The MOST COMMON Photography Mistake.

I constantly try to think about this tip in all its guises to make my photos better. Sometimes I forget, so here's a video explaining the errors I've made both with my camera and in Lightroom and Photoshop. Also I'm truly sorry about the wall...
0:00 Intro
0:33 Greed
4:36 Tunnel Vision
6:25 Squashing the histogram
8:56 Global solutions
10:55 The real spectrum
The Book: www.jamespopsys.com/store/201...
Prints: www.jamespopsys.com/store
Presets: www.jamespopsys.com/store?cat...
Newsletter sign up: www.jamespopsys.com/newsletter
---
www.jamespopsys.com/gear
---
MUSIC:
I get all my music for the videos from Epidemic Sound. Try it out here: share.epidemicsound.com/v9VD7

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Still no sign of the frames - I'll keep you updated, as I'm sure you care greatly... Thanks for watching :)

[@bikerdave1967]

Hi James, That’s cool backlighting for the office. Much better than sitting in a darkened room when you’re working from home. How are you lighting it?

[@mountains_and_moors]

James, your frames are bugging my OCD for a different reason than the blank space on the right. Yes you need frames on the right but I would like a space for your head to sit cleanly in the gap between the frames. Bothers me more that your head is overlapping the the two frames on the right. Can you reduce the depth of field so the wall is a little out of focus? The plug socket is really messing with my Chi! ATB, Ant 👍🏻😁

[@bradw7084]

For me, even once the new frames are in, that KZbin award on the side wall irks me 🤷‍♂️😆 ...but I also liked your green walls, so what do I know?

[@ceaabe]

White frames could have done great with the dark green colour.

[@jasontrahan4483]

The designer in me agrees, but also says how the laptop visually balances out the frame.

[@ichbrauchmehrkaffee5785]

James "Telephone boxes alone are not that interesting" Tourists: "Joke's on you, I'm into that shit"

[@sava3989]

For my case the biggest mistake is to forget to charge my batteries.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Yep, been there :)

[@malcolmfoster6266]

Lol. I just did that yesterday. 🤪

[@hanatullahanike7868]

I thought I was the only one.

[@SteveSacramento]

Or leave all your memory cards at home...

[@daniel635biturbo]

I've charged all my batteries, but left them in the charger at home, so even worse...

[@ItsAMbutyoutubechangedmyname]

Worst photography mistake is to forget why you started taking photos in the first place the feeling how it made you feel with other words you forget to have fun while doing it

[@Brejla]

me :(

[@fxshell]

Worst mistake of photography: staying at home and not taking pictures. Edit: Wow, I'm Famous. Follow my instagram @euphotix.ch

[@mirza.]

Great point about needing to reset your eyes after every edit. I usually never share a photo unless I am happy with the edit the day after.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Good call :)

[@samuelstahl4432]

I do the same thing and sometimes I look at the edit the next day and I’m really happy that I haven’t shared it yet

[@barrymedlin6587]

That’s excellent advice Mirza! Going to do that next time I shoot and edit!

[@vk3dgn]

Conversely, some photos which I think are boring/rubbish, I view again after 6 months and realise they are pretty good (I never delete a technically good shot).

[@EvanAube]

Same! Spacing out my uploads given them time to marinate, but the don't get pushed out unless I'm 100% behind my name being on them.

[@aveshang]

It takes a ton of courage to critique your own work this way, authentically, instead of trying to prove you are a flawless photographer. Great tips and thanks for sharing sir.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thank you 😃

[@recklessthor4]

I literally was going to say the same thing.. this guy's good

[@blue_ranger]

Haha! That is so me! "Wooow! Got to snap those cliffs!" - Like they are going anywhere any time soon.

[@davidwamback9000]

Excellent. Especially the advice to walk away from an adjustment and look at it with new eyes later.

[@keithlangmead4098]

I think you can definitely go past "Realistic", but crucially it needs to be far enough past it to be clearly intentional. Like beyond "Realistic" there's "Artistic" further along the graph, but there's also a no-mans land in between them. Way past and it looks like a choice, slightly past and it looks like an editing screw up.

[@mikejankowski6321]

Very interesting point!

[@tomwebb3081]

Ah, the 'unhappy valley' of artistic intent. Never thought of it that way.

