7 Biggest Mistakes For Beginning Photographer

[@nearwildhelen]

Your notes about manipulated photos, and unethical staged wildlife shots really chime with me. I love your attitude to photography and hope to emulate it in my wildlife photography journey ♡

[@TinManLee]

Thank you we need to spread the words because a lot of beginners don’t know better when they start.

[@margarethall8707]

Enjoying your tips but really appreciate that you put nature first in your photography and practice ethical wildlife photography.

[@randyschwager2515]

Excellent advice! I really appreciate your input!

[@liveawildlife]

one of the most relevant videos for wildlife photgraphy. thanks for uploading this.

[@TinManLee]

Means a lot. Two new videos coming up.

[@keirnan100]

love your ethics regarding photographing animals

[@angelaopenshaw6594]

Great tips! Especially the last one about Limiting Belief. I particularly enjoyed your stance on baiting animals and calling birds.

[@bobbybright4194]

I don't write comment's. But. You are Human with big heart. Thank you for 7 L. Now I understand why I'm not bad photographer

[@TiffanyM3]

What a joy, Tin Man! Your tips on light usage (photography = drawing with light), being more mindful of backgrounds, and prioritizing a few "home" shooting locations resonated with me the most. Also love the funnies you sprinkled in. I'll be back to re-watch when I need inspiration - this time as a subscriber.

[@Gojusensei1107]

Thank you. Your tips are excellnet, and your love of the subject is obvious. Tip #7 is the one that really hit home.

[@TinManLee]

Thank you. Means a lot. I gotta rewatch. I forgot what #7 was.

[@wellingtoncrescent2480]

Excellent overview with practical pointers. Thanks for sharing.

[@TinManLee]

So glad to hear it!

[@LorenzoManera78]

I really like this video and I agree in all your 7 ls. Thanks for the advices! This is "teaching". Thanks.

[@vivekthalora6331]

Hi Tin Man, Thank you for this precious advice.

[@linda-rubyjacobson4400]

Great video! Thank you.

[@swarupmukherjee6222]

Lots of unique photographic tips,👍👍

[@TinManLee]

So glad to hear. Will definitely do more now.

[@maid1769]

Thank you!! 🙏

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

Excellent! As a newbie this video taught me to that Rembrant was a master of light and with wildlife photography light and shadow is critical. Location is important for high likelihood of many opportunities....go back to the same prime location again and again. Cheating such as feeding animals, zoo photos, game farms, and luring birds with phone calls is bad and can ultimately ruin a photographer's reputation. Honesty in photography is key. Learning from online forums can be risky with incorrect information. I loved your Cosco piano analogy and language of photography! Inspiring! THANK YOU.

[@TinManLee]

Thank you for your support. You’ve been watching a few of my videos lately :)

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

@@TinManLee Yes. Thank You! Dave V.

[@DaveyHg]

Thank you for this video.

[@stephanyfaycohen3842]

Many thanks, Tin Man, for this and your other videos. I love listening to your voice and your wisdom. I hope one day to take as amazing images as you do.

[@Aic369]

Děkuji mnoho za inspiraci a potvrzení správnosti mého pohledu na fotografii. Ještě jednou moc děkuji. Like and subscribe.

[@LaLindaRN]

Love your videos, thank you for amazing tips and videos.

[@ChadAdelhardt]

Thank you for this video! Very important topic not talked about enough.

[@libertas5005]

These are awesome tips. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom! :) I just started learning about the art of photography. One question I have is, in case I do end up making a really outstanding photo of wildlife down the line, how would I know where to send it to get this recognition? All I see is people sharing their stuff on instagram or other social media, I am really not aware of any places where professional photographers would even pay attention to any work I've done.

[@tokraful]

Love your passion.

[@jignasabhramana]

Thanks Tin fot all the good tips :)

[@BlindIllusionist]

Found this video for the first time. Love your attitude towards wildlie and cheating and liked the tips as well. Subscribed!

[@SNB]

Great insights. I have just started to be more serious about my passion of nature photography. Your video is a timely one for me to learn and think about.

[@TinManLee]

Thank you. Will be posting more.

[@GandaPrakasa]

Man, I just found out about your channel. Instant subscribe! Thanks for the tips.

