Done is BETTER than PERFECT, I now get what Peter McKinnon means!

It's taken a long time understand what Peter McKinnon was on about when he said Done is better than Perfect, its been a journey to get this far, and I'm so glad I have.
Time to move on!
So what's the backstory behind this video?
Well, I’m a Landscape photographer, based in the UK, searching for interesting locations, mainly around the UK, but also travelling further afield. I endeavour to make all of my videos as interesting as possible, with editing skills I've picked up over the years, also with adding music to match the mood of the locations and images. Using a basic set up, consisting of my DJI Osmo Action, my Mavic Pro Drone (although not all the time) and either my trusty Nikon D850 or my Nikon D7200 cameras, for the images.
I always show my images, no matter how unhappy I am with them, I think you as the viewer deserve to see the good along with the bad, after all, if it’s on the video, you've already seen behind the scenes.
So sit back, grab a coffee or a tea, relax and enjoy my slightly unprofessional, sometimes comical, but always crammed with passion video.
Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe and leave a comment, they always let me know that creating this material is being watched and appreciated.
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#Rode
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#lee
#Photography
#Nikon14to24
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#Photographyvlog
Many Thanks.
Ben McDonald

[@billingalls1940]

I agree with Sarah, nice to see a smile and joy. I re-ran the video with the closed captioning on the try to hear the name of the place. The closed captioning said "Betty Cohen", so that's what I googled, but added Wales to the search. My wife has been to Betws-y-Coed, she said with a big smile and loved it, so I'll be re-running the video to show her later today.

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you Bill. Haha, Betty Cohen, very funny. Oh its a lovely place to visit, a full mix of country life, rivers and mountains. I really hope your wife enjoys it. Thanks again Bill, and all the best.

[@MikeWarville]

All I can say is, you're just natural the way you chat to your audience and that in itself is inspiring and fantastic images 🤗👍👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you so much Mike, lovely too hear. All the best. 👍

[@Stainphotography]

Best therapy- get out no matter what. Great video mate

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thanks mate, yeah completely agree. Really appreciated Mate.

[@sarahwood2823]

Great vlog honey, it's good to see you back out with a smile on your face doing what you love 😀 great pictures too! xxx

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you so much honey, always really appreciated.

[@garrysugdenphotography]

Hi Ben. Totally agree with all you've said in this video - I'm on the other side of the Pennines and until recently the weather has really destroyed my mojo. Looks like things are improving now and spring has finally sprung :-) Thanks for sharing.👍

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you so much Garry, yeah I'm on the impression the Pennines keeps the cloudy weather in place, longer than it should, just my theory but I wouldn't be surprised if it's true. Thanks again mate, all the best.

[@ShaunM-xw1em]

Hi Ben, definitely cut yourself some slack. Your vlogs are always enjoyable and engaging. Definitely understand about the recent lack luster weather conditions, they are what they are. Always great just to get out with the camera.Thanks for sharing your photography and your thoughts.

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

That is so nice to hear Shaun, appreciated mate, thank you so much.

[@catherineslater5952]

Great vlog Ben 😊

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you so much.

[@hughwolfe1176]

Ben what a beautiful location, nothing like our New Mexico high desert. I love being around water, the photography opportunities are tremendous… Truly miss the time we’d lived in Oregon even with the dreary overcast days as there was always water… Now, go into work and talk to everyone about what you did on your days off. They won’t know how to respond as it’s not work related.

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you so much Hugh, yeah the location is stunning and so much to be had from there too. I can imagine, Oregon is certainly on my bucket list. Yeah the issue with work people, you mention one thing about photography and they tend to glaze over, it can come in useful though, when you're stuck in a conversation that you can't get out of, just slip in photography, they soon move on! 😆

[@raytickle9657]

Everything you said there Ben resonates with exactly how i've been feeling about landscape photography over the past 6-8 weeks or so , i got to the point of almost being ready to sell up , but like what you've done here in this video i took myself off to Snowdonia and i bought myself some time , i enjoyed getting out . i love the community of it all too much i think .The friends that i've made in this journey who i go out shooting with regularly , everything adds up and makes me think do i really wanna lose all of that lol .. Photography is so much much more than just a hobby in those circumstances . so that time i bought for myself in snowdonia , means i'll be out again this weekend on one of my favourite boat locations on the wirral at this weekend trying to inspire myself a little more lol . ... Great shots by the way and a very apt and very good subject for the video :)

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you so much Ray. Yeah I'm understanding that there are more people going through this than we think, I guess we think we are the only ones. It's never worth selling up though mate, just put it down for a couple of weeks or however long until you feel ready. The thing is Ray, you have a very knowledgeable skill and it really comes through in your images, it would be such a shame to sell that up with your gear. Hope this has helped mate. Keep on doing what you do so well! Thanks again mate and enjoy the Wirral. Really appreciated.

