A simple change for better photos.

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This week I'm showing some editing and talking a little about my trip to Antarctica, but mostly I want to talk about a realisation I've had about my photography over the past couple of years.
Join us in Antarctica in 2026: forms.gle/b85ShUhwuCyeE8KS8
The Antarctica Photos: www.jamespopsys.com/antarctica24
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Newsletter: www.jamespopsys.com/newsletter
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[@don7117]

Agreed. My best photos to date are always the spontaneous ones. Either something I snapped on a whim while leaving a planned shoot, or from an unplanned walkabout.

[@MikeHeathExperience]

I love how you play on the edge of blown highlights. It's so soothing for some reason

[@calebhearn1526]

I was just thinking that with the wide shot of the red house at the beginning of the video. Bright sky and white snow makes it difficult to tell where the mountain ends and the sky starts, which just makes the sense of scale larger.

[@pixelpeter3883]

Problem with overly planning is that you tend to ignore everything outside of your 'plan' and thus miss out on whatever might presents itself to you. Just wing it, and open yourself to opportunities I'd say :-)

[@douglasriddle6447]

Totally agree. Once I stopped planning, I started see more shots.

[@JK-qz6jl]

You‘re right, some things are interesting, some are useful. This video is what you hoped for - both, at least for me.

[@shaananwalsh7513]

What I learned is James knows a lot more about editing than I do.

[@Morio412]

One of my best photos is when I noticed the colours in the sky at sun set travelling back home on the A66 from the Lake District. And as luck will have it a parking layby happened to be only a couple hundred yards away so I parked, got my camera and took the shot.

[@Photobuffeddy_AGS]

Good work! Keep it up … photography is a goal for most . Being a artist is difficult because lots are competing, but the craft art is key to human story

[@jonstout7635]

Inspiration, education, and entertainment all in one video!

[@jasoneldridgephotography]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us!

[@janekoppitz]

Your videos always motivate me to get out there and take photos, and this was exactly the push I needed this morning, so thanks!

[@rlfisher]

Always enjoy your videos, this one was particularly engaging and enjoyable.

[@ashittandon9301]

James, gorgeous images and love the edit workflow

[@louisburley1597]

The only shoots I plan now are astrophotography ones. I love Catalina State Park in Arizona. I wanted to do sunrise only because shooting mid day is brutally hot depending on the time of year. 30+ degrees Celsius. I didn’t plan other than time of day simply so I didn’t sweat to death. I had so many photos that I loved from that morning. I just took photos of everything I enjoyed. No planned subjects, no planned trails. Just enjoying the morning and the place. I think you’re definitely onto something James.

[@janetnelson1052]

Really enjoyed this James....thanks for sharing.

[@kapurar]

Excellent! Thanks for the tutorial!

[@jimbruton9482]

James, this is a good one. I totally agree on backing off on detailed planning before an outing. When you plan every detail, your expectations become very high and when you do go on that trip you wind up mostly disappointed that your experience was unfulfilled.

[@FrancoisMTL]

Really like when you show your edits step by step on different scenes!!

[@michaelajoseph6856]

Thank you for sharing your amazing images.

[@StevensonGphotos]

I absolutely love shots like @5:54 - the difference in scale between the building and the landscape is almost comical, and your shot somehow emphasises to terrific effect.

[@DoubleB13]

Really nice photos and editing. Thanks for sharing

[@jan-hendrikswanepoel3744]

Thanks, man, this is a very useful tutorial, and you took wonderful pictures, as always 😃 Thanks for sharing.

[@rhiannonlawler7313]

Love these shots James and it was fantastic to meet you on the trip. Thanks for all your help and laughs !

[@JC-qd1xg]

thank you very much for showing us your edeting thoughts again! It helps alot being a beginner and tying to understand edeting

[@HadleyHope]

Very interesting and useful, thank you for showing the edit.

[@Mel-95]

Your editing tutorials are always illuminating. I edit in Lightroom, and I always learn something new. Nice photo of "human nature" as well.

