I suspect we all know someone who loves their photography a bit too much... but why is that?

[@bongjovi4168]

Not only is photography addictive, I cant think of a better way to improve your mental health than going on a lovely walk with your camera ❤

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@bongjovi4168 yeeeeees! 👍

[@sarahbatsford4791]

Spot on❤❤❤

[@dwdibben]

love that passion, the distillation into a cheery chat-to-cam AND still you neither stumble or tumble. !!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@dwdibben you have no idea how happy I am to see you here David. Thank you and much love to you my friend x

[@sotonrob]

Yes could not agree more Louise. Lovely morning 👍

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@sotonrob Rob, it really was cracking. Our addiction is not being helped with this awful weather. I fear we may have a poor Autumn 🍂 AGAIN!

[@bongjovi4168]

Thanks for uploading. It was good to see Ben again too. When I go to a new location and look for compositions. Firstly I'd scout the entire area and have my phone as a viewfinder as it's far easier to find and frame compositions with the phone before setting up the trips etc. Then once I've found the focal point, I'd search for the foreground interest or leading line. If I didn't do this, I'd also run around like a headless chicken. Especially when you're up against time for sunrise or sunsets.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@bongjovi4168 totally agree that the scouting role is really important where possible. I am going to go back there prior to Autumn so at least I’m familiar with areas I didn’t get to. Then, when Ben and I go back, I’ll be all over it! 💥 The headless chicken isn’t ideal 🙈

[@bongjovi4168]

@@louisewelcomephotography 🤗😍

[@LandscapeLensCAST]

Always enjoy your adventures. The conditions were stunning. I really enjoyed seeing your images of the trees with the sun shining through the mist. That was an interesting discussion towards the end about “why we are addicted to photography”

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@LandscapeLensCAST and every one of our little group is… others have it worse than me 😂. Thanks for the feedback lovely. We must have a training session on that riverside malarkey soon 😉😂😂

[@sarahbatsford4791]

An enjoyable video which is inspiring to say the least. Some really great pics & a beautiful walk with you😊 #1 fave.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@sarahbatsford4791 thank you kindly lovely lady. 👍 I wish us both a colourful autumn 🍂 🤞😉

[@joyriggphotography]

Hi Louise, wow what a fantastic misty morning that looked to be. I struggle if it gets to a week before i just have to photograph something, Anything it doesn’t matter. I also loved images 1 and 3.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@joyriggphotography hey Joy, thank you. I must say that I am appreciating your work on the new group 😍. Thanks for the feedback… that number 1 is not bad but number two is growing on me. 1 week… gulp… I think editing stops that happening… the vids that is 😉😁

[@mrskarshsphotos]

This is delightful. thanks. Yes, addictive and frustrating is equal measure!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@mrskarshsphotos ohhh the frustration… 😂. But ohhh the buzz 😉. Thank you for the feedback 🙏

[@trevorburton4429]

I’d have been pleased with any of your shots. Particularly liked those between 4 and 5 minutes. I love August for the heather on the Peak District moors, and the addiction gets stronger when you are in your 70’s in case I don’t make it til next August. Thanks for the video. Missed you on the podcast last Friday.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@trevorburton4429 ahhh Trevor thank you. I think it was shot while I was away. I hate to miss out (fomo). I have yet to get up there at the right time…. Let me know if there is a meet up 👍. And… oh heck, if the addiction gets stronger, well, I’m stuffed! 😂 Thanks for checking in, it means a lot.

[@benharveyphotography]

Great video Louise, and always happy to help with your addiction. I am secretly Louise’s Psychologist 😂. Let’s head back there in the autumn…to find your lens cap!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@benharveyphotography you’re on! Gosh, I couldn’t pay anyone enough to be my psychologist 😉😂 thanks for your company and wisdom Ben.

[@ElevatedThreat]

I just found your channel. So refreshing to find someone that isn't so full of themselves in their videos!... I'd love to sit, have a pint with you and "talk Geek". 😁

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@ElevatedThreat that has made my day. Cheers 🍻. I hope to say hello again in the future… thank you 👍 from a fellow geek.

