The Power of Flat Light in Landscape Photography | Take Great Photos in Poor Light

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

One of your best instructional videos. But, strange to say, I enjoyed the ad and the way you blended it in the most.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much! It was a lot of fun and a little challenging to get right ... Great to hear you liked it! 😁 As always, thanks for watching 👍👍

[@alvinmorris5404]

I've discovered that Mike is his own kinda special 😂😊 but he wouldn't be the teacher he is if he was a normal(?) person lol 😊

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! Thanks for your kind words Alvin!! I like to think I add my own kind of special! 😆😆😆

[@jonkirkwood469]

The flat light of a dull day is my favorite lighting. Thanks for the tip of what/where.

[@mikesphotography]

Great to hear Jon!! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@vault-tecrep8565]

The sponsorship segment was really fun to watch! Never thought an ad would be so entertaining. Well done Mike!

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! Excellent!! Thanks so much for your kind words ... It took a bit of work but was fun getting the timing right. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@odarrien]

Great tips. That ad break for Artlist was very creative!!!!!!!!!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Darrien! The ad break was a lot of fun to shoot and edit. I love a challenge like that as well ... much more fun than a boring ad read. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@aurynholmes]

I usually do concert photography, and just stumbled across your videos. This video provides such a different view of photography and makes me really just wanna go out into the country and go for a hike! Haha

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! A very different genre, and challenging in very different ways. Great to hear my videos have got you feeling like you want to go out and shoot and hike!! My master plan is working!!! 😆 Thanks for watching Auryn 😁👍

[@lakesrhino1]

Yes, I agree it is "what" you are photographing, which is the key point. I also liked how you said about having intent in the image. I used to (still do a bit) get sucked into the overall view, but when I got home, I wondered what I was trying to shoot. Also, re the light, I now think that is the final part rather than the main part. I still see a lot of photographers (including on KZbin) who get carried away with the light and not focus on a subject.

[@CluelessYoutuber]

Great tips buddy 😁 when I get flat or harsh light, I tend to skip landscape and walk around for some street 😅 or something similar to it. Maybe a flat light landscape photography challenge is an idea. 🤔 shooting with intent, nice ring to it! Nice intro to the sponsor segment too 😂

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much dude!! This was a fun one to do, and the sponsored ad was really challenging to get right ... Took a few takes!! 😆😆 Flat light landscape challenge would be a great idea!! 👍

[@klaras286]

... thank you for the tips... i have to keep in mind : 'what, not where'... that's very smart advice...

[@mikesphotography]

Great to hear I could help Klara! 😁👍

[@statemediabroadcasts]

Just came across your videos and already hooked! Great content, delivery and off the hook editing! Greetings from Trinidad in the Caribbean! Keep up the great work... Subscribed!

[@mikesphotography]

That's awesome to hear! Lot's more to come!! Thanks for your kind words and thanks for subscribing, much appreciated! 😁👍

[@stevencurtisphotography]

Thanks, Mike! Great to have you back in the UK :-)

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks Steven, great to be back!! 😁👍

[@stevencurtisphotography]

@@mikesphotography If you are ever up near Darlington, give me a shout and I'll have a day out with you 🙂

[@jillbaxter4533]

Love the edit of this! It must take ages but it certainly works. I often get my photos home and wonder what on earth I was trying to sell. I don't get out enough to practice but after your inspiring video I don't have any excuse 🙄 thanks Mike

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Jill! It was a fun one to shoot, and a little challenging getting the timing right ... Great to hear it was inspiring!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@ThepPixel]

Your method of presenting here is fantastic, its almost like a BBC show. Clear, concise and easy to follow. Fantastic content mate 👌

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much! I've been working on making it more entertaining and easier to watch so that's great to hear!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Ndpurc]

