Landscape Photography Slump | Don't Want to Leave the Van

[@masterxyr]

In this day and age of face/insta 'perfectness', it feels cosy and human to see those other sides of things and they're always welcome. Never bleed your creativity juices - or lack thereof - for content filling sakes. No pictures? Have a chat with us, tell us a story of yester times or just simply brew more tea, or whatever else boats your float. Myself, and I believe many others, also come here for you too. cheerio

[@masterxyr]

oh, also just to add - since I finished watching your film only after having written the previous comment - that I really enjoyed the pictures and that last one was superb!! And isn't it just serendipitous that the polariser's lack of full coverage actually contributed to adding a wee (since it's Scotland) extra layer of a more intimate window into that beautiful tree you spotted?

[@gedm7949]

The submerged image was simply stunning. I would have been trying to get the mountain reflections 🤣

[@sammyjaketucker]

Agreed. Love that image

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

Lol, it's funny because I initially went for the mountain reflection, but it was so bland, so I moved on. Glad you like it.

[@davegrenier1160]

Yes, terrific photo. I'd say "very unique" but that's bad grammar!

[@GuidoVanDeWater]

I was thinking the exact same thing. When he stopped there I tought he was going to shoot that 🤣

[@1337Jogi]

@@ThomasHeatonPhoto Fantastic shot. Easily one of the best from the last weeks.

[@CalebWeston_dubland]

I can't even imagine the challenges of creating weekly videos even during a slump. But it's refreshing to see the everyday struggles, because it's easy to focus only on the good days/trips. I did enjoy the submerged tree. Keep on slogging 🙂

[@AustenGoldsmithPhotography]

Imagine knocking out one video every week for months and nobody ever watching them ! I know that pain !! Last one had 3 or 4 Hasselblad portfolio keepers. I guess it wasn't a total waste of time . KZbin Motivation rather low right now . I should leave the video stuff to the handsome dudes and focus on my camera , big fan of mr Heatons work

[@coreycorey9611]

That last image of the tree branches in the water was one of your best ever in my opinion.

[@cragdoo71]

End of the day we're all human, yes even KZbin content creators, and we put so much pressure on ourselves to either 'be the best' or 'produce the best' or 'take the best shot', that we forget that there needs to be a balance of downtime and there will be 'mediocre' days ...although we shouldn't call them mediocre, as they are just as , if not more important, than the 'great' days. Cut yourself some slack, you're allowed to have these kind of days. Thank you for sharing, and helping show the watchers the effort that is required to produce quality content, keep up the great work.

[@allansisson355]

Getting motivated with no sleep is difficult. You pulled it out of the hat. Great job all three are good. What you said is true, it's the subject that people would just walk right by. They're shocked to see it thorough the eye, of another.

[@steverolfe1935]

You don't need to apologise, we all have good days and some days the creativity is there and some days it isn't - Keep doing what you do as I love your work and find you inspiring

[@SteveP_2426]

That's exactly why I don't think I could go pro as a landscape photographer. These days you seem to have to be on KZbin to get known and I know if I was just going out because I felt I had to I'd quickly give up. For a pro having the freedom to just go when the weather is right is great but so is just deciding as an amateur that you don't feel like it and do something else. Hats off for keeping it going Thomas.

[@markhyde1970]

You know what? With your pictures you really are a 'story teller'. Well, to me you are. Brilliant

[@pauldlewis3138]

The sunken tree image is a masterpiece imo, worth the whole trip in itself ... nice one Thomas

[@PrimalOutdoors]

I have had many of those days, they happen more often than not these days. Actually enjoyed this video quite a lot as I sat comfy in my van with a hot cup of coffee. The last image was very pleasing 📷 Jason

[@icanhaspizza616]

Yes! A new video from my favorite cooking channel! 😅 All jokes aside, thanks Thomas. A pleasure to tag along as usual.

