of 7 - just a brilliant week for my group! I did manage to push my last battery to the last day haha!
Superb. I think you said the thing that elevates to great, but without noticing...it is “unique”. You have captured a moment in time that is not likely to happen again - where all the good elements come together in one fleeting event, and you were there to record it for history. I’m off to by a lottery ticket so I can go on the Antarctica voyage 👍🏻
The trip to Antarctica souds perfect. I'm afraid of good equipment, left over money and skill..i have none of them. Anyway, have a great time out there!
So basically we need to make sure that we always have a swan in our photobag so that we can add it to a scene to make it extra special? 😂 No honestly, great video once again! Also love the wolf photo from Morten Hilmer, I've seen the video last week and it was so special.. And the print you've got there is amazing! Wish I could go to the Antarctica workshop, but sadly I cannot afford it.. If you see arctic foxes there, please take a picture of them for me, they are so cute.. 😍 I bet it will be an amazing trip!
I would have recorded 5 thumbs up if I could for you taking on this subject. The WOW factor deserves more discussion. There is, perhaps, a universal WOW that many or most viewers will experience or a personal WOW because of life experiences (your ghosts). One example is as a historian, a photo of a historic site may be good but can be far more emotional if you know what happened at a particular moment in time. Please revisit this subject, perhaps with other photographers.
This is so inspirational and informative. Thank you so much to you and all the photographers featured. What an amazing print at the end! I had no idea you could make an 8 shot pano stitch from a drone. That technique could be a whole video on its own.
I think James hates the faff of carrying/erecting/levelling/positioning/collapsing tripods but he is (reluctantly) resigned to their practicality. I do get that but I did LOL when you started with images of him strolling around carrying tripods! Great video, very thoughtful.
Beautiful locations! I believe you'll run out of wall space rapidly if you continue to make these massive prints. Just a thought. 😉 MPI has a real knack to creating dramatic images. Rock on!
Another insightful video Nigel. It certainly makes you want to get out and shoot some more. Although the conditions play a major part in elevating a potentially good image to great, one needs the vision and practice to put it all together, especially when conditions can be changing rapidly. That is a magnificent pano from your drone, fantastic. It, more than any other images I have seen really makes me want to buy a drone. I looked at the Antarctic trip, that ship is amazing. Certainly several steps removed from the converted expedition ships that I travelled to Antarctica on. I am sure that with two years still to go there is a lot of research still to be done, however, if I could make a suggestion. Make time to visit the cemetery in Punta Arenas, lots of interesting images to be made. It was quite an emotional experience for us as well. I am certainly looking forward to the proposed video on post processing.
River Brathay, family favourite walking to Elterwater from Skelwith Bridge. My son loves to run it. So many great spots to get some nice shots along there. Loved yours.
Love this one, one of my favorite videos of yours. I've been thinking a bit about this recently with some images that I can't decide if I love or just really like (tip: if you're not sure that you love it, you probably only really like it), and I think you've hit the nail on the head.
I find it helps if you can have a minimum of 3 elements e.g light, environment, focal point. Or Foreground, mid ground background. Where the focal point can be different from it's surroundings in terms of colour, contrast or subject (like birds on a rock)
Seeing some of these pictures you labelled „good but not great“ and comparing them to my own pictures in my head I kinda feel very bad now 😂😉. I get what you mean and saw the difference between good and great, and this realising I still have sooooo much to learn. Biggest mistake I usually make is not taking enough time. Time upfront by scouting the location, preparing the shoot and then of course actually taking the picture. I need to slow down and take way less but better pictures.
When I saw that panorama on the screen I thought, meh. Yet when I saw it in print yet on my same screen it had changed somehow to look fabulous. Good video thanks.
Excellent! Glad I asked the question. Lots of great advice and examples. Love the drone shot!! Now to practice....
Thanks Andy!
This is such a valuable video for anyone who wanna add that extra spice to their photos! Thanks for the kind words, Nigel and I'm looking so much forward to Antarctica!
Such an epic image! Thanks Mads
That shot of the lillies - just phenomenal. And perfect.
10:45 What an absolute beauty of a shot... 🙌🙌🙌
I love your ideas, your attention to detail, your concise explanations and understandable pronunciation, your voice, the general tone as well as your photographic knowledge and your well structured and comprehensive reviews. I'm sure your a great instructor. Now if I can only scrape that cash for Antarctica together...