Definitely agree on shooting textures if the light is flat. In fact, textures in the landscape is an ongoing project of mine in any light. That said, a bigger, current challenge for me is finding interesting shots in my vicinity, near where I live, without long trips to Scotland or Wales. Tricky but very worthwhile, methinks. As always, very informative, perceptive and enjoyable videos, 👍

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Neil! They are tricky to find but there are photos out there in your vicinity. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Ndpurc]

@@mikesphotography I saw you rattle off a few hand held shots for a panorama. Any chance sometime in the future you might like to demo how to stitch them together? That would be fabulous 👍

[@mikesphotography]

No worries at all. I've got a Pano video planned in the near future. 😁👍 Until then, I have this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWGYeoCCaMx7o6c where I go through the different ways to shoot it ... And then this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqmtf39ngL-Hg6c from 4 years ago ... I can't believe that's 4 years ago ... It felt like I made it last year!! 😆 Anyway, I hope that helps. 😁👍

[@Ndpurc]

@@mikesphotography yep, really helpful, will definitely have a go with some recent shots, but I quickly learned the tripod method wasn't that great if you don't get the level perfect all the way round! Only one way to learn, I guess, by doing it till you get it right. Getting there tho'. Thanks so much for responding. So many others can't be bothered. 🖖😁

[@mikesphotography]

No worries Neil. I always enjoy replying to comments so hang out here, almost more than replying to emails! 😆🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Keyloggs1]

Again, great video Mike! Totally agree with you: its about getting out and focus on photography to learn it! Golden hour is too easy... we should challange ourselves everytime!

[@mikesphotography]

Exactly!! ... and it's those days that look ominous that sometimes give the best results!! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@robertleem5643]

Thankyou for sharing, one thing I don't do and will start to do is after taking a panoramic pick other parts out to photo

[@mikesphotography]

No worries Robert, Great to hear you got something from it! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@stephenwoodburn2970]

Great tips, Mike. I struggle like everyone with going out in less than ideal conditions and trying to get something great. I agree completely with zooming in and getting tighter shots. I hope all is well. I look forward to more.

[@mikesphotography]

I know what you mean ... sometimes I do lack motivation ... I might have just spent some money on a new lens ... 50-400m ... 😆🙈 time to really zoom!! I hope all is good with you dude!

[@andrewbarnardo1793]

Hi Mike, My first time here. Love the way you edit you video's. Your tips and explanations is easy to understand. Thank you. Andrew

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words Andrew! It's great to hear that they make sense and are easy to understand. I have a lot more to come so make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out ... and if you ever have a question, just ask. I hang out here a lot and try and help whenever I can. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Dudeitsharrison]

Asolutely loving the song selection bit, chatting with yourself in the edit. Love a good fart here and there as well, hahaha! Great stuff, dude! As for bracketing, well.. Ive never done it. Shame on me and time to start! Thanks Mike!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Dude!! I had a lot of fun making that bit! ... and every video needs a fart in it here or there!! 😆😆😆 Bracketing is great when that sky is a little too bright!! I hope all is good with you bro! 😁👍

[@Cliffthomasphotography]

Great video again Mike. Ive started using my Macro lens when the weathers poor. I suppoes you could say that focusing on the what :)

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Clifford! That is most definitely focusing on the what. 👍 As always, thanks for watching 😁

[@luxdalet]

Awesome video Mike! I like how you say "the colors are boring and flat" at 1:45 while wearing yellow and blue, making the video scene quite the opposite of boring and flat :D Simple yet amazing concept... never thought of it that way. I forced myself so much in the wide range lenses that I never thought of using my zooms to help these scenarios. Always learning with you! Thank you yet again!