[@jetpackjoyride8671]

Heck this is the best of both worlds van camping and photography all in one

[@blivieriphoto]

Don't beat yourself up Tom. Yes we love your photography, but we also love seeing you enjoy your van, have a cup of tea and a biscuit, and make interesting camper-pie meals (that's what we call those contraptions, camper-pie makers lol)! That being said, the last image was just beautiful. So don't apologize for being you, that's why we watch every week. No need to prove anything, you've already done that. Thanks for the adventure!

[@paulsimpson1680]

I really enjoy your videos. For me there are three enjoyable parts to your story - The travelling in the van which I love, the cooking and the photography.

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

Lol, calling it cooking is a bit of a stretch. Glad you like it though 👍

[@esphilee]

Yep, 3 in 1.

[@amalieemmynoether992]

I'll subscribe to a ridge-monkey, van life cooking channel with Thomas 🤣

[@garykuiken6191]

I have fond memories of Glencoe some fifty years ago. Great landscapes, warm beer and the pub near the hostel closing around fiveish so men could or had to go home for supper. I think that has changed. Greetings young man from the home of Abraham Lake. Stay safe.

[@rogerwilliams7234]

I have no ability to take a good photo, never have done, and no real interest in the methodology but it's great to spend time in your company every week and see an enthusiast and expert at work. Thank you. That last image . . . WOW!

[@kadinwilliams5000]

Got the biggest smile when the video started and you were playing music from the hunts!

[@628DirtRooster]

See you next week

[@FromShetoMe]

You produce the most beautiful vlogs. Do you really think most people watch for the photography? Nope. We are enthralled with Shaggy.

[@Chris391971]

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise the bad nights sleep led you to the great photo of the tree trunk.

[@AdamSquires]

It struck me how relatable days like this are to work in non-creative industries too. We're never always going to be at our best, and that's OK.

[@PMCN53]

I love that intimate photo of the submerged tree..... genius!!!

[@davemenard5089]

Sometimes the van is the thing, not just the thing that gets you to the the thing.

[@carolynspohrer8493]

Walking, talking, shooting (and cooking) with Thomas. Wednesdays are great!

[@lisasimpson9343]

Ofcourse we will be back next week. I love the two trees in the snow. Loved the whole road trip thing.

[@scotty4418]

I would say there is a key message here for aspiring photographers Thomas in that there will be days where the photography wont happen for various reasons as sometimes it can be construed that every day will be a winner in terms of images. That being said the Scots pine image was beautiful and the abstract image was stunning and you certainly looked like you had your enthusiasm back the next day

[@ProfessorAB]

Early morning breakfast + your vlogs, couldn't be better ♥️

[@beckywaters1843]

You are so real and down to earth and I love that about you! Not to mention your vision and photography! My fave was the tree in the water!! Gorgeous image!

[@dcurleyifa]

Thanks Thomas for being honest and human, so many other utube photographers pretend that every shoot has to be great and produce wonderful shots, when we all know it’s not that easy, though you do show with skill you can get the results. 👍🏻

[@chefforone]

David Curley my hat goes off to you for you freedom honesty and photography key points to Many to mention we get put in a Place of fear to comment on peoples posts but old Thomas here is a good sort and does it well like you keeping it true

[@KevinFuller]

The tree coming out of the water was your best image of the video.

[@Ozy_x]

the submerged sunken tree image looked so mesmerizing my eyes got a little bit teary when you revealed for some reason , it was alone so worth the 25min price of admission

[@benstephens2924]

I thoroughly enjoyed this piece, Tom. You cover so much of the joys and disappointments in photography: from experiencing and ultimately accepting “off days” to pushing to find the hidden gem of a scene. Honestly, your last image is breathtaking and your vision inspiring. As the video pans across the loch, I couldn’t help but leap at the more obvious, grandiose vista image of the snow capped mountain and reflection. I thought “ooh, that is the image that jumps out at me!” But no, you acknowledge it’s beauty as part of the setting, but not the story of the loch. Instead, you honed in on the fallen tree partially submerged underwater, something I may have missed if I had been there. It defied my instinct but quite honestly, your image far surpassed what I envisioned for the scene. It told a more compelling story of life, death, endurance that is the story of nature. Thank you for sharing this process. I love seeing new ways of seeing a scene.