[@kaywayneflor89]

Definitely number 1! Enjoyed your adventure 😊

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@kaywayneflor89 thank you very much 😁 that’s my favourite too. 👍

[@Oske.images]

6:44 was begging for a shot. Like Ben mentioned we all spot different shots. Good video, Poor health (pain) has stopped me getting out much, so I find myself itching to get back to photography.. Just the briefest session means so much.. 👍

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@Oske.images ohhhhh how did I not spot that 🙈. Thanks for the feedback. I’m really sorry to hear of your pain issue. Snatching of those precious moments will clearly mean so much. I wish you more of those 😊

[@brianmckeever5280]

How 'bout: "Art is Infinite"? I may have to visit England in heather season some year, you all make it look so terrific. My favorite image of this video is the vertical of just the three trees with the heather in front. The variation of your #1 without the pine on the side. Seemingly isolated subjects in nature is one of my favorite things to capture. Happy trails!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@brianmckeever5280 ohhh Brian, that’s inspired! If you do ever come over for heather, the Peak District appears to be a stunning place to go. I will get there one day 🤞. I’m trying to work out if there is a video in your suggestion. I am not confident to call my shots art yet so maybe sometime in the future 😂. As ever, thank you for the feedback. Take care sir 👍

[@Scotphotoamateur]

When you get an awesome morning and some worthwhile shots you get a surge of the feel good hormone dopamine. It is pleasurable so you go after it again. It is a bit like gambling because there is an unpredictability about it. Great video and love the shots at 4:13 &4:33

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@Scotphotoamateur that’s exactly it Scott. But when I get a real banger (rare) I’m almost frightened to look at it after my drive home just Incase I’ve over egged it in my head or messed up the focus or something. My throwing a foreground out of focus is sketchy and I confess to a fair few ‘oh no’ moments when I get all artsy fartsy. I wish you many more dopamine hits to come 😉😂

[@desgardner7169]

The start of your blog looked like my experience a few years ago in Western Australia in February the hottest month of the year except it rained most of the time, such is life! I liked your no3 picture! Thank you!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@desgardner7169 thank you Des! Ohhh man, I know it was shoulder season where I went but I wasn’t expecting this rain for 8-9 hours a day 🙈. I thought we knew rain in the UK, I was so, so wrong. Thanks for the feedback… not going to western Australia in February though 😉

[@susanfirth2279]

Nice conditions - love how the heather popped in the mist. That first shot was really nice but I also really like the sun rays coming through the trees.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@susanfirth2279 thanks Susan. They were lovely conditions indeed. I hope you are well? 😊

[@vimalneha]

Louise, I agree, it is addictive, I have asked myself why I like photography so much, creativity, desire to SHOW OFF, being close to nature, digital instant creation? But it ends up unanswered and I like what others are doing, and me too. All you need full range of lenses and there is no stopping.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@vimalneha I’m with you. All of the above… and it’s so stupidly disheartening when you get a bad photo session. Such a buzz when it goes well. 💥👍

[@vimalneha]

@@louisewelcomephotography Exactly!

[@janh6639]

Great video and if I can’t get out my pets start to look nervous as they know they are next in the lounge catching treats 😅

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@janh6639 A 6th sense 😂. This made me laugh… I’ll watch my pets carefully when I start climbing the walls next time. 👍

[@paulandrewrussell]

Beautiful photos. 👍 Unfortunately I haven’t been out for over two weeks, due to work and an ill mother. (Not complaining). However, I am getting stir-crazy. 😂 Being out there in nature, taking photos, is really my happy place. Great video, Louise. 😁

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@paulandrewrussell thank you Paul. I wish your mother well and I hope your happy place is visited soon 👍

[@peterlittle6651]

Hi Louise, those are some very interesting theories. I am a great believer that photographers are driven by seeing other photographers work of subjects that we are all familiar with but had not discovered the angle or light that photographer has. A Michael Kenna book also inspires.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@peterlittle6651 ohhh I like him. Your words sort of tie in with Ben’s talk about Brighton which he is very familiar. I really have fomo… so I also appreciate the ‘ooohhhh I want to capture that too’. Off to but a Michael M book now 😉👍

[@peterlittle6651]

@@louisewelcomephotography Strangely I don't think I have replied to a photography video twice before, but here goes. Woodland photography is confusing because of the amount of angles, find a path and put it corner to corner it works nearly every time. Also I found the harder I look the worse it gets, KISS I found works for me. Your video must be good as I have been thinking of this since my first post !!!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@peterlittle6651 A double comment - cool lol. I totally understand the harder you look issue. The number of times I've done a video and got in a tizzy because I can't see a composition but when I've looked back at the footage... there's one right there! KISS is spot on but it's maddening in woodlands! Thanks for getting back to me, appreciated Peter.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

Late July I added to my collection of cameras, an OM 5 plus 12-45 F4, both new, and a used Lumix 45-200, cheap version. The camera with either lens fitted with with either lens, or my 7-14 or 60mm fit into a pocket in my puffer jacket When the visit the hospital for chemo etc, or to TAFE or a cafe for lunch, I take the camera and usually use it. your camera would likely stay home, it's too heavy. I used to use a 5Ds, video aside, there's not a lot the R5 can do that the 5Ds can't.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@oneeyedphotographer I currently have an EOSR but the point remains valid John. 👍

[@lisajoseph5817]