[@happymystic9800]

Intimate subjects nicely nested in the grandeur of an amazing landscape 😮 … this is actually what I have come to expect whenever I watch a video of yours. I am loving them ❤ … as far as your statement of „no planning beforehand“ goes, I would only concur if you go to places where you know that they will deliver anyway, irrespective of the preparatory effort. As always, another great video. cheers 😊

[@JackieDElia]

I love that photo with the blue and white roof. Absolutely beautiful.

[@PeterIldefonso-cp5mq]

Love the video editing tips. Totally enjoyed the trip. Not sure my photos came out the way I wanted but I need to make another pass using these editing options.

[@Axonteer]

Wherever i go on a photo walk/trip, my mantra is „i work with what i have, not what i dont have“ basically just rolling with whatever time weather light i find at a given location, makes it much less stressfull with the „ must succeed“ pressure

[@steviem8466]

Nice work James and I like your point of view/story telling in your images.

[@PETERFRITZPHOTO]

This was really useful, James - thank you.

[@marvinbeatty]

Love the penguin shot at 4:59. It has an, "I'm gonna climb the shit out of that mountain" vibe.

[@marvinbeatty]

And the one at 5:17 seems to be thinking, "Yeah, it's nice sure ... but I don't NEED more than this."

[@janwilson6145]

Useful and interesting. And really lovely.

[@Realletsplaygrey]

Antartica is one of my dream trips and if it was a workshop with you and Mads i'd be wildly excited. 2026 might have to happen for me!

[@agamaneo643]

I love your tutorial on photo editing, it is quite inspiring to me.

[@RamblingTog]

I attended a lecture by a relative of Shackleton's photographer that illustrated all his glass plate images, well worth seeing

[@chrishowell5718]

Interesting stuff. I've never really had the luxury of planning ahead to much, so I've always been pretty spontaneous out of necessity. It's good to hear that a professional is coming round to feeling that planning ahead in detail is less helpful, as I think it reduces my fear pf missing out. Fascinating stuff on the editing, too- something I need to find more time to get into.

[@ch3m1c]

Thanks, very nice informative video :) Keep them coming mate ❤

[@aj-wn4ps]

Yo James, I got your preset and it works such wonders esp for icy landscapes. Big up.

[@Twobarpsi]

What an amazing location! Great photos!

[@rptbr]

Agree! My planning goes to looking at maps to give myself a rough route to follow. Spontaneous nature of photography adds to as you feel about taking photos James, as a documentation of what is happening, and once you start planning it takes away from "I happened to be here and I want to remember" to something artificial and creates an emotional disconnect.

[@aidanwilliams9452]

Whenever I travel I get the usual planned tourist shots but in general I like the spontaneity of just stumbling across a scene in the moment, also makes it feel more like capturing a unique moment in time

[@Jaigo-Ar]

Gracias James! 👏👏👏

[@50shadesofNV]

Agree. Plus adding urgency adds icing on cake

[@SundayRacers]

It was useful AND interesting. Thank you!

[@paulasimson4939]

I'm so with you on that, James. When I traveled, I used to try and figure out all the best spots at the best times of day, then fight off the crowds who had the same idea. Now, I just wander, see what I see and it's so much more enjoyable and I'm getting more unique images.

[@matsfotografi]

Great video! I find it a bit spooky that I posted a text on my old school blog on my new tactic in photography minutes before I watched this clip. The text was all about the freedom and independence I feel when my planning before a day out is limited to finding out how heavy the rain is going to be. When the weather, light and my daily form gives me a nice subject I go all in with composition, exposure and the rest of it. So it's not a snapshot kind of thing, just a unplanned but hopefully well crafted image.

[@JackieDElia]

Every video you make, I immediately click the like button as soon as it starts. I love your content.

[@robj1366]

Great to see how you achieve the final image

[@gerardneedham]

Oh man I would have loved to have taking photos inside that hut

[@mhussingvidal]

Great video as always!! James, can you please do more videos of editing?? Thanks, regards from Spain

[@minus1db]

Spot on, exactly what I decided to do a year ago, along with only shooting prime (99% 85mm) it’s changed my photography and lessened any disappointment

[@Maruszan]

Fail to plan, plan to enjoy as the saying goes. I think.