Also I think being highly skilled in post processing in addition to all of the points you made really separates the pack. I've seen countless photos that have all the key ingredients such as amazing light and composition at stunning locations with top notch cameras, but it's the post processing that falls short.
You are absolutely right. Exspeacislly the photo of Faroer Island from Mads is a timeblended image out of 8 seperate images. You do not do this after A LOT of post processing exercise.
When that image transforms from just another pictures into extraordinary photograph that evokes emotion out of the viewer, it is a very special moment indeed. That moment in time when it all comes together so perfectly is what we photographers live for. When it has happened for me , so many times I pause and look around. Sadly, I am usually all alone viewing something magnificent and feel sorry for everybody who can't share in the experience. That is what photographers do so others can see through your eyes, see your vision of the world and how beautiful and magnificent this planet really is.
When you go to Antarctica, keep a look out for aliens and their crafts. How phenomenal would a gorgeous landscape photo be if an alien spacecraft were in it? Definitely a portfolio booster to say the least! ;)
I guess it is good to build your composition for the time you have when the scene does not really pop, the extra bit "greatness" is often up to being at the right place in the right time (when we talk about light or let's say animals swimming by) ^^
Nigel, how about 'It really doesn''t get better than this'? I'm pretty sure you've said that in videos 👍😊
Step one, go outside. 2 practice. Step 3 don’t get discouraged that you aren’t getting epic Nigel photos. Step 4 continue your journey. It takes time and practice. I have found I take far fewer pictures now than in the past as my skills develop. Nigels master class is very helpful.
Thank you for another great video. I can’t agree with you any more that “if you like the photo matters the most”. Learning a lot from you. I am expecting your videos every Sundays.
"It rarely gets better than this" or "It can't get better than this" Apparently James is happy to hire himself out to appear in peoples photographs, for a modest fee, lol. Great video Nigel, I'm glad you appreciate simplicity in an image, not everyone gets it! I do think you and James Popsys are a great combination, note to self, lottery tickets.
This is one of your best vlogs yet! Thank you. Love Mark Littlejohn’s work and Mads is a photo genius! You keep great company
Excellent topic Nigel! I think emotion is what makes an image great. I dont 'believe great" is definable in words. It just appeals to something inside you that you cant explain. There are great images that lack one, or possibly even all, of your four characteristics. But they transcend the normal, the traditional, the usual and tug at your soul in a way that makes you want to stare, but is based on a style that is timeless.
And again Nigel a great explanation regarding the explanation about the photos. Certainly there were pictures with a large WOW factor.
Really great topic Nigel. And the examples you gave were spot on! AND, I found new photographers to inspire me. Your print of Vestrahorn is gorgeous! Thanks again.
So beautiful...... the photographs you used to illustrate.... What a lucky group of people who will go with you, James and Mads. Thank you, Nigel, for giving us followers so much to think about.
Have my first landscape client request this weekend and these tips will be so helpful...now I will know what to look for!
That drone pic isn’t great, it’s epic! The trip to Antartica is on my bucket list.
I've just decided to get back into photography after a few years of not doing much and I've been binge-watching photography videos on YT lately. I came across you a couple of weeks ago and have watched a ton of your videos. These have led me to watch a number of other YT channels, most of which are informative and entertaining, but I have to say that your best images, the ones you invariably show at the end of your blog, just have a certain 'something' that the photos from these other channels don't.
Fantastic to see you again.
That is a wow picture, fantastic ...the lighthouse, mountains,color, depth....awesome Nigel! Your printer is amazing!
I done a trip to Antarctica a few years back with Aurora, such a surreal feeling when you get there you'll love it
Can’t wait!
I love how you say "photos"
Catching up on all your videos, they are all so helpful and amazing shots!
what a stunning pano image Nigel. Definitely an image to display proudly on your wall. Congats!
Great video Nigel, and that pano looks superb in print 👏👏
Excellent tips thank you Nigel. Very thought inducing. 👍👏
Every time i watch Nigel's video, i want to press the subscribe button again and again.
Thanks Michael - if only...
Love that Nigel. Always get me excited to head out with the camera!
so much quality put into this video
Great video Nigel! I think to get some of the tones, mood, and emotion to create a great photo- it comes down to this...you've got to have a processing style that is unique or you process each specific photo to enhance the mood that is there....so much comes down to post processing when trying to go from good to great. This is an excellent topic and a very important one for those that can't seem to get over the hump. Everyone must eventually come to the understanding that if photography is an art form...then your photos must have mood, emotion, and style...which in a lot of cases is all set up with effective post processing. You've got to live with a photo for awhile and understand it, to determine what it needs. And this is what artists do when creating a piece.