[@GuitarplayerX95]

That first bit with the ocean and cliffs hits close to home. So many times I'll do exactly that. Take so many with such minor differences to only get home and not like any of it.

[@pietrdavgar3744]

This is what honesty is all about. I can't make myself like photos where the subject is alter to the point where your experience with a naked eye doesn't resemble the photo.

[@MitchLally]

So many people need to hear this! Including me!

[@JSManc1]

You photograph things that should be ‘meh’ but always kill it. Always amazed with the fact you shoot in sunny conditions and still nail it.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks so much mate 😃

[@gingerhansen1902]

Whenever I'm picking apart my photos I reassure myself that it least I've got a good excuse to go back out into the beauty again. I get caught up in it! 😅 Thanks for all the great advice and fun! Cheers, to you and yours in this new year! ❤

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

That’s definitely the best way to look at it 😃

[@0ooTheMAXXoo0]

That phonebox has a house growing out of the side of it. Exactly the kind of busyness you want to avoid.

[@noahpaynter7138]

Brilliant video, got a lot from it. You are quickly becoming my favourite youtube photographer.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Awesome to hear! Thank you 😃

[@karlthefirst8690]

Awesome video, James. A few really great points, more than I can say for most (nearly all) Y/T videos. Well done and thanks as always.

[@iankellam6440]

Intellectual stimulation and entertainment in one!! Editing is definitely black magic. One man's realistic is most definitely not everyone's. Loved the tips on composition detail. Keep it up James and stay safe.

[@aqilkarimov9682]

It’s difficult to find channel which is not trying to sell something on each video. Thank you for good content you create for us. I really appreciate it.

[@MrAHay88]

Such amazing points to touch upon. I relate to every single one of them as I'm still working on growing as a photographer and quite often I question what I'm doing wrong with my shots. Honestly James, thank you so much for all the content you provide! Absolutely love your work Sir.

[@MichaelRBlair]

Great video. Very useful in reminding me that rules are great but always keep in mind there are exceptions and not overdo it with the rules. Thanks James!

[@DavidFlowerOfficial]

Totally agree with this. You only need to look at Instagram for examples of over-cooked images. Great video, James 👍

[@bradw7084]

Yup, they're easy to find as they're often the most popular! 🙄😖

[@malcolmfoster6266]

It’s hard to keep mine in check after seeing all the others you guys are talking about. Cheers 🍻

[@eibophobie]

Great insights James! Thanks a lot for sharing your point of view on this matter. The first few minutes regarding the Lofoten foto are particulary relateable - have been in that situation a lot and its still one of the main challenges in my fotography.

[@SuperPITSteelers]

Dude, I don't know why, but I could watch your videos all. Day. Long. Your videos feel like a conversation with a mate, instead of a informational video from a stranger. You do AMAZING work here on KZbin, and I hope hope hope you don't plan on stopping any time soon

[@kaid3566]

FANTASTIC video! What you are talking about (which I would define as photographic "minimalism," or getting rid of that which is unnecessary) seems SO simple when I'm watching you explain through your gorgeous images. It's another story when I'm out in the field, or forest, or the ocean, with my camera, and I seem to forget all of my objectives and overload the sensor with details. Also, your example of the unsuccessful red house photo perfectly illustrates the difference between "documentary" and "art" photography. Capturing photographs that are imbued with meaning and can stand alone is truly difficult. Although there are some rules - rules that can be broken - there is no magic formula. And that is why we keep searching.

[@inthewoodswithbigfoot3941]

Great stuff James! Thanks for sharing your perspective!

[@lyndapassey2752]

Thanks for this really helpful video. Great examples of how to improve composition by simplifying what is in the image. The parts about shadows and colour were useful too. It helped me understand why the colour in my images is never the same as it appears in the field.

[@lindaward5338]

Thank you. All of that was really helpful. Even your "diagram."

[@louiebodenstaff6772]

Brilliant observations James, thanks for sharing!

[@chrisgaunt7402]

James... This is one of the most interesting and informative photography videos I've ever seen.... Brilliant and thank you 👏👏👏

[@davidharle8794]

Absolutely agree. Modern editing programmes are really too powerful! It is always tempting to just tweak a bit more and forget when to stop. Thanks for reminding us what is realistic and what isn't!