[@nxmrjake]

Having bought the presets i LOVE seeing you talk through using them 🍺

[@nxmrjake]

I’d appreciate more videos like this for sure

[@HR-wd6cw]

I'd say you need to plan enough (but not over-do it) to increase your chances of getting the shot you want, but don't be discouraged when it doesn't work out or you have to deviate. I've been on a few landscape trips where my best photos were not the photos I intended to take, or they were better than the ones I had in mind when planning my trip. This is also a good exercise in learning to cope with the conditions as they come -- meaning know what you CAN do when things don't work out (for example, if it's raining or overcast, it may be a good day to go find a waterfall to photograph or do macro). So my thing would be have an idea, maybe do some planning, but leave room for changes and don't be discouraged if things don't work out 100% to plan. They never really do. I used to be rather detailed in my planning (down to how long I would spend at a location), but over the years I realized it was more or less wasted part of the time, since things would change usually once I got there (either the conditions/weather weren't right or I decided to stay longer at a location and that would screw up the schedule for the day). Now I just make a list of place I'd like to visit, and where the sun will be (say for sunrise/sunset). The only other thing I might do is scope the area during the "harsh" hours but that's about it. I no longer plan out in great detail these trips (which are usually landscape trips) and have sort of trained myself to go with the flow

[@bernardjohnwright]

Love the photo have one similar playing around with atm. Trip was incredible and as you say no chance of planning just being ready to grab something. What I liked is everyone saw something slightly different each day.

[@MichaelCantwell]

Thanks for this video.

[@tjsinva]

Spontaneity is fun. Carry on. 👍🥂

[@hamsterneckliving]

Thanks!

[@garymc8956]

Enjoyed the Lightroom lesson.

[@bernym4047]

I was amused at the end when you softened the background to concentrate focus on the 'subject'. Was it Henri Cartier-Bresson who said “Sharpness is a bourgeois concept”?. It's a technique I use myself. It does rather mock the incessant chase for the ultimate Nth degree of detail and sharpness which the photographic hardware industry thrives on. A very interesting demonstration of your use of LR. I don't use Adobe software but I can follow the techniques.Thank you.

[@johnathanmeerfeld4677]

I wonder if this realization will eventually make you take even more photography trips, or simply getting out for even more/ longer photo sessions. Thanks for sharing your thought process , really lovely vid :)

[@expeditionuk]

It’s funny cause I was in Patagonia a few weeks ago and was thinking a video of yours from there would be good. Looking forward to it!

The ending was too funny ahahah

[@Azunaii]

Nice edit!

[@LeviFiction]

So, if you were a writer, while capable of both, you'd be a pantser rather than a plotter. 😊 I so rarely plan anything, and definitely love the when the unexpected photos happen. But I also feel underprepared. I need to find that in-between. Some planning, just not going overboard with it.

[@petera1033]

the very definition of a 'planned' photographic trip is making your way down to the Antarctic - somewhat ironic given the premise of the thread! -:) Still, I agree 100% with your thoughts on the matter.

[@DanaPushie]

Morning James, I enjoy the classic James Popsys shots as always. Love it! Thanks for sharing your editing process. It's great to learn someone else's process. Segue, What are your thoughts on the issue of camera gear security? Isn't it about time we had some security features baked in by the manufacturers? Where else would we pay for expensive gear, so easily stolen, with no security features. Cheers.

[@ourhouseuk]

@james - linear gradient form the bottom of the water quite high up starting point with a -.15ev and your clarity reduction and then intersect with the foreground. 😘 Thanks for the video!

[@adamclarke3310]

Great video. I agree I have stopped planning, for me photography is an excuse to explore, not just about the best image. I might get fewer keepers but I value the ones I do get! Love the editing walk through too, have you considered sharing a raw file for people to play with as you edit it?

[@alangauld6079]

I just watched Henry Turner's latest and he was saying the exact same thing about not planning too much! Jealous of the Antarctic trip but way beyond my piggy bank!

