7 BAD HABITS Photographers have and how to FIX them!

[@bradwarrior1000]

Never truer words spoken, "Garbage in, Garbage out." So true.

[@RobertVE3VPL]

With mirrorless bodies you can see the histogram and/or over/under exposure in the EVF before taking the picture, so I never chimp. I keep the rear LCD turned around so that I don't accidentally scratch it. Every once in a while, every hour or so, I might review the last photography taken to make sure the camera is working. This goes back to 2 times in film days when my camera sounded like it was working but didn't find till I got home from the lab that the camera malfunctioned and I lost the entire roll.

[@WMedl]

Good video, Thank You! Two remarks: 1 using a higher ISO than the base leads to underexposed images 2 Ansel Adams - one of the most important photographers not only for film days - did elaborate even enormous post processing taking scrupulous notes of all his prcessing steps. I sometimes "overprocess" my images to give them the wanted impression not available otherwise.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ddsdss256]

I agree with most of what you've presented, although with regard to "chimping" (a silly, derogatory term), one of the most significant advantages of digital photography is the ability to confirm that you got the image you wanted before leaving the scene and you've lost a possible opportunity for a re-do. Even if it looks great in the EVF/LCD before making the exposure, that doesn't guarantee that you "nailed it" (lighting changes, subject/camera movement, focussing issues if you rely on AF, etc. can occur in a fraction of a second). I'm not saying to check every image before making the next exposure, as you can indeed miss other shots, but at least make sure you have a usable RAW* file before leaving the scene, if practical. *Ansel was spot-on when he said 'you don't take a photograph, you make it' and the best photos start as RAW files and end up as prints (the "best" digital images aren't even close to the best prints--viewing projected images is an inferior experience, especially on a small screen, and every screen varies). SooC JPGs may look good some cases, but it's a very rare image that can't be improved with some subtle (and on occasion, not so subtle) adjustments. That can indeed make the difference between a good photo and a great one.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Looking at an image every now and then is totally ok. It is a benefit digital have over film. Especially after you have photographed what you want. That is not chimping.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing these awesome tips. I'd add one more post processing tool to the essentials and that is the vignetting control.

[@ForsgardPeter]

You are right, vignetting is one important tool!

[@luzr6613]

Hi Peter... good to see that you're out and about on chilly days. Just wanted to say that i really liked the image of the person struggling in the wind in front of the tram. Great shot. I hope it ended there and that you weren't chimping at the moment of impact.... All the best from summer in a New Zealand rainforest.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thanks. It was the driver trying to get to the right tracks. Snow and ice had jammed the rails.

[@robstammers7149]

It seems to me Peter, that photo and video storage is a subject not really talked about. We have all become so relient on the cloud. There are several things that worry me about digital photography. Mainly storage safety and longevity. I, like many, started out shooting film, there was no digital cameras in existence back in the day. So film was my only storage system. Today is so massively different. Storage of our precious images relies heavily on HDD or SSD, and still on optical disks. These three media will eventually fail (some sooner than others) and then what? I still have film negatives and slides from the 70s and 80s. What do I trust the most for digital image storage today you may ask. Well, mostly my large capacity HDD drive, which I've been using for over 10 years. And, like many, the cloud. The cloud is not local of course, but can be if you utilise a local home network set up. SSDs I trust the least, especially thumb drives. I mainly use CF cards and SD cards, these media are long proven reliable tech. Thanks Peter, it's always good to hear your opinions. Regards Rob (UK).

[@ForsgardPeter]

That is a good point about CF and SD cards. Those are quite reliable. Only concern are the memory card readers.

[@robstammers7149]

@@ForsgardPeter Fair point Peter. I use a trusted multi card reader made by Hama, again choosing a good quality card reader is essential, I've only had one bad experience with a cheap ( and I mean cheap) reader, the dreaded bent pin (not sure how that happened), which rendered it useless. best wishes Regards Rob.

[@blindsouris]

Chimping I use only in manual mode ( I have no minimum shutter speed on my camera ) , with a speed fixed eg 1/125 you will not realise you blow your photos at f2.8 and Iso 100 in full sunny day ( eg you came just out of a church ) or the inverse entering the church at f8.0 and iso 6400 and you are still 2 stops darker.

[@gordon3988]

Great advice Peter! My worst habit to date is probably a subset of GAS. I tend to over-spec my needs (in more areas than just photography or video). I’m not a pro and never likely will be, so the best or most options in gear are rarely, if ever used. As I age I believe more and more in being as minimalist as possible. Still a challenge. Btw I saw Matti referenced you the other day…he saw some street murals that thought would be of interest to you.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thanks. Yes, I saw that video from Matti. Those were interesting looking murals. Melbourne has a lot of them.

