Achieving BALANCE | SIMPLIFYING Compositions

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In this video, I share some tips on looking for balance withing photography compositions. I also talk about simplifying your compositions.
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[@TL-xw6fh]

If anyone wants to improve their landscape photographic skills, they need to stop watching KZbinrs talk about camera gear and start watching Adam Gibbs vlogs. Priceless, as always.

[@heathcee4910]

Agreed! All Adam's videos are inspirational

[@stephenraskin9290]

t Lim Hello I would like to write a small note. Preventive cardiology has been made for the past 40 years

[@gordroberts53]

Perfectly said!

[@nldazuu]

t Lim agreed 👍🏻

[@MadsPeterIversen]

That was an excellent video! :)

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks, Mads!

[@DavidSwarthout]

I struggle to find words adequate to describe this presentation. A visual feast certainly. Sumptuous in every way. I don't understand why you don't have 100K subscribers, or a million. Obviously, your work as a garden photographer contributed greatly to your compositional mastery in the present day. Thanks for showing those gorgeous historical images and thanks for the explanations about the composition of the newer landscape images.

[@Adam-pm1cy]

So true!

[@CarolyneMacMillan]

I can tell you why Adam doesn't have 100k or a million subscribers. It's because this vlog is for actual photographers. Those discerning few that actually own a camera and frequently go out and use it. The sorts of people that get excited about photographic techniques and understanding composition and light. Unfortunately these people seem to be harder to find nowadays in amongst the camera collectors and measurebators and straight up rubberneckers and trolls that only frequent other sites to see who or what is being ridiculed this week. They seem to make up the largest number of online subscribers unfortunately. The best way to see more channels like Adam's is to support them. When you find a great channel share it in photography groups and with your friends and ask them to do the same. At the same time stay clear of click bait and rumor channels and any that don't give a real life usage opinion on photography equipment. Heresay and repeating false information is prevalent out there. If everyone did this youtube's algorithms might promote the good content better. Keep up the great work Adam.

[@MrMB2652]

Well said

[@gordonmacgregor7762]

I don't think I can compete with the eloquence of the praise by other commentators, but I still feel the need to say thank you for superbly interesting and thought provoking videos that simply surpass those of your many KZbin competitors.

[@babdoc1]

Adam, this series is a treasure trove of great information on composition. This slow approach to reviewing the examples you provide is absolutely unique on KZbin. Very much appreciated!

[@michellewesson4409]

I am really appreciating your insights on composition. As a hobbyist photographer it’s inspiring me to take more time with a photo, and hopefully improve the picture and improve myself. Without sounding too weird’ , I find a good nature photo makes me ‘feel’ something.

[@CostaMesaPhotography]

There's no one way to present the subject of composition, and definitely no one complete set of "rules" for how it works. So what I especially like about your video and presentation of the subject of composition is that it's based on your experience, not just a regurgitation of textbook geometry, but even more than that, it was presented with a backdrop of intentionality. You are a superb photographer, that's a given (a gift really), but you are also an excellent present of information and ideas. Add to all of that your skills with videography as your story-telling medium and you are the complete package. Kudos to you Adam, and wishes for much success in the coming year!

[@michaelbeland8188]

I was finally cleaning up the junk mail that arrived over the holidays. One envelope in the pile held the "Garden Walk 2020 Calendar" from my insurance agent. I was was just about to toss it in the recycling bin when I stopped to flip it open to the first pretty picture. In the lower right corner, the words, "Photo (c) Adam Gibbs". What luck! My good fortune improved when I discovered that half the calendar was made of Adam Gibbs images! Instead of a trip to the transfer station, this calendar is heading for a prime space in my cabinet shop where I can be inspired by your work for 182 days of the coming year! And oh, by the way, I like your video too!

[@steveh1273]

that next to last image was killer

[@allandavies1187]

Hello Adam, I loved this advanced thinking process of the inner - workings of composing and identifying what does work and what doesn't. To me, I loved it as it went into the fine-tuning of composition; shadows; light; de-cluttering; and of course the word you used quite a lot, balance! And as for your photography, they were Amazing in the Extreme.

