the best thing I tell myself when getting to a location is "take a photo of somethinng, not the scene" really helps avoid those "snapshot" type photos that aren't very exciting.
It would be fun too see you go back to the locations of these older photos and improve upon them with all your acquired knowledge. Assuming you can find the same tree a decade or so after the fact.
Nigel- Your continuing humility is so rare. You are so far away from a “decent photographer” it’s incredible. In fact, by any measure you are one of the finest photographers out there with the print proofs that anyone would want on their wall. Thank you for all you do… Cheers!
@NigelDanson I agree. I love photography and look at it online all the time. Yours is the only I have ever purchased. I have a big, lovely print on my wall that is the first thing I see in the morning. :)
Sadly posting photos on Instagram seems pointless these days, the interaction is so poor, it feels so demotivating bothering now, it’s just videos and adverts, such a shame they ruined it
I've never had it but because interaction on twitter has gone the same i had been contemplating signing up, but if it's as you describe then i definitely won't bother.
Sure, a fake prank video with a plot 10 years old will get more attention than the best photo anyone watching this video could come up with would. The question is: do you care? I don't as I am lucky enough not to be dependent on these platforms to make my living on 🎉
As it should, your work has evolved over time. You are conscientious and spend time reflecting on your work. You have learned post processing makes a significant difference. Looking forward to seeing your work at 500,000.
Nigel, I’ve been following your channel for a long time and every new video is like a breath of inspiration for me. You are an amazing photographer, speaker and personality. Your manner of speech encourages me to delve into every word, every thought, every example you give. You know how to convey complex ideas in a very subtle and concise way. It's a pleasure for me to listen to you! You are an amazing teacher, Nigel! Thank you for sharing your truly unique experience and amazing knowledge in photography. I sincerely wish you further success in your creativity and development of your channel! With best wishes, your regular viewer :)
One of the things I really love about your channel is that your background and photographic journey is so similar to mine. I'm and engineer and woodworker and photographer. I was blown away when you started your videos about building your camper van. And I love when you look back at your old photos and think about all that you could have done better. I also do that from time to time and love to see the progress I've made over the many years. And your time in the darkroom. I still have all my old equipment in a box in the basement but i doubt I will ever go back. Digital Photography is the best invention since sliced bread in my opinion. Anyway it's really great to know that there's someone else out there who's photographic journey is so similar to mine. Thanks for all your work and keep it up. Cheers!
I started a Camera club in my local area and it is wonderful for pushing eachother to do better. As always your videos are amazing and you are directly responsible for 75% of my understanding of photography at least!
Your wide open honesty of your photography experiences (failures & successes) are so helpful! Please know that your videos have provided inspiration to improve my photography journey...and at the same time, allow me to enjoy our beautiful world in such a personal way. Your videos are the best around!
I took a break from photography for about a year and a half due to some health issues. I’ve really missed it. Having this video pop into my feed gave me so much joy! You, James Popsys, and Pat Kay were my “mentors from afar” for a few years and although I’ll no longer be doing photos as a profession, I’ll once again enjoy photography thanks to all I’ve learned from you.
Always when I watch your videos I get even more sucked in to photography. Sometimes its hard but your videos Nigel inspire me again and again, thank you 😁 Your photos are amazing, wish I could become one day near like You 😊
Love this thanks Nigel. I have been following your channel for a long time now and I have learned a lot from you. For me it has just been getting out consistently. I have definitely gone from the big scene to more intimate photos using my telephoto lens most of the time now. I live in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand and although it's not the famous South Island, locally I have a Peak for cloud inversions, rivers, autumn tree colours to die for, waterfalls all within half an hour. When I really look and revisit over and over, I see something different as the conditions always change. Got some great photos this morning in fog and thought to myself, "It doesn't get better than this!!!...until it does. Take care and look forward to your next video.
Hi Nigel, I've learned so much from your channel, and my landscape photography has improved tremendously thanks to your tutorials and insights. Your passion for capturing natural beauty is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping me grow as a photographer! - Anil Thomas (Bangalore, India)
This video is just amazing. There are so many ‘do this to become a good photographer’ videos out there. You don’t even sell this video as such (which I very much appreciate) but if there was a video that could do that it has to be this one.
such a nice humble guy .... thanks Nigel .. you're like a petrol station to my photography ... your videos are refueling with positive vibes and load of new energy my own photography endeavour ..