[@Ginette688]

Hi Tim Man! I love your photos! They are wonderful! Thanks for showing all of your older ones as well. And thank you for all your tips! I had never heard of photographers baiting. But I used to live in a National Park and my neighbor kept leaving food out all summer. And sure enough one day the bear that was feeding on the food got scared off by someone, and ran into the road and got hit by a car driving really fast in a 25 mph speed limit. The driver did not stop. We had to watch the rangers put it down, after they shot it with the wrong bullet and ….it ran up a tree. It was a major saga. So I agree! It is so bad to feed wild life!! Wild life die really quickly from being fed. So sad.

[@TinManLee]

Oh my. Thanks for sharing that story. Yes it’s bad news to bait. And animals behave differently. Everytime I see one my heart aches because I know their behavior is changed forever.

[@brucegraner5901]

Your rules put me over the top. I'm subscribing. Well said.

[@TinManLee]

Big thanks, good to hear from you!

[@siavashk100]

I love your 3rd point. I respect your true love for wildlife and animals. That makes you different 👍👌

[@TinManLee]

You have a good heart. Thank you.

[@nicolavandiver9196]

So when photographing birds we should stick to spot metering vs evaluative meeting? It's a good tip. I just want to make sure I have it right.

[@JeffinMass1]

I really enjoyed this video (along with your sense of humor :)

[@TinManLee]

So glad to hear lol I thought I was always serious.

[@rudydelange5569]

Thank you so much Mister Tin Man Lee, I agree and have learned so much with each and every one of your L's. It makes photography much more respectful, not easier but certainly more enjoyable and gratifying. Thank you and take care.

[@wildpatagoniafilms16]

Great post as always! Question: for participating in award, photos can not be manipulated..? or just basic post processing? regarding NatGeo or similar magazines, are those files processed at all...? Hard to believe they have no, (at least), basic manipulation... thanks ! ;D

[@bartvuijk5645]

Soo happy you mentioned “lying to yourself” i am more in portraits but never like it when things are staged. It must be real. Thanks !

[@art2chef]

Thank you so much, very useful

[@oliverpether]

Hey man, loved the video! You got yourself a new subscriber 👍🏼

[@fromcanadatotheworld]

Hi, I loved to watch your videos. Equally, I am new in photography, and I just buy Nikon D3400. I am looking to buy a new len (70-300). Do you have any recommendations? Thanks.

[@bkanoid]

What about ethically run zoos that are conservation, rehabilitation, and breeding for endangered species? We have a couple close by that the animals have acres available and the goal for most is to rehabilitate and release if possible. While zoos are never the preferred, but what are your thoughts about these types of centres and organizations? Would stating where the photo was taken and links to the conservation and rehabilitation programs being done from/by the organization be sufficient?

[@auntiedi8153]

Hi Tin Man. Just found your channel and enjoy it and YES learn from it. I wanted to comment on your "photographer cheating" statement. I agree with you. I also want to say how I have seen such amazing photography from people I admire and would compare my photos to others, then feel horrible that mine were not anywhere even close to being good. Only to find out that most of the amazing photos by these photographers were manipulated so much through post processing in photos hope or lightroom, the out of camera original shot was mostly lost. 😢 They will use 4 diffently shot photos, replace the sky, add fog, add other elements and call it their final photo. Tweaking a photo for minor things has been done forever but for me what many do these days is also "cheating". I have stopped comapring my photos to others and enjoy photography so much more.. TY for all of your great info.😊

[@frankcruz8068]

Brilliant!

[@hkbg608]

Hi Tin Man. Ich habe gerade zwei von Deinen Videos gesehen. Ich bin überwältigt von den Vorträgen und Deiner Ehrlichkeit. Ich habe selbst erst vor einem Jahr mit der digitalen Fotografie angefangen. Viele Grüße aus Deutschland K.-H.

[@rlfiske]

Tinman, you won me over not just because of your photography, but most importantly by your love of the wild life!!!👍

[@TinManLee]

Thank you so much! I just restarted KZbin so I have been posting a few more.

