If You Can't See This Then You're Not A Photographer

If you're a photographer you can see all sorts of amazing things, but can you spot a problem these photos?
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I am excited to share with you a collection of captivating images captured by renowned photographers, all while adhering to a fair use policy. As an avid creator and a firm believer in promoting artistic expression, I have carefully curated these visuals to enhance the storytelling experience and enrich the content I present.
It's important to note that fair use allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without obtaining explicit permission from the copyright holder. In this context, I have utilized select images from famous photographers to analyze, critique, and educate, ultimately adding value and providing a unique perspective to my viewers.
Through this approach, I aim to celebrate and showcase the incredible talent and vision of these esteemed photographers while offering insightful commentary and fostering a deeper understanding of their work. It is my sincere belief that these images contribute to the overall discussion and appreciation of the art form while respecting the rights of the original creators.
I want to express my utmost gratitude to the photographers who have brought these magnificent visuals to life. I encourage you, as viewers, to explore their full portfolios and support their remarkable contributions to the world of photography.

[@Francoisacker]

I would say Hugh holland's Framing and composition skills with balance, leading lines, frame in frame, light and dark and exposure is on another level.

[@joshjacobson9846]

So many of his pictures felt like they grabbed me by the ear and just shouted “LOOK AT THIS RIGHT HERE!” Absolutely the framing and lines across the shots shared were incredible

[@j.f.7509]

Agreed

[@olliknuuttila9633]

Without a doubt light is one thing, but composition is another to make a difference.

[@MickTee2k]

I feel the difference is more than just the light. Your example images are still life without a clear subject while Hugh's are dynamic, with a clear subject that doesn't blend into the background due to his mastery of the light and understanding of composition and the rule of thirds.

[@jahmalbaptiste9915]

What struck me was his very elaborate sense of composition, though, like you said, i agree that the lighting added a valuable layer to the pictures

[@scottplumer3668]

Also I think Hugh Holland used negative space a little better than most of Alex's photos.

[@FedThePoopy]

I was exactly thinking this! As somebody who lives in a place with absolutely drab light (Glasgow) there are things that really make a photo way more than light does. Take a look at some Raymond Despardon to see so

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

Swapping the lighting of the first batch of photos with better light wouldn't have saved them. There likely still would have been multiple focal points competing with each other, and the branch still would have been coming out of that woman's head. The dog head still would be competing with the out of focus figure in the background and those signs would still have poor separation from the background. Obviously, better lighting could make the subjects standout more, and help reduce the harm from the poor composition, but I wouldn't personally consider the light to be the problem as the compositions were extremely weak to begin with.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

@@scottplumer3668 Definitely, I think that's a bigger part of it than the lighting. The lighting elevates those compositions to something really special, but even without the lighting, they would still be decent photos. These were just compositionally stronger photos even before the extra level that is the use of light came into play. He clearly was aware of the light and he clearly considered it in his framing, but they still would have been worth a look even without it.

[@simonpayne7994]

The first set of photos shown do not only display non-usage of "light". According to my thinking they were much too busy. The photos shown later singled out the subjects perfectly. Light and shadow, used to full advantage, just came on top.

[@joelnormann]

This was exactly my take too. Alex's photos had too many overlapping or competing elements. The woman in the first photo has a tree branch going behind her head and brightly-lit bit of rubble in the foreground. The 'no-parking' photo has one of the signs overlapping another. In the other portrait the girl has a fence running through her head. Sure, most of them could have benefited from beautiful light, but it was far from the key issue in most of the shots.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

TBH, when I'm taking photos, I definitely consider the light, but that's largely a matter of where I'm looking for shots, I have only been out on one day in my entire life where the light was so poor that there weren't any meaningful opportunities for a good shot. That one day was due to extremely defuse light coming through smog and the only shot I liked the entire day came as the result of shooting through a leaf in the general direction of the sun. As you noted, most of the shots had too much stuff in competition for attention. Adding the best possible light on top of that wouldn't have saved any of those images. Holland had a lot of things going for him when he took those shots. Better light, better use of light, more opportunity for negative space and framing, better use of those opportunities and probably a lot more shots.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

"Photography" literally means "write with light". This makes total sense. Thank you!