[@raytickle9657]

@@BenMcDonaldPhotography Thanks Ben and yeah this really did help and it should help others too , even though i'd already took myself off to Snowdonia , to see another very creative talent like what you are going through that dip in passion for photography and then take the same route out of that dip kinda confirmed that i did the right thing . i definitely think others will watch this too and totally get it .. And thank you mate for the kinds words :)

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video Ben, I think Peter is right! doing it! is more important than perfection, this Video is important for you and for me! Thank you!

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you so much Tony, as always really appreciated.

[@badger67]

Great video Ben. Beautiful images of the river especially at 14.23. Currently visiting the family in Murcia and will have been here nearly a month come next Thursday. Taken about 2000 photos to date, mostly Easter processions. 🙄. Haven't been able to do any landscape photography as yet. Anyway, will see what happens 🤞

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thanks Mate, really appreciated. Oh how lovely, hope you're having a lovely time, I'm sure you'll be able to fit some landscape in somehow, all the best buddy.

[@johnsparkes8963]

Very enjoyable video Ben, great location where you got some very nice images. Yes i find it hard sometimes to get myself out i look outside and see cloudy skies then make the excuse not to go which i should not. Hopefully things will inprove.

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you so much John, as always really appreciated. Yeah it makes it all very difficult, I guess we just have to work through it.

[@adamhurst4293]

Fantastic vlog and great to see you out again. Reading through the comments, it's so interesting how we all but 1 get this and how you and we feel a lot of the time, it's such a shame @Lowblow didn't understand what you're saying and like a lot of people just focus on a negative and rides with it. The images are outstanding and you certainly should be proud of what you've achieved. "Some people might benefit from taking a camera out into the woods but others need more help than that alone can give" Where do he get such ridiculous comment from watching this video, a little patronising if you ask me, but each to their own! Keep up the great work.

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you so much Adam, I guess each to their own, if you’ve been affected by situations like this then it’s difficult to break away from. We all have our own battles. 👍

[@bcegerton]

Great video Ben, been a long time since I’ve stopped there, drove past now and then. Love the colours, and waterfalls but the best ones after the treacherous climb I’ll have to miss, mores the pity, I’m learning my limitations, which seem to be getting more and more. Totally get where you’re coming from, been out a number of times and turned round. Not been getting out half as much as I normally would due to this bloody Plantar Fasciitis in my foot, along with a couple of appointments that haven’t been great, came out with one, possibly two new diagnosis, put any plans of a holiday abroad on hold which hasn’t helped. Best Wishes, don’t let work drag you down.

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Thank you so much Brian, really appreciated mate. I hope you mange to get out as much as you can buddy, it must be tough for you, hoping you can get back to it soon. Thanks again Brian, all the best.

[@tuftyhill]

Hi Ben I find my photography is fantastic to clear my head after a stressful week in work. I do try to make sure that I don't set any expectations regarding the images that I capture. If I manage to get a portfolio image then that's a bonus. It's nice to see the new Miners Bridge. I took photo's of the original one a couple of months before it got washed away after sustained heavy rain!! I was staying in a B&B just outside of the town and the landlady told me about the riverside walk to the pub. It was the best walk to a pub I've had for years 😊. I didn't take my gear to the pub and moved on the following day but after seeing the images you captured I'll definitely return.

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Yeah I completely get what you mean Paul. Yeah the original bridge was really nice, the only difference with this one is, instead of it being just sloped, there are now a number of steps down/up. Its so beautiful around there. Thanks again mate, all the best.

[@gingerspoons6078]

👍✌️🙏✌️👍

[@kevinruston3285]

The work place culture is awful these days , you don't have work mate's anymore, just people who happen to work at the same place as yourself . Everyone is like a rat in a laboratory. I got finished during covid I'm 64 now , I'm glad I'm out of it . I took stock of things and came to the conclusion, There's no point dying with money in the bank 😊 I go out with my camera as and when I feel like it ,, and when my knee's allow . Get out as much as you can and enjoy what you do . Trust me when you get to sixty you'll go to bed and wake up the next morning and someone's swapped your knee's for bags of gravel 😂

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Absolutely Kevin, very well put. Yeah I think we all just need to do what we love (knees permitting). Thank you so much Kevin, all the best.

[@LowBlow]

found your comments about depression and anxiety i.e. people not feeling normal unless they are talking about it completely outdated tbh. I've had three mates take their own lives because they bottled stuff up. There's no shame in admitting you have depression and seeking the appropriate help or going on meds. Some people might benefit from taking a camera out into the woods but others need more help than that alone can give. Photographer here too btw, R3 and 1DX II.

[@BenMcDonaldPhotography]

Oh I agree that when people need help they need help and certainly no shame in asking for help. I'm merely stating that I was no way near that stage, where I think a lot of people say they're are depressed when they're just having a moment, almost diluting the real/core issues behind anxiety and depression. Really sorry to hear about your friends, it must be awful to be in that situation. So yes I agree that those who need help do need help, but doing what you love can certainly help to divert from things getting that far, not just "taking a camera into the woods"!