Photography Lies & Delusions

[@Bazzo61]

So refreshing to find someone who is willing to question all those old myths out there about taking photos. Brilliantly done Craig and has insipired me to trust my own instincts. Thank you.

[@johnhare6652]

New subscriber here. I help out in a beginners social media group and the topic of camera "upgrades" comes out so many times a week! I always say 1. upgrade your skills, 2. upgrade your lenses, they are the eyes 3. upgrade your camera. Eg the most important part of any camera is the person stood behind it operating it. Linked to the new camera debate is moving to a fullframe system will make me a better photographer! Re black & white... yes, yes, yes! My thoughts are if anything, when we remove colour the other aspects, need to be stronger. Just off now to share your video in the aforementioned group. Thank you.

[@jonnysmyth1011]

One key issue to decide before you buy an upgrade camera is to decide what do you enjoy taking images of, but also to know why it gives you enjoyment. That goes beyond gear per se, but it may mean you need certain gear. For me it was a way to make a hike, or urban visit more enjoyable. A way to reduce stress levels, to give me a reason to get out of the house, but also to get me more involved with actually seeing the locations I visited, to interact with these places. I did not need high end gear. It has now developed (ahem) into more creative use of the tools via ICM, ME techniques that make my interpretations of said locations more personal to me, as opposed to being just a documentary record. So, I had to buy ND filters. That creative angle was not in my original purpose as I never knew about its possibility when I first bought a camera. So you will likely start out not knowing where you may go with this, so just buy what you can afford to buy at that time to help meet your known purpose, but most important, invest also in reading about art, visit galleries, and visit/explore places, and see where your initial purpose takes you, creatively. That will then be the sole arbiter to determine if you need new tools (eg the filters). And no obligation to go to Iceland, Scotland, Lake District, Zion, or attend such vacation based workshops! :-) #moneyforoldrope Key is to find your own sense of self expression, not to own any particular brand name product per se, but that goes for life in general. Who needs to buy a BMW to get to Aldi!!!! Unless you are a professional making a living from images there is no need for any hobbyist to own D810, DMarkIV, Lee filter system etc. Better to invest in exploring your artistic side, not be a gear head. Nowt worse than coming across another Togger who proceeds to talk gear but not talk about artistic influences. Zzzz

[@stevewturnbull]

Brilliant, no-nonsense guide. Beginner/intermediate landscape photographers look no further.

[@TheUnscriptedNomad]

Great Video Craig, its about time someone laid these points to rest. So true in all cases.

[@snowwalker9999]

One of the best videos on photography.

[@barrymcalle7377]

One of the most sensible vlogs I have ever watched. Totally agree with everything you said Craig. The only thing to get a new camera for is the bells and whistles if that’s what you’re into

[@arcanics1971]

Still using a Canon 1000D, with a bunch of vintage lenses. I get some great pics in my opinion. I hope to get a "better" camera at some stage, but I still love this one, and intend to keep it.

[@my2004rt]

Excellent! It’s much more satisfying being out taking pictures than reading gear reviews.

[@photogill8010]

Great video, like your comment over gear comparisons.

[@udoderunformige1250]

I bought a used camera recently. Released back in 2013, with only 16 MP. It's true, it's not the highest MP count ever. But it is the most user-friendly camera I can get for me.

[@valdiskrebs566]

Great advice! “Fill the frame” sounds like great advice(and it might be for rank beginners), but results in often boring photos. You are a master of foreground!

[@sleaponit21]

videos like this help clear a lot of crap out of our heads that crepe in unnoticed, nice one Craig.

[@Canopus68]

I liked your comments about black and white. I believe that photographers who started out in the black and white film world had to learn how to compose their photos before tripping the shutter. I know when I had only 24 or 36 images to work with before I had to change my roll of film it forced me to really think about what I was doing. When I took two semesters of grad level photography in college we shot black and white film. Many of the students wanted to shoot color. The professor told us to really look at some of the color photos that were popular at the time. He pointed out that the only thing that made the photos popular was the color. If you looked at from a composition perspective it wasn't a great artistic photo.

[@arthurrmcphee4885]

Excellent truths that need to be spoken more often. Great photo at the end too!

[@markjarrett9400]

Great post. I think the biggest lie/delusion that you did not mention is don't take photographs out of the golden/blue hours. Adapt, get in close, challenge yourself and believe it or not stark mid day sun works well to emphasise certain scenes.

[@dorkvania7212]

I do a lot of shooting out on hikes. I can't safely (or in some cases legally) stay out long enough to get golden/blue hours for all my shots. In some places, especially in winter, I need to start to head back as early as 4:00. I somehow make do with my daytime shots.