Because I bought my own place and had to pack and move, I had to go without using my camera between June 4 and August 24. I did try to go out one day only to discover my DSLR had suffered some sort of electronic death. It proved to be cost effective to simply replace it, but by then life was being sucked up by packing and moving chores. Two days after the movers shifted my furniture 70 miles south, I found myself perched on a cliff overlooking a spot popular with surfers and got my dopamine hit taking pictures of EVERYTHING: hunting pelicans, golden poppies on the cliffside and surfers riding waves. Much better now. I've missed it. Hoping to get up early and do more tomorrow.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@lisajoseph5817 ohhh wow 🤩 what a dopamine hit! Delayed gratification and a significant selection of subjects. Wow! I hope you did get out this morning. Discovering your new area will be exciting 😍👍

[@etherealbolweevil6268]

Maaaam. May I recommend you purchase an inexpensive waterproof camera for the tropics. Ideally pocket size. Many weeks in the rainforest, tropical river systems etc. with (mostly) a Kodak Playsport and more recently a Nikon W300 the wrist strap attached to the shirt by a small carabineer in a buttonhole. Swimming, walking through waterfalls, super rain storms not an issue. OK not so hot on the lens selection and controls, but images are acceptable and preferable to no images. Otherwise, the tropics stop being a nice holiday and turn into a camera management nightmare. [Yes I have taken a Pentax K50 through Guyana and Borneo and as you noticed, it is nerve wracking.]

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@etherealbolweevil6268 hugely appreciated recommendation and I will look into it. Thank you 🙏. I agree that no images is so disappointing and in fact my next video was filmed in part in Costa Rica in the rain 😉. I have great memories and did spend quality time with my husband but a few shots would have been lovely. Thank you so very much 😊

[@robertsmith1553]

Thanks for another great video Louise !. I would pick number 1 as my favourite. I can see you are shooting with a Canon, is it one of the latest mirrorless models ?. Look forward to the next one ❤

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@robertsmith1553 Hi Robert, yes indeed, the EOSR. My beloved reckons he may treat me to a new body (camera wise I hope) for my significant birthday this year. We’ll see. 😉. I’m stuck between 1 and 2 as my favourites. Thank you for the feedback Robert. 👍

[@Winkie_Designs]

I am new to photography and I am enjoying every minute of it but I am having a few problems with the settings... can you tell me what your iso and aperture setting were for those beautiful pictures you took of the heather and trees in the mist.😊

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@Winkie_Designs Hi there, of course. ISO as low was possible. If on a tripod may be able to do 100-400 depending on the time of day. If hand held I need to up my shutter so I am faster speed and compensate by raising the ISO ideally to a max of 800 (ish). Normally shot between f 7.1 and f 9 except where I wanted the sun star 🌟 which was F16. I’ll start putting some settings back in the vids and perhaps note why I did that briefly if that would be of help. Watch out for the addiction, it creeps up on you. 😉👍 Oh, most importantly, enjoy it 👍

[@Winkie_Designs]

@@louisewelcomephotography lol @ addiction 🤔think I am already there... yes I only use a tripod as I can't hold it still to save my life lol i have been watching your videos all afternoon and you have photographed some beautiful stunning scenes... well done.. I hope I will be able to shoot scenes like that one day.. thank you for the info very much appreciated...🙋‍♀ I am a new subscriber to your channel and look forward to viewing more content.😊

[@jennifercall9014]

Oh I can so relate!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

Thanks Jennifer... when we say 'i'll just be 10 more minutes', it's such a big fat lie ... haha!

[@scrptwic]

Louise You want to talk about a screwd up photography year . In January I gained 30 pounds . In February i was in the hospital for a week. I was put on water resistricion and Lasic pills . I ended up losing 50 pounds in six months I have not weighed this since high school . I was finally told I had restrictive pericarditis my heart sack had adhered to my heart. I went through all kind of tests and had no other problems. I could no longer hike I walked real slow and before I was a elite hiker. I started my landscape photography because of my hikes . In June i had heart surgery to strip the sack off my heart. Two months later I am walking much better and starting to photograph again even going up small hills I could not navigate last month I give my recovery until the end of the year to be back where I started from . Sorry about the long comment but I missed being able to take my camera out and now the prospects are looking up

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@scrptwic you have my utter admiration and I am sitting here quite blown away by all you have been through. Thank you for sharing and I’m a bit in awe. Genuinely, I am cheering for you and hope you do get back out there in that time frame. Please keep me updated if you are comfortable doing so. 🙏

[@sarahbatsford4791]

All the best photography buddy😊

[@scrptwic]

@@sarahbatsford4791 Thank you I am getting better slowly the surgeon who operated on me told me I would do good . She had a smile on her face as she walked into my room it's always good for a surgeon on her face after she operated on me

