How I Handle a Terrible Day of Photography in the Field

[@TheOnceAndFutureDoug]

For traveling with coffee, get a hand grinder, an Aeropress Go and something air-tight to store your beans. Get a light roast, boil your water, it goes in the Aeropress with your ground coffee and in a minute or two you have a lovely brew. I do it every morning, takes 5 minutes start to finish including cleanup. Aeropress just need a rinse.

[@DaveKingMusic]

Same weather in Connecticut of late! ☔️

[@mohrt008]

I like the first one, the way you framed the flowing foam and tree branches.

[@Realletsplaygrey]

I very much enjoy the 2nd image of the foam.

[@j.k.photography3664]

I liked the second pine photo.

[@PlantSeedsOfLove]

Have you thought about traveling to Australia or New Zealand to capture landscape photos?

[@PhotoTrekr]

Back in the days of film cameras, there were many days when I would drive to the mountains and not take a photo. Sometimes that happens even these days. But, I've always thought that even a bad day in the mountains is better than a good day in the city.

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

I couldn't agree more. I often feel the pressure to shoot images for the videos sake, but a day out with no images is better than a day stuck inside, also with no images.

[@emmanuelbarboza7347]

What’s wrong with the city 🤨

[@jonldronevideos]

@@emmanuelbarboza7347 if you do street photography, nothing. But still can go out wander the streets and come back with nothing. The time is never wasted, it can go down as experience.

[@BriManeely]

Isn't it still the days of film cameras? 😏

[@JRodPhotoArt]

I do agree, Don't wait for good weather to make art, there is always art to be made in any weather condition. Nice job!

[@barbarachamberlain6918]

I really liked the third foam shot.

[@twiztedzero1685]

So here I am laying down watching this video and I see cheese toasty - yeah, had to get up and go into the kitchen and make one for myself. Cheers!

[@beckywaters1843]

Loved the third foam image. The fallen tree image was wonderful because of the background story you painted. Patience and eyes wide open will produce winners as these.

[@TheKingPrawn114]

That description at 8:30 perfectly describes where I live in the Pacific Northwest of the US.

[@mikebartow9415]

In the first group of images I like the third one. The pattern is mesmerizing and contemplative. I can stare at it and seem to find peacefulness.

[@christopherhawkes5669]

Thanks Thomas. Third foam and first tree. Really inspiring during these dreich Scottish winter days.

[@DaveKingMusic]

Makes me feel better that I’m not the only to come home with meh images.

[@hamsterneckliving]

The second of the falling tree shots definitely tells a story. Well done.

[@karlagerst111]

I might have to quote you, at least to myself. “Don’t burden yourself with expectations of grandeur.” That’s now in my toolkit. 😊 Thanks!

[@mikearmstrong7956]

Yeah your Right Tom, Sometimes you just have to Push yourself out. You never know whats out there???

[@jamietallingbell]

Thanks Thomas, that's the push I needed to get out with my camera! Some great images, especially considering the conditions, really like the first fallen tree image!

[@joesanders6898]

You got me thinking. And I suppose that's what it's all about. The weather around here has been pretty lousy and it's been difficult to find any enthusiasm. So maybe tomorrow I'll go out in spite of the lousy weather. I just need to remember to see the big picture, but look for the small picture. A leaf, or a branch, or a puddle with wind ripples on it.

[@rexgigout1472]

Good presentation! Indeed, a “bad” day away from the city can be better than a good day in the city. Rain? One can bring a macro or other relatively high-magnification lens, and some kind of flash or lighting. No matter the weather, there will always be a rock or fallen log with interesting moss or lichen. The rainwater on the subject can be part of the image. I am now paying more attention to your presentations, again, after a hiatus, during which I was looking more into street and urban shooting, and people photography. Your use of the Nikon Z system also helps me to relate, more, to your equipment, as I believe that the Z7 II sensor is not so far removed from that inside my D850, and, the Z9 has my attention.

[@willfreund3315]

I preferred the 2nd of the three photos. Almost felt like a painting!