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! Good point!! Zooms are such a great tool when it comes to photography. I love grabbing those details within a scene or a subject. Great to hear my videos are helping!! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@onikaimu]

Great advice in this video, Mike. I love getting texture in photos, it is overlooked by many people. Stay safe and warm.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Lance! I sometimes forget about that one ... This is almost a reminder for me as well as people watching. 😆 As always that's for watching dude. 😁👍

[@Stu-Bo]

I really like this video. I just bought the 70-300mm lens for my Nikon Z6ii. The idea of challenging myself with composition with framing is really helpful to me. I'm not a "beginner" but I am a novice :)

[@mikesphotography]

Great to hear you liked it Moxxi! The 70-300mm is a great lens and will be fantastic with the Z6ii. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@jdpjamesp]

There's always good inspiration in your videos Mike. Thankyou. I think my takeaway today is that there's never a bad day for photography, just a bad attitude. :)

[@mikesphotography]

I like it James!! ... And sometimes those "bad" days end up giving you the best results!! As always, thanks for watching 😁👍

[@kaywayneflor89]

Great tips, and excellent video editing!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much! 😁👍

[@petemellows]

I had never thought about bracketing to get more out of a flat image! There’s always something in your videos that makes me go “huh” 🤔

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Pete, that's great to hear. If there's any detail in those skies, it'll definitely give you that data to work with later. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@ilesmic]

Informative and very entertaining-- Well done on the music and sound effects portion-- That I am sure took some planning and thought- but looked seamless to me.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Michael!! It took a while to get right but I wanted to do an integration that was a little different to others. Great to hear it was entertaining!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@findermanimages]

A cracking video!! Some great tips right there. I actually don't mind heading out on a flat light day, I'll tend to switch to b&w too, especially if there isn't much colour in the landscape/area I'm interested in. 'Intent' is probably one of the strongest tips here... and something I'm sometimes guilty of not giving much thought to! Great editing, again, it's good to mix it up and bring some light-hearted entertainment to the video 😉. Hope you managed to get some decent sunset shots this evening 👍

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much dude!! Photographing with intent is such a great way to go from snaps to photographs. It wasn't as good as the sunsets earlier in the week, but I got a few shots I'm happy with. 😁👍 I'll try and give you a bit more of a heads up next time. 👍👍

[@paulcritchley464]

I actually love flat light. It can bring the best out of me but then I fail. Fail fail and sometime I score a good photo. You did entertain very well, one reason I watch you videos Cheers have a great day

[@mikesphotography]

Great to hear Paul!! ... and as long as you learn something from those failures, then they are very much worth it! Great to hear I'm keeping you entertained, that's the plan for 2023, so hopefully I can keep it up!! 😁👍

[@michaelhale416]

Another great video. I try real hard to not sit and wait for the right conditions. I believe it was in one of your previous videos where you stated that you simply need to make the best of the conditions you are presented with. Now I carry extension tubes and/or my Raynox DCR-250 in my bag which gives me the opportunity to switch to macro shooting. Thanks again.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Michael. That's the exact sentiment I'm trying to get across. It's sometimes hard to get motivated, but when you do, you can end up with new skills to help your photography, and then on that odd occasion that the clouds part, you're more likely to be there!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@lindaw5890]

Gorgeous location! And a great video - very entertaining. I enjoy the different presentation.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Linda! This is such a fun place to photograph. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@LandscapeFotografi]

very happy to see your content, such a beautiful location and produce such special work, great job📸📸📸

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much! This was a fun one to film and edit. 😁👍

[@LandscapeFotografi]

@@mikesphotography you're welcome and I'm always looking forward to your next content, greetings from me from my country Indonesia 📸📸📸

[@mikesphotography]

Ow wow, I love visiting your country!! Where abouts in Indonesia are you from? We loved our visit to Mt Bromo and hiking the mountains north of Yogyakarta, Java. 😁👍

[@LandscapeFotografi]

@@mikesphotography yes I'm in Java, and you mentioned the location which is the main destination on the island of Java but there are still many locations that you need to know, come back to my country like what Daniel Kordan did, come someday and I'll be happy to accompany you

[@mikesphotography]

Awesome!! Yes lots of places to visit!!! I'll definitely let you know when we visit next. 👍👍👍

