Photography Tips: Bad Light, Long Lens & Flowers

[@PaulMichael-z4g]

I never grow tired of watching your videos. I've learned so much about composition from you Mike.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you, and will never get tired of you guys too :) - Melissa pp Mike

[@christinabs5636]

hi Mike, thank you so much for all your very helpful and inspiring videos! I really love this one. Flowers are probably my prefered subject and I like, how you demonstrate, how great pictures can be made in situations that to not seem to be ideal at first sight.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Christina. Please help me make more like it by sharing it around with other photographers... MIKE :-)

[@axelbier8155]

Wonderful example of explaining photography in a normal surrounding and finding the special little things. Thanks!

[@kathleenhart707]

Have just purchased Mike's 7 Building Blocks photography course. Over last two years I have benefitted greatly from Mike's free videos, just like this one. Such a good teacher. I am looking forward to progressing through the course and putting into practice my learnings on my upcoming trip to New Zealand in August. Thank you, Mike.

[@MikeBrowne]

Hey Thanks Kathy. You'll love it. Have a great trip. NZ is on my bucket list... MIKE :-)

[@Topsyrm]

Hey Mike, another great vid. It never ceases to amaze me how you see shots that I would just walk on past.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Topsyrm. I guess the old "Photo radar" develops the more we use it over time... MIKE

[@Topsyrm]

I guess my radar needs some developing.

[@davidpinder4587]

Mick, out of all the photography I subscribe to on KZbin, you are by far the best. Great video about making the best of a bad situation. Thanks.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you David - MIKE :-)

[@geru2000]

Mike, you remain an inspirational teacher. Great job mate..............

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you for the kind words Jack :)- - Melissa pp Mike :)

[@goddesss15]

I love your enthusiasm about photography and been a fan of your videos for some time now. Cannot wait for the next one.

[@boohaka]

Been watching your vids for years now. I love how you find a good image wherever you are, that's always been a very consistent thing in your vids. I find the Fuji combination you're using here very useful and it's my main set up for flowers and isolating relatively small subjects. Thank you from one Mike to another!

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you for the kind words - Melissa pp Mike

[@atshappy]

Thanks Mike. I am a newbie. Your way of teaching is very useful for me -- you talk what you think while moving around and manipulating your camera and shows us the results. I can see how a photographer makes various decisions in different situations. I enjoy watching your videos and learn much from them.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you CK. Happy to help you ... MIKE🙏😊

[@cjmartin69]

Nice one guys love it. This video was basically showing people how to practice which we all need to do to be ready for when those special moments come and the flower is a wedding flower on someones wedding day in the perfect condition and not just a flower in a garden shop. It's an important lesson. I actually took an hour during my work this week and did the same thing and went to a beach in the not so perfect conditions and forced myself to come up with some shots.

[@MikeBrowne]

effort = results - Melissa pp MIke

[@richardtetreault3767]

Hello Mike, I discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago. Your videos are great and I like how you focus on thinking about the picture taking process and image composition. I shared the link with all the members of our photo club and got very positive comments: we appreciate your enthusiasm, your explanations are concise and clear.Cheers from Canada

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Richard Tétreault I appreciate your comments. Please help me make mopre free videos by sharing them online as well and liking them whenever you find one you especially like... Hope to see you and your buddies around here in future... MIKE (PS. Say hi to Canada for me)

[@witcheater]

Something you said prompted this thought. Once I purchased my current camera, and held it, it made a world of difference. Grip is important... at least for me it was and is. My fingers are no longer jammed in between the lens and the grip. I enjoy holding this camera. However... The specs on this camera are not the top of the line Canon or Nikon or Sony or Fuji or Olympus. But what I want is to take stills, and this camera suits that well for me. And that is what I always have wanted. I have always wanted, like my original OM-1, is to just take pictures. Along the way there has been people like you. I have learned for having learned that of which I knew but of which I needed another to say... it seems. I previously used a Sony that I struggled with for the tight and small grip (though the specs were good). I have used my daughter's camera, a Canon 6D. I have been in stores and held other camera bodies. So it is that the Sigma SD Quattro H is now my camera of choice... solely for the fact that I want to hold it in my grip and take pictures. That Sigma has the Art lenses made the decision a fair amount easier. I am enjoying the images (that I get right) from this camera. And it is all attributed to how it feels in my grip. Just saying. I am enjoying photography more now that I had been for admitting that I hated holding the other cameras. This camera is not a struggle, but an extension.... a part of me.