Your videos really inspires me. As a passionate being, i purchased my first second hand camera recently by all my saved money. And by seeing your videos i want to explore many many places and want to take atleast one photo as good as yours
This was a very inspiring video. It was interesting to see your first pictures and how much you have improved over the years until today, to the point where it can surely be said that you are one of the very best landscape photographers out there. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge.
Really enjoyed this, I do love your approach to photography and the sharing and collaboration so that everyone improves through enjoyment and positive interaction. Really appreciate your insights and knowledge after being a photographer for many years, as you say we all have to start somewhere 😊 I’ve had such a lack of motivation since a bereavement and haven’t been out near as much I was before that. As well as having mobility issues myself, it can be such a challenge just getting out and about - however videos like yours and other photographers that I follow really help to keep the photography ‘spirit’ alive inside. A wee nudge to just go outside with my camera, even if it’s just for 30 minutes, is much appreciated. Thank you for all you do, for all people like yourself do, for your audience and followers 👍
Another great video Nigel. Your knowledgeable and friendly advice is easy to understand and absorb. You have reawakened my interest in a life long hobby. Thank you 👍
Great video Nigel. It is really interesting when we look back at our photos from the past and we realise how far we have come after so many photos!!! The only way to improve is to keep on shooting, no matter what!!!
Couldn't agree more about simplicity, Nigel. I'm drawn to minimalism, always attempting to create visual order out of what sometimes seems like nature's chaos. After returning to photography (this time in digital form) about 12 years ago, my shutter count is probably one-tenth of yours...must get out more. Thanks for another interesting video.
Thanks for the great video. You always motivate me to want to get out and do more photography...even thought I do a lot already. Again, thanks for the tips. Awesome.
Reviewing your photography portfolio over the years is very helpful. It should tell you how much you've improved over time, but alas, it may also tell you where you may be slacking off or getting lazy. Kind of a wakeup call.
Boy oh boy, there are days when I think I have this composition down pretty good - then I notice a pole coming out of someones head. I focus on the subject without spending enough time to take a look at the broader picture for problems. Folks like you have been a big help along the way too. You touched on it a bit; there are so many times when everything clicks except the light or timing. Or something. With experience; which means get out there and make a lot of mistakes, you learn to make adjustments to compensate - maybe it's in the editing process, but you make do with what the world has offered up. Which means you do have to develop a skill to look at your work and try to decide what works and what is not working and what you should try next time to fix it. Too often while shooting an dog agility trial, the shot I want is lit wrong (who ever sets these courses must hate photographers!) or the back ground is too busy etc. After shooting so many trials I figure most folks have some good shots of their dogs anyway so I'll try something different and so far, more often than not I get some very interesting shots. Helps to break the mold from time to time.
Awesome Nigel, would love to see some of your day to day images like the wave and the window shots they look interesting. I take lots of random shots on my phone depending on my mood even if my camera is hanging off my shoulder, I usually go for a lunchtime walk from work always have my camera with me at all times. Thank you for the great videos Nigel x.
I agree with the others that you are way beyond being just a “decent”photographer. And by the way, I really enjoyed the composition book that you mentioned. It inspires me to go through it again. The composition book is a quick read and a terrific help.
Always glad to see your video Nigel, love your contents. If you think of unique photo opportunities then you may consider a trip to Bhutan 🇧🇹, it’s in the middle of Himalayas
Thanks Nigel, really enjoyed this video. Could not agree more with the camera really not mattering; it's odd when the loudest voices on CZcams are all about the next more pixel, faster AF device. The more you take, the better you become. Had so much fun with my 2004 Olympus E1 and 1980s OM lenses recently! Keep up the great work, much appreciated!
So, really important question! I've been watching you for a long time. Multiple years for sure. The over riding question I have is, why a guy from southern Australia wears a SF Giants cap? There must be a story! 😄
Albeit I have been a photographer since 1969, it is always good to be reminded of things you at times take for granted and forget. Although coming from a younger one😂 Nice lecture though.