Fabulous intro, Nigel! Thanks for all the beautiful visual distinctions of photos going from good to great. Really helpful given that I’m closer to the novice end of the photography spectrum. Kudos on your Antartica workshop, Sylvia
Wonderful video, Nigel. I think it's great that you gave a shoutout to Morten's Ellesmere Island series - it is remarkable. People, go see it. Morten, like Nigel, is very positive and passionate about his work.
Dear James, I can give tripod lessons 😌😄
The photo @5:30 changed in amazing way, the last 1 with the swan is fantastic.
Another great video Nigel and lots to be thoughtful about. I'm looking forward to your video on split toning as I feel there's a lot in post-processing that is sometimes required for a great image.
Some amazing advice in this as ever, great work Nigel. That print looks awesome.
Your image from the drone is outstanding.
Thanks Nigel! I sometimes feel like I am trying to get from meh to "OK, I won't delete the raw file". ;-) Good to Great... great video.
Wow some fantastic images there Nigel, another great video, now feeling inspired on this stormy day in the UK.
It looks as though an incredible locaction is one of the most importent elements that you need. Brilliant, brilliant photographs. Thhanks for sharing.
Another great video Nigel. Many helpful tips on how to elevate your photography. Keep up the good work.
Value video Nigel ! Emotion is definitely #1 that makes a great photo and the skills in post to convey it...
Great video! Clearly illustrated the differences between good and great. I agree that the photographer must think his photo is great, first. When he or she feels that way it colors how we approach editing and presenting the image. Between this video, and your video on editing with a painterly approach, you've presented wonderful techniques. You've made my work better in the last month!
Great Video. Thanx for sharing your very experienced personal thoughts.
Very cool print this week! It looks stunning! Also very jealous of the Antarctic trip, been on my bucket list forever. Looking forward to seeing some photos from it! You should come out my way for a trip one day, PEI or Newfoundland. You can even stop in for some Yorkshire tea and Hendersons relish.
Great video, good tips and was nice to be introduced to some other great photographers
Another absolutely brilliant video, I am new to photography and your videos have helped me so much! Thanks Nigel and keep them coming!
Thanks for this video. Oh how I wish I could attend any of your workshops!
Hi Nigel, ICANN opened up the top level domain names to be anything you want now, not just .com, .org or .net. So you can register "itdoesntgetbetterthanthis.photo", for example, which is much more descriptive than .com.
Great video as always Nigel! I was in Iceland same time, the weather was exceptionally good, 6 days of blue skies, aurora 4 nights out of 7 - just a brilliant week for my group! I did manage to push my last battery to the last day haha!
Nigel isn't Good, he's GREAT!
I'll really like all your work! 😍
The glow of light in that photo you printed is amazing!!
Yeah - it seems to make it look 3D
Superb. I think you said the thing that elevates to great, but without noticing...it is “unique”. You have captured a moment in time that is not likely to happen again - where all the good elements come together in one fleeting event, and you were there to record it for history. I’m off to by a lottery ticket so I can go on the Antarctica voyage 👍🏻
The trip to Antarctica souds perfect. I'm afraid of good equipment, left over money and skill..i have none of them. Anyway, have a great time out there!
So basically we need to make sure that we always have a swan in our photobag so that we can add it to a scene to make it extra special? 😂 No honestly, great video once again! Also love the wolf photo from Morten Hilmer, I've seen the video last week and it was so special.. And the print you've got there is amazing! Wish I could go to the Antarctica workshop, but sadly I cannot afford it.. If you see arctic foxes there, please take a picture of them for me, they are so cute.. 😍 I bet it will be an amazing trip!
Another outstanding Vlog Nigel :-)
I would have recorded 5 thumbs up if I could for you taking on this subject. The WOW factor deserves more discussion. There is, perhaps, a universal WOW that many or most viewers will experience or a personal WOW because of life experiences (your ghosts). One example is as a historian, a photo of a historic site may be good but can be far more emotional if you know what happened at a particular moment in time. Please revisit this subject, perhaps with other photographers.
This is so inspirational and informative. Thank you so much to you and all the photographers featured. What an amazing print at the end! I had no idea you could make an 8 shot pano stitch from a drone. That technique could be a whole video on its own.