[@alanclark9691]

There is something really refreshing about your videos because of your "warts 'n all" openness, especially like this one when things don't go well or to plan. You display a vulnerability that frankly separates you from the herd. I love the final image of the partly submerged tree - so well spotted and the shot was so well executed.

[@billfortney7028]

I really appreciate your sharing the reality that as the old saying goes; “Momma said there would be days like these!” Your persistence does pay off! Really enjoyed your video in front of a roaring fire!

[@tomjugginsuk]

These are the videos I like to watch. I find them very raw and easier to relate.

[@MarkRomine]

Love that image of the trees in the snow storm!

[@dalepowell5368]

That submerged tree is a belter, love it.

[@phynx2006]

IMO the image at 14:10 has a mystic feel, "I let my soul and spirit fly, into the mystic". Great image 👍😎👍

[@gayleruble6529]

That branch in the water image is phenomenal.

[@carljarvinen1189]

I agree with you Thomas, sometimes it is all about the process of setting up the photo than the final result that makes photography enjoyable. If it all about the final image you will be disappointed more often than not. And thanks for videos that show your “off” days, nothing to apologize for…

[@kieran.stafford]

The branch in the water - I would hang that on my wall. It's beautiful, still, dark, dangerous, foreboding, eerie. Stunning.

[@PhutureproofUK]

I am glad I’m not alone with having fruitless treks to ‘find a shot’ where my camera gear spends all the time in the bag. Inspiration is hard sometimes. And then other times (far less often), I can’t stop taking shots. I haven’t quite worked out why the good times are so few with my own photography.

[@FakeNews_Ignored]

Two pines shot is awesomely beautiful 👍👍👍👍

[@cristovaosilva2992]

Brilliant underwater tree photo! Just brilliant! Congratulations!

[@Hangiinjohnny]

I really like that last shot of the tree. I was coming back anyway but that alone should bring people back

[@bbrown6574]

Enjoy all your content, photos, pioneering vanlife, but most of all honesty. Branch in pond was inspirational. Take care.

[@MS-hz8yi]

We call that sleet in Canada. That stuff that was falling. The land of winters that never end 😀

[@michelebullock9867]

Tom - great video. I like the total package and diversity you provide. The great, good, bad, ugly honesty is a benefit to me. You are master with the “monkey” too and the Meal prep was fun to watch. Keep doing what you do and how you do it. Thanks.

[@AnthonyCrouchPhotography]

Not snow, not hail, sleet perhaps? So awesome to see you travels, beginning prep, etc.. whole story

[@KasiaCoe]

Submerged tree picture is just amazing

[@AliasJimWirth]

@25:00: It is because of you that I don't go home. Thanks for your many encouraging videos and helpful instruction.

[@iwanderphotography]

James Martin move over here comes the culinary Tom Heaton brilliant, loved the B Roll videography Tom.....

[@AlWerner]

The submerged tree photo is a stunner!

[@jamesk140]

The submerged tree is excellent, another enjoyable video. Thanks

[@nathanjfield]

Since your video last week, I had a crack at capturing a trip in a similar style. Even the small amount of time I spent experimenting gave me a greater appreciation this week for the skill it takes to put these videos together.

[@XlogicXX]

Wow. The semi submerged tree photo is incredible.