[@TobSounds]

i like this video!! i would like to go to the waterdam and get some photo's there too 🙂 i also liked the part of the video where you showed your self editing and when you told editor Mike what music to add. That was a bit fun and confusing to see 😅 Happy Friday :)

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! That was fun to fi and edit ... Took a few goes to get right ... Did you spot the hint to like the video in that bit!? 🤔😁 (Likes are free! 😆)

[@TobSounds]

@@mikesphotography the editing part of the video made it a bit more fun and entertaining, because i havent seen you do such edit before 🙂 and i like the vidoes because of the whole video/content!! 😁

[@ddki9094]

These are some great tips and easy to remember too. The shapes tip I have never really heard before put like this but they are something that I take note of when I see a photo of a road or some sort of path. Thank you for all of the work you put forth in your videos to share with us. Take care!

[@mikesphotography]

That's great to hear! I love it when I find shapes, it sometimes doesn't happen for a while, but when you spot one, it is a great feeling!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@timothylee5824]

Likes are free!! Lol thank you for the excellent content.

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! I was wondering who would spot that little Easter egg!! 😆😆😆 Top marks for your eagle eye skills!! 😁😁

[@Curtis-Randall]

Hi Mike, this was very inspirational to me. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am going to push myself and get out on days that I normally wouldn’t to take photos. Thank you

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Curtis! It's such a great way to focus on certain things in your photography without having the worry of chasing the light. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@huubdegroot]

Haha... the jet fly bye moment! Great video and good information. Thank you !!! Awesome location!

[@mikesphotography]

😆😆😆 I had fun making that bit in the video!! Thanks very much, it's such a good place to photograph! Thanks for watching. 😁👍

[@benjamin_bloom]

Bracketing to deal with a white sky is a great idea! Never thought of it.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Ben! It's definitely a way to get a bit of detail in there. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@paulm8157]

Topside vid, well packaged advice; title belies compositional theme; thought this might be about adding “sunlight” rays to photo in post. But that’s just “water over the dam” 😊. Super venue - waiting to see if salmon try the upstream challenge swim. “Intent” concept a bit hazy at first; more like being “mindful” of compositional elements. Clever bit for interacting editor and vid. Aha - the old alarm clock makes a cameo. Mike wakes up wearing red jacket - winds up with yellow jacket. Nice. Much of the theme could, IMO, apply to shooting in monochrome as well as on overcast day- forces attention to composition. Next up - how to make stunning panos in total darkness😊. Cheers!

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! Now panos in complete darkness would be a challenge ... 🤔 That is definitely another way to put the photographing with intent ... mindfulness in photography 🤔🤔 Interesting how you interpreted the title, picking the right one with the right thumbnail is so hard. Sometimes I'll think a title will do really well and it bombs and other times when I don't think it'll do well, it sky rockets ... the joys of being a KZbinr!! 😆 As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@siansmith9006]

Fab 📸 footage Mike. Did I spot 👀 a snap of me and Bex 🚶‍♀️ 🌳 🥰xx

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! Well spotted!! 😁👍

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

You are a master of making videos wow

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Paul!! 😁👍

[@helgea73]

Thanks for a fantastic video with a lot of good tips! One question. What kind of camera do you use to film your videos?

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Helge! I film most of my videos with the Sony A7C and the tamron 17-35mm. The pov shots are with the DJI action 3 and the drone shots are from the mini 2. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@nathanfullmer4823]

Fantastic Insight!... Also the energy you put towards your photography makes me want to get out and take some pics ASAP

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Nathan, great to hear my passion for photography comes across in my videos!! 😁👍

[@dante-fc9se]

copy and paste

[@colinbrewer6507]

Very interesting Mike thanks for that will put your info into practice

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Colin! 😁👍

[@dante-fc9se]

copy and paste

[@SilverFlint247]

I am curious about your bracketing configuration. Last summer I used 5 spaced 2ev apart. It gives great pictures but is storage hungry. Is it truly necessary or 3 would be enough? I am curious about your opinion.