Another great video, which is both insightful and inspirational. I now find the hardest thing is getting out there, which I think stems from times in the past when I went out to recce my local area at completely the wrong time, so I didn't have the light, struggled to find a subject or an interesting composition as a result. I did this repeatedly and failed to learn my lesson at the time. As a consequence, when I feel an urge to go out my next thought is, but where do I go? My mind is blank, except on a very few occasions when I have an idea of where to head in the prevailing conditions. I would love to know how to overcome this, as it's proving quite difficult. I think my compositional skills have improved, though I've always had times when I've absolutely nailed it, but the rest of the time I come up short and then kick myself when I'm reviewing them on my monitor. So thank you for producing this video, which has given me some hope and plenty to think about.
The photo of Mads in the mists is fantastic. I have got an older Nikon D5300 but a good set of lens, so I am going to try an area that is prone to get that kind of ground fog, I think regions north into New Hampshire in the White Mountains might just do the job!
Great advice about getting to know your camera. I've been taking photos for 50 years and think Im a pretty decent photographer, but I reckon I probably understand about 10% of what my Nikon D850 can do!!!
I hope that one day my compositions come close to where yours are today. Glad that you believe we can learn that artistic competence, because that gives me some optimism.
Madeira; that spot for waves crashing in, is a good spot. Did not take quite as many shots as you when there, but i did sit and watch the waves for a far few hours.
When you were talking about being in Texas and it's dry, it almost sounded like you were talking to me. Almost all my Big Bend photos have a blue sky. It's just hard to find a cloud some days.
Hi Nigel. I do a lot of timelapse photography with my Nikon Zs with the electronic shutter to prevent shutter wear. I just added up my last 6 months of photos. 94,000 photos total. I'm going to need a NAS.
the best thing I tell myself when getting to a location is "take a photo of somethinng, not the scene" really helps avoid those "snapshot" type photos that aren't very exciting.
Good tip!
It would be fun too see you go back to the locations of these older photos and improve upon them with all your acquired knowledge. Assuming you can find the same tree a decade or so after the fact.
Great idea!
Yes do it
Nigel- Your continuing humility is so rare. You are so far away from a “decent photographer” it’s incredible. In fact, by any measure you are one of the finest photographers out there with the print proofs that anyone would want on their wall. Thank you for all you do… Cheers!
I really appreciate that. Very kind of you to say.
@NigelDanson I agree. I love photography and look at it online all the time. Yours is the only I have ever purchased. I have a big, lovely print on my wall that is the first thing I see in the morning. :)
Sadly posting photos on Instagram seems pointless these days, the interaction is so poor, it feels so demotivating bothering now, it’s just videos and adverts, such a shame they ruined it
I've never had it but because interaction on twitter has gone the same i had been contemplating signing up, but if it's as you describe then i definitely won't bother.
Couldn’t agree more. Instagram is pointless and in fact most high click images are via paid for fake popularity
Sure, a fake prank video with a plot 10 years old will get more attention than the best photo anyone watching this video could come up with would. The question is: do you care? I don't as I am lucky enough not to be dependent on these platforms to make my living on 🎉
I feel like I don’t get to see any photos at all anymore… only reels and ads. Annoying
Great video, Nigel! I've been lax about getting out with my camera lately. Thanks for the inspiration to get back out there!
As it should, your work has evolved over time. You are conscientious and spend time reflecting on your work. You have learned post processing makes a significant difference. Looking forward to seeing your work at 500,000.
"Getting out over everything else" is spot on advice. Thank you for all your videos! I've learned so much from you.
The value in this one video alone is astonishing. This is like an access course in landscape photography!
Completely agree with mattbibbings...Should be at the top of every aspiring photographers' training list.
Hi Nigel. A great reminder of the important aspects of photography and why we want to be creative.
Thank-You.
Stu
😎
Nigel, I’ve been following your channel for a long time and every new video is like a breath of inspiration for me. You are an amazing photographer, speaker and personality. Your manner of speech encourages me to delve into every word, every thought, every example you give. You know how to convey complex ideas in a very subtle and concise way. It's a pleasure for me to listen to you! You are an amazing teacher, Nigel! Thank you for sharing your truly unique experience and amazing knowledge in photography. I sincerely wish you further success in your creativity and development of your channel! With best wishes, your regular viewer :)
I love how you said you get better slowly by failing more. This is so true of many things in life, to lose is more than hesitate.