[@fredjcarss7788]

I get out once a week with my old pal. We have been taking pictures together since our early teens and I’m 70 this year. It’s great to get out and get lost (regular occurrence) and see what catches the eye. We look at everything with different eyes and surprise each other with what one or other of us home into. We vary our equipment carried to add challenges, sometimes SLR , compacts, film and even my 1952 Leica or inherited cameras from my mum who was a keen photographer. These days we don’t develop our films but the cost factors make you very selective of shots (entirely different to digital). Tomorrow we are going into town to see who gets the best with camera phones and might fit in a curry. Never boring and there is always something to laugh at and keep us sane

[@Mel-95]

Here in Northern California, USA, we, too, are being inundated by rain. You are not along. I felt sad seeing all those freshly-felled trees, youngsters just getting started in life. Another of Nature's hidden dramas revealed in your photographs. Please keep "seeing" for us. Always an experience.

[@kimcalvert332]

Very timely video for me! Thanks for sharing! Got me back out with my cam

[@timothycampbell7015]

Thanks for showing outings that may not be saleable but we're rewarding to you yourself. I have watched your videos for a few years now and very much enjoy your love of capturing what ever you see wherever you are. I am very much an amateur but I truly love looking for beauty and interest w where at first glance there seems to be nothing. Keep up the great work. You are an inspiration. Thanks

[@supertaufiqr]

Sensor dust gave me goosebumps

[@suhangyin8872]

I quite like the very first image, the contrast of tree and foam is fantastic

[@blivieriphoto]

I love it Tom. That last spot, they looked like the old game of pickup sticks. Very nice. I totally agree. When you're least inspired is when you need to just go on a walkabout. See what you can see. Even if you shoot nothing, you've got fresh air in your lungs and got your feet moving. I just want to say, you've been inspiring me for years, since 2017 I believe. I was in Zion this last March, end of winter, when I came across a grove of boxelder trees at the Narrows bus stop. The dried seeds were just dangling by a thread, and shimmered in the bright light. I suddenly remembered when you went to Zion so many years ago and saw the very same thing. Couldn't remember the image, but remembered your enthusiasm and vivid description. I took several shots of those trees and wondered, "will these hold a candle to Thomas Heaton's photo?" Well, I ended up submitting it to this last year's NLPA and it came in 3rd for the intimate landscapes group. 🤗 You continue to inspire me weekly. Thank you for your hard work and continued inspiration!

[@Chris391971]

Long range forecast is now drier and colder :)

[@dxbjack14]

Get yourself an AeroPress for your coffee. Can't beat the taste and much simpler for the outdoors or camping. ☕️

[@karencolville9738]

I prefer image number three it has interest as the contrast is powerful and subtle in it's own way. I am not keen on the branches with the foam as much there is one branch straggling off with the composition. The foam itself is interesting in pattern and texture. Right in front of me, my eye line. I have your calendar with a tree sticking out of the snow, I have grown to appreciate since it is up for the month of January. We had snow and now it is miserable raining also, I value it more. Yes good to keep an open mind as it leads to exploration with further creativity. I am taking a break from art image making and focusing on writing as creating music. Seeing your video is a nice visual change.

[@karenwilliams4362]

You could photograph a phone directory and still make it interesting in video like this! Thanks so much for the inspiration

[@Drivr555]

I was casually watching this video as you were talking about difficulty finding subjects when, at 6:02 as you were walking into the forest, the B-roll image made me do a double take and think, "there's an awesome picture there!" (sorry for the long winded sentence).

[@andysuzierawlins5462]

The foam and the tree I love, the 2nd tree one. Totally get the mind attacking itself. I once did a night shoot, the clouds rolled in, so I went with that, and actually loads of people likes it when I put it on fb, I was encouraged by Richard Tatti of nightscape images to roll with what you get

[@calvinwon5113]

Hey Thomas. You shouldn't feel the need to lie about what you're photographing when people ask. You're amazing at what you do, and you should stay true to yourself with confidence. Not only does being a photographer teach you the powers of observation, but it also inspires observation in anyone who views the images. Your images teach people how to view the world differently, and to notice things they might not have noticed before. So why not communicate that directly to the people who are asking you about it? If they judge that, who cares? It's unlikely you'll see them again anyways.

[@kenford2877]

Just want to thank you for your videos. I always find them interesting and I've learned a lot about composition and a photographer's perspective from you.

[@garrylockett]

Look at the Aeropress for coffee, super easy to use

[@brianmckeever5280]

The images of the foam, I agree, the last is most interesting. The me, the trees are a better subject, and I may not have stopped, but that does not mean they were not worth capturing. Hearing your point of view was interesting. FWIW: What I like most about taking pictures is it makes ALL of life more interesting. Everywhere I go, whatever I'm looking at, I'm always noticing colors, shadows, patterns and alignments of objects. A lot more things to smile and enjoy. We can use as much of that as we can get.