[@blxkronic]

You're just amazing man! I haven't seen many or idk if i've seen any youtubers make a video with such tips and info THANKS A LOT FROM A BEGINNER 😁

[@barrymedlin6587]

Excellent advice James! Definitely some things I had not thought about!

[@cs.ludlow]

Using effects sliders only locally is a very good tip. Something else I do when editing color is edit by thumbnail. Seeing the image compressed next to your other photos will make it stand out if you’re pushing things too far. Great video!

[@michaelnewell9662]

one of your best, you illustrated your points so well!

[@glttheriault]

Good points. Nice that you made the distinction between a landscape photograph that is all in focus and one that isn't for clarity, texture, and dehaze. You got my intrigue with your lake district photo with colors. Very well done and it would be interesting to see how you did it?! Thanks for sharing!

[@isjami21]

such good advice and so easy to digest, plus entertaining without being "too much". thankyou!

[@issafilme]

Man, I couldn't agree more with your last point! That's the problem of me seeing many outdoors photographer in my area who really love to 'enhance' the color of plants, trees, and the sky. I get it from the creative standpoint that it does look nice but I think the amount of realness is also important on the account of nature. Anyway, it's a great video, thanks for sharing!

[@benjaminthorpe7990]

I love using the dehaze slider in the opposite direction to add a slight haze. It's lovely for softer filmic photography styles. Also, I'd love to see you collab with Jamie Windsor, I think you two would make an excellent tag team!

[@capturespixels_]

Totally agree with that James I just try and not to overdo it at all just do general tweaks 😊

[@theeggtimertictic1136]

4:47 I totally disagree with you about this photo ... this to me is way more interesting than individual photos ... this is a complete story!

[@joelwolski]

I think too often we equate photography with painting; starting with a blank canvas/sensor and "filling" it with paint/light. But I think photography is more akin to sculpture; starting with something that is there (the lump of marble or the landscape scene before us), and removing all the unnecessary bits to reveal the image inside. Also I think photography can be aptly compared to writing (it does mean "light-writing" after all). A poem on a page does not fill the paper with ink, nor even often times the page with words. The words are carefully chosen as is there orientation to one another in order to communicate feeling. Likewise is photography about communicating feeling. Therefore the tones and colors should be carefully placed within the frame, but no more and no less.

[@samanthagarner2926]

I love the tip to walk away from your edit for a bit and look at it with fresh eyes. I do that a lot with food photography, especially if I make something "too green"

[@obscur_yoann]

Spot on advice! For the clarity-texture-dehaze sliders, I find them less aggressive in Capture One, making them, sometimes, a little more usable globally (if you stay in some reasonable amount). But still, using them locally is so much more efficient!

[@pasqualray1337]

I think you always make some really good points. Thanks for sharing your learning journey.

[@nickjessel7759]

One of my favourite chats you’ve given us. I recognise this detail overload when I’ve used the 8-18mm PL in 2020. My greatest discovery in 2020 was using the PL 100-400mm for landscape shots. Purchased to photograph owls and such like, the lens has produced more landscape/panoramic shots than wildlife for me. All about what you say, getting closer to the subject, or cutting out superfluous detail/view.

[@doncollins6465]

Excellent teaching James, with good examples.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Cheers mate! 😃

[@TimFromWales]

Great info and points - however I really like the shot of the house and the details. It’s kind of like a flat-lay photo that draws you in to explore it for the contents. But i also agree, it would work well as a series.

[@afoak4981]

I love that you show examples of your images. Makes me feel more connected to what you're saying! 😁

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Awesome to hear :)

[@acadiamusic514]

This might be one of your best/most useful set of tips yet!

[@benstaude101]

Your honesty and willingness to share is much appreciated and refreshing. It's part of the process to muck things up, to develop taste and styles and to experiment. Cheers

[@martinbobby1504]

Ilovethisvideo

[@kalisti2323]

Always food for thought here, thank you!

[@lisasimpson9343]

Thank you for that especially the bit about silhouettes I struggled with my sunset shots and what do with the silhouette as some people tell you to bring out the shadows but when I did it it looked rubbish, thought they were just no good photos even thought the sky and silhouetted mountains looked good initially. I'll shall go back to what I like from now on.