I think James hates the faff of carrying/erecting/levelling/positioning/collapsing tripods but he is (reluctantly) resigned to their practicality. I do get that but I did LOL when you started with images of him strolling around carrying tripods! Great video, very thoughtful.
Great stuff Nigel, agree with your use of Verity's image as an example of a great image, it blew me away when I saw it on twitter!!
Great video Nigel and for pure emotion take the time to watch Morton Hilmer's effort to capture the image of the wolf.
Beautiful locations! I believe you'll run out of wall space rapidly if you continue to make these massive prints. Just a thought. 😉 MPI has a real knack to creating dramatic images. Rock on!
Antarctica trip sounds amazing....just need to save up!
This video is verging on great. Well done.
Great video Nigel. Very inspiring to go out and shoot at the next level.
Superb tutorial, nigel, outstanding photographs, huge respect to you sir 👌👍👍.
Another insightful video Nigel. It certainly makes you want to get out and shoot some more. Although the conditions play a major part in elevating a potentially good image to great, one needs the vision and practice to put it all together, especially when conditions can be changing rapidly.
That is a magnificent pano from your drone, fantastic. It, more than any other images I have seen really makes me want to buy a drone.
I looked at the Antarctic trip, that ship is amazing. Certainly several steps removed from the converted expedition ships that I travelled to Antarctica on. I am sure that with two years still to go there is a lot of research still to be done, however, if I could make a suggestion. Make time to visit the cemetery in Punta Arenas, lots of interesting images to be made. It was quite an emotional experience for us as well.
I am certainly looking forward to the proposed video on post processing.
very nice video and indeed great photos! Took my camera right away after watching it and went out to shoot 🤗
River Brathay, family favourite walking to Elterwater from Skelwith Bridge. My son loves to run it. So many great spots to get some nice shots along there. Loved yours.
Love this one, one of my favorite videos of yours. I've been thinking a bit about this recently with some images that I can't decide if I love or just really like (tip: if you're not sure that you love it, you probably only really like it), and I think you've hit the nail on the head.
holy hell that antarctica trip looks fun!
Haven’t been here in a while. Good to just hit play.
I absolutely love your channel 👍 🙏
Would so love to do the Antarctica trip, looks an awesome opportunity but doubt my budget would allow it 😭
I find it helps if you can have a minimum of 3 elements e.g light, environment, focal point. Or Foreground, mid ground background. Where the focal point can be different from it's surroundings in terms of colour, contrast or subject (like birds on a rock)
Seeing some of these pictures you labelled „good but not great“ and comparing them to my own pictures in my head I kinda feel very bad now 😂😉. I get what you mean and saw the difference between good and great, and this realising I still have sooooo much to learn. Biggest mistake I usually make is not taking enough time. Time upfront by scouting the location, preparing the shoot and then of course actually taking the picture. I need to slow down and take way less but better pictures.
Awesome video again Nigel, some top photography in here! Love the lily pads in the river!
Another amazing video and amazing photography! Thank you for sharing! Your videos always inspire me to get out with my camera.
When I saw that panorama on the screen I thought, meh. Yet when I saw it in print yet on my same screen it had changed somehow to look fabulous. Good video thanks.
Great video Nigel
really useful video. thank you so much!!
Really enjoyed this, Nigel.
Thank you
Steve.
Great video and great images! Thank you Nigel!
Glad i found your channel, your content is intresting in a simple way
Thanks, Nigel. I found your presentation quite captivating.
Thanks Robert - appreciate that
Thanks! So good!
Wonderful program, I enjoy following you and look forward to your videos.
Great 👍 learning experience. Put together rather well . Nice job Nigel. Regards Richard
Wow, Antarctica... Wish i could go!
Love this vid! LOVE LOVE LOVE the beach photo 12:49!! OMG, so beautiful especially compared to the more "normal, good" shot.
Thanks Alicia 👍🏼
What a great video! Love the content and seeing your growth on CZcams!!
I'm four minutes in and already love this video!!! good content man, well done!
Thanks so much
Thanks again for the tutorial Nigel!
Even the luxury Canon printers have red rings??! 😆Love it. Great video as always, Nigel.
You should register the domain as "Itdoesntgetanybetterthanthis".
Great vlog with true words. Really enjoyed watching.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant!
FABULOUS
Such a great explanations and great samples to show intangibles things !👌