How I Overcame Photography's Hardest Challenge

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[@simonpayne7994]

Alex rambling on as usual. This time "vision first" is the maxim. I really do like listening to him. He delivers non-stop photographic wisdom in digestible portions.

[@shanepaulneil]

I pictured this comment going very differently from how it started 😂

[@JonathanRobinson11]

This channel is such a great tool for learning for the photographer. Philosophy and practicality combine into something really helpful.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@adrift13]

That's a great subject! I'll be honest. The usual story of my photoshoots is that I walk the entire day in a city, take a 1000 shots, and then at home I just throw 960 in the garbage can, 30 in the "meh okayish" folder. And maybe 10 live up to my dream. Thanks heavens for SD cards lol. But that's still a problem under time pressure. For instance my sister is super nice and allows me to shoot her tens or hundreds of time, so I can get my dream portrait. But some other people just smile and pay attention to me for 2 shots or so, and that ends in big fail!

[@Oncewasgolden]

There are many photographers out there who would be ecstatic to have a permanent model. Be thankful for what you have.

[@gsus3918]

This is so good. It reaffirms a lot of my own observation and problems that I run into. 10/10.

[@nate_thenotso_great]

I agreed with you when you said “geographic.” Didn’t catch it until you corrected yourself 😂

[@Redye]

As a kid I loved videos from barnabydixon and I actually made my own cardboard puppet dabchick and I went around my school playground using my head my eyes my internal camera to make my own videos in my mind, exploring the world as the camera man for this puppet and I love your videos (all of your videos) they relate so much to me and how I like to live imagining what if I filmed/photographed that random object on the floor or in my hand. I also love this channel for not going the usual gear videos route, it’s about the philosophy of photography it’s about other photographers journeys but what I love most about this channel is you ask and think and have a conversation about the questions I think to myself all the time. It’s not someone telling me what is or isn’t we are having a conversation even if you’re doing most of the talking… Alex I inspire to be like you! Even if you think you might not be the best role model or whatever, the way you think and the way you are in your videos I inspire to be! Alex keep doing what your doing man or do whatever you want to do!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wow, thank you

[@brianm.9062]

Thanks Alex, another great conversation,

[@ThePhotographicEye]

My pleasure!

[@magnusahlqvist]

This was great! Personally I struggle with allowing myself to believe my photographic ideas are worth pursuing. Will try to practice my photographic eye to make it easier to trust my gut and just do it.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dangilmore9724]

I've been a photographer for 40+ years and I drill go out of my way to experiment. I always ask myself how I can make an image different and what if I tried this or that. Then I construct all the technical aspects to create the image I have in mind. Sometimes I get something completely unexpected beyond my original concept and say, "wow, thos is a new tool for my photographic tool box."

[@Rob.1340]

Thank you. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks, you too!

[@mpw621]

Great topic. When are we allowed to 'break the rules" ? For me the key is to develop an artistic eye - sometimes to see the interesting in the uninteresting. If someone ask me what the rules of photography were I wouldn't know what they were. We all see the world differently which makes photography interesting. With digital cameras we can experiment with no cost contrasting to film which can get expensive .

[@adventurecoalition3690]

So helpful, thanks for sharing 👍

[@ThePhotographicEye]

My pleasure 😊

[@seaeagles6025]

Hi Alex, What drew me to photography is Street Art, walking around and seeing beautiful murals. And i still like photographing Murals as well as other types of photography. Love the photo of the old Boats and the buildings. It's good to break the rules and i do like the WHAT IFS. My best example of breaking the rules was photographing a moving Steam Train and used AFS SINGLE SHOT. AFS SINGLE SHOT is the worst mode to use on moving subjects but i thought i'd try it and i got some good shots that day. It's a great point you made, to try WHAT IFS. Thanks for sharing this video. 😃

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for watching

[@seaeagles6025]

@@ThePhotographicEye Your very welcome Alex 🙂

[@jeghedderhenrik]

its like the dog chasing a car,... hunting the goal, but if i one day catch my vision , it would be like the dog and the car..... but what now? what do i do with it.? the worst i forgetting enjoying the process and the hunt and search for the goal,,, it might be more giving than achieving the goal

[@ThePurpleHarpoon]

If you achieve your goal, you give yourself a high-5, then grab the camera and go after another. Meanwhile ..... order a huge print of your masterpiece and hang it in a huge frame on your wall to remind you how good you felt. That's what I would do.

