Composition: This is The Key to Amazing Photographs ...

[@renoholland7090]

Thank you again Mike. I don't want to be a 'tourist snapshot maker', photographing the same subjects like everyone else, from the same angle and distance and wanting to include as much as possible. Over time I have grown more critical and applied principles that you mentioned in the video. I have seen a huge increase in quality of my work, both technically and creatively. Photographers, like yourself, have helped me to make improvements and enjoy photography more than ever before.

[@mikesphotography]

That's awesome to hear Reno! This is exactly why I make these videos and it also motivates me to keep making more. As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@sarunkmv]

I Like these videos, no nonsense no timewasting unwanted conversation to increase watchtime. Only content, I relarely give positive feedback.

[@mikesphotography]

Well thanks very much for your kind words Sarun, and I feel honoured that you took the time to give your feedback. Thanks for watching 👍

[@xXUnrulyXx]

theres a metric ton of photo youtubers, and i've been watching them for years. most of the time they title a video about (e.g.) composition tips and then.. the entire video is talking about the photos without exploring the tips and elaborating on them.. basically.. just word salad for 10+ minutes. you elaborated very well in this, and i actually feel like the next time i go out i may actually take some different photos. would love to see a behind the scenes of how you shoot your videos like this one here. cheers john

[@mikesphotography]

Hi John, Thanks so much for your kind words. It's so annoying when you click on a video only to hear about the person's life story or about their coffee drinking habits... This is the one reason why I started my channel in the first place. It's fantastic to hear you got something from this one. Let me know how you get on. A behind the scenes would be interesting ... I might have to do that in the near future. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@gusgmd]

Simple and very powerful, never seen so many good tips made that simple , thanks a lot

[@mikesphotography]

Great to hear you liked it Gustavo!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@peterkennington1043]

Looks like a good day to wander around Cwmorthin, a great place in the mist and rain. Nice refresher video

[@mikesphotography]

It's such a fantastic location isn't it Peter. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@paulm8157]

Clasic advice, clearly presented and illustrated w/pics - thumbnail made me smile w/o being silly😊. Rule of thirds - vid says some “hate” it while others think its “rubbish”; no advocates? Balance and edge patrol are where I need more care. Natural eye field of view causes me to often use crop to eliminate those near frame edge items. Table again - nice! Hat question: should hat be worn such that the tag is showing? Cool hats (like Henry Turner wears in his vids) make you a better photographer (known fact)😊. Not a slave to fashion. Cheers!

[@mikesphotography]

You know the table is now a main feature, I've started looking out for them whenever i go filming!! 😆 It's amazing whenever I mention the rule of thirds how many people think it is rubbish, so I thought I'd try that approach to try to stop them from clicking away at that point. Haha! Good point ... I think it depends on the size of the tag. I have a red one with a huge North Face logo patch sewn on to it ... that one is always at the back, whereas when it is more subtle, then it is slightly to one side ... complete slave to fashion. 😆😆 HT definitely has a whole wardrobe full of hats!! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@stephenwoodburn2970]

Composition is key! This is something that I struggle with, as I think most photographer do from time to time. I have been doing some 3D modeling in a program called Blender for a couple of years now.Recently, I have started modeling landscapes and have had to think hard about how to compose my scenes to make them look good. It has made me have a better eye and think about all of the elements that I want to show in the scene. If I don't like where a tree is at, I move it. That is significantly easier in my 3D software than only having myself and a camera to move when out taking photos in the field. Lighting the scenes has also made me think hard about how to best utilize light to enhance a given composition. It really has been a great exercise to help me find better compositions when taking photographs. On a side note, while you are still walking around all bundled up in the snow, I am contemplating whether I should jump in the pool. I hope you and yours are well, brother. Have a great week.