[@MikeBrowne]

That is a fantastic observation Gerard Kuzawa. The camera has to be an extension of you and I think finding one that fits in your hand right with the controls you want easily accessible is THE NO 1 MOST IMPORTANT THING. The brand is secondary... MIKE

[@llatingirl]

Simple and still....absolutely amazing!!!! Your videos are a real inspiration for me! Great job, Mike!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you - MIKE

[@BadMedWTF]

Always a pleasure to watch ur vids. Thanks Mike! Been watching for years.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks BadMedWTF - MIKE :-)

[@tectorama]

Nice one Mike, I was in a similar situation today. I was at the RSPB nature reserve at Rainham Marshes. I had my 200-500 lens fitted, and couldn't keep changing lenses to take pictures of insects and flowers. You learn to be flexible, and use what you have to hand.

[@ChrisHunt4497]

Thanks Mike. That was just what I needed. Getting a shot in an very ordinary setting. I love taking pictures of flowers. I would have moved that pot a lot sooner and possibly some others too without being too cheeky. I love your style of teaching. I’m going to learn lots from you.

[@stephenmorgan5414]

Great video Mike. Just been shooting with the XT-2 with the 55-200mm and tried similar images as yours and am pleased with the results. Didn't think of using this lens to try these images. I don't know if you have tried the Samyang 100mm Macro on the XT-2 i find it to give great results also I tried my Nikon mount Sigma 150mm Macro on the camera and find it great when using focus peaking. Thank you for this video, really got me thinking through my image taking more.

[@martinfinnerty3344]

Was that your knees clicking every time you knelt down Mike? Despite that, great photos and great advice. I love the way that you simplify things.

[@tonyturner7676]

Excellent video, Mike, and very informative. One question, at 9.23 minutes your settings appeared to be 1/2900 with ISO 250. Why did you not use a lower ISO as you would still have achieved a fast shutter speed? No doubt I'm overlooking something! Thank you.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Tony. The XT-1 only goes to 200 ISO and the difference wouldn't really be noticeable. - MIKE :-)

[@tonyturner7676]

Mike Browne thank you Mike for your swift response. You and Thomas Heaton are the most inspirational photographers on You Tube.

[@stevepegleg]

another cool vid, it all helps with the learning, you make everything easy to understand. I think I might be ready to start the 7 building blocks course thanks mike

[@MikeBrowne]

Hi Stephen, lovely to see you here! blimey i'm excited for you to take the course! :) - Melissa pp Mike

[@MikeBrowne]

Hello Mr Bray. I hope life's treating you well.... I still love the sunset we shot down at the lake. If you feel you're up to speed with the technical stuff now it's be great to see you on 7Building blocks. There's now a free sample available by the way. Link below... MIKE www.photographycourses.biz/courses/7-building-blocks-of-photography

[@stevepegleg]

Mr Bray i had to look over my shoulder to see if my dad was sitting there lol. Just hit the bought button so bring it on and hoping you can make me better. the 1to1 day we had was o much fun and i learned alot that day. your teachings are super good, very easy to follow, i can just here you now 'What F stop do we need think about it, what is the light doing, What speed do we need think about it lol' thanks for everything i have to chalk you down to most of my improvements. Dam sound like a right such up got to stop cant wait to start the 7 building blocks course. regards STEVE!

[@ivardahllarsen3377]

Thank you Mike, I'll pop you down to my niece in Trinidad & Tobago, with your tutoring. She'll love you. Good work man.