Again a great video Nigel ! I love the way you teach, the way you are passionate about your art, … It’s encouraging ! Thank you !
100% right about learning your camera and settings. Have deffo fallen foul of missing the shot whilst trying to work out how to make the camera do XYZ
Another good tip I share on workshops and with other photographers...photograph what you like rather than for likes (on social media).
One of the things I really love about your channel is that your background and photographic journey is so similar to mine. I'm and engineer and woodworker and photographer. I was blown away when you started your videos about building your camper van. And I love when you look back at your old photos and think about all that you could have done better. I also do that from time to time and love to see the progress I've made over the many years. And your time in the darkroom. I still have all my old equipment in a box in the basement but i doubt I will ever go back. Digital Photography is the best invention since sliced bread in my opinion. Anyway it's really great to know that there's someone else out there who's photographic journey is so similar to mine. Thanks for all your work and keep it up. Cheers!
I started a Camera club in my local area and it is wonderful for pushing eachother to do better. As always your videos are amazing and you are directly responsible for 75% of my understanding of photography at least!
Super-useful video justifying it's title! Thank you for illustrating it with over 30 of your masterpieces
Magnificent long shots some very interesting tips thanks for sharing
Great stuff Nigel 👍👏😀 Hoping the camper is coming along well, looking forward to seeing the updates! 👍👏😀
Wonderful again Nigel, thank you. Us scientists can be creative people too! Really good guide.
4:40 is magical
Your wide open honesty of your photography experiences (failures & successes) are so helpful! Please know that your videos have provided inspiration to improve my photography journey...and at the same time, allow me to enjoy our beautiful world in such a personal way. Your videos are the best around!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.
I took a break from photography for about a year and a half due to some health issues. I’ve really missed it. Having this video pop into my feed gave me so much joy! You, James Popsys, and Pat Kay were my “mentors from afar” for a few years and although I’ll no longer be doing photos as a profession, I’ll once again enjoy photography thanks to all I’ve learned from you.
Absolutely useful tips that we too often forget about 😃
Appreciate all the work you put into creating these videos Nigel, great information!
Its so nice to hear of your trials and errors over the years at least you admit it unlike others! once again thank you for your advice.....
Nigel I’d add one more ….” Light , timing , composition,” ….. and LUCK 😊….you’ll be at 500k before you know it ! Best, Art
Thanks for this video Nigel. For someone who's four years into a photography journey, your knowledge is priceless.
Very inspiring. Loved your video.
The content is always of fantastic quality. Thank you, Nigel, for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks for sharing your life long experience with us, Mr. Danson.
Compliments from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada!
Thanks for sharing!!
A brilliant video, full of practical advice. Great to hear how you have improved and advanced over the years.
Thanks sharing your experience !
OMG! Loved hearing you mention the town of Congleton!
Brilliant video as always Nigel. Really appreciate how much work you put into the content of your videos. Thank you!
Very, very good video. Thank you.
Always when I watch your videos I get even more sucked in to photography. Sometimes its hard but your videos Nigel inspire me again and again, thank you 😁
Your photos are amazing, wish I could become one day near like You 😊
Gran video !
Love this thanks Nigel. I have been following your channel for a long time now and I have learned a lot from you. For me it has just been getting out consistently. I have definitely gone from the big scene to more intimate photos using my telephoto lens most of the time now. I live in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand and although it's not the famous South Island, locally I have a Peak for cloud inversions, rivers, autumn tree colours to die for, waterfalls all within half an hour. When I really look and revisit over and over, I see something different as the conditions always change. Got some great photos this morning in fog and thought to myself, "It doesn't get better than this!!!...until it does. Take care and look forward to your next video.
Another great video Nigel. I've started taking notes on these videos now as my memory is terrible. Keep up the good work. Have a lovely week.