[@mikesphotography]

Cool! I've always wanted to start using blender, but never had the time. I bet it would be a great tool for really getting in deep with compositions. Like you said, a little harder to move a tree in the real world!! 😆 Haha! Now I am a little envious ... we had sun yesterday, but it's only 11 degrees C. As always thanks for watching dude 😁👍

[@dallasroberts3206]

Mike, such great production values! Very enjoyable to watch without all the usual jump cuts that are so casually used in many videos. I’m a bit old school and really appreciate the extra effort a lot. Keep it up, you rock!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words Dallas! Jump cuts really do just annoy me ... I've used them from time to time but try not to whenever possible. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@inverosimil6472]

man i love that british tv reporter scene style hahahah

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! Maybe I should have a handheld mic as well... 🤔

[@puraskritgurung5672]

so coherent and concise way to explaning things!!! subbed !!!! all the best !!!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words! Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing... and welcome to the community 😁👍

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks for sharing another wonderful video like always and very good tips 👍👌🤗

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Miguel! This was a challenging one to film with all the rain we've been having, but it gave me the excuse to go and explore lots of different places!! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@onikaimu]

Another great video, Mike. Full of great advice and with your new skill of video editing, well illustrated. If you find yourself in Los Angeles in June, hit me up. Stay safe and warm.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Lance!! I'm having a lot of fun making these short snappy videos and it is a lot of fun editing them together! ... although filming this one was quite the challenge. It has been raining here solidly for the past week and whenever I got setup to film, the rain would start ... I think I went to 5 different locations and got soaked at every single one. 😆 it would have been so much easier to sit in the office ... however, it's much more satisfying when it all comes together! If I'm there, I'll definitely give you a shout. As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@klaras286]

... i often forget about balance 😅... thank u for cheat sheet... i'm sure it'll be helpful for me....

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Clara and great to hear the cheat sheet will come in handy! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@stuartpugh942]

Another well explained video keep up the great work Thanks Mike

[@mikesphotography]

No worries, thanks for watching Stuart! 😁👍

[@jdpjamesp]

But but but!! Buying gear is so much fun! Top tips as always Mike. It's always so tempting in the field to rush in and snap off a roll or 3 without thinking and then miss what could have been!

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! Oh it is!! 😆😆 Most definitely, I sometimes take quite a few shots before starting to think about my compositions! As always thanks for watching James 😁👍

[@andybusard6694]

Thanks for the cheat sheet. Good advice. I use the "rule" of thirds grid, but sometimes it can"force" an unbalanced situation, so I often take it as a starting point.

[@mikesphotography]

Hey Andy, Thanks very much. The thirds grid is definitely a reminder more than a fixed rule. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@imK4RP]

Wow! This channel is fantastic. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@Colinpowellphotography]

Nice one Mike. I look for balance more so than anything else. Funny you should use that image as an explanation. Last year I was able to get that image with a ship in it and a tall one at that at. All be it in portrait orientation with a nice sunrise on the horizon. Thanks for sharing.

[@mikesphotography]

Very nice!! I bet it looked great with a tall ship off the coast. Thanks for watching Colin. 😁👍

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Great refresher on the tips 😁

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much dude!! 😀

[@dingo3718]

Nice one Mike, never seen a video that explains this better,, thanks for taking time out to do it.

[@mikesphotography]

No worries at all, I'm glad it has helped. Composition is by far the best thing to work on to get more meaningful photographs. As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@dingo3718]

@@mikesphotography cheat sheet is a bonus , 👍

[@ivanstanivukovic4883]

Your transitions are so good I just pay attention to them hardly can I listen at the same time being so excited 🤣 love the vids, keep up the amazing work

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words Ivan! I have a lot of fun filming and editing my videos so it is great to hear that you are enjoying them!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@cicco5833]

Outstanding advice. Really appreciate your clear, concise and meaningful approach to your tutorials.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words! I have a lot of fun trying to make them short and concise so great to hear that it's working! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@WilliamHenryAlbert]

Invaluable and sound advice. Incredible presentation and wonderful to watch.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words Bill. I have a lot of fun writing, filming and editing my videos so it is great to hear they are appreciated. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@WilliamHenryAlbert]

@@mikesphotography Absolutely Mike. The work you put in to the presentation is definitely appreciated by myself and I'm sure countless others.