[@bhattks]

So inspiring

[@infiveg]

Спасибо большое за очень важные советы

[@perpetualflame]

Great channel

[@TinManLee]

That means a lot. I thought I suck.

[@annabellelee2552]

wonderful story of handling adversity!

[@momentlichfotografie4903]

Many thanks for sharing your "L"s 🙏🏻 I like your conviction very much and i feel the same about nature.

[@keiththompson8997]

Thank You.

[@catherinem2112]

Thank you Tin Man! I am guilty of #1 & 7. I feel the same as you when it comes to the baiting, etc.. Thanks for the another great video!

[@TinManLee]

Wonderful to hear. Thank you!

[@MiguelGomes2023]

Great vídeo Tin!

[@jayneabriani750]

Wow, how you have grown into a true leader. Great info. Wonderful presentation. Thank you for sharing wins & disappointment. I believe you have discovered the golden ratio of light in photography!!

[@capturedencounters]

Great Job Tin Man, did you post your own shots anywhere?

[@patricksmith2553]

As a photojournalist and part time wildlife photographer...I couldn't agree more with this video or Tin Man Lee. I've actually met or ran into Tin Man before at Bolsa Chica in HB, California. As a photojournalist we are never allowed to alter an image and there's supposed to be checks and balances. I can't even remove a sensor dust spot or anything beyond minor adjustments to exposure, shadows or what have you. Most of the time though I'm transmitting JPEG's down-sampled in Photo Mechanic to my editors and most of the time I'm sending straight out of camera Nikon D6 JPEG's. They are amazing files and my keeper rate has gone up so much...I sold my D850/D500 and bought a second D6. Both have the Nikon WT-6A wireless adapter's and I've used the WT-5A's before that back to the D4/D4s days. For what I do there isn't even time for photoshop or altering images and we certainly never mess with or bait subjects. Now I'm not a fan of the mainstream media and I went from being a Democrat to more of a conservative...simply from what I've seen from some of my collogues. Working for newspapers and AP, I have learned so much and I'm always feeling so blessed, especially when I get to cover an NBA or MLB game. I don't make much money and I certainly don't want my children to follow in my footsteps. Just like I stopped my nephew from joining the military...now he's 21 years old and making $100,000+ a year as a Police Officer. I also stop or try to dissuade most youngsters from becoming a photojournalist. I've had a rough life due to being apart of the last few topics above. I won't get all into it, but it's hard NOT to develop PTSD or other issues when you see too much, too much death and destruction or some of the cases I've covered. Recently I had an image or two go everywhere, AP distributed it and it was in 130 newspaper's in the USA, including The Washington Post, The Inquirer, Yahoo News, etc, etc.! Which is great, but it involved a young boy who was just rescued from being kidnapped. A few months before that I covered a story of an 8 years old boy left abused and abandoned on the side of the 91 Freeway in Corona, California. He had no shoes on and was visibly beat up and God knows what happened to him. I've watched people get blown away during SWAT/Mentally ill calls, people jump off freeways, etc., etc.! Reality is often more unbelievable than fiction and at least in my experience, there is no need to sensationalize everything, things are bad enough already. It would make me sick to see people baiting and or faking images, but honestly I don't care and don't have time. Reporter's both online, print or even TV are allowed to get things wrong, or flat out lie and say whatever they want, but a photo shouldn't be able to be a lie, but they do and they hardly ever get called on it or correct the inaccuracies. But photojournalism is different and I love that about my genre. I used to also feel that way about wildlife photography...until I too realized some were cheating. At the end of the day, I don't let it bother me, but I do fear it's hurting people, especially children. Half of your wildlife budget/gear budget should be spent on conservation and if you can't donate, volunteer or do whatever you can. Thank you Tin Man, you're the best and I love your videos, and I've always admired your work. Hope to see you again someday.

[@Jimmiehammarstrom47]

Great as always Tin! this is a video that every person who loves photography should see! I have one question for you, if you had to choose 400 f2.8 or 600 f4? can only be one of them!