[@j.f.7509]

You can do that also by photographing a brick wall. 😉

[@UlfErlingsson]

Not just the light. I would say the composition. The light is an agent he uses for composition.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

IMHO, light isn't as important as having a good background and good subject. If you don't have those things the light doesn't really do much for you. But, if you do have a good background , a good subject and good light, you have the opportunity for something that transcends words. It's why I look around roughly based on what the light is doing for good backgrounds, then I look for good subjects. When I started out, I looked for good subjects first, which frequently resulted in poor backgrounds and poor lighting.

[@simonhuegly]

Thank you for introducing Hugh Holland to me. What a fun to watch!

[@maureenmarshall1070]

Light is definitely what attracts me to pictures. I first realised the importance of light in paintings and the same is true of photographs , its the light. . I now feel inspired to try to make more use of light in my own photographs. Great video. Thanks.

[@NormYip]

His ability to capture movement just at the right moment is excellent. It takes timing/precision to predict the moment of when to press the shutter. In addition, his sense of composition is very good too.

[@stubones]

It’s easy now when camera have such high burst rates. They didn’t then 👍

[@NormYip]

@@stubones Yes that is true with today's excellent tracking abilities and high burst rates.

[@David_Quinn_Photography]

Cameras have high burst rate these days, my Canon has 3 per second and it's quite a good bit as it is, now we are at what 30?

[@NormYip]

I used to shoot weddings on film cameras to capture the crucial decisive moment. I relied on timing. I either got it or I didn't.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

He took a lot of shots that you don't see, but it still took a lot of work and knowledge to get any of them.

[@mangokraken]

Beauty is everywhere, You just have to be willing to see it, And as a photographer, capture it.

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

His images also have cleaner compositions with better figure to ground separation (for the most part) in comparison with the first batch of images that you shared.

[@peterspruijt4265]

Yes, I can see the difference, but…Holland is following the skaters for a whole day, maybe more.. and where they skate is totally different, wide and open. And the sunny environment helps also. Example: I photograph my young grandchildren, I play, read, eat with them. I can’t wait for the perfect light and surrounding. Improvisation is then necessary

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

@@peterspruijt4265 Yes, of course. The standards for candid photos isn't as high. One of the tricks is to find a background and wait till the pieces fall into place. Also, all of your images aren't going to be keepers.

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

Also, the lens choice can help keep things tidy. A 50mm makes it a little easier to make tidier compositions than a 35mm or wider. Also, practice plays a huge role. The more you practice, the sharper your instincts become.

[@steveschnetzler5471]

Firstly, I saw the leading lines, then the light. Both, elevating. Thanks.

[@TheSololobo]

That's that beautiful light that you can get almost year round in California, along with the beaches, culture and varied topography, it's a photographer's dream.

[@jaimenisenbaum4631]

Alex, I really appreciated this video! Even though so many instructors speak about "the light", the way you demonstrated the importance of it in this video was very effective and to the point. Thank you so much! You have made a difference!

[@nega9000]

Definitely helps when you've got the California sun on your side!

[@gladysperrier4270]

I love your videos. They really inspire me as a judge in the Southern Counties Photographic Federation and elevate my understanding of the images I see. With your guidance I feel I have learnt to recognise what makes a good image and understand why it moves me. You have helped me find the vocabulary to go way beyond ‘I like it’. I feel I can read the image and talk about the elements of light, texture, form and story telling and ultimately feeling. Thank you so much for these inspirational talks.

[@thepathofbri]

Enjoyed the "conversation", as always. Thanks for sharing.

[@Democratiser]

Yep. It is all about light.

[@KijkEenVogel]

Oh no, I’m not a photographer, because I actually ignored the light and went straight to the nice lines and curves in the photos of Hugh. The use of light by him is nice, but getting a skateboarder on the same angle as the curved arrow on the pavement is really impressive 😉

[@MultiJaime27]

I move from México city to Vancouver and I was pushing myself to transfer the same feeling in my photography work here. It has been a challenge. Im slowly finding a new photography voice here after 2 years. The lighting between this 2 city is huge. Light it a subject but it also plays with the emotional reaction of the photographer!!

[@Pokieraf]

Soooo find the subject and the composition; and then capture the moment with the best light-interaction possible. Thank you for the knowledge fam 🙏

[@robscovell5951]

Important. Thank you Alex.

[@photonsonpixels]

Nice video, Alex. Thank you.

[@juliasumerling5229]

How good is Hugh Holland! Thanks for introducing his work. Im a new big fan!