[@okay1904]

Extremely valuable video. All points I agree with. It does take a while to realise these things. I was guilty of oversharpening of human face portaits, until by accident one day I realised my folly - tools can be easily overused. One of the best sets of advice on photography ever. Good job. Very good job.

[@TeaJayPhotography]

I'm guilty of all of this! I noticed it already from time to time and I promise to do better! I swear! Thank you, James!

[@sunnyt_real]

Thanks! Lightbulb moments with using the brush & colours, I needed to hear this :) I liked the illustration (or the wording of real/realistic even more), I'm more aware now of what I do now or don't do.

[@matthewpatterson9184]

Excellent video as always, James. Great information, very well explained. Thank you.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Cheers Matthew! 😃

[@kerstinwood4969]

I love your videos. You are always so funny. You've taught me a lot about photography. Thank you so much!

[@AdamDopierala]

great video as always, James!

[@MrMoonpie001]

James, I really liked this video and you bring up such a good point! For the longest time, I could not figure out what I was doing wrong? It boiled down to simply trying to cram too much in the photo. There is nothing wrong with negative space and a place for the picture to breathe. I liked your examples too, really brought home the point especially the first one with the cliff. You really miss the shot when you get too much going on! Thanks for the thoughts, they were a big help! Moonpie

[@stephengriffiths8312]

Great video James, many thanks 👍

[@jonesnax]

Excellent video James. It's something that I realise I do. My big frustration seems to be finding a great subject which is ruined with a hectic background or adjacent mess....Ahhh!

[@jeroenstrybos812]

Great video as always James! Usable down to earth tips, you’ve got to love them 👍👍

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks so much :)

[@jeroenstrybos812]

@@JamesPopsysPhoto My pleasures and maybe unusual for social media but it is also the truth 😂

[@chopster01]

I LOVE the house shot around 5:40. Reminds me of Alec South. It is a kind of portraiture. Don’t trash it!

[@ravineelakantan6417]

Wonderful practical points...Thank you very much

[@sharansrivatsa210]

I loved the first image! I'm sorry I absolutely loved every image that you used to explain your points lol.

[@JailanyD]

I always remember your words of never overdo a photo when editing. It is what I think of every time I sit down to edit and Im practicing to change. It is REALLY hard to not push that slider to the spot where you feel it should be and without realizing, I have overdone it. I felt attacked when you said adobe does not need the texture, clarity and dehaze slides because I use it all the time and I actually sort of agree with you on that one. Loving all your advice and you have truly helped me to become a better photographer !

[@richardpowellTV]

I must be a bit different! I like the negative space on the wall James! The only thing that distracts me is that you should move to your left about a foot, then your head wouldn't cover the edges of the pictures. Oh, and I would change the camera angle to lose the wall socket or put a small prop, maybe an old camera on the table near the edge to cover it. Apart from that, it's perfect!!! Seriously, all you said is true and common sense. Keep it simple and don't over process.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Cheers Rick, and thankfully the sockets will soon be covered by furniture :)

[@mountains_and_moors]

@ Rick Powell - a-ha, pretty much the same comment is I replied in James’ own pinned comment! Hello from another Mr Powell 😉

[@richardpowellTV]

@@JamesPopsysPhoto Your'e welcome James. I look forward to all your videos, especially the ones with negative space haha!!

[@JoeL-yf4ee]

Good video today. I always walk away from my work as well then go back to it. My final decision whether or not I like my work is a small print I will make. I have a small printer just for that. I find for myself what I see on the computer is not always what I see in print. Catch you on the next one and the both of you stay safe.

[@Henry30065]

I always enjoy your videos and your common sense advice. Well done and keep up the good work.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks so much Alun :)

[@MihoNightwalker]

Excellent video, James. Thank you

[@TerraPosse]

Thanks for sharing some of your less stellar photos to demonstrate. Oh, and I'm guilty more often than not of the detail overload...will try and work on it.

[@Biosynchro]

I certainly agree with your point about detail overload. We need to be selective and deliberate, and if we are, our photos are able to make a statement (aesthetically, not literally). I also agree about adjustments: people sometimes use them ally because they can. However, I don't do local adjustments either. Modern digital cameras are helping us to more and more avoid the need for post processing. It's like I'm able to go back to shooting slide film without actually shooting film.