[@AdamMatthewsPhotography]

A few thoughts that I had while watching this... - I really appreciated you revealing how long the drive was. Living in the American Midwest, sometimes if feels like you can get anywhere in the UK really quickly (5hrs is the drive from Chicago to St Louis). But I know I have a lot of great variety within 5 hours! - A temperature of -2C is a really pleasant winter day here 😂 It is always the wind chill that gets you though. - Turning a bunch of the video into "van cooking" episodes was hilarious. Love the experimentation! - I could totally empathize with just not feeling it because you haven't slept well or at all. The images you did take were still fantastic! - I'll 100% be back for the next video. Been a subscriber and avid viewer for years now, and the honesty you bring to your photography and videos under all conditions is what makes this my #1 must-watch channel.

[@Reeo92]

See you in the next video Thomas, as always !

[@bossofthemoss450]

Love the intimate landscape image. Glad you left the grass in 👌👍👏

[@AnthonyCrouchPhotography]

The pine tree shot, beautiful! Sometimes easier is best.. love it. The limb in the water, beautiful

[@Indrakusuma_a]

Despite being low on the enthusiasm, I think all those 3 shots in this video are still great. I particularly love the first one. We all know and fully understand that even doing something you love, when you hit the bottom, you just don't think of doing it and instead wanna lay down and rest. It's totally fine from photography stand point. Though KZbin algorithm won't be so kind if you miss the timely upload schedule.

[@MrJak6467]

I've been folowing you for years dear Thomas. Never put any comment even if I enjoy it. This video was really nice, the way you describe the struggling of a landscape photographer, all the miss for one nice image. So many times on the field for nothing and sometime you're just here and you've plenty of images in a row. It's hard, but you keep going and on top of that you're filming it. F*ck mad respect for that.

[@chrisnewman5772]

The best pictures are always taken within a 6' radius of where you park. No need to get outside the car (van) just wind the window down 4 " stick the lens thru the open window, focus and then wind the window up thus tightening on the camera lens. This saves much time erecting a tripod and will hold the camera steady. More fussy photographers can wrap a towel around the lens to avoid scratches. We need a small photographer's travel book of the best spots for car window shooting perhaps called "The lazy Photographers Guide to Thru Car Window Landscape Photography". You could write this book bit by bit each time you stop for your main shoot. A better idea has just come to me and that is, why not have everyone living in the UK contribute to the project. The books' first edition may only have 100 photo spots listed but by the 5th or 10th edition you should be up to 1000 or more photo spots. This book would be wonderful for old folks as well because if they wandered into the woods they would never be seen again in many cases. When the book starts to get too big to manage then you have to break it into different regions within the UK. If in fact (I'm really thinking now maybe it could be a loose-leaf book where just a dozen pages could be mailed to subscribers twice a year. The subscribers would pay you an annual fee in advance. Before long you will have French, German and Italian editions out. Just put me down for 7% as I would come up with new and equally instructive ideas for the future. I'm so tired gotta go to bed. Goodnight from Sarasota, Florida where we had a tornado today (Wed). I always look forward to your postings Thomas. Sorry for any typos.

[@Jordiephotography]

I know the feeling about pushing yourself to a good image. Because I am an amature in this I feel thus alone, I always have the feeling I have to proof myself.But in the end I an doing it for myself and to clear my head and enjoy nature. Today I stood still by the fact that I am now 1 year on this hobby, I looked my pc and had thousands of onsorted images that I had to look into. Well I was surprised that I didn't know that there were very nice images among them. So if I feel that way what you had I just sorted my maps. but I am honest by myself and still I have a lot to learn.

[@gordonbrunner9429]

..water/abstract shot of sunken branch FANTASTIC!!!...

[@tleej26]

Stunning scenery, you would love New Zealand in the winter with the Hoar frosts🇳🇿

[@ronboe6325]

The old tree in the water was a real stunner. Full marks!

[@andybamforth]

Lovely stuff, especially the tree in the water gorgeous colour and tone

[@LoudSilences]

Nice to see how things are really like out there. I always believe that if you've managed to get out at all, then that's success.

[@trevorpayne2749]

Love the log shot. Its the brownish tone which makes it. If it was simply grey I'm not sure I would like it so much. Thanks

[@JohnSmith-lk8cy]

omg that tree in the water is stunning.