[@AlanBrownPhotography]

Yet another excellent video Alex. My own personal spin on that is I don’t go out looking for pictures, I go out looking for opportunities. Of course lighting plays into that as it has a habit of providing those opportunities along with of course the subject matter.

[@michaelmitchell8567]

Enjoyed that! great video!

[@CaravaningaroundAustralia]

You always get me thinking about my photography and I am aware that is your intent but for some strange reason I’m always surprised at how you get me thinking about my photography. Thank you.

[@grantking4681]

I've always thought l understood 'light' Alex (been taking photos for decades) but this video is continuing to crystallise my thought processes about what and where to shoot when l have a camera in hand. I also follow Charles Glatzer, a brilliant wildlife photographer who says, "Light illuminates, shadows define", spot on. In essence l suppose l'm saying is that between you and Charles, 'light' and its qualities - direction, strength, colour, etc - is a lot higher in the decision making process of taking photos. Nice to know that even at my age (a little north of 70 yo) that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

[@weisskm]

Great video - so interesting and inspirational. Light can be the subject - or at least a major player in the image. Thanks.

[@seaeagles6025]

Hi Alex, i really enjoyed this video and the photos you showed from Hugh Holland. Light is the Oxygen for Photography and can make or break a photo. Thanks for sharing, nice topic. 😊

[@craigscholin8023]

Thanks!

[@cw1803]

Great, on point

[@Sitting8ull]

With the first set, except for the dog, I could not tell what the subject was. The one with the newspaper was also obvious. I did notice light was kind of bland in many of the photos, and it was difficult to tell what the point was of the photos. I the second set I noticed balance and light. Thanks for posting this very helpful video. 🙂🙂

[@waynethorn7218]

Great subject matter. They were great photos what Hugh took. But may I add that California has a different climate. Everyday and I mean nearly everyday the sun is always out. You can practice with the light daily, not like northern England lol. His colour and position were A plus. I’ve also learned that where the light is photographers just wait and fish. Nothing wrong with the dog one you took. Daido Moriyama will be impressed

[@tonygreenwoodN10]

Excellent!

[@ElvisPriscillaPresley]

"Light Light and more light".....Ms Wilson, our photography teacher in the 70s. A true hippie.

[@davidmilisock5200]

I agree with what you've said. I would add this, be confident enough to try things and tough enough to look deeply at your work and realize that sometimes you learn more from your work that you've learned no to like.

[@AHM-to6gs]

This is an episode that you may need to revisit. First, your very first photo of the woman in the ruins did have interesting light and shadows, and she was interestingly framed by the rectangular frame beyond behind her. .... I thought the issue with that image was that she had branches growing out of her head, a standard "photographer" complaint. As for the skateboard photographer, who shot in bright sunny California ... and made very good use of what he had. That's all well and good. But you can't tell me that it's impossible to take good photos in overcast weather. That would mean there are by necessity more good photographers in California as opposed to the UK, simply due to the weather. That seems preposterous. Some photographers crave overcast days, for very specific reasons ... and I believe you covered this in a previous episode (sorry, I can't remember which one ... but the point made was that the clouds act like a giant softbox, etc.) ln any case, all photographs are by definition made with light, and yes of course while light exhibits all sorts of different qualities and characteristics, depending on a wide range of factors, there is almost no situation where the characteristics of the light will make it entirely impossible to take a good/interesting photo. The impression you leave here, with this discussion, is that you need to have sunny weather to make good photos, first ... or that the light will somehow make a good or bad photograph independently of the photographer,'s choices ... whereas, the real point is that what matters is how the photographer makes use of the light he or she is given. I think you try to make that point, but a lot of other things you also say muddles it up. For example, you quite literally imply that had not a streak or beam of sunlight come through on that day in Cambridge, that you could not have ended up with any good photos ... hence reinforcing the idea that you must always have sunny light to produce good images. This is like the claim that all good photos must be in focus, and that there are no good images that are out of focus. That's simply not true. I'm not sure what happened here but the basic point of the video is rather muddled.

[@gazmachine]

I didn't get that at all from this. His point was about first looking at what light was available to you. He says "What kind of light do you have? That's gonna dictate the photographs that you start off with". He was excited to see the rays of sunshine breaking through, sure, but he didn't state that it was the only light that makes a good photograph

[@jonathanbaxter4366]

Yep. Totally agree, I always shoot into the light or sidelight for impact . Especially as I shoot black and white film .