[@motormoby]

Food for thought as always. But I'm not sure I want to overcome my photographic challenges, for me the challenge is what drives me. As Lemmy once sang The Chase Is Better Than The Catch

[@angelamaloney4871]

I’m not a believer in the so-called “rules of composition.” Whether it be the rule of thirds, the golden spiral, or whatever else, there are three problems with them. (1) They were never meant to be means of creating images. They were invented as ways to analyze images, not to create them. (2) They are exceedingly formulaic. (3) There’s absolutely zero empirical evidence that backs up that they mean anything. For those who are about to say that the golden ratio appears all over nature and start talking about nautilus shells, there is another number that appears all over nature: pi. Nobody cites pi as a guideline for creating images. So I don’t buy the idea that because a particular numerical ratio appears in nature, it’s somehow important to copy it over and over. So I’m with Edward Weston, Guy Tal, Bruce Barnbaum, and seemingly every other fine art photographer or artist. I don’t believe in the rules of composition. Now it’s probably obvious that I’m not just talking about going out and taking pictures willy-nilly. I have actually given the issue some thought. So maybe I’m something closer to that person who has learned the rules to be able to break them. But I’m really not a believer. I’m a believer in processes of thinking things through rather than rules.

[@philhodgkinson1460]

However they do work.. As I have found out not that they are deal breakers but when you need them you need them..... nuff said.....

[@angelamaloney4871]

@@philhodgkinson1460 There is absolutely no empirical data suggesting that they work. But, if you think I'm wrong, feel free to bring a study to my attention.

[@Oncewasgolden]

For me it is a bit different as I came into photography with many years of creating and editing graphics. So I pretty much go out to take photos knowing I can reach whatever I visualize in my mind. So from that angle I look for something that catches my eye. I stop, I frame it, I see it in my mind, then I see it how I want it to be in color. Then I see it how I want it to be in bnw. If I like either one of those ideas, I then and only then decide to take some shots. This works with everything but moving things I.e. people. They are a bit more challenging and frustrating. I can see them so many ways and never get any of them. If only every photographer was given a permanent model to work with upon the sale of their first photo…one can dream, right? Hmmm, looks like I know how to ramble too! Maybe I should start my own KZbin channel? lol!

[@ladymary22]

I love abandoned buildings. I also like fences with worn wood

[@selkiemaine]

Interesting. I live in a different photography world. I am hypophantasic. In other words, I have almost no ability to visualize. Yet I do quite a bit of nature and art photography, have worked professionally as a product photographer and also as a retoucher. For me, it's a lot more intellectual. What will this technique do for me? What will happen when I put this lens on and do this? It's frustrating, but also a lot of fun.

[@RideandRemember]

Very good content. Thanks a million Alex :)

[@ThePhotographicEye]

My pleasure!

[@johnclay7644]

informative video good examples. informative content.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

My problem is that I want to photograph people but I lack subjects to photograph or practice on. What am I to do? Photograph myself?

[@philhodgkinson1460]

Thank you ever so much..... Is what I know call am Alex is..... and it has found it's way into my every day speech... Just saying hah hah.....

[@philhodgkinson1460]

Alexism.....

[@philhodgkinson1460]

I have to say Alex I am continually spell bound by your endless knowledge of the photographic genre... Very well done sir.... Had you heard Elton John has put his huge collection of photography at the disposal of V&A and he employs a full time director to look after these works.... well there you go......have a nice day........

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Love it

[@Tonysmullen]

You should start selling mugs we could all share a cuppa together

[@Giles29]

I need a mug that says "How's it how's it?" to make people wonder what it means

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Love that idea ☺️

[@bareknuckle56]

The story of my photography life……..delete…….delete…….delete 😂

[@bokehburners]

LOVE the vids, but why do you only talk about “at photo school”? Time to move on, I’d say

[@Call_Me_Mom]

I have been thinking, off and on, about what I tend to be drawn to photographically since you mentioned it a few videos back. I have been thinking I am just totally eclectic, but I think it's water. (Also people - especially people I love - and catching moments with their faces.) I really like water. Freezing soap bubbles is really water because it is the water layer that is actually freezing. Snow drifts? Water. Waves? Water. The lines of light being reflected throughout shallow water? Water. Fog? Water. Even the birds I prefer to take photos of are wading birds. Cranes, herons, egrets. Water drops on plants in the garden or water being poured out of the watering can in the sunlight.