[@christhorney]

looks like a fun place, im trying to figure out my photography still, the editing i suck at, everything i do makes the picture worse, unlike video where i dont really struggle at all with colour and levels and stuff, idk why i stuggle with the photos, editing is subjective and thats where a lot of the art comes into it i think, and honestly that pic you edited i wouldnt have gone so bright and washed out, but i get that like you like to capture things as you think they should look, where i like to capture things as they are, idk if that makes sense or not, im still trying to make sense of everything but one thing im noticing a lot is peoples editing styles and trying to analise what i like or would do differently and i love that you went through the editing process because it helps even tho i would have gone a different direction, knowing what your thinking in the process helps me to understand my own style a little bit better

[@DaveKingMusic]

5:54 my favorite

[@averytheamazingone]

The most planning I'll do is find an interesting place and look outside the window lol the less planning that gets done, the more adventure there is to have!

[@pematamang9268]

Your channel is so great and inspire for us.. Keep doing man. Actually what resolution or Export setting do you use for web?

[@MSmith-Photography]

As someone with a full-time job and can mostly only go out on the weekend, I can't plan shoots a lot. So, I've gotten used to shooting in unknown conditions. Can't say that I nail it every time I go, but...yeah.

[@ciprianpopica]

Yep... the best feeling ever. Works the same in life. The best and happiest moments in life for me were when I had no money and no plans 🤣. Still valid today haha.

[@DaveKingMusic]

I believe Nigel had a similar experience on the trip too!

[@jeffp1519]

I’ve never been a planner. When I’ve ever attempted to plan something it usually only prevented me from getting up and out because I knew the weather was going to be bad. I’d much rather get out and explore, seeing what I see, capturing what I capture.

[@FoTomgraphy]

James Popsys discovers Street Photography. 2:42 Cool video mate!

[@MarcoBlanke]

I love your Light & dreamy preset!

[@nxmrjake]

I’ve not found a situation where it works with my photos but having seen it in use I can now see it in practice 🙌

[@MarcoBlanke]

The right occasion sure will come :)@@nxmrjake

[@danielsimon8735]

That anxiety about planned shots started to ruin photography for me. I now do exactly the opposite. Even if I don't get any or many keepers on a trip out, the trip itself is infinitely more enjoyable. And it is still all practice in looking.

[@VincentGirod]

When I plan photos, I don't come back with photos I like. I prefer the photos where I can say : I had the luck to be there at this moment. Thank you for your video. Always a good moment !

[@andriesmeyer5525]

Please do a video on your print settings and how to size the image and canvas.

[@Shetlandin360]

Ange Postecoglue as the tour guide 😂 4:44

[@brennanmahokey6148]

intro song was so nice

[@nicolasguillenc]

Great video James, I filled the form hoping I will have the money by 2026 you never know haha!

[@liftpitcher]

“We haven’t got a plan so nothing can go wrong “ Spike Milligan 😂

[@IvoTichelaar]

Plot twist, I need to plan something to go out. Then when I am on location, forget what the plan was and have a great time!

[@MrKnobs5]

Great vid. thanks! What is the song at the start?

[@ulisebalbuena]

I thought that u where in argentina but u never say itt, amazing

[@matiasmere77]

Welcome to Argentina Antartic Sector.

[@evawettergren7492]

You deciding not to plan your photos is the equivalent of a proficient painter deciding to just doodle something... when I decide to take photos without planning it is just a person doodling something. There is a huge difference in the resulting doodle.

[@JamesPopsysPhoto]

Try it with food shopping... that's the best!

[@danielgoldberg2129]

I shoot a lot of wildlife and once in a while I snap a picture and my camera freezes the image in the preview area for just a split second and I’ll see it and know it’s a really good photo. Or I’ll shoot a landscape and right when I snap the picture a bird will fly into view and get frozen in the frame and I’ll be really happy. I love those moments. (I also secretly love getting photo bombed when I’m taken by surprise. I just think they’re funny.😄)

[@thicket23]

Lovely footage. The shadow in the snow under the flag looks like a penguin to me.

[@SteelOnVR]

❤

[@harlanphoto]

I would argue that you have internalized many years of planning, shooting, editing, reviewing, and contemplating to the point that, much like an experienced jazz musician, you can improvise on the fly to take advantage of photo opportunities as they present themselves.

[@russandloz]

Great video. No workshop for 2025? 😢

[@wendynewing8834]

This is very interesting and informative. Thank you for this. I am really sorry you got 'separated' from your wallet. What a worry and total nightmare. I hope it all gets sorted soon.