[@johnpap9328]

Thank you

[@markothwriter]

I really see how it helps to be interested in the subject.

[@LeopoldoManuelRamirezMena]

Light! ... and contrast... most photographer newbies lack that... and that's why I learned painting with watercolors :D ...to train myself to see light and contrast in a different way...

[@larrywales358]

The Light Bulb came on. Thanks for your video.

[@robertnelson3179]

Wow set me back looked like me and my friends skating at our school back in the day.

[@ChrisHunt4497]

Thank you Alex. This is the Epiphany moment. When you realize this, it all makes sense. ❤❤❤❤

[@goldfinch2283]

Very true!👍

[@johnclay7644]

informative content

[@vinylisland6386]

God said let there be light and good photographers said yes, please!

[@jonjanson8021]

You are totally correct! The lack of good directional light in the UK, The UK living under an overcast soft box for a greater part of the year, caused me to consciously gravitate toward studio photography where I had total control of the light. For me shadow being an important aspect of any given composition. I realised that for me that I wasn't so much photographing objects as much as the play of light on those objects.

[@davidshemilt9577]

Was out with the wife in Cambridge and spotted you. Should have said hi! Love the channel

[@peterlieberzeit3138]

Good to see, how you get this concept through. In hindsight (and after "playing" with cameras for the larger part of my life), it seems such obvious. During the process of learning: it does not.

[@Purdey921]

The first batch of photos appeared to have been set on infinity, as focus wasn’t used to draw the eye. I noticed my eyes wandering a bit. The second batch my eyes immediately knew what was important to see first and if there were multiple subjects I could feel my eyes following the intended path. That’s composition as well.

[@Jerry10939]

Yes. I agree light is extremely important, If you have time. It depends on the photography you do. I did photojournalism, while I would have loved to get into a position to get the best lighting, I was limited by what the subject was, when, and where. So I had to make do with what I had to work with. So if you can’t control the lighting, you use what light you have to get the shot you need. How you frame your subject, what they are doing. Those skateboard shots had more to them than just the lighting. The had action, and unique poses and environments. Your B&W pictures in the beginning of your video were fine. Except the exposure seemed a little dark in a few where you lacked tone. Good contrast. But no detail in the shadows. Post production may have taken care of that. I ran a darkroom for an U.S. Army Public Affairs Office. Not only did I develop and print my own photographs, but those of the others in the office. We had journalists who took their own photographs. They had it in their training. But they were not really photographers. Their pictures were okay. But half of photography is in the darkroom. Once the editor chose the pictures to be made. I made their pictures better by cropping and using every trick I knew to bring out the best of their images. There is so much to photography to get a great shot. Lightning as you note is one of the most important. A good subject and background. And composition. It’s the photographer’s ability to put it all together. Camera equipment is a factor, but you can get a great picture from a point and shoot camera. I gave my son a cheap disposable camera for a field trip to the Grand Canyon when we lived in Arizona. I was surprised by some of the pictures he took with it. The lighting was just right for him. While pricy lenses are great and have their place. You can get great pictures with cheaper lenses. While I have expensive gear. My favorite camera to use is my mechanical film cameras shooting B&W. My digital takes great pictures. But it’s too easy.

[@andrewtongue7084]

Valid points, certainly - Light is the medium that you encompass (if you want to produce dynamic, punchy images). I tend to shoot mostly in monochrome, & I've trained my eyes to see tones over colours, because with tonal rendition comes an improved observation of texture - not an automatic reconciliation when shooting colour - we are bombarded with polychromatic images that can create a diffuse perspective, & we're so used to seeing in colour (unless you're one of the small percentage who have no functioning Conal (colour receptor)cells on the retina. That's my take on it....

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

Superb masterclass, though with the thumbnail I was also thinking negative space.

[@Mike_Stokes]

I definitely noticed the light in the first images of his that you showed but I couldn’t think of the word I wanted. I realized after a number of them that what I was looking for was “Energy”. The light and subjects he captured have an energy and intensity that really tells more of a story and isn’t just a snap shot. When you see the images you can feel the sun and it almost puts you there personally. To me it’s that kind of a feeling that makes a great image and not just a nice image.

[@xcx8646]

I had this realisation a few years ago. My photography drastically improved overnight. My stuff isn't noteworthy, but I've had a few keen beginners compliment it and ask for tips. Depending on their interests, my answer is usually this.

[@williamperez8170]

Photography IS light.