[@nrocha2466]

Birding? 600F4 hands down

[@deanelliot4127]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom, enthusiasm, and experience. Those who listen to and learn from you will become better and happier photographers. ;0)

[@manuelgutierrez3253]

Awesome

[@cantrellhaynes2659]

Thank you Tin Man. I’m learning so much from you. I just moved to New Mexico and am not really sure we’re to go and find captures in the wild. I’ve been going to the zoo as of late but felt self conscious about posting any of the photos. Now I understand why.

[@TinManLee]

New Mexico, so you are close to Bosque Del Apache, one of the best places on earth for bird and wildlife photography!

[@cantrellhaynes2659]

@@TinManLee thank you so much for the suggestion. I’m about an hour and a half away. Looks like I have a day trip ahead of me.

[@skep41]

I've just discovered your videos and I really like your philosophical approach to 'the language of photography'. I'm not sure about baiting and set-ups. I've been in the film industry all my life and it's all set-ups... in the end isnt the final result what's important? I dont take myself too seriously as a photographer and going out and shooting at high noon doesnt bother me if I'm enjoying myself. BTW... one criticism of this video. You've flopped the image so on the globe Madagascar is on the wrong side of Africa. I found my eye drawn to that several times...

[@TinManLee]

Thanks a lot for your comment. Oops good call about the camera flipped and Madagascar was on the wrong side. I've talked to some legendary photographers regarding the baiting, setup thing, and I was told that back in the days, especially in the film days, a lot of the photos were baited because of budget, time constraint etc for projects. The photographer told me he no longer did it these days. For me, I just love to see animals roaming freely in the wild, and do their own things instead of me actively changing their behavior for a shot. And I see it as a challenge for myself.

[@williamchang4031]

I am enjoying your videos

[@sammcmillan7416]

Excellent! Thank you!

[@TinaMcManusNorthShore]

This is excellent! Thank you

[@ambishkazi]

thank you man

[@eventid22]

3:12 - 😂 - I said it to my family, and they said "no, noooo, we say only true" 😂😂

[@TinManLee]

lol cracks me up :)))))

[@katriendrijvers5739]

Great video! I think #3 and #4 are very important

[@FIZZGIG-RARF]

I thought "baiting" was a normal practice for wildlife photography. I know they do some sort of it when the shoot nature documentaries. I think taking photos in zoos is good practice at the very least. I wanted so badly to be a nature photographer, but I never had the money to the exotic ppaces in Natural Geographic. What are your suggestions about that? Are there grants for doing trips like that?

[@TinManLee]

Baiting is a big no no, because it may change the behavior of the animal permanently. For example, if a fox is fed by human, they may keep coming close to other humans or even roads in future and eventually have a chance to get killed by cars. Also, I despise this practice because its like cheating by actively changing animal behavior. I would start from local area first if budget is a concern. Some top photographers can get stunning shots with common species like a raven or coots, if they know how to use the light and composition. And once you start to get good, you can get some print sales to support. I am not quite sure if there are grants. Maybe you can check out NANPA.

[@FIZZGIG-RARF]

I love how passionate you get about the animals!❤ I have a l0ve hate relationship with zoos, despite the one near me working very hard to create "large" natural environments for them. I lpve to see the animals, but it always depresses me. I go about once a decade, when i forget how much it upsets me. Hahaha!😂😂

[@TinManLee]

I shouldn't do that but I like to put myself in their shoes. Would I be happy being locked up and being looked at by humans everyday. I know some facilities are for rehab of animals and those are fine. But generally I think its very cruel to lock them up and use them for entertainment.

[@jbear4662]

thanks for promoting ethics and just say no to fake photo. Baiting or farms are big no no's . People are out there supposedly because they love the wild's . Then they do stuff that effects and even endangers the wildlife, and for what. A photo people are willing to destroy what they say they love just for a photo. Part of wildlife and nature photography is about the challenge of finding the light and subject. When it happens it is magic. We used to have to carry tripods and shoot with 25, 50 asa and 100 asa was fast. Now it is so easy just go out put in the time and find the magic. Don't endanger the wildlife just for a photo. Thanks Tin Man !

[@tracylang6060]

I love you videos

[@VinceMaidens]

Haha did you read my post on bating last week then? :) Love it

[@kennethlui2268]

I don't have problem with the first six Ls. But the last one, Limiting Belief, is my biggest hurdle. I always think so many photographers out there are way better than me. My confidence level is not good.