[@peterabbott3438]

Hi Mike. Great video. As someone who has an X-T2 and and various other Fujifilm cameras I was really surprised at the tech fail comments. Why do you think it struggled? I have used my old X_T10 in similar situations and never had a problem. In the rare situations that I had a problem in auto I just flipped back to manual.

[@MikeBrowne]

I guess I'm so used to the instant accuracy and speed of the my nikon DSLRs the XT-1 seems slow by comparison. I don't like manual focus with the EVF because I find it hard to tell if it's properly focused or not, especially in strong light. Still a great little camera though and I shoot more with it than anything else... MIKE

[@peterabbott3438]

Hi Mike. If you love the X-T1 and you do want the speed I would recommend trying the X-T2 it's an order of magnitude better at AF etc. I guess a blend of new sensor, processor software whatever. Ha ha ha why do Fuji users turn in to salesmen!!!!!

[@easterlingderek34]

Not only does the X-T2 have better focus, but the video button problem would disappear for him, cause it is on the main shutter button.

[@adventurouseater]

You NEVER disappoint and I always learn.........Danke!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Adventurous eater. Please continue helping me make more like it by sharing them with other photographers on forums, Facebook, ClickASnap, Flickr etc. - MIKE

[@tomass7952]

As always a very informative video from Mr. Mike!

[@frankamez576]

Great video, Mike. I also try to take picture of flowers like this video. Thank you for the tips you give with the video. Greetings from Belgium.

[@jeremiahdauphinais7186]

Please excuse the question but why is Mike using a camera that has focus issues? Awesome video. Loved the content because I don't generally go out to shoot during bad lighting much and it I should do it more often!

[@MikeBrowne]

Hi Jeremiah Dauphinais. The camera doesn't really have isues, it's just not as good at very accurate pin point focusing as a DSLR. Seems to be a common problem with mirrorless cameras. In normal circumstances it's fine. One of those things I'm afraid - there is no perfect camera because there's always some things we like and others we don't on all of them. I did a rare review of the XT-1 when I first got it, link below if you're interested... MIKE www.photographycourses.biz/videos/reviews-and-help/reviews/Mirrorless-Cameras-Pt3

[@jeremiahdauphinais7186]

Mike Browne Thank you! I sure will!

[@No2theBS]

Another easy to absorb video thanks Mike.

[@TC-dw6wg]

A big thank you from New York! Appreciate all the effort and work put into your videos.

[@Buzza235]

Great video. Been there a number of times. Nothing should be easy, to think and use your brain and never give up you will get that shot and when you do, that's what it is all about. And a lovely shot you got Mike👌

[@larrytam2869]

Bad light + Long lens + Flowers + Mike = Great pictures !

[@ericgeorge5483]

Great vid from Mike as per usual. Very informative and useful. Thank you.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Eric - MIKE :-)

[@inthenameofjustice8811]

Yet another excellent and informative video. Plenty of food for thought there.

[@RafaVera_gisrave]

Great video, Mike! A greetings from Spain!

[@JanA-nj5sz]

Mike , I just love your work. Thank you.

[@timkitchen1747]

Mike, notice you are using your Fuji more and more on these great videos of yours. Is this because of the light weight of the camera compared to your SLR's? . I'm in my seventieth year, and am finding SLR's now pretty heavy. Keep up the good work which is much appreciated. All the best, Tim

[@MikeBrowne]

Dear Tim, mainly yes it's more compact compared to DSLR- Melissa pp Mike

[@timkitchen1747]

Thanks

[@MikeBrowne]

To add to elissa's reply Tim, it's also much easier to shoot video clips with so you can see what i'm doing through the camera I'm using... MIKE

[@timkitchen1747]

got ya Mike, thanks for responding. Tim

[@tduke91]

Hi Mike. Awesome video. Just proves once again that there are good images to be had in the most unexpected places.I'm having a whip round to get you a set of knee pads to save your trousers!

[@MikeBrowne]

hahaha bless you - Melissa pp Mike

[@ruggieromanente4855]

Hard not to press the "like" button. Just great stuff.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you - MIKE :-)

[@miamidolphinsfan]

Love this video Mike, as I do a lot of nature (especially floral) photography living as I do in Miami / South Florida !