[@Nayson]

The word ‘photography’ comes from the Greek terms for light (photos) and writing (graphe).

[@stubones]

The point of the video is what you with your subject and the right light. We ALL know that photography is about recording light… but not all subjects, background and light are equal 🤔

[@williamperez8170]

@@stubonesI was saying exactly that, but more succinctly. Photography is all about the lighting, how it plays on texture, how it highlights and hides subjects, etc. Sometimes I remind myself to pay attention to the light in a scene, by saying to myself "Photography is light"

[@magnusberglund]

He got that sense for shadows ....

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

New ideas every time.

[@Joshua82PDX]

As someone who is developing there studio lighting techniques. One of the things that I notice Hugh Holland using is naturally back lit and rim/side lit subjects. The inclusion of the shadow adds depth and brings the subject movement to life. The color tone has me feeling a warm summer evening in California. My .02 cents, and what I see.

[@curiousabout1]

You know, I knew this but maybe not consciously enough lol. It's not uncommon I find myself taking pictures without really knowing why a scene strikes me, outside of a feeling. I think the light, or quality of light is likely the reason for a lot of those impulses. I like the spontaneity of not over-thinking, but understand the value of intentionality, so thank you for helping me to develop that! I am so glad I found this channel.

[@pierceholston6639]

Liked and subscribed.

[@christopherberry8519]

Yeah - you had me confused looking for expensive v cheap lens differences - then the difference I picked up on was that the second batch had a style. The light that fascinates me is when my eyes drop to black and white and yet the world is even more colourful to my camera.

[@keithdf2001]

Why do I gravitate to the great photographers who didn't care about the light?

[@upperstringsstudio]

The perfect storm of luck, form, and intuition.

[@nevertrustasuit]

Luck is a myth. He's there making images and that is an intent. Not luck.

[@creative_cozmic]

When I find places and can see a photograph before I've taken a photo, if the light isn't perfect I will always take a few test shots anyway. Of course easy to do if I can return to that spot on a different day when the light is better but that is definitely one way I work on compositions. The 'perfect' shot could therefore take many months and a fair few repeated visits depending on the light but at least I usually have a series of test shots with potential photographs in mind. Learning to take photographs with available light when visiting places I don't have the luxury to return to at a later date (like going on holiday) is a different skill altogether.

[@Clownsareus]

It helps a lot with the light if you live in California making skateboard photos, and also if the photographer was or had been a skateboarder . But Alex's comments about Holland's better use of light than his own is more about experience than skill.

[@wreddell]

I surely thought that the answer was "leading lines".

[@playingvideojames]

What I thought I liked about Hugh's work was the composition. But I'm realizing that it's nearly impossible for me to separate light from composition and lines. In real life, light fills space in it's ethereal way, but when compressed into a flat 2D image as the camera does, it's simply light and dark shapes and lines. Coming from a drawing/painting background, I feel like I can only approach photography when I demystify it, but sometimes how some photographers talk about light in a romanticized way make me feel like they are trying to re-mystify it, if that's a word. I still think I understand the point made here, maybe...

[@andrewpetley7008]

Interesting comparison, great music can still sound great and emotionally move the listener even on a cheap crackly sound system and a great image can still be emotionally moving and involving when taken on a battered point and shoot camera. Also the quality of the sound or image can be detailed and full on expensive equipment and uninspiring even boring. It nice when quality and subject come together of course.

[@ddsdss256]

Seeing the light (literally and figuratively) is one thing. It's being able to take best advantage of that light that produces portfolio pieces. That's not something that just happens--it requires study and experience, and of course, often a bit of luck (right place, right time). Hardware (such as a specific lens or C-PL) can help in some cases, but it's mainly getting your camera into the right position (millimeters and fractions of a degree can make the difference).

[@ladymary22]

Yay I guessed the answer.

[@lesberkley3821]

I saw different things than you did. Nyah, nyah! I saw composition, interaction, movement, etc.

[@Photoram405]

Im a welder and at the shop around sunrise I can see the golden hour peak and hit some of the equipment. All I can think of in that moment is how I wish I had a camera to take a shot

[@curiousabout1]

Use your phone! You might be amazed what you can produce, especially if your phone can shoot RAW.

[@davidgambin2551]

I realised a few months ago how much I still have to learn in photography, and that I am just someone with a camera that takes pictures and not a photographer, I miss a voice, mastering light, so many things... I only know I know nothing, and that is alright, just need to work and learn more.