[@GoTravelPlanet]

I couldn't sleep so I started browsing photography videos on KZbin and came across your channel by chance. Brilliant Mike, new sub here!

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! I know how that feels, I sometimes wake up in the night and start browsing!! 😆 Great to hear you like my channel, I love writing, filming and editing my videos and I have a lot more to come. If you ever have a question about photography, just ask. I hang out here a lot and try and help out whenever I can. Thanks for watching and welcome to the channel 😁👍

[@GoTravelPlanet]

@@mikesphotography Thanks, I have a travel channel and lately getting into food photography, a lot to learn and that is what I enjoy most, never stop learning. Have a nice weekend and thanks again

[@wednesdaythroughthelens830]

Great tips, and what a hardworking vlogger 👍

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much! This was a tricky one to film as I was battling the elements all day ... I think I ended up visiting ... and getting rained off about 6 different locations in total! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Danny_Roman.]

Thanks Mike for the sound advice. I found it very useful 😊 wish I could bump into you 1 day. Would like to go on a shoot with ya. 😂

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much John! Haha!! Well if you hike around Wales at all, then it might just happen ... I'll be the guy covered in cameras, filming one of my videos!! 😆😆😆 Thanks for watching and if you do see a guy in an orange jacket, come and say hello! 😁👍

[@liljoe23la]

Just want to thank you for so many helpful tips. You're a real one!

[@mikesphotography]

No worries Joe, thanks for watching and commenting, much appreciated! 😁👍

[@ahmermirza]

So many great tips. Thank you! ✌

[@jimbruton9482]

Another good one Mike! I've never been "sold" on the rule of thirds concept, but when you mentioned that it's constantly used in film and television, I put on the TV and you are right! I did not realize it was commonly used so much in media and it does seem to improve the images/presentation. I'm going to start paying a bit more attention to this.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Jim! It is amazing how much it is actually used in film and TV ... and once you see it, you can't un-see it! 😆 Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@TobSounds]

I enjoyed this video, and i love the scenery😍!! I like to try finding new compositions when im in Oslo and specially when shooting photo’s of something new, like building’s etc. I mentioned Oslo because im mostly taking my photo’s in Oslo🤣 sometimes i get a messy shot, but clean photo’s and yeah, as long as the photo is great to me, im happy atleast😊 but i do sometimes stress about «what’s cool with this if i want to post this photo etc» not that im gonna rant here heheh. Have a Great Weekend Mike!! Keep on making the good content😊 i might send some Oslo photo’s im happy with🙈

[@mikesphotography]

It's something that we all work on all the time ... hunting for those compositions is sometimes challenging, but great fun when you find a good one! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@TobSounds]

@@mikesphotography Yup!! 😊

[@markanthonydedase7821]

Another great video, Mike! Thank you. Love your videos!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words Mark! I have a lot of fun writing, filming and editing them so it is great to hear they are appreciated ... lots more to come as well!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@guyracine7998]

Great video! With your permission, I’d like to present it at my photoclub’s next meeting 😊.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Guy! And yes, that's no problem at all!! Let me know what the other photographers at your photoclub think! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@guyracine7998]

Hi again. I presented it last night and it was very well received. Plus it triggered a fruitful discussion. I think you’ll get a few more subscribers.

[@NoDoSwLa]

Another keeper for my photography playlist. Great work

[@mikesphotography]

Great to hear Noel!! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@frankinblackpool]

Very interesting and some very useful reminders for me. Towards the end of your episode you mentioned one side being more heavy than the other which could affect balance. Sometimes I try to justify my choice with the excuse of using Negative Space. That is until I get home, look at my results and have to accept that I am not a pro photographer. One day the idea of Negative Space will pay off. One day.🤣 There is one thing that I struggle with, and that is the idea of cropping an image when reviewing my images at home. I never really know which aspect ratio to use or where to put stuff within the re-cropped frame to not look like a pig's ear.