[@richardpriestley477]

Peter - an interesting analysis as always ! Perhaps the subject could include the habit of trying to photograph everything / all subjects and thus the need to consider being more selective with regard to e.g. genres etc and becoming more focused on skills development.

[@ForsgardPeter]

That is a very good addition to the bad habits. I might do a video about that. I am a bit guilty of that and try to change my focus.

[@davidbaird1898]

I am colourblind so messing with post processing is likely to make my images much worse.

[@ibbilish2387]

there nothing called as over editing, I have been testing out from many months. even at perfect looking picture in camera, things changes when you use bigger screen. lesson learnt , go slow shutter when using cheap lens, use every tool on editing software if needed, better have clear image inside the mind. i like your part about garbage image, what goes around comes around. thanks for that ! and yes have a backup backup. i over expose my wildlife photos now, especially birds. I have a Nikon d5600 and its not at the best out there but still have grounds, LENS MATTERS !!! have a good LENS !

[@ForsgardPeter]

I think there is over editing. using too many filters, adding too much saturation etc. Of course that could be style. I still call it over editing if something is done too much.

[@walterxplinge3867]

I usually chimp the first couple of images, just to make sure I haven't got the exposure correct (and focus; I have left my Olympus lenses in manual mode using the lens collar and not noticed). I have a backup of all my images on a PC hard drive; I have a copy on an external hard drive; and I keep all my CF and SD cards(!!) It's a bit extravagant, but I feel more confident keeping them. I used to work in IT, managing disk storage and I know just how fragile disk drives are.

[@ForsgardPeter]

I agree, it is quite useful to check the couple of first images. I do that when making portraits. I check that the light are ok. It is alos my flash meter. A couple of shots and the lights have the right power set.

[@tonyhayes9827]

Agree about the rain. Beautiful images. Disagree about chimping. Its a meaningless word. It should be called `quality control' because that's what we're doing. Nikon stopped `chimping' on their D600 line and put out a faulty product that spilled oil on their sensor. Disaster. I know you said you have to check sometimes but the word `chimping' gains a life of its own and `takes over.' Sorry I just don't like the term. It's taking something good, `quality control', and denigrating it.

[@ForsgardPeter]

I agree that the word chimping is a bit odd, but it is used quite widely, and photographers know what it means. Quality control and chimpng are a bit different. Chimping means that the photographer checks every image after it is made. Quality control is when we occasionally check the images. I do that after I have photographed a set from the same spot. Usually, after I have left the scene, I am photographing on the streets. With clients, I look at the images together during photo sessions every now and then.

[@tonyhayes9827]

@@ForsgardPeter Good response thanks Agreed.

[@henrywestridge7298]

When I'm in A mode, using the exposure dial changes the shutter speed? When I'm in M mode, changing the shutter dial also changes the exposure? What is the difference between using A vs M?

[@ProbablyAnAmateur]

aperture priority mode? manual lets you manually change both. aperture lets you adjust aperture and the camera will adjust shutter speed accordingly and will change it if you raise or lower exposure compensation. sounds like you have constant preview on? i have it on all the time on my Panasonic.

[@ForsgardPeter]

A is aperture priority where you choose the aperture and the two, shutter speed and sometimes ISO (if on AutoISO). With exposure compensation you adjust the exposure to your likings. On manual you adjust both, aperture and shutter speed. You can also set the ISO if you want or leve it at AutoISO. The exposure is defind by the light that is available. It does not matter what mode, A or M, you use. The exposure is still the same. It is more about what mode you are used to use.

[@Sven-R]

The arrow at the end of the video does not point to the "watch next" video you recommend, it points to a black space.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thanks for the info! Fixed.

[@rockitdude]

I want to amplify Peter's advice about excessive use of "filters" and over-saturation. Please stop! There's so much cheesy landscape photography on line. Every sunset is maximum, every lawn is maximum, even blue eye is maximum. And there are weird artifacts and discontinuities in what should be smooth areas. Enough already! Peace.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thanks.

[@photochop9657]

What is the origin of the word Chimp in photographic terms. Why bother putting a screen on the back of the camera.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Wikipedia says: "Chimping is a colloquial term used in digital photography to describe the habit of checking every photo on the camera display (LCD) immediately after capture." I think LCD screens are useful. Tilting or articulating screens can help to make the composition from high and low angle. No EVF is useful on those situations. If the screen ids articulating it can be turned away so that the screen is against the camera. It cannot be used.