[@Ann-yx5dk]

I have a 1 in 1000 shot of Snowy Owl eating a vole/rat. How do we find special photo contests to enter? And is it worth joining PPA?

[@leniehulse1621]

I guess the new PS AI would be a no no with you! Which I can understand!

[@TinManLee]

Lol I heard it’s ultra powerful. I wonder how it will change the whole landscape of photography in the future.

[@RamaSivamani]

Hmm, about number 5 I am ok with digital manipulation if you make the claim that you are a fine art wildlife photographer and not a documentary of photojournalistic wildlife photographer. The only manipulation I would consider absolutely unethical is things that are harmful to the animals or wildlife themselves so baiting, trapping, shooting captive wildlife or game parks should be a no go. The posing a dead anteater like you said is also unethical. So in those cases I would absolutely agree with you on that should not be a practice photographers engage in. Photoshopping in snow or fog into a photo, however, is not really harmful to the animal in the photo. Is it photojournalistic? No but if your goal is to create art not document then I don't see using photoshop as anything different than a painter choosing to use a different paintbrush. If your view is that you are an artist and that the camera and photoshop are the "brushes" that you use to make your art then in that context I don't see a problem with digital manipulation. I understand if you come from a photojournalist background and if you call yourself a photojounalist then I would agree that it is imperative that you follow the code of conduct for that. However there are many photographers who view themselves as artists rather than photojournalists or documentarians. A literary fictional novel is not better or worse than a great nonfiction book. In the same vein if you use the camera and photoshop to write a fictional image it's not better or worse than a documentary or photojournalistic photo. I wouldn't calling digital manipulation lying to yourself if that is truly what your artistic vision of the final image is. You are simply using artistic tools to create the image you have conceptualized in your mind's eye. I tend to enter my photos in general art competitions rather than photography competitions so the rules there do not care about digital manipulation since your photos will be competing against paintings and other mediums anyway.

[@TinManLee]

Thanks for sharing your points. To me, the joy of wildlife photography is after all the long wait and hardship, Nature rewards me with a wildlife encounter in a once a lifetime moments such as rainbow and fog, great light on a sunset, dust in backlit, and it’s the few things in life these days that’s not artificial and made by humans. If one replaces the background with fake fog and mist and background or whatever, it takes the only joy completely out of this passion and it becomes meaningless to me. It’s really the most sacred thing for me. I wonder why would I even go out to take photos if I were to add fake fog etc. maybe that’s just me.

[@ritammelgunov]

​@@TinManLeeVery beautiful expression of the soul's art of love and beauty 🙏🏻😊🦋

[@guitaristwagner]

Who is a good (great) wild life photographer I can learn from? Any recommendations?

[@LifeIsButaBluff]

I would just like to get a photo that shows the picture I see. I have always struggled with languages :-) The struggle continues

[@hautehussey]

As long as you don’t go crazy and do it multiple days in the same location, playing bird calls isn’t an issue.

[@ioiioiio]

I would suggest... this video should be the first tutorial... for everyone who wants to take up wildlife/animal photography... Appreciate your views on all 7 Ls...🙏🙏🙏

[@TinManLee]

@@ioiioiio really appreciate this!

[@HarryBalsak]

Thank you for speaking up about baiting animals. It's disgusting and those photographers should be banned from any competitions and publications.

[@TinManLee]

Yes it’s so disgusting. Thank you Harry for your words. It should be all banned but I was shocked some prestigious contests and publications still allowed that. It’s painful.

[@jimbird963]

I’m a natgeoyourshot photographer I’ve received 14 Editors Favorite from Natgeoyourshot, I’m just a beginner going on my 6th year of photography. I always say there are millions of good photographers but only a few great photographers. But everyone has to pay their dues no shortcuts to greatness. Practice practice practice will get you somewhere but great that’s another story

[@Jessehermansonphotography]

So you are great? I mean 14 editors favorites sounds pretty “great”

[@jimbird963]

@@Jessehermansonphotography no lol but it’s a goal lk I said getting to greatness is another story, I’m not talking about popular but being able capture unique an powerful images not by accident. The great photographers always seem to be at the right time an right place funny. No matter the gear ! You can’t buy greatness you hv to earn it with work an dedication!