[@davidesteban8209]

I can see the light, I think. My problem is time. Family and work doesn't allow me to wait, in a place, so I try to take advantage of the kind of light, soft, harsh or whatever I have in the next 2 minutes. I never have more time. 😅

[@IAmR1ch]

Great video. I thought it was going to be click bait but it turned out to be one of your better videos. Very well done. But it also brings to light (pun intended) that I have seen photographs where the light was terrible by photographer standards but the photographer captured emotion, story, color, movement subject that made the whole image and the light did not matter. There is more way to skin a cat or get a good image not just light, but good light and having an eye for it is very important.

[@brianegendorf2023]

The two things that I noticed about the first set of photographs is that a lot of them feel like they aren't on a straight line. Almost every photo is either at an angle, or has something in it that should be straight up and down, but is at an angle. I think the light is flat in those photos, and in many cases, your faces of your subjects are under exposed or in the shadows. You can see some of the same things in Hugh's photography, but somehow he gets the sun light to feel really soft in his photos. I'd almost guess that he's shooting through a thin silk screen or stocking or something to get that softening effect of areas of light. I don't think its a filter, cause that would be apparent on the faces and bodies, too..and it isn't, really. Also, I see a lot of vignetting in his shots, which means he's really stepping down the aperture to narrow the DOF..and then using the edge of where focus turns to blur to soften the lights..

[@MohammedAli-xv6es]

I honestly like Alex' pictures better. The soldier with the hidden gun (hidden because Alex exposed for the brighter part of the image), and the lady that feels like she's part of the fauna as she holds a flower in her hands (also because of low exposure) is brilliant. The other guy's pics are great too but in different ways. They make you want to go to the next image, not stay for a bit. interrupted

[@davidskinner274]

Not only the light, but the angles taken add drama and emotion in Hugh's images.

[@maryl1833]

Ansel told us this, too.

[@boatman222345]

When people ask me what I am most interested in photographing I always say, "Great light!"

[@mtaauth8491]

What timezone are your workshops in? CST can't mean central standard time, because that ends March 10.

[@drk321]

One of the things I have noticed on my decades long journey with photography is that typically young, or new photographers, including myself back then, have this feeling that this new art they are discovering means that every time "I" trip the shutter,....magic happens. They cannot detach themselves from their own images. They are TOO ATTACHED to THEIR own images. Fast forward to when you are a seasoned photographer and hopefully you have learned that you know nearly nothing about the craft. A long time experienced photographer hopefully has learned to be brutal during editing and toss anything that is not absolutely a pristine image you could not live without (detach yourself from your own photography). I did not emphasize the word "brutal" enough. Now, commenting on this video. The difference between the two sets of images were shockingly bad lighting with the first set. Composition that.........I don't know what to say. Composition is balance. I did not see balance. I actually saw and felt imbalance and that is an uncomfortable feeling. You want people to be drawn in to your images, not to shrink away. Second set, the skateboarders. Polar opposite. Beautiful compositions and kinetic energy, especially realizing these were shot in the 70's (clothes, hair styles, film stock gave that away). This is true photojournalism. Bottom line: Never fall into the trap that you are "all that". Be humble but actually evaluate your peers. Realize where you actually are on this journey. Being humbled is actually a good feeling. Being in awe of your fellow photographers may be the best part of this craft.

[@tedbrown7908]

The decisive moment is knowing when the light is right!

[@budyn1412]

Easy to do in southern California, but if you have light, you can be a photographer, and a damned good one at that. Lots of outstanding work thoughout the history of photography was done under less than ideal conditions, and that doesn't detract from its value or impact. Lots of examples to offer, from Jacob Riis, through Steiglitz, Steichen, the WPA people, Lartigue, Cartier-Bresson, to today's documentary and journalistic photographers - all have produced work without worrying about "it" lighting, and are no worse than some guy who photographed kids on skateboards in really great light.

[@XDtaylormagic]

HAHA I guess we're on the same algorithm! I just saw that audiophile video the other day!!

[@Call_Me_Mom]

Sometimes I can "see" the light that way, but some days I am too full of other things and miss it. I saw it yesterday though. I was out and about and saw some snow drifting over the top of the snow piled next to the road. And the afternoon sun was shining though the snow, between clouds, as it blew over like it was steam rising off a cup of coffee. I went home, dropped off whatever needed dropping off, picked up another camera - Because I am shooting a roll of film in my old Minolta at the moment - and went back to try and capture it. II hope I got one or two that will be decent. (I haven't looked at the digital ones yet and the fil(m roll has a few shots to go yet.)