[@milankullu3788]

A person can only learn through his mistakes. Love watching your videos. Thanks man.

[@tudora5498]

I'm really amazed by the amount of thought you put into the process of getting the composition. For most photographers, it feels to me that it is more straightforward, something like: subject identified, placed on the right side, leading lines ok, branch covers subject -> recompose with subject more to the left, wait for correct light aaand done. Experinecing your thought process is like listening to someone compose a symphony, which suddenly explains for me why I stare at your images for a longer time, constantly discovering new things, that seem random at first but now I know that are thought about thoroughly. I could watch an image of yours for half an hour and still discover new elements to it every new minute. I guess that this is what it means to master a craft..

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks Tudor!

[@kemerthomson]

Your videos have a balance I don’t always see in KZbin photography vlogs. Carefully thought out, I assume even partially scripted. The balance is between the pleasure of viewing and the value of learning. This one was a real gem.

[@jimrookphotos]

I thought you did a very thorough job of explaining your points and the garden photos worked well. God knows we all need to review our skills on an almost daily basis and refining compositions is one of the most important. Thanks again for the great tips and comparisons, Adam.

[@tonycannan5907]

Certainly my most look forward to VLOG each week, I just find the subject matter and topics covered here are exactly what i need to improve my overall photography. Also your presentations are so easy to understand and to follow along with. Really do enjoy seeing what you do with the before & after images & why you thought it neccesary to do what you did to make it a "better" photo. After watching these VLOG's all i want to do is go out and take photo's.

[@kiwicit0]

Your generosity knows no bounds...

[@jtillard1]

Adam, Great video as always. I enjoy your direct and candid approach to light, comp etc. Great learning experience. As I live in Florida USA, I really enjoy your takes on Vancouver Island. Great vides of deep growth areas and fantastic coastlines. Really good stuff. I want to also add, your interactions with Thomas Heaton and Nick Page are outstanding. I watch their blogs routinely. While I think Davin Hardcastle does very good technical shows and serious attempts at giving instruction, I can well do without the comedic nonsense he tries to add. IMHO that is just doesn't add anything of quality to his, yours and anyone else's Blog. Keep it smart and to the point and leave the rest for his individual blog. Great Stuff Adam, try to never miss an episode. Continued success and look forward to your future editions. John A Tillard, Spring Hill, Fl, USA

[@scottternan105]

Thank you for this video Adam. Looking forward to more ! I feel sorry for the person who gave the thumbs down. Life must be rough in the cave.

[@tracyrobertson565]

Knocked this one out of the park! Your approach is so thoughtful. A true master. I may have missed it but I heard only concise objective review of images without mention of "rules". When people ask me what gear I use I know I have failed to reach them. When they describe how experiences are conjured up I'm getting through. I get alot more of the latter. Thanks a million Adam. Here's to success beyond your imagination, If you aren't already there!

[@MLC48]

Double thumbs-up! The discussion of balance as a component of composition, for me, captured in concept what makes a photograph pleasing and 'feel right'. Balance; gotta keep that in mind when I'm all excited about a fabulous scene unfolding before me. Sometimes I feel so inadequate to capture natural beauty; thank for the help.

[@dasp125]

You remind me more and more of Joe Cornish the way you describe composition. That is never a bad thing!

[@dominey]

Beautiful video Adam. Especially enjoyed the winter film transparency near the end. Tricky diagonal setup, but you found a way to make it balanced. Great example.

[@vinnykeenan4215]

48 seconds in .................Stunning Adam

[@danasnyder3072]

Thanks Adam, composition is such a personal, intuitive thing oftentimes, but the way you described your thinking process, it makes perfect sense. All of your photos are a feast for the eyes.

[@VenomIIID]

First class photography education. And is free. Amazing.

[@PGYTECH]

I never noticed the balance in composition till now! This video is really useful, thank you for sharing!

[@debraelainemcdonald27]

It helps to go back and watch these videos again as I am learning and my perspective or awareness is changing.