[@markjarrett9400]

@@dorkvania7212 Absolutely agree

[@thomastuorto9929]

I agree. Shoot, shoot often!

[@jonnysmyth1011]

I think it is fair to say conditions should give some persuasion towards deciding the subject to shoot that said. Eg waterfalls on overcast days, & daytime sun is great for street photos, and essential for good 🐦 in flight shots. Depends on your interests ultimately that said.

[@richardazar22]

Very enjoyable Craig. Lots of good advice and love your style of vloging.

[@brianmccutcheon3205]

Once, yet again thank you. I so enjoy your video clips.

[@turnerx5]

Love, love, love your videos! Thank you!

[@angellacanfora]

Thank you for making me feel better about breaking the rules. And the only filter I use is a polarizer and yet somehow, my photos turn out ok, I think!

[@searam1]

Thank you for another excellent video. I love my EM1, as well!

[@LeighKempPhotoArt]

100% in agreement with the point you make, good video.

[@marcgravel3010]

Awesome video. Very helpful. Back to basics.

[@LindaUrsin]

I use a Nikon d3300. Before that, I used a Sony CyberShot DSC-H2. I also use my phone :) Even if I could afford buying a top end camera, I'd rather use that money for other things. I learn and experiment all the time and I break the rules when I feel like it.

[@yujinlandscapephotography.7787]

I love another Excellent video, Thank for your sharing video, sir.

[@jamesclark1152]

Excellent advice as always Craig, thank you

[@jaxchambers7652]

Thanks for the help.

[@julianheritage6436]

Totally agree with your comment regarding prints, great video as always

[@Eugene-Braack]

Very good. Worth watching a few times to let it sink in. I wish GOOD landscape photography was really as easy as you say it is.

[@drumvannelle69]

Great and simple video as usual. I always learn something new from you. Cheers

[@Dreyno]

I was looking for you on Instagram under e6. Now following you.

[@SUPERXH85]

Très bonne vidéo comme d'habitude. Merci beaucoup. Xavier. Vendée.

[@Treydmusicmedia]

Another excellent blog! I do enjoy your style and content! Even when I disagree a bit. I live in southern California, USA where clouds are quite rare. Therefore, I have no choice but to love blue sky. It contrasts very nicely with green things. I do see the value of grad filters. However, I bought a cheap set and it colors everything purple. I regret the purchase and will be less price-"wise" next time. As Mr Jarrett pointed out, shooting at all hours can be quite productive. My work colleagues keep me out all day for 12 hours at a pop. Might as well take shots when I can, no? As always, you have the best taste in blog music soundtracks. Bye form now!

[@PMCN53]

A fantastic episode with some sound advice. One of the biggest issues is caused by the camera manufacturers who want us all to get "the new shiny thing" and the marketing seems to be working quite well with the latest hysteria around the new crop of mirrorless camera's. I love my Lee filters!

[@desgardner7169]

Strange...I have a high MP camera, I don't use filters, I love a nice blue sky, I always try and fill the frame, I still like your videos though, and your picture's... thank you...

[@almalott4936]

Excellent video ,good advice ...👍

[@mikekay6288]

Good food for thought. Last vlog you were talking to yourself; now you're talking to a grad filter? Long as you keep talking to us; thanks as always. Mike in Oz

[@smiff4748]

Great video which excellent advice. Thank you.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Another interesting Vlog especially usefull for any new amature photographers out there. Unlike me that has been shooting since the days of film :D I really enjoyed seeing your images and fully agree about the Olympus I have got a Pen F and a Omd 5 and love them both the quality is just amazing :D Thanks for sharing :D Teddy

[@grahammcarthur1794]

Excellent advice well presented (as always). Thank you.

[@bkspicture]

Like cheap gear for my analog photografy. A lot more fun to find a 5 dollar lens or camera that is great vs forking over tons of money for something that you are afraid to break. But spending a bit more on side things like a nice tripod or filter can be very much worth it.

[@RamoArt]

My lens was knocked out of focus after throwing my camera into my bag and taking it everywhere with me this summer. It's a bummer, but I sold the "broken" one for 20 bucks and bought a "new" one for 40. I took so many beautiful pictures with that lens while my more expensive digital gear was sitting at home.

[@bkspicture]

@@RamoArt Guessing this lens isn't that old. Had a few super cheap plastic lenses thats from the 80s and it would still take some force to break them. At least compared to some later AF kit lenses where you can look a bit too harsh on the lens and break it.

[@RamoArt]

@@bkspicture I mostly use soviet lenses from 70s - 90s, so not super cheap plastic lenses, but cheap enough not to worry too much. What brand exactly are you talking about? I always love to find out about new old lenses.