[@clansman66]

Liked the second foam image in the river the best, nice light to dark contrast, for shooting near a road and being inconspicuous, wear a hiviz vest, no one will ever question you, top tip from Nick Carver.😊

[@damagephotos4805]

I need this video. I got my new Z6ii Dec. 31. It's been raining, dark and dreary since. There was ONE day of sun and I was stuck in the office from sun up until almost sundown. By the time I got out of the city and nearer to home, it was going dark and I didn't get any shots. I can't wait until a decent day!

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Seems like we’ve had months of this weather. As you did, I go close or telephoto in these conditions.

[@c.gutbrod472]

saved my day! Thank you for sharing this video

[@nevvanclarke9225]

Landscape photography is not like photographing a model in a studio. Where everything is perfect and everything is constructed it’s off in about finding something that maybe you didn’t think was there especially when the conditions are really tough. I like the images I like the stick images as well and I always think there’s something you can take a photo of something creative and Thomas is right it is essentially an exercise in mindfulness and observation

[@paulstillwell]

Of the first set of 3 images, number 2 does it for me... beautifully abstract and minimal.

[@charliejg]

I honestly really like the geometry of the downed trees. I'm wondering how it would have looked in black and white. I have an image in mind to shoot near my home that I'm trying to figure out how to make. It's two long rows of big pine trees. The rows are close together and I want to shoot down the opening in the middle give a tunnel effect. I just haven't quite figured out how to capture it. But, it's not going away! Thanks for taking us along. Have a great week!

[@luisfaustino]

Good video and thumbs up for not quitting straight off. What the heck was the foam? Pollution on the water?

[@davidskinner274]

One and three for me. When all else fails, always look for the closer abstract stuff. Good video, Thomas

[@MrGm182]

I get it. This was a brilliant video. One of the most natural & relatable (for us novices!). Appreciated

[@ARTIST-AT-LARGE]

I'm watching this while sitting in my VWbus (that I live in) in California with the rain tap tap tapping on my roof while I download photographs from a break in the storms the other day! Weather has been grim here too!

[@shaun53355]

You were in an location where you were looking for the detail. Not your best work, but you enjoyed it. You Said the words. Keep up the good work😊.

[@jamesbarnes3063]

Nice to see good images for a bad day, much better than bad images fron a good weather day. I enjoy watching your videos, thanks

[@josephlai1078]

Great video. Thanks for showing us the "real" side of photo shooting. I think many people got mislead by many YT videos thinking that every outing ends with many spectacular shots.

[@tacotruck4040]

I enjoyed the last two images, the last especially so. It seemed to tell a story of live tree falling down into dead ones. Thanks fore the videos Thomas

[@karimedinburgh]

Amazing video my friend , thank you for the wonderful video and wish you a good day!!

[@Mcguppy]

If people passing by don’t get what you’re photographing, that’s their problem, why should you care. Love your work and videos

[@rogernuffer]

My favorites are images in order are 3, 1 and 5

[@neilalmond9354]

Love the shot of the fallen trees next to the planting tubes, bet you were happy you went out. Well done mate.

[@scotty4418]

Totally agree with the comment at the end Thomas. Keep an open mind and adapt to the conditions. Liked the 3rd foam image and the first tree image at the end.

[@ahsanabbasphotography]

Sometimes you have to be patient, keep moving, keep exploring, keep wandering!

[@cynthiaisenhoff8777]

Last image wins!

[@tmbennett3593]

By looking and taking creative risks we can break new ground. Usually that journey is personal, you are kind enough to share that experience with us! Inspirational as always!

[@ianjefferson694]

I actually don't want to judge/comment on the photos. This is all about inspiration and seeing beauty where others may not. Your videos always want me to pick up the camera and head out......which I generally do. Cheers.

[@davidskinner274]

Second of the last two is a brlliant photo. Not necissarily marketable as a print, but in a book made for photographic appreciation, most definatwly

[@bethmiklavcic180]

Always "bother," it is all a learning experience. I grew up in California and even the "crap" images I recently took in December are now valuable to me, since those scenes no longer exist.

[@NicholasCox85]

At 8:04 I thought you had just lost attention and given up! Haha

[@Rob.1340]

Thank you. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@speliotis]

I've watched a few of your videos & admire your commitment to getting out into Nature and make photos. I love your drone footage as well.. Do you have any videos explaining how you also capture footage with your drone.... ? cheers..