[@HJ-nh1wl]

Totally agree - about addiction to photography. Particularly, landscape photography! However …. As I consider you as an award winning photographer with a very good style - why did you have to ‘drag along’ someone (even a bestie) on your photography shoot or trip? These days, it is very rare, if I take anyone on my landscape photography trip or locations! Indeed, after practicing landscape photography (Lakes or Yorkshire Dales etc) for 35+ years, with a few awards on route - I do my landscape photography on my own! Very quickly, from the early days, I learnt and came to the conclusion that landscape photography is very personal mode of expression. The last thing I wanted was to have someone else (friend or no friend) near me, as I wanted to totally concentrate. Indeed, while making landscapes (film initially then digital) images - I can very quickly enter a Zen State of ‘Being at One with the Landscape’. Always remember, if you’re with someone or a group - you will never reach that state, but practicing landscape photography ‘by the numbers’! Just saying!

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@HJ-nh1wl ohhhh interesting… I think it was just a lovely check in and a new location. And let’s be honest filming for KZbin right royally screws up any zen. Ben will often challenge me and make me think differently so that when I am on my own I can practice, hone and make some cracking mistakes when no bugger can see me. 😉. But, I do get your point about the benefits of going it alone. I’m gonna keep mixing it up. I love his photo company (when he’s not always right, especially) and there are times when I’ve felt a bit vulnerable going to a new place in the dark. Having some back up has given me the guts to get out… then I may well return solo. 👍

[@davetucker2000]

Case in point: I was on a beautiful rocky beach this morning, in lovely conditions (no direct light but a nice glow) and... I couldn't leave. I only stopped because I was starving hungry! Every time I thought 'Right, time for a coffee', some other part of my brain said 'No, no, check those rocks over there - there may be a composition you'll miss out on!'. In the end I spent 5 hours there, with frustrations and curses as I slipped on the rocks and got my boots wet, but I was also elated. One of the best mornings of photography ever. And I'm already thinking 'When can I go back...?!?'. Yup, addicted.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@davetucker2000 woah, 5 hours? That’s impressive. And I suspect that it went by very quickly. My seascape mantra is ‘ just 10 more waves and then I will go’ … I know I’m lying Dave but I still go through the charade! 🙈

[@Walkinginthewoods]

Nice film Louise

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@Walkinginthewoods thank you so much 😊

[@georgemason2472]

All lovely, but actually I also liked the first one into the sun.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@georgemason2472 thanks George… I did eventually, after I got over myself! 😉😂. Thanks for your feedback 👍

[@ashstubbings2603]

For me, that 'Climbing the walls! Got to get out with my camera!" feeling is usually after a bout a week! Wait..who am I trying to kid? It's three days at the most! 😁😁

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@ashstubbings2603 brilliant… someone who has it worse than me! 😂 You are clearly part of the addiction club - three days though! Scared or impressed… not sure which one to be. I wish you well 👍

[@mikephillipsphotography]

Is there another reason why people go out? To get new images to post on social media, chasing the validation that comes from that.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@mikephillipsphotography this made me chuckle in a meeting Mike (naughty me 😉). Yep… didn’t think of that. Not sure why 🙈. I hope you are well sir?

[@garrysugdenphotography]

Totally addictive... like a disease with no cure but a good sunrise helps give relief from the symptoms. 🙂

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@garrysugdenphotography a fabulous medicine Garry … the best 😂

[@realdoctorobvious]

Yes, I do. It's me. I think in my case it might be self-medicating, like a substitute for actual antidepressant drugs.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

Chris, I get that. That’s exactly how I fell into this malarkey some years back. The number of photographers who would recognise your sentiment would probably surprise us both. Look after yourself and keep doing what you need to do (camera wise) 👍

[@SkiwithMike]

No 1

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@SkiwithMike thank you 🙏. Have a good Sunday Mike.

[@cgriggsiv]

Hello young lady

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@cgriggsiv Hello 👋

[@petevonschondorf4609]

#1, stir crazy? Try breaking your hip, then out of sympathy the family sets you up in the backyard, we are adjacent to some woods where the wildlife come from to raid the garden. All is good until they forget about you and you haven't your phone or the ability to walk. Well they are out of the will.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@petevonschondorf4609 Too right Peter! Straight out of the Will! 😉 Stir crazy… a person who becomes agitated or restless from feeling entrapped in some place… or so my dictionary explains. Sorry! And I’m really sorry to read about your hip. I wish you a speedy recovery. And thank you for making me smile 😁

[@oneeyedphotographer]

There's scientific evidence that a walk in nature is beneficial to your health.

[@louisewelcomephotography]

@@oneeyedphotographer well it certainly does the trick for this woman John 👍