[@bkspicture]

@@RamoArt You broke a old USSR lens silmply by throwing the camera into a bag? Any case, cheap brand. I like them all but some of the cheaper are Chinon, Cosina, Ricoh/Sears. My main camera bag has this at the moment: Chinon CG-5 blog.bkspicture.com/review_Chinon_CG-5.html Cosina 35-70mm f/3.5-4.8 MC Macro blog.bkspicture.com/review_Cosina_35-70mm_f3.5-4.8_MC_Macro.html Auto Sears 50mm f/2 (a rebranded Rikoh Rikenon) blog.bkspicture.com/review_Auto_Sears_50mm_f2.html Vivitar 28mm f/2.8 VMC blog.bkspicture.com/review_Vivitar_28mm_f2.8_VMC.html

[@grat2010]

Very good points.

[@markharris5771]

Great video Craig! I’ll be honest there’s at least one I’m guilty of, not thinking my images are as good as other photographer's. I know KZbinrs who have changed their entire system twice since I last bought a new camera. I only bought that because my tethering port died on my 5DII which had over 150k clicks at that time. I have yet to outgrow a camera and to think that any camera is holding me back. I definitely intend any images is going to be black and white when I make a monochrome image, you can tell by the Delta 100 I’m using. I think it’s beneficial for people to understand why the 'rules' of composition work and why they’ve been used for many centuries. However, that’s not saying people have to follow them.

[@jlaw8882]

I went from an old 6mp point & shoot to a new dslr camera and my pictures got worse. 😕

[@acidsnow5915]

thanks for the honesty! thanks for sharing! really enjoyed this :)

[@andyoaf]

All good, well made points

[@BMRTV]

3:34 Inspiration and supporting YT content creators is a good thing.

[@stevemozzie6497]

I've been toying with the idea of buying a D500 for over a year. My D7200 does a great job, so what WOULD I gain from this purchase? Even MORE images to sort through when I get back from covering a running event. Maybe give it a miss.

[@thomastuorto9929]

Better iso performance, a higher dynamic range &, if you shoot sports & or wildlife & can afford it, go for it.

[@davidmarquez2821]

Buy a good lens instead, or a D750.

[@stevemozzie6497]

@@davidmarquez2821 I use 35,50 and 85mm primes. Unsure what else would fit the bill, especially when the light is poor.

[@stevemozzie6497]

@@thomastuorto9929 A few people say that the image quality isn't as good.

[@DevonLad]

I had a D5300 and went and got the D500 at the start of the year. Everyone said it wasn't a landscape camera, or I should have gone full frame, yada yada yada. I have never been happier. I wanted 4 things to make my life easier. Only the D500 in the Nikon range had all the things I wanted to make my life easier and more efficient. 1 year on I'm still glad I made the choice I did ;-)

[@robertjones769]

Great advice - consider those myths busted! My next step is to keep my old trusty Nikon D90 but to upgrade my kit lenses. Thanks for your time and see you on the next one.

[@RS.Outdoors]

Some great advice as always.

[@vermontmike9800]

Looking at your gear list in the description. Do you prefer the use of primes for landscapes or the zooms?

[@stephenarling1667]

Don't know about him, but I prefer the 10.5cm Tessar on my 1929 Icarette 6x9 folder. Astonishing detail for an antique.

[@royhall415]

very good thank you

[@kenhenley7599]

A lot of this is obvious when you think about it.....my problem is I never seem to think about it until it's too late!

[@johnsparkes8963]

Very well said.

[@zarrow50]

what is that tall mast in the distance?

[@MaliDaviesPhotography]

Belting video, cleared all that up! Right let’s go take some pics 😂 brilliant Craig

[@RichieWilliams]

love this... thank you :) x

[@a1pestservice]

Im sure Jessops wont give you a job, great tips and info, so true. Thanks

[@kenmcintyre7142]

I hope my wife never sees the part about "latest- greatest" camera. LOL

[@buc71x24]

Top Notch, enjoyed!

[@oneeyedphotographer]

What's wrong with blue skies? I have a pommy photo magazine I bought years ago. Cover picture, a pretty spectacular photograph with vivid blue skies.

[@tectorama]

I agree with some of the things you say, but not about ND filters. Ok, they must have their uses, but I've seen too many potentially good photos ruined with the the use of an ND filter. Why oh why do so many photographers feel the need to make moving water look like cotton wool, or dead flat ? There is also nothing wrong with cropping. You don't always get the chance to compose a photograph, especially with a moving subject. A little different with landscape photography.

[@e6Vlogs]

tectorama You’re confusing ND grads with ND standards.