[@mikesphotography]

Hey Frank, It is tricky getting balance right ... and negative space is another thing that takes time to get right. As for cropping, I just try a few different versions. I go back to a shot and change it from time to time. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@briankoperski]

well done

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much!

[@huubdegroot]

Thank you for the advice Mike! Love it!!!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much! 😁👍

[@VideoSlave01]

Great video! Many fantastic points! Its so simple yet when your minds are busy or from a lack of practice these can easily be missed. Ending in a poorer photo. I suffer from time to time, especially with distractions around the edges of my frame. I must take a little more time and get my peepers into those edges. 😅

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much! It is so easy to miss those edges .. I still do it from time to time!! 😆 Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@shaungoddard8417]

A great video Mike, & useful aide. For several years i have been what I call a tourist happy snapper, just taking phone shots without thought for composition. Its only in this last year or two when i started my photography hobby using my Sony Crop sensor camera that i know think about what i want in my picture. Looking trough my archive photos I can't believe how many happy snapper shots need deleting due to no though for composition.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Shaun! It is an easy trap to fall into, but great to hear you are now thinking about what is in your photos. That is a massive step that will make you stand out from the majority of others who will just keep snapping without any thought. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@cristirenault]

Thank you, Mike! Another great video, like usual. Very curious what's next. 😊

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much!! 😁 Haha! Well, don't tell anyone, but I'll be comparing two different cameras really soon and I print the images ... also one about the perfect lens setup I've discovered recently ... And maybe exposure bracketing in a few weeks time 😁👍

[@TBKR90]

Top tips, thanks! I see leading lines everywhere since getting more into photography, I wish my brain had a toggle on/off switch for it! 😂

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! I know exactly what you mean!! My wife sometimes wonders what I am staring at when we go for walks ... it's usually a good looking leading line!! 😆😆 Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@midisax]

You da man!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Peter! 😁👍

[@RobertReilly-mc8zq]

I recently discovered the photographs of another Smith: Edwin Smith (no relation I assume...?). Many of his photographs (the published ones anyway) are stunning and from a technical point of view, brilliant, balanced left to right, top to bottom; foreground, midground, background; leading lines; clear subjects; frames within frames within frames; and he loved arches apparently and incorporated them whenever he could, it seems. He was an architect by training (hopefully I'm not lecturing here...) and that may have influenced his photography. One might say his compositions are so on the numbers from a technical point of view that they are conservative. (I'd like to compare his work to, say, Saul Leiter, who allegedly broke all the rules -- but did he, really? Or did he just use them in compositions that others had not thought of?) Smith's work is all the more impressive given that he was shooting from 1935 to 1970 (all black and white as far as I can tell) on film, with some of his best work from the 1960s, long before Lightroom and Photoshop. He was clearly a master.

[@mikesphotography]

There are indeed masters with the technology they had to hand... and the process would have been a lot more calculated and methodical ... for Smith at least. But also, there probably would have been some cropping in the dark room as well as some dodging and burning... so the mid twentieth century version of photoshop. But it definitely was an art back then. I learned in the mid 90s on film, with a K1000 and then a Canon Eos5. A slow learning process and frustrating at times but very rewarding... Another photographer worth learning about is Frank Hurley. Shackleton's photographer on the Endurance Expedition... a fascinating story with some amazing photographs... Hurley also started building composites in the second world war as he found it hard to capture the essence of the war... to the chagrin of other photographers of the time. 😁👍

[@mikeparks3154]

Excellent, as usual,Mike. Was it deliberate to say rule of thirds, some hate it, some think it's rubbish? 😊

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Mike ... yep ... there are so many people who really don't like it, and in the past when I've mentioned the rule of thirds, I usually get a barrage of comments telling me just that. 😆 As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Kexchoklad373]

Great video! A quick thought regarding point 10: It's possible to have detail around the edges obliterated by lens distortion correction, the degree of which depends on the specific lens being used. This could be worth taking into consideration! Keep up the good work. Cheers :)

[@mikesphotography]