Hi Nigel, I've learned so much from your channel, and my landscape photography has improved tremendously thanks to your tutorials and insights. Your passion for capturing natural beauty is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping me grow as a photographer! - Anil Thomas (Bangalore, India)
This video is just amazing. There are so many ‘do this to become a good photographer’ videos out there. You don’t even sell this video as such (which I very much appreciate) but if there was a video that could do that it has to be this one.
Very very inspiring video. I have to think about what I won't do to have more time for photography!😂
such a nice humble guy .... thanks Nigel .. you're like a petrol station to my photography ... your videos are refueling with positive vibes and load of new energy my own photography endeavour ..
Excellent video Nigel. All the tips are very useful and you are correct in that simplicity is the key!
Thanks Nigel for all you say, in a nutshell revision is always good!. Cheers as one gets older you use it more often. looking forward to the next one.
Amazing video Nigel! Lots of great info. Thanks!😊
Your videos really inspires me. As a passionate being, i purchased my first second hand camera recently by all my saved money. And by seeing your videos i want to explore many many places and want to take atleast one photo as good as yours
This was a very inspiring video. It was interesting to see your first pictures and how much you have improved over the years until today, to the point where it can surely be said that you are one of the very best landscape photographers out there. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge.
So great Nigel. ❤ Thank you so much for sharing😊👌🏻🫶🏻😘
Really enjoyed this, I do love your approach to photography and the sharing and collaboration so that everyone improves through enjoyment and positive interaction. Really appreciate your insights and knowledge after being a photographer for many years, as you say we all have to start somewhere 😊
I’ve had such a lack of motivation since a bereavement and haven’t been out near as much I was before that. As well as having mobility issues myself, it can be such a challenge just getting out and about - however videos like yours and other photographers that I follow really help to keep the photography ‘spirit’ alive inside. A wee nudge to just go outside with my camera, even if it’s just for 30 minutes, is much appreciated.
Thank you for all you do, for all people like yourself do, for your audience and followers 👍
Another great video Nigel. Your knowledgeable and friendly advice is easy to understand and absorb. You have reawakened my interest in a life long hobby. Thank you 👍
Excellent video Nigel, learnt and become aware of so much to practice in my photography. Thanks you.
Excellent video - breaking down the essentials of a good image!
Great info that is very helpful! I’d love to win that Z8!!!
Great video. I subscribed. I'm really looking forward to winning the z8 :)
Fantastic as always! Thanks Nigel.
Great video Nigel. It is really interesting when we look back at our photos from the past and we realise how far we have come after so many photos!!! The only way to improve is to keep on shooting, no matter what!!!
Really ❤ the penguins
Well done. You inspire me every time a see one of your videos. Thanks
Thanks Nigel for this overview and extract from your long time experience!
Excellent video, thank you for sharing all your experience with your beautiful photos.
Such good advice and encouragement, thank you Nigel. Here's a comment to boost the rating as well as the thumbs up.
"I know he doesnt like taking photos of himself"
Good sir, you gave me a good old chuckle 😂
Couldn't agree more about simplicity, Nigel. I'm drawn to minimalism, always attempting to create visual order out of what sometimes seems like nature's chaos. After returning to photography (this time in digital form) about 12 years ago, my shutter count is probably one-tenth of yours...must get out more. Thanks for another interesting video.
Thank you very much
Thanks for the great video. You always motivate me to want to get out and do more photography...even thought I do a lot already. Again, thanks for the tips. Awesome.
Reviewing your photography portfolio over the years is very helpful. It should tell you how much you've improved over time, but alas, it may also tell you where you may be slacking off or getting lazy. Kind of a wakeup call.
Boy oh boy, there are days when I think I have this composition down pretty good - then I notice a pole coming out of someones head. I focus on the subject without spending enough time to take a look at the broader picture for problems. Folks like you have been a big help along the way too.
You touched on it a bit; there are so many times when everything clicks except the light or timing. Or something. With experience; which means get out there and make a lot of mistakes, you learn to make adjustments to compensate - maybe it's in the editing process, but you make do with what the world has offered up. Which means you do have to develop a skill to look at your work and try to decide what works and what is not working and what you should try next time to fix it.