[@patricksmith2553]

I partly agree, but also disagree with you and I'm happy to prove to you, who I am. But I'm not here for boasting, I'm here because I respect and admire Tin Man and his images/art. Photography like any other artform, there is plenty of luck or what I call blessings involved, but you're 100% correct only a few can be truly "great!" I've rubbed shoulder's with many of the Earth's greatest photographers, as a photojournalist. How well you can see (vision), eye-hand coordination, composition, brain/eye coordination, agility and most of all genetics play a huge role. My mom is an incredible artist or painter and I believe 100% I inherited that from her, I had a painting go from the state Capitol to the US Capitol and later as a teenager I had another painting in a Museum, and I've won some awards...been nominated for other's. Sure you or anyone can absolutely practice and you can never know everything, but some things you're either born with or your not. I was given 20-10 vision, I scored highest you can on peripheral vision as well, I ran a 4.4 second 40 yards dash, won many sports awards and even State Champions in High School football. It is true practice and knowledge or know-how is important, but I believe 100% you're either born with it or your not. I mostly gave up painting, and photography took it's place for me around age 9 years old. I got a Nikon N60, followed by an N90s and finally D1-D6. At only age 15 years old I was given the opportunity to shoot Game 2 and Game 6 of the 2002 World Series MLB. I've had my fair share of cover's and I've been published in probably 80% of US newspaper's and a few different well named magazines. I've done TV and radio interviews relating to the California wildfire's (or we call them Vegetation Fire's). I've been a guest speaker before and I've even done a couple of KZbin interviews. Anyway long story short, call it genetics or call it a blessing(s)! if you don't believe in that or don't believe in a higher-power, I'm not sure you'll understand.

[@jimbird963]

@@patricksmith2553 I understand regardless you have to practice any art to become proficient at it anyone who has been great has put their lives into it some people have natural talent but don’t practice it enough to get into the sphere of greatness that’s the separation

[@hautehussey]

The saddest part about learning wildlife photography is learning just how many of the best photos are downright staged or at least manipulated to happen. The kingfisher photos where they used man made ponds and little cages of minnows is my least favorite example. And even if they aren’t purposefully done by the photographers, many, if not most, use man made perversions of the environment to get the close access to them.

[@Poraqui]

There's a reason why it's called "Wildlife" photography.

[@perpetualflame]

I take great photos for myself. I have zero recognition yet I am content

[@TinManLee]

Self satisfaction is the most important thing because ultimately nothing really matters as long as we are happy.

[@supersteven10522]

Well baiting for photography has been the long ongoing practise even in Singapore. If u are not with them then u are being chided by those baiters. I have been a victim of such actions

[@TinManLee]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Steven. I’ve heard something bad like people adding something to make the fish float on water so the hawk would grab them. It’s terrible practice that people need to stop. We shouldn’t do this to the birds and animals that we love.

[@nrocha2466]

Fantastic tips!! And Zoos are unethical. I dont visit or support zoos anymore, becasue if we do , it only enables them to continue . No thanks

[@alohamark3025]

Here's another 'L' lesson. Don't get fooled by Luxury cameras, think they will vastly improve your photography. A Hasselblad is not going to improve my shots. Technique is more important than expensive gear.

[@TinManLee]

Very true. Hasselblad has lots of pixels but the AF is not gonna help fast low light bird and wildlife photography.

[@regbanks7888]

Yeah the zoo and baiting is cheating. I agree to a certain percentage. But it is what it is. You're able to cheat now making music, dj'n, getting in shape, shopping, weight loss, even digital cameras. Everything has been made to be easier and requiring less work. I hear you. But it is what it is. Everybody's different. We can't judge people who take shortcuts. When we can take shortcuts with almost everything nowadays..

[@regbanks7888]

Even editing our photos and videos in light room or whatever software can be considered cheating.

[@terrydickin3304]

Your KZbin has some good information, but your presentation is a mirror image. Look at the globe. It makes everything you say somewhat suspect.

[@TinManLee]

I’ve since removed the globe lol. Thanks for pointing it out. I couldn’t stand it either after that.