[@tectorama]

@@e6Vlogs You are no doubt correct, but I still see to many "award winning" photographs in magazines, doing this to water. They just look "cheesy..... in my opinion that is.

[@CVCC]

good one!

[@cinimodaz]

Wanting the higher MP and better, newer camera/equipment for me is not about the being a better photographer it is getting print quality, any size and professional look. You can be the worlds greatest photographer and do an amazing, beautiful photo with a Nikon D40 but then go to print it for a large frame picture that your client specifically asked for and they will look at it and laugh. Now yes just taking pictures for picture sake to share online yes, heck I shoot with my old Holga, an old D40 and my AE-1 all older cameras and love it. The point is better cameras equal higher quality, more professional pictures, better equipment equals less hassle in post and more options in the field. I never understood why people assume that I want a better/newer camera so it will make me a better photographer, quite frankly most the people I know only want better gear cause; A: It is always nice to have better stuff, B: It does produce a better product from the standpoint of quality of the photograph (not the actual style, look and feel). I love your videos and your photos just wanted to say that since I seem to see a lot of people with very high end equipment say this a lot and it is very annoying. P.S. I don't crop most of the time at all however, I have had a few times where I needed to blow the picture up to 24x30 or larger and my D40 just does not cut it when blowing up a 6mp picture compared to the 45.7 with the d850

[@13soxs]

Who's the muppet with the dislike, and what's to dislike, there is always something to learn here, unless of course YOU know it all!!

[@wojtekgrabowski1]

well said

[@MarkKellyPhotographyUK]

Could have done with this video last, just spent a week in the highlands saying No, no foreground, no sky, too bland, oh well, I will just have to go back in the New Year 👍👏👏🥃

[@jimbean532]

Ouch! That hurt so good! :)

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Another useful video for them that need it break all the rules and just take photos you enjoy doing haha

[@tomdullage1531]

Helpful common sense advice, as always.

[@Leptospirosi]

You want to know what delusion is? I came back form Japan last week and when I put the memory card in the computer to process the 1500 images I brought home... I found out I messed up without noticing the super panel in my EM.5mkII and only took Jpeg instead of raw... -__-

[@chrisplunkett2814]

I hope this is a joke (difficult to tell on the motionless internet) and you really believe that you 'messed up' because you have to use JPEG images?

[@hgkpereg]

A lot of hope for all of us (those) breaking the rules with cheap cameras

[@peterbiggin7193]

There are no rules!!

[@othomsen1]

Photographic rules give you probabilities not certainties

[@fotomaxk6299]

@e6 vlogs Why did you switch from Canon ff to micro four thirds? Thsi is very unusual. Never heared anybody doing this besides you

[@e6Vlogs]

Everyone is moving from digital SLR's! Unfortunately most dismiss MFT. I used both systems side by side for about 2 years and eventually thought one has to go. The quality difference wasn't great enough. MFT offers everything I need now. If you're thinking of doing the same, just remember Fuji isn't the only choice out there!

[@Oncewasgolden]

Fotomax K Actually there is a trend of older photographers doing exactly this. Yes, the cameras are smaller, but it is all the weight of the lens that you lose, that makes a huge difference. The lens for m43 are way smaller than apsc or ff.

[@suehodnett6911]

Ha ha, you and your graduated filters!

[@ravifernando1637]

😀💐👍👌👌👌

[@loekybaltes]

Like the video i enyoy peter from holland

[@zarrow50]

Myth 10: You will look good in a red Berghaus jacket.

[@s2n4k3]

@7:30: I do too ; )

[@TheChromaKid]

7:23 I don't know if this is sarcasm or not, but you lost me at this point. Was an interesting video until you just decided to insult all digital artists, and people who take their shots on the move and don't like to stay on a shot for ages, setting up filters and tripods and meticulous compositions. Edit* and at 8:10 I know your point, but sorry I want to make sure I don't waste a penny when I'm spending literally all my money on a camera that is in some ways decent (i.e shoots raw)

[@RobJorg]

maybe you buy someone elses print because you want to support them and you are not able to jump out to the lake district for just that 1 photo.

[@willnotbetracked8222]

Don't forget to clean the jiz off your filters before you use them! 😂

[@peterlemke3468]

If you're getting jizz on your filters l guess you're not shooting landscapes?

[@pellier08]

Do as I say not as I do is the motto of all pro photographers these days. Equipment is not important, rule of thirds is not important, bla bla bla... You just want to sell, sell, sell by confusing people. However, 95% of all your photos on IG follow the rules of photography. Hmmm, interesting!

[@coastless8773]

I disagree about putting your own work on your walls. Seems conceited. I would rather support my friends and fellow artist and have their work on my walls.