[@katelockhart4441]

That last photo is special. Wow, I really wasn't expecting that as you were setting it up. Well done!

[@FloridaPete1948]

@6:45 That snow/hail is something we get all the time in Montana. The "pellets" are a form of hail called "graupel".

[@laurelb8372]

Can’t be perfect every time. Thanks for video anyway, always enjoy your stories

[@dmitrijkroock7683]

Last photo was breathtaking!😍😍😍🔥🔥🔥👏👏👏 Thank you for giving such a wonderful feelings. Good luck and take care ! 🤗🖐️

[@zfisher]

That third image is phenomenal!

[@sylvaindion8419]

Wow, I love the tree in the water picture Thmas, very nice.

[@jldwoodworking]

Love the third picture...

[@richardlehoux]

That last image was one of my favourite of last few videos. Congrats

[@samknight8695]

The tree image was absolutely fantastic! Well worth the trip!

[@alexandrastevens8892]

I absolutely love the submerged tree , actually more beautiful than if it was just growing in the ground even if that would be nice as well.

[@davidnieuwenhuis2590]

Glad you decided not to drive home. I liked the video a lot. Think all tree shots are great. The last one is realy beautiful! Thanks Thomas!

[@strangeimages]

The submerged tree was fantastic 👍

[@asha5928]

Always refreshing to watch your videos when world is in Turmoil! Thank you!

[@robinmartin1395]

The fallen tree turned out awesome. I totally understand not wanting always get out, but you did good.

[@mitzimckay7934]

Wow! Yes! I love that last photo. It feels like a picture of a tree and some of the branches are reaching out of the photo at you. Stunning!

[@andrewhoulihan7940]

Great song choice Thomas in the car park of the two Scott pines. Id love to be in a rave now listening to it!! 😜😜

[@runtothehills04]

Love the sunken tree shot. Very nice image.

[@delhardy71]

Hi from New Zealand. Thomas, that is fantastic scenery. Driving & sleeping in a van in snow in palces like that, what a dream!!!! I'm no photographer but man I love the photos you take, and the process of getting those shots, I don't understand any of the "lingo" but I just love what you do. That submerged tree was absolutely stunning. I love your van, I'm trying get one for myself, so I can go away and use my drone to capture awesome images like you do with you cameras. Also, from 15:17 in your video resonated with me, as I lack motivation everyday to do what I want, but I still try, and like you said "the truth is you don't nail it everyday" and that applies to every aspect of life for me, but still keep on keeping on. That said, your videos are my "go to" when I feel a little down. So keep up the great work, and maybe oneday I'll understand photographer "lingo" Sorry for the long comment. Just started following you on Instagram, and Facebook too.

[@andyblessett1282]

"Please come back" 😂😂.... absolutely love the images you came away with.👍

[@daviddowling9830]

Sleet Thomas,neither snow nor rain…..but….sleet.

[@GlenBarnett]

Have to agree about the lack of motivation on really bad weather days. Nobody wants to be out in stormy weather, so we’ll done for braving the elements 👍 I would add that your photography has certainly taken a turn of recent. The days of shooting grand vistas seem to be long gone and it’s certainly something I for one, miss. Having said that, the last shot in this video of the submerged branch was exceptional. Keep on keeping on mate 👍

[@arockman]

Very peaceful and calming video!

[@Pyngwieee]

Here just to say that the trunk photo is phenomenal! Really enjoyed looking at it!

[@raunak.u]

Love the Thomas Heaton drive videos. But the last image steals the show. Lovely colors and perfect composition.

[@ianiles6430]

That final image is a beaut

[@hilarywhite0]

Last image is stunning, great video yet again. The dragons claw

[@garyspencer9645]

Hi Tom we all have days like your having what you need Is a break from photography recharge the old battery you will fee great for it mate

[@marknachmias423]

Submerged tree image is wonderful.