[@stjohnimagery]

Great tips in this video. Well said.

[@anonymacy]

Great video. Lots of good and interesting examples. Not to long and a good balance of information. Looking forward for more!

[@martinbobby1504]

BeautifulGirls.Relax

[@johnpettitt6513]

Great Vlog for a Monday morning. Much more informative than the Teams meeting I was supposed to be concentrating on at the the same time. 😉

[@guy_roh]

Excellent video. Solid advice. No extra nonsense, straight to the point. Subscribed 👍

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks mate :)

[@Liverpoolito]

not all of your videos are interesting for me, but this one! such a lesson! Great, thank you!

[@danielcarbis3867]

Very well made video. You explain my thought process on 'realistic' photography in ways I can't.

[@pseudonym7606]

This was such an amazing video. Thank you. I’ll probably watch this 100 times.

[@Cleverconveyence]

I feel really good that for all my misgivings throughout being a photographer that I've managed to avoid that squash. I figured out the power of shadows p early on.

[@martindvorsak3168]

Great instructional video, thanks!

[@kadinaator]

I absolutely love that iceberg photo - so beautiful!

[@ItsPinecone_911]

Yes I agree. Walk away from your image then come back later and edit again. Done this myself and yes had that 🤮 reaction to what I originally thought was 😍 when 1st editting.

[@goldmemberr]

This same shot with longer exposure would be great too. Although, your photo is really good and we are harder on ourselves then we should be!

[@The5thVolt]

Yeeha! I've been to that telephone box in Skye back in 1992!! Such a beautiful island! Thanks for your tips, I'm just starting out with photography and I'm guilty of making all of these mistakes. Luckily I found your video and can correct early in my journey.

[@boatman222345]

Good points all.Unrealistic color saturation, in particular, has become some sort of new "norm" over the past few years. Just as overdone HDR can ruin a photo so too can colors that POP with so much exuberance as to give you a headche!

[@Loki_Highlock]

Resting the eyes is key. Especially when you’re making gradual adjustments. Over a period of one sitting, I’ll tend to keep bumping certain sliders. I’ll leave and come back to it after an hour or so, and more often than not, end up pulling those sliders back. Take your time. It’s art. Don’t rush it. I can’t count how many times in the past I’ve edited a photo, posted it online, then looked at my post a couple hours later and cringed. Great video. 😁

[@genewaddlerandomstuff2122]

Great tips, as always. Thank you. 🐏 and a phone booth. Made my day. 🙂

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

😂 Thanks as always for watching 😀😀

[@danielhenzphotography]

I agree with the sharpening and clarity slider mainly because they look over the top imidiatly. The texture slider is way more gentle. But I start to agree with local ajustments. I try to use them to enhance the suject and not the hole image

[@rob9386]

I really needed that. Thanks so much! Loved this.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Cheers Robert :)

[@jasonandrews7355]

Regarding the final range of photos, my default starting point for most of my photos is to crush the blacks until I lose a tiny bit of detail, and then do the same with the highlights. I don't do that for every image, and I adjust lots after that, of course, but I find it's often a good starting point. The hidden nature of things lost in shadow is usually more interesting than the things themselves.

[@kittyclerico18]

Great content! I think I have been guilty of everything you’ve mentioned. Your content helps me understand what’s wrong with some of my photos and what’s right with others.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Awesome to hear 😃

[@psych4143]

Great video. So glad I found this Chanel

[@Timmaai]

Some great thoughts on composition! I'll keep this in mind next time I've got my camera out

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thank you :)

[@joshualeelagos3857]

I feel so bad for discovering this amazing channel only recently.. 😭😭😭 But anyway, i love the content of your videos. Very entertaining, and very helpful especially for beginner / intermediate photographers (such as myself). Keep up the great work, and i will definitely watch all of your previous (and future) videos to learn more. Much thanks 👊

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks so much mate!

[@sagarchauhan_]

thankyou 🌸

[@voiddoctor]

I took a photo of a large brick building recently, cranked the texture slider, made it look so much better. Really brought your eyes to the building. Just one instance though. Not saying it works for everything, in fact, most of the time it doesn't.

[@kemerthomson]

Really excellent advice about global changes. In fact, excellent advice overall.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Thanks so much 😃