[@mikesphotography]

I tend to shoot 3 at 1ev spacings ... but if the difference between the highlights and shadows is really big, I'll do 5 at 1ev spacings. For me, that tends to be enough. 👍

[@SilverFlint247]

Thanks, I will experiment with that.

[@bamsemh1]

Instead of bracketing, I use the sky mask in lightroom 😊

[@tlareG]

👍

[@mikesphotography]

😁👍

[@maxcerruti447]

Hi, i d livello to know the model of your backpack. Is it a Lowepro? What model and capacità? I think it would be useful for me. Thanks for the video!

[@mikesphotography]

Hi Max, it is the Protactic 450awii from Lowepro. Here's the link: geni.us/Lowepro450AWii I'm not suer of the capacity, but I can fit two cameras, 5 lenses and a drone, as well as having space for a warm jumper in the top area. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@maxcerruti447]

@@mikesphotography Thanks!👍

[@SilverFlint247]

Not the first time I notice the "retro" alarm clock on your desk. Can you tell us about it?

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! There's a few little Easter eggs like that in this one! I got it for this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZW6ZoOYdpt3ppo The time in today's video relates to something ... But it's quite obscure ... A favourite movie from the 80s....🤔 Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@petebrandon.]

@@mikesphotography 8 o'clock in the morning / They Live? Great informative video btw

[@mikesphotography]

Doc Brown's house ... 😁

[@petebrandon.]

@@mikesphotography ha, I was miles away 🤣

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! At least you gave it a shot!! 😁👍 Lots more ester eggs like that to come this year!!

[@frankinblackpool]

I genuinely like the What, not the Where bit of advice. And I will be more conscious about this. 😀 I also liked your sexy Dolly Zooms at the beginning of the episode. Don't suppose you'd explain how you did them please? BTW I'm not allowed to buy any more fly-away toys because I've killed three and I'm not allowed to waste any more money on them. 😭😭 That is, if I want to keep specific parts of my anatomy in their respective locations undamaged.

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! Those fly aways toys have been crash test dummies for me ... My DJI mini 2 has had a few big spills recently, but it is still going strong ... At the moment!! 😁 It's always important to keep those vital bits of your anatomy intact!! 😆 For the dolly zoom, I fly my drone towards me, then I make a bot of the framing at the end of the clip, key frame it, and then try to match that frame by zooming in and repositioning at the start of the clip, so it's a digital zoom out with a camera movement towards me. Hope that makes sense... Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@frankinblackpool]

@@mikesphotography Thanks for the advice. And I'm glad that we are both on the same page about keeping things intact.😀 I shall try my best to decipher how you do your dollies, however one bit really confuses me. May I ask what a Bot of the framing is please? Cheers

[@bamsemh1]

But what if your Tele is slow aperture? 😬 F5-6.3

[@mikesphotography]

You adjust the settings to suit, or shoot from amonopod or tripod. I have a new zoom with that very aperture range and it's fantastic. 👍

[@octocrushoctocrush1316]

What format do you take the photos?

[@mikesphotography]

I shoot in Raw. 👍

[@robertlagrange6388]

How do you use the peak designs clip with the arca swiss head

[@mikesphotography]

The peak design quick release plate is basically Arca swiss, so it will clamp into an arca swiss tripod head nicely. 👍

[@robertlagrange6388]

@@mikesphotography can you use it with an "L" bracket

[@mikesphotography]

I use those mounting threads on the bottom of the l bracket and put a peak design quick release plate on the actual l bracket. Next week's video is all about L brackets and in that one you'll see how I go about using qr plates and L brackets ... Or at least my version of an L bracket. 👍

[@robertlagrange6388]

@@mikesphotography Awesome, thanks. I look forward to it.