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Kevin - have fun - MIKE :-)

[@mizapril9131]

Great info on why to use a zoom lens for flower photography. However, I couldn’t help wondering why you didn’t shoot in manual focus mode. Manually focusing removes the lens from hunting alternative focus points, whilst allowing the opportunity to experiment with multiple composition options. Just a thought anyhows...cheers

[@garyclayton4652]

Once again a very good video . Thanks Mike

[@peterkay9050]

Another entertaining video and the first one to cause me to regret an action. I use Pentax cameras. One of my first lenses was a weather resistant 50-200mm lens. I never got stellar results so I sold it in a recent consolidation exercise. My photography has since moved on a step, thanks in no small part to these videos, and I am wondering if I would now find the lens more rewarding. This video certainly demonstrated the value of a nice, compact, mid range zoom and I have a horrible feeling I may shortly be buying another copy of the lens. The moral is to know your kit. I suspect I didn’t really know what I had before I let it go and that is such a shame. Thanks again Mike. I love these Mike Browne shorts :) they are just packed full of great stuff :)

[@peterkay9050]

Update, I bought the 50-200mm lens. It is to all intents and purposes a kit lens so I was not expecting razor sharpness but a DoF sandwich (& other Brownean techniques) showed it is capable of good results with a little luck and a chunk of application. It will make a useful addition to my bag. It also showed again that you do not need to spend a fortune to get a good photo.

[@davidglew6170]

Great video mike as always.

[@michaelsillars365]

Another fantastic video. Do you have a Facebook page at all

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Michael. Sure do. There's a link on the channel page and one just for you below... MIKE :-) facebook.com/DigitalPhotographyVideos

[@michaelsillars365]

Thanks mike. Like your page

[@paulgame8825]

just started your 7 blocks course, got in trouble with the wife for emptying the fridge contents onto the table to practise exercise 1. really good content in the first weeks course. thanks

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Paul for the wonderful feedback! - Melissa pp Mike

[@MikeBrowne]

Ha ha - love your dedication Paul. Maybe wait till she goes out next time - MIKE ;-)

[@shawnsamson6845]

Thank you Mike for such awesome tips. I feel inspired by your videos!

[@wanneske1969]

Which shutter speeds did you use ? It says 2900 sec, seems a bit long :-)

[@MikeBrowne]

hi Johan the shutter speed used here on 9:28 mins was 2900 of a sec ( twenty nine thousand of a second) , it's actually really fast to freeze the flower. - Melissa pp Mike :)

[@lokatpic]

I shot some pictures of some flowers. The problem is that some red and some white flowers bleed. A friend of mine was suggesting a polarizing filter. I remember you did a video on ND filter. What would you suggest?

[@MikeBrowne]

Hmmm, depends what you mean by "bleed" Don Jones. Not something I've experienced and tbh and without seeing what the problem is, I don't see how a filter can fix it. Sorry... MIKE

[@Dark_Viking]

Thanks for your videos! Because of you I've started to take my camera with me everywhere )

[@alanmccrum1241]

Mick what is the brand of the backpack ur using?

[@howardallen5390]

To me your shots of flowers in this light look great: it is confusing though. If I post a landscape, including intimate landscapes of a tree or flower, on a website that I use for critique people will pounce on the exif data and say “wrong time of day”. Sometimes I feel that they are not looking at the shot itself but just reading from a text book. It would be interesting if you were to compare your flower shots taken in bright sunlight with the same shots taken under some sort of shade such as a translucent diffuser, then give us your thoughts?

[@MikeBrowne]

Hey good idea Howard.. I'll see what i can do. Some folks just love to say the same old thing when critiquing and often they over concentrate on the negative and forget to encourage as well. Remember that all critiques are only opinion and that will vary from person to person. - MIKE

[@derekgillan7314]

moin moin Mike. Good to see you active.

[@johnnycincocero]

What about utilizing a 5 and 1 reflector to filter the harsh sunlight?