Too often while shooting an dog agility trial, the shot I want is lit wrong (who ever sets these courses must hate photographers!) or the back ground is too busy etc. After shooting so many trials I figure most folks have some good shots of their dogs anyway so I'll try something different and so far, more often than not I get some very interesting shots. Helps to break the mold from time to time.
Great video as always Nigel!
I'd give you two thumbs each time if I could, Nigel. This is a very encouraging video, too, by the way. Thanks for creating and sharing it. Cheers.
Awesome Nigel, would love to see some of your day to day images like the wave and the window shots they look interesting. I take lots of random shots on my phone depending on my mood even if my camera is hanging off my shoulder, I usually go for a lunchtime walk from work always have my camera with me at all times. Thank you for the great videos Nigel x.
I agree with the others that you are way beyond being just a “decent”photographer. And by the way, I really enjoyed the composition book that you mentioned. It inspires me to go through it again. The composition book is a quick read and a terrific help.
Great stuff Nigel - thanks for sharing
Always glad to see your video Nigel, love your contents. If you think of unique photo opportunities then you may consider a trip to Bhutan 🇧🇹, it’s in the middle of Himalayas
Thanks Nigel, really enjoyed this video. Could not agree more with the camera really not mattering; it's odd when the loudest voices on CZcams are all about the next more pixel, faster AF device. The more you take, the better you become. Had so much fun with my 2004 Olympus E1 and 1980s OM lenses recently! Keep up the great work, much appreciated!
Great advice Nigel thank you.
So, really important question! I've been watching you for a long time. Multiple years for sure. The over riding question I have is, why a guy from southern Australia wears a SF Giants cap? There must be a story! 😄
Love your videos, Nigel 👍 !
Hi Nigel, great personal development during the years.
Love the shot at 04:26 Mars on a stormy day
Enjoyed learning about your photography journey.
Albeit I have been a photographer since 1969, it is always good to be reminded of things you at times take for granted and forget. Although coming from a younger one😂 Nice lecture though.
I've got a duster looking for some dust to clean Nigel. 😃
Another great video, which is both insightful and inspirational. I now find the hardest thing is getting out there, which I think stems from times in the past when I went out to recce my local area at completely the wrong time, so I didn't have the light, struggled to find a subject or an interesting composition as a result. I did this repeatedly and failed to learn my lesson at the time. As a consequence, when I feel an urge to go out my next thought is, but where do I go? My mind is blank, except on a very few occasions when I have an idea of where to head in the prevailing conditions. I would love to know how to overcome this, as it's proving quite difficult.
I think my compositional skills have improved, though I've always had times when I've absolutely nailed it, but the rest of the time I come up short and then kick myself when I'm reviewing them on my monitor.
So thank you for producing this video, which has given me some hope and plenty to think about.
The photo of Mads in the mists is fantastic. I have got an older Nikon D5300 but a good set of lens, so I am going to try an area that is prone to get that kind of ground fog, I think regions north into New Hampshire in the White Mountains might just do the job!
Loved the dust spots on the sensor in some of those early shots. 🤣
Great video for a weekend
5. Clean sensor
Loved the video.
Great advice about getting to know your camera. I've been taking photos for 50 years and think Im a pretty decent photographer, but I reckon I probably understand about 10% of what my Nikon D850 can do!!!
Looking at your old and recent photos, I think the main difference is in editing
I hope that one day my compositions come close to where yours are today. Glad that you believe we can learn that artistic competence, because that gives me some optimism.
Just keep practicing... I guarantee you will improve. Just a lot of photos and getting out.
brill!👏🏼👏🏼🙏🏼
Awesome video mate. Cheers
Madeira; that spot for waves crashing in, is a good spot. Did not take quite as many shots as you when there, but i did sit and watch the waves for a far few hours.
When you were talking about being in Texas and it's dry, it almost sounded like you were talking to me. Almost all my Big Bend photos have a blue sky. It's just hard to find a cloud some days.
11:24 - I'm such a poser
Ya think ?😳🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hi Nigel. I do a lot of timelapse photography with my Nikon Zs with the electronic shutter to prevent shutter wear.
I just added up my last 6 months of photos. 94,000 photos total.
I'm going to need a NAS.