[@foilpainterfantasyartist1711]

I was taught to see like an artist and that applies to photography/ When you learn to see light and shadows, then you see it everywhere, even in ads and commercials.

[@LastNameInTown]

As a life long photographer and Skateboarder Hugh says himself that Wide-angle lenses were his main focus and that the light in his images are a bi-product of the smog and late afternoon Cali sunlight. He did not focus on it as a main part of his ethos, getting close and creatinga feeling of drama is what HE says he cared about in the Z-Boy days. All of your initial images seemed very much processed to be over contrasted and far to deep in the blacks/shadows. Light is 101 for photography, outdoor images with lights are next but natural ability to understand and see composition, use leading lines and especially exposure is almost unteachable in my opinion, as I can always see a school taught graduate photographer using the RoT vs a 5 yr old who does it naturally aka my eldest vs my youngest.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

The purpose of an expensive lens is primarily that it will get you images that still look good in situations where the cheap ones won't. If you've got good lighting and good conditions, you should struggle to see a difference, if there's even one there. There's a reason why I've transitioned to nearly only Canon L lenses, sure a lot of the shots I take would be fine on cheaper lenses, but there are situations where the better lenses do make a difference. As long as folks understand that, there's no real issue. But, if you're not taking the craft seriously and you're not working in tough conditions, the difference may well not be worth it. (That being said, the pro-lenses on traditional SLR mounts have gotten rather cheap as everybody has been driven to those stupid mirrorless cameras, so the price difference isn't what it usually is)

[@prophet_9655]

the first b&w pic 1:26 made sense because its meant to give off a horror vibe, but then the rest kept on bothering me because i couldn’t see the details properly, especially with the dog 2:06 , the b&w kept merging. also with this picture 4:59 if the skater was timed perfectly to look like he was on top of the plane then it would be perfect but instead the plane interferes with the subject a little and would be better if the plane didn’t play such a significant role, so blurring the background but still letting it be known would’ve been better. ive never been into photography but ive been told that i should because i have a good eye for it. when i see something that looks like it could be a very good picture i point it out and never take the picture. i probably should start taking these pictures…😅

[@null0byte]

In addition to the lack of light usage, the examples at the beginning were very flat (everything was in focus, no sense of depth) and busy, and in the case of the doggie, overly contrasty to the loss of texture.

[@vincevinnyp9224]

Once walking into a busy market in vietnam with a tour, the guide kept pulling me towards XYZ which were really fascinating but I kept saying to them, can't you see the light coming through there and the backdrop I am happy sitting here waiting for something interesting to come along. It was my "That's why we are weird moment."

[@Chris-qg9rz]

I liked your photos lol.

[@kylespevak6781]

Sounds like your problem was trying to take the picture you want, rather than what you could. Ive always been a phone photographer, and ive had people use my photos for their wallpapers and give me great praise on my photography, when i sinply upload them as my travel photos. Im more of a landscape/urban photography due to it being kinda awkward to ask someone if i can take photos of them. Ive gotten some legendary candid shots of my friends and family though

[@billballard2019]

A mentor of mine once said, "in beautiful light and with an ugly subject, and you'll have a beautiful photograph. With a beautiful subject but ugly light, you'll have an ugly photograph."

[@Black_Jesus3005]

I’ve learned that you can have an awesome subject and composition but if the light is bad it probably won’t come out as great.

[@PacificBlueFilm]

At Natgeo they say follow the light

[@earlfenwick]

The only guy I know who can see the differences is anarchitectural photographer. Omfg he used to wear me out assisting him. When he glances at a pic and says it isn't critically sharp, it probably isn't. Based on where his pictures get published and his day rate, I believe him!

[@Benjamin_Watching]

Is there ever a time in which you find that you miss something of the style you had in your early work which you have lost? I've experienced times when I can tell that my work has improved, but that in some ways pulls me away from the style I want i.e. that shot would be very dramatic in different light and that's what would be best so I won't take it, but it's perfect light for a very somber shot, so I'm missing an opportunity. Great video all round though. Still there were images at the start I wouldn't nock, just see in a different light (if you'll pardon the pun.)