[@dougsanderson5265]

Fabulous video on composition, and done without ever mentioning rule of thirds - awesome.

[@ejpeiker]

I really love those snow covered tree shots in the later part of the video!

[@treyfoerster8759]

Excellent vid, shared with my photo group. I too started in publishing, sports and documentary photography. That's why I live landscape now.

[@joelrollins3984]

A remarkable video. There's plenty here for photographers at all skill levels. Thank you, Adam.

[@DonReba]

This video is such a treat to watch on a 4K wide gamut monitor.

[@ChristopherSkow]

Great video Adam! Certainly enjoyed this one and your insights to composition. Very timely video as I am currently struggling with the same issues with my desert photography. Please keep you videos coming and tell Gavin to get on the stick and start publishing his videos as regular as you do!

[@pauldowney7130]

Brilliant tutorial, Adam. Thoroughly enjoyed the visuals and commentary. Had to cast it to the 55” inch screen and share with my wife. The garden pics were a treat for the eyes.

[@M31glow]

I wish I could have given this post multiple thumbs up! Adam, great post.

[@jasonclemmons8213]

Great job! A few of the photographers have great compositions here on KZbin but you make sense of it better than anyone I think.

[@lisa22630]

You have no idea how much you’re helping me! I’m easily overwhelmed in the field and your advice is so logical and simple but powerful. If you could figure out how to clone and shrink yourself I would buy a Pocket Grumpy to carry with me on all my shoots to help my comps. Thank you for all you do! You’re an inspiration!

[@GlenDomulevicz]

This is so well done and clear. One can see you spent a great deal of thought and work to put this video together and convey your points about balance/simplifying compositions. Thanks for sharing.

[@Smron]

I would say, as a hobby landscape photographer sometimes struggling with composition, this has been the most helpful video on the subject out of many I have watched.

[@RobertTeague]

Excellent video Adam. I've watched a lot of videos over the years on composition and I felt that most of them were quite shallow in their treatment of the subject. For example, the treatment of balance; most touch on balance, but you go into the types of balance that I've not heard elsewhere. One point I noticed was when you discussed circling around the subject in determining how much to include on the composition. I first read about this, oddly enough in a non-photography book, a technique I call "expanding circles". As an aside, I love gardens and wish we had more where I live (other than pure desert ones). Thanks again.

[@ministry7149]

Thanks, Adam. That was exceptionally useful: not 'only' as inspiring as I've come to expect from you, but directly, immediately applicable.

[@stevebanks484]

Great video Adam - I struggle a bit with composition in landscapes but the way you explain it makes a lot of sense to me and will influence my thought process/workflow. 👍

[@terryolsen4244]

Another excellent video, Adam! Informative and interesting. Speaking for myself, I can't learn enough about composition and visual design. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@weekender5850]

Excellent presentation of a complex topic. Thanks for the time you put into this.

[@davidyanceyjr]

13:41 and 13:46 are two of the most beautiful landscape images I have ever viewed.

[@barryj7478]

Just loving this series, just chock full of information that's backed up with stunning images. The Saturday morning release gives me the whole weekend to just get out there and start practicing. By far the best photographic KZbin channel. Very hard to visualize that the person narrating this no nonsense, meat and potatoes video is the same one that wants you to, "Just focus on my face, focus on my face!"

[@Marco030]

I think your photographs are like classical music. Like my compatriot Beethoven, you add melodies to a great overall composition. I really like that. I often try to recreate your compositions to get better. And if some things are incomprehensible to you, I use Google as a translator. 💁🏼‍♂️ My english is really not good. Greetings from Berlin Good Old Germany.

[@cwetfeet]

Thank you Adam, the best composition video I've watched on KZbin.

[@billonthehill9984]

Thanks Adam... Where has the time gone? Been following you for a couple years now & it didn't take long to realize you had become one of my favorites in the world of photography. Your thoughts on light & composition have helped me in numerous ways & this presentation on composition & balance is a perfect example of this. Bill on the Hill... :~)

[@stevechilvers1322]

Thank you so much for this video Adam. It was clear & concise, with some great examples on how to achieve balance in a photograph. Your delivery on these vlogs is excellent, you do NOT rush things, which is much appreciated. Keep up the good work.