That's a great thought Carl. Indeed, sometimes lens distortion correction can have an affect on the edges ... And like you said, it all depends on what lens you are using. Some have awful edge distortion that no amount of correction can fix, whereas others almost need no corrections whatsoever. Thanks very much for watching and commenting, much appreciated. 😁👍

[@findermanimages]

Nice video, Mike. Even with a 24mp camera, small(ish) crops don't really affect the image. I don't rely on crops when taking a shot but I am aware it's an option in post which takes a little bit of the pressure off if I'm struggling with what I really want. As you alluded to in the video, I might often take a series of shots all with slightly differing compositions, if I'm unsure of what it is I really like. Sometimes, quite often the best times, is when the subject/frame/picture just presents itself and it's a no brainer. Love these lazy ones! 😂 Ah, Tryfan, what an absolutely stunning place to be... 😉

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! The lazy ones are definitely the best ones ... Or the ones where you turn up, the light is perfect, you step out the car, take the shot and then drive off! 😆 The one of the lake and the building at the start of the thirds grid was like that. You're right about smallish crops with 24Mp cameras. I always try to sneak tryfan in there whenever possible. As always thanks for watching dude 👍

[@ThepPixel]

Another fantastic video mate 🙏🙏

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much! 😁👍

[@PlxsmicX8460]

5:00 I'm actually going to this place in a few days 😆

[@mikesphotography]

Awesome!! Such an amazing place. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@jaymichaud1447]

Luckily I was gifted in this department and told many times I have an eye for it.

[@mikesphotography]

That's great to hear Jay! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@sue.Hoo123]

Another helpful vid, very nicely presented 👍. It’s interesting you mention TV and film using the law of thirds, I’ve recently noticed several programs that are using very pleasing angles, quite arty… Endeavour is one and maybe Line of Duty?

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Sue! It just adds something to the shows and movies doesn't it. Nothing like watching a really well crafted movie. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@_V_N_]

Likes are free! Here's my share 👌

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! Well spotted!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@TheElegantPelican]

I wonder How much time he spends on setting up camera angles

[@mikesphotography]

Good question! This one was quite challenging... It kept raining every time I set up to film. 🤦🏻‍♂️ I've got a process for filming, it takes about 4-6 hours to film something like this, depending on how many times I mess up what I'm trying to say! 😆😆 Thanks for watching 👍

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

It must take you ages to make a video, so many places haha... but love this i agree wityh everything you have said and that dont happen with me much haha

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! This one was tricky, I was dodging the rain showers and whenever I set up to film, it started to rain so I had to keep driving south to try to find the dryer places to shoot!! 😆🤦🏻‍♂️ I went to about 6 different locations from Anglesey to Dolgellau and then Shropshire but was only able to shoot at 3 of them! Great to hear it all makes sense!! 😆😁👍

[@tlareG]

👍

[@taylorvice1610]

Hey Mike, just found your videos and love them. I see that you have a side portrait mount for you camera that looks to be able to easily switch from landscape to portrait orientation without adjusting your tripod. Can you link that piece of gear? I need that!

[@alexsomeing8192]

make a video about printing photos

[@mikesphotography]

I'll see what I can do Alex

[@VeryCoolJeep]

Do you have video how to setup A7siii?

[@mikesphotography]

Unfortunately I don't own the A7siii. Josh over at Make Art Now has a great one on this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4u4mZp-frloeM0 Thanks 😁👍

[@SilverFlint247]

Can't read what is written on your notebook on your computer desk but I am sure it is some sort of Easter egg...

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! I always try to have one or two in my videos somewhere... maybe I'll write it in bigger text with a permanent marker next time. Thanks for watching SF 😁👍

[@jamesgjurovich7893]

why did you cover the Sony label?

[@mikesphotography]

It wasn't intentional... I think it might be the half cage I was using...

[@RobertReilly-mc8zq]

I like the video, but is it me, or are you talking faster, almost rushed?

[@mikesphotography]

Hi Robert, It might be the editing style ... I'm currently playing around with the pacing in my videos and I may have got this one a little bit out. Thanks for watching 😁👍