[@MikeBrowne]

That'd work well Johhny, but what if like most folks out for a stroll with the camera, you don't have one with you... MIKE

[@MikesVoyagesAndDrives]

Grüezi, Mike :) good to see you've been back to Switzerland and your Swiss German improved :) take care and watch your jeans :)

[@wayneemery5709]

Nice video Mike learned a few things there 😀

[@scarface1961]

Thanks Mike

[@johnsummerfield8600]

I quite like photographing flowers with strong light full in their face. I've even taken studio lights into the wilds with me when I didn't reckon the sun was up to it.

[@MrJoeca69]

How it is that it has changed of camera, can tell me virtues and defects of the new material, greetings.

[@MikeBrowne]

Sorry Josep Caselles Fontanet - I don't understand the question.... MIKE

[@MrJoeca69]

I was asking you why you use this camera, in this tutorial?

[@Noahronquillo]

As always nice educational video. Mike, however you mention a photographer must go through building blocks, you lost me there. What are the building blocks? Noah

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Noah. It's my thought process for any photo... Link below... MIKE www.photographycourses.biz/courses/7-building-blocks-of-photography

[@hansieclaassen9178]

Best tutorials ever!

[@ijoshpics0171]

You are a great teacher. 🙏

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you! ... MIKE 🙏😊

[@igor822605]

спасибо, смотрю Ваши уроки с удовольствием.

[@MikeBrowne]

Спасибо igor822605, пожалуйста, поделитесь ими с другими фотографами. Это поможет мне сделать больше из них. - MIKE :-)

[@gilbertlennox4793]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@dwm1943]

I've joined 2.7K others in liking this, a futile gesture, but yes it really is well explained and demonstrated, and I wish I had known the technique last spring, when I tried to do this. And now there's another spring coming, all those snowdrops and daffodils and bluebells....

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Dave 🙂... Go for it... MIKE

[@MrSjeupie]

I see you held on to the XT1 after borrowing it from Fuji a couple of years ago. I just watched your review of it again and all the 'negatives' you mentioned are addressed in the XT2, as you probably know. Focus is better as well and (but do not pin me down on it) I believe focus during zoom in video mode is now possible as well. So that should greatly reduce the 'fiddling around' you did with it in this video. Lovely little camera it is though. The 55-200 is not a lens I am super excited about though; it's a fine lens but by no means as sharp as my other fujinon lenses. I bought it second hand so perhaps there's a history to it that I do not know. I'll try to reproduce the shot you took here and see if I can match the sharpness you achieved. In either case, thank you for this video which was well done as usual. Keep up the good work :-)

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks MrSjeupie There were only a few negatives regarding the XT-1 and they were all outweighed by the positives for me personally. There is no such thing as the "perfect" camera... MIKE :-)

[@Freddy3]

Awesome as always!!! Can't get enough... keep them coming. LOL

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Steve. Please share it and any others you like around as it helps me make more of them... MIKE :-)

[@profdody8942]

Your video has been a confirm for me. Changin perspective it's all in there. Get down and you'll see another world........and sometime get wet.

[@rvboondocker2559]

I was thinking about carrot cake and coffee for some reason.... oh well, I guessed the widest aperture you had, thanks as usual Master Mike!

[@nickgill7941]

Yet again your video has hit the mark. Im just a bit older than yourself , so getting down on a shot does present a problem, however a mono pod comes in handy. As regards wet knees were you sent home and told to sit in a dark room, as punishment?? My sense of humour

[@MikeBrowne]

If only I had been Colin - I had lines to write out as well... MIKE :-)

[@lmhjgseuk8213]

Darn i already bought a short lens for bokeh. Gonna have to buy that long lens. Should've seen this much earlier. Anyhow, thanks Mike for your great videos, cheers!

[@VijayPatil-qc3lu]

wonderful explain

[@MikeBrowne]

🙂🙏 Glad you liked it... MIKE

[@karsten4395]

That is so great! Very logically explained. Right now it´s in the middle of the night and I want to go out into the sun and take some pictures :-)

[@soniariaz6290]

Hey mike! Which lens did u use?

[@MikeBrowne]

Mike used - 55-200mm lens on this film - Melissa pp Mike

[@rolandrick]

Which lens you had stuck to camera?

[@MikeBrowne]

he Roland it's a 55-200mm lens - Melissa pp Mike

[@rolandrick]

Mike Browne Hi 👋 Melissa, thanks 😃

[@richardrevett8242]

priceless information yet again Mike thank you :-)

[@greyareaRK1]

That was very good. It's disturbing that I wanted to put up my hand when you asked questions.

[@anthonyhedger4301]

I rather liked that last photo Mike. Another great video, thank you. It just goes to show you that there are things waiting to be shot if we just look for them eh? Tony

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Tony - Indeed - MIKE

[@mluppi]

I'm glad to know Im not the only one struggling with wind + flowers. :-)

[@JCarlos.unknown]

What about the light? Isn't it too harsh? What about a polarizer?

[@MikeBrowne]

A poslariser won\'t change the qualities of the light in this respect Joao. It'll darken and remove a bit od glare when at 45 degrees to sun, but neither of these were shot at 45 degrees so it wouldn't do much at all... MIKE

[@JCarlos.unknown]

Hmmm, that's interesting. Thanks for answering, Mike.

[@xmeda]

That FUJI hardware does not look overly ergonomic... try Pentax .)

[@MikeBrowne]

I love the XT-1 xmeda - MIKE :-)

[@TheBiggervern]

Thanks Mike for more entertaining goodness.

[@aoates2249]

Another excellent tutorial , couple of beautiful photos there from nothing :)

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you - MIKE :-)

[@hishamelbatawi3014]

Wonderful... thank you so much 🌹

[@rickkirkham4539]

A very interesting video Mike

[@SirSilverFox]

You could make the light better and softer if you had a willing friend who could hold a diffuser over the top of the subject, just thought it was worth mentioning.

[@MikeBrowne]

My buddy Jurgen was there and he could have done that, but wanted to show the kind of situation when someone doesn't. - MIKE :-)

[@peterjackhandy]

You can always tell a proper 'tog - He's the bloke with a mucky knee.

[@bensonstein3993]

Very good video.

[@vicky197805]

make a video about photographing chandeliers. I think it's very tough and no videos about the same anywhere else. good day

[@RealmsOfThePossible]

Just make sure you don't get mixed up and say "Hey flowers, you mind if I take some pictures of your balls"! Another great vid mike :)

[@MikeBrowne]

:-) - MIKE

[@kerry5586]

I am probably in the minority, but I prefer flowers taken in this sort of light. I find the ones taken in 'perfect' light to be rather deadpan and uninteresting. Great video as always!

[@MikeBrowne]

Always good to be in a minority. These actually turned out better than I expected Kerry - MIKE

[@shawnsg]

I use a cream when I get a case of the muses.

[@jjccllgg]

Please leave the settings on the video a bit longer!

[@FlyRiderFishing]

Fell out of my chair when you started talking in German. Very good though :D

[@MikeBrowne]

:p

[@Boghetta]

Still remembering your first reaction on this proposal :D

[@MikeBrowne]

Ha ha ha... - MIKE :-)

[@jackieconnell7183]

Yet another excellent and informative video mike,you make photography look easy,and I love your enthusiasm about photography,i think it is rubbing of on me i think you may need a set of knee-pads thank you

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Jackie. Happy to help... MIKE :-)

[@ttttiiimmy10bit]

1:29 we ain’t used to that light in the uk

[@DavidWilliamsTR]

I always pick up something from your 'How to..." videos. Cheers.:))

[@jesuisravi]

it doesn't look like Switzerland either. Looks a bit like southern Cal

[@MikeBrowne]

It's a couple streets back from where this video was shot... Never know what round the corner... MIKE kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGmtZJ6kZZt3mtk

[@AdrianBigyes]

I guessed an aperture of f/5.6 haha. I'm pretty close.

[@bh6279]

very helpful video and very enjoyable Mike