[@RockLakeMama]

I could watch a slideshow of these images all day long! Just spectacular, Adam.

[@JJRAIA-es9cj]

One of your best!!

[@ralfkrahe2493]

I love the visual simplicity of your snow covered tree images (which makes them so hard to shoot). Beautifully intimate landscapes!

[@SteveMellorPhotography]

I’m not taking the time to sit back and really enjoyed photography video for quite some time. You have some wonderful shots here. It was interesting to learn how you found KZbin. I photographed quite a few gardens myself because I go to a lot of English Heritage properties. There is sometimes a lot of ‘clutter’ in the frame. I think simplifying is a fantastic skill to learn and this was a great primer for people to start to learn it. Great stuff 👍

[@johnleftwich650]

Great composition lesson. Thanks Adam.

[@srg3798]

Yes another great video. If i had as many great photos as this I would need a house with a thousands rooms to have enough wall space.

[@TimberGeek]

I used to photograph gardens "professionally". In my case it was before, during and after shots that went into an album I showed perspective landscape customers. I do find it's much easier finding the image when you're the one who designed the view. ;-D

[@anvilcloud]

Great tutorial on composition, especially the balance part.

[@janh6639]

This has been one of your best videos to explain a really subjective topic. I love the use of gardens to show the impact a slight shift can have. Brilliant thank you 🙏

[@antonoat]

Creating something other than a literal photograph takes a certain mindset, personally I have to get in the zone and move away from any distractions. Excellent video Adam, food for thought for all of us regardless of our experience.

[@tjsinva]

Another great lesson! Rock on!

[@Senad71]

Phenomenal video. It clarifies and simplifies whole process. I will watch it every day for some time to make sure everything mentioned here becomes second nature to me when deciding what and how to photograph in the future. Thank you.

[@boscomac2434]

Great video Adam... thanks for your insights into composition. 👍

[@lsdragons123]

I really appreciate the insight into how a photographer thinks about capturing a scene - creating an image. So much more useful than then endless "what's in my bag" videos.

[@Sparky3D]

Please make many more of these composition videos. Brilliant!

[@pattymattes7124]

Yes, I did enjoy this very much. Awesome images! I especially enjoyed the image of the little pine tree covered in snow which is leaning a bit and next to the big tree. To me it gave me the feeling that even though the little tree is leaning because of the snow and surrounded by bigger trees it's still trying to live.

[@nldazuu]

High level photography lessons here, appreciated, helps a lot! Thanks Adam....

[@stephenoliver7386]

Excellent work, really useful.

[@GuyRaymond_GR]

Hello Adam, hope you are well! I concur with the comments below. Your weekly videos are a feast and I'm always learning something new. Since I'm following you back in 2018, you have made a lot of progress business wise and I'm happy for you. Continue to inspire us, and Happy New Year!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks Guy, Happy New Year!

[@anja5758]

Thanks for sharing another excellent and very informative video.

[@dietervoegelin5890]

Very good explanations of the balance in the picture. Great video with lots of food for thought about the own pictures. And the very beautiful garden pictures. I like the last one with the statue (9:17) very much.

[@carolynwilding1116]

Just catchin up on you tube after a difficult week. What a feast for the soul, beautiful images,calm commentary and chock full of great advice as usual. Happy new year Adam, hope you double your subscribers by the time it's over.

[@markjutsum6187]

Brilliant Adam, thanks for sharing your composition experience. It’s a side of photography that I find difficult and your clear and concise explanations are very helpful. Ps thank Santa for me as he brought me your Latest book all the way to the uk. MJ

[@EdwardKilner]

I did indeed enjoy this video. Both the garden examples and the landscape ones were beautiful and emotionally calming. New to your channel so I have much to look at. Thank you.