[@AnalogMonoxide]

Haha, watching this while I'm packing my camera bag. The weather is crap, the light is rubbish, I'm brewing coffee for my thermos and layering up to go out anyway.

[@romiemiller7876]

Ha! I saw some spots. At least two. The foam on the water photos look good.

[@hikingtheoutdoors]

You are pure INSPIRATION, Tomas! Cheers

[@Sarmor1985]

It was good seeing you back on the road, healthy and inspired !

[@texas8322]

I love the foam photos. Number three is my favorite as well, but I like the one with the tree limb as well. I also enjoyed the second fallen tree area, but the first was a good one too. I always go for scenes that would seem a waste of time by most people.

[@andysuzierawlins5462]

P. S I love your honesty, it's why I watch your channel

[@richarddenise3886]

You are the Master of describing the process of trial and error and definitely success!

[@mjconrad51]

Thank You

[@ricardohnn]

loved the tip about cleaning the sensor

[@larryjohnson1451]

I'm glad you made the point about the importance of being out and finding what might be waiting for us. Videos like this talk to us where we are and sometimes that's a mundane location or dealing with creative inertia. We don't need more videos like "tricks only the pros use," but we certainly benefit from seeing how someone approaches a situation and finds something that merits sharing, and how they set up the shot.

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

Really enjoyed this little adventure, Thomas. Took me back to so many times doing much the same thing and sleeping in my little den made up in the back of my truck or sometimes my REI backpack tent. You did have one big advantage, though. You had enough heat to keep the damp and chill out and give you a cozy night in the camper. Anyway, those were good times. You did end up with some good images. I couldn't see anything happening there until you put up the finished images. Good stuff. One thing about that white foam: makes me think that stream was terribly polluted. White foam makes me think it was phosphate. A good bit of which used to be deposited into streams from the detergent used in clothes washing machines. But in this case, because there is so much of it, I suspect it might be from some type of industrial process. Anyway, you made a good picture with it.

[@jimimber164]

I actually like all three to be honest. The issue with Mother Nature is, she gives a view, a set of circumstances that you will never see again, for various reasons. Thomas, is this Kielder?

[@brianparks440]

Thomas, I want to say I get something of value out of every video of yours I’ve watched. This was just the inspiration I needed today as the weather here in western Montana lately has been absolutely dismal. I am waiting for a day when it’s forecast morning fog becoming partly sunny and we just had one last Friday and I was all set to head out to some preplanned locations. But then I awoke with a terrible stomach flu. Now the forecast for the foreseeable future is bleak. So rather than sulking I put on this video. Now I’m inspired to face whatever nature throws at me. Cheers mate. Brian

[@trevorbrooks813]

I agree with your assessment of the images, number 3 being my favourite too. Rather perversely perhaps, apparent lousy weather conditions can bring a good sense of satisfaction, and not just for the dry socks when you get home. I find if you go out intending to enjoy it, you almost certainly will, regardless of the 'result'. Thanks for posting.

[@SourPlanet]

One of my favorite tricks to kinda "hack" my systems is to keep a couple small creative lenses in the bag. Most modern lenses gate specific qualities (sharpness, dof, etc) and then leave the photographer to be creative. Some lenses- and plenty of vintage lenses- offer essentially art direction as a modifier. Helios 44-2 is an easy example. If you open it up, space yourself correctly, you get swirl bokeh. Another favorite is the Astrhori 50/1.4 tilt lens. Simple mechanics but fantastic quality, allows for very pronounced field blurs that can be pushed throughout scene depth with the aperture. So if the day is just not providing in an expected way, I'll switch over to something a little weird and see what kind of magic I can conjure up. Super fun to break out of habits in a tactile way like that too.

[@amalieemmynoether992]

That's the challenge I love about photography... finding images when the light and conditions are not ideal. Agree the third image is the best of the first set.

[@fgb3126]

Well Bud you can thank the weather modification teams for your grim forecast. All that rain has to go somewhere (Earth is a close system) and since they, in their infinite wisdom, are creating droughts in other places, you sir got the water! It's not only the weather that's grim. It's what is going on without our approval or even knowledge.

[@alexandraontheroad1025]

Thomas, Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.😊 Great Job.

[@lotus30com]

I've heard, "It's Grim Up North."

[@Robpelediephotography]

Love that story from college. That’s a great tip. Spend a bit of time looking

[@robd2781]

Great video Thomas. It doesn’t matter what the images look like, