Pro Photography Tips? Did I learn anything from my mistakes?

In this video, I continue my exploration of Hornby Island off the east coast of Vancouver Island. I spend the morning looking for woodland photographs but have difficulty finding suitable compositions. I review some of my results and why they don't work for me. Squarespace - squarespace.com for a free trial and squarespace.com/adamgibbs for -10% off your first purchase.
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[@brianbeattyphotography]

Woah that pano at 2:45 is cool. The warm color on that huge rock really stands out against the cool, grey background

[@alastairwatson2714]

It's great to know that a world class photographer can have problems. It gives me hope.

[@Alister_Benn]

oh man, so great to see those locations that I was fortunate to visit a couple of weeks ago. Some really interesting comps and a very honest video - it's tough to there.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks big guy!

[@tgsnider]

Great video. You came out of that "not all that productive" session with shots that would have made my year if I'd taken them. 🙂 It was very instructive watching you work with that tree and the stumps. The shots at the end were superb.

[@georgemason2472]

So true about some scenes just not translating..... Always love to hear your thoughts. Sometimes it's just nice to enjoy the morning.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Absolutely!!

[@martinoberstein8431]

Thank you again, Adam, for sharing these beautiful photos and for presenting and talking the not so great ones. A lot to learn in deed. I like the ones with the singular rock and the trunks most - superb!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

My pleasure!

[@CalebWeston_dubland]

Love the arbutus tree images. They have such lovely texture and color to them. Thanks for sharing!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@johnzapell1527]

Whole heartedly agree about messy woodlands being difficult. Here in Oregon, whether in hardwood or conifer forests understory brush and litter can make getting good comps frustrating.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Well said!

[@ericsmith9777]

Thanks for sharing. I currently reside in Alberta. The video takes me back to my time as a kid, growing up on the Island, spending time in the woods and most of all....those Arbutus trees. Nice images !!

[@georgefrench1907]

I agree with your idea of eliminating the stump and moving in close to the spreading roots. Thanks, Adam.

[@nickbristol3457]

Enjoyed watching this video, Adam. Love being in the woods with you and hearing your thoughts.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks 👍

[@erikswenson2659]

Spot on with your self-critique.

[@brianmckeever5280]

Nice mix of locations. Interesting to see the challenging scene. Keep 'em coming!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks, will do!

[@michaelj.1121]

Very good approach to discuss the „did not work“ thoughts. Educational and insight 👍

[@krimke881]

Really glad you took the time to look at the failed shot.

[@pascalthiebaud]

You are a hero, I would have abdicated much faster. That said, I liked the 2 images in 65/24. What I like about this ratio is the ability to center a subject by telling the surrounding story, but excluding what is distracting above and below. It doesn't work too badly with the tree. I don't know if what I'm saying makes sense. In this kind of situation, I turn to more abstract and intimate scenes. As we say in France: It's not every day Sunday.😀

[@bhikhta]

thank you sharing. this was quite a learning experience.

[@PrinceJvstin]

I sometimes wonder that, for me, forest scenes like this are great to take in, but are unsatisfying to actually try and photograph. Paths through the woodland and very up close images, I think, I like to take and process, but things liker this tree are much more fun to see than to actually capture "Seriously" (although "holiday snaps" are always a possible thing)

[@bernardjohnwright]

Great video as always and find it very calming watching while on the train plodding my way into London. Certainly know where I would prefer to be!

[@juanitakelly3082]

Really enjoy hearing why composition doesn't work as much as why it does! Thanks for your candid critique. I love beaches and bark and those shots had a little of everything that could be looked at over and over!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks so much!

[@tonydavey4171]

Enjoyed this video. Its amazing to me how we get drawn down the rabbit hole on getting that "comp" By the way congratulations on being on the front cover of the latest issue of Outdoor Photography in the UK (issue 305) what a beast of a tree?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

2nd tallest in Canada!

[@ducgerard2361]

Thank you for this trip into the Forest.... and the lesson of Composition... I enjoy very Much your pictures. One of your Fan from France.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Many thanks!

[@adavalle]

I know the pain of dealing with this kind of beautiful but chaotic scene. I actually like that big truck in the final version of the scene you were attempting to photograph. I feel it adds depth. Just food for thought.

[@lylestavast7652]

always beautiful images... :)

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Many thanks!

[@colinyoung9432]

Thanks Adam, great video loved the stones on the beach especially the first few. Colin Devon uk.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks 👍

[@rayspencer5025]

A major issue in Georgia is that almost all of our Woods have been logged within at keast the last few years. The result is that the Woods are chaotically cluttered.

[@garyverstick1620]

Stumped eh? 😁 Methinks you might have too quickly dismissed your tighter wide-angle - maybe as a square? Indeed a neat tree.

[@evemitchellanderson]

You found a witch circle

[@MrPhotoman007]

Hi Adam have you tried to shoot through the stump to frame the mossy tree behind. Sorry I know just how frustrating it is to see something beautiful to photograph and not be able to make it work. I am sure that you have probably tried all this . Good luck.

[@markflanagan521]

There are times when no matter what one does to overcome , the Gods seem to conspire to make it impossible. Humbled😇, nice video describing such moments.👍

[@ErikStensland]

Adam, I always enjoy your videos. They are so good and your relaxed approach makes for a very pleasing video to watch. May I ask you what equipment you use to record the bird song in this video at around 3:20? Thanks!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

It’s just with a Rode wireless mic

[@blivieriphoto]

Nice Adam. 😊 Maybe that tree didn’t work for you but the beach rocks and that gnarly bark shot was pretty epic.

[@rodbotic]

Recently, I heard a comment about the bigleaf maples are in trouble. Bigleaf Maple dieback(die-off). It seems the hotter dryer summers are making them more disease prone.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Possibly, seems to be happening with many plants as they cant adjust quick enough to the extremes.

[@TRC_PNW]

@@QuietLightPhoto I was out yesterday in old growth near Seattle and there were some signs I came across discussing the die-off of sword ferns in a particular area which has been getting larger each year since 2017. They aren’t sure why. I’m afraid we’ll be in for more and more of this in the future unfortunately.

[@nevillewatkins4997]

It is tricky. Sometimes things like that tree just stick out for photography. It's bloody frustrating when you can't get a clean shot.

[@reflectedlightimages]

On the stumps, would it have worked to get really low and use part of the two mossy stumps as framing? Not being there makes it difficult to see the impact on the overall composition.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

possibly

[@andyblessett1951]

Far from me to criticise but maybe you made life a bit harder for yourself here and there than we'd expect from you. What do I know? hahaha Absolutely love the image @ 17:02

[@MyViewFromTheWoods]

When you show your RAW file images what profile are you using, Landscape?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Generally the one that I shot with Astia

[@wildbillgreen]

I need to get me some wellies

[@rusluck6014]

Thanks for another great and useful video! Greetings from Russia =)

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thank you very much!

[@johnmclean7852]

Have you ever estimated your batting average ( attempted completion to keeper, printable, portfolio ). When are Photoshop or Fugi, going to develop the magic chain saw tool?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Not really.

[@wishingluck]

Just an idea around 13:00 - this looks like a face, so perhaps it can be worked on like an available light portrait?

[@DaveKingMusic]

What brand of boots are those?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Muck boots, choir

[@lynnecliffe3056]

First, we see with our eyes, right Adam?

[@lylestavast7652]

How tall are you ? That tripod expansion got me thinking. And it's ok you can tell me either metric or english system, I'm higher IQ and can do both in my head. ;)

[@QuietLightPhoto]

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