[@victordianow5973]

Thank you, Adam, for a helpful tutorial on a very complex topic.

[@jcmayer66]

Good simple explanations for people wanting to improve their photography. Thank you!

[@AnVoPhotography]

Thank you so much for making these videos on composition. And the photos... just jaw dropping awesomeness. 👍👍👍

[@PitriSimpson]

very interesting to hear your detailled thoughts of composition, thank you! :)

[@jamesjohnston6765]

I love the opportunity to see your earlier work like this. The format of explaining your thought process, combined with these earlier images is great. Looking forward to 202 travels.

[@lawrencepallant]

Thanks for the video. Learning about and exploring composition is just where I am in my photography journey.

[@IanWilkinson]

You nailed it, Adam. I particularly enjoyed your description and examples of symetrical and asymetrical balance and think I'm beginning to understand the principles a little better now.

[@paulcollingridge8387]

Awesome... As a horticulture tutor for 40 years I've loved shooting gardens but none of my photos match yours!

[@peilung0943]

Great garden photos and great tutorial on composition! Thanks!

[@tomfriend24081959]

Lim‘s comment brings it to the Point!!

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I literally had a "EUREKA!" moment while watching this video. I stopped it at 14:00, rushed to my computer and slightly cropped one of my favorite photos from my recent Acadia trip. There was something a little off about it, but I couldn't put my finger on it until you talked about balance in that Zion NP photo. Now, my own photo with boulders in a stream is so much better. Thanks so much!

[@timetodestination9538]

Crop tool is the best tool 😁

[@Simon-he3kf]

Fantastic in depth review of your own compositions, wonderful.

[@krisweyers6248]

Thank you so much for these videos on composition!! Loved the way you put before and after examples.

[@neilthacker2069]

Loved the video,thanks for all the informative insights!

[@filton12]

Very informative, thank you. The image at 11:08 works great as a vertical pic too (turned my laptop sideways), very intriguing to the eye.

[@rosaliebischof1171]

Excellent video. Sine I love minimalism, I’m constantly trying to remove that which is unimportant to my vision. I find it very difficult to do, and so am awed by those that achieve it.

[@krimke881]

WOW, this was really a banger of a video. Please do more of these :)

[@thomasploner9424]

Very much enjoyed the video! Way more entertaining and useful than all that gear talk. Profiting from someone's expirience in that way can really bring you further. I hope I can join one of your workshops someday

[@ChrisHunt4497]

I loved the garden photos and would love to see more. Such a difficult subject and I have not seen anyone else show how to work a garden image. Loved the very last image too. 👍

[@toddcanterino3376]

As a person with an undergrad degree in Studio Art/Photography and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree this video really spoke to me. Thank you yet again Adam.

[@robertwhitemoto]

Amazing lighting in the first 13 seconds! Beautiful shot @ 9:55. Surprised you found a spot free of tourist at Zion for that beautiful shot... channeling your inner Ben Horne :) The shot at 13:10 did you focus stack to get both the foreground and background in focus? Lastly I wouldn't have lightened the shadows on your snow capped mountain/trees shot as you lose some of the detail in the smaller trees and it takes away depth. Now of course all just my opinion, and might I say you could make a calendar or box set of all the images in this video. All of them were stunning!

[@pamelaproffitt8484]

Excellent work, excellent video. As a photographer I could see what you were going to point out before you did. Thanks for making me look or think about my composition more.

[@ethanw08]

I wish I could post photos here. I took a nearly identical shot of Peyto lake and was astounded when I went back to my Banff pictures to look at it. Although, I didn't have the awesome light he did.

[@salomopanggabean7306]

Your 20 year's experience really makes your composition and image great, sometimes I seen your composition looks simple but it really emphasize the overall Image and very strong, thanks for sharing the experience Sir...

[@jeffdurbin2061]

I really enjoyed the video and you did an outstanding job in explaining elements of composition. Keep up the excellent work.

[@PaulthomsonphotographyUk]

Fantastic video mate and really helpful content in regards to composition awesome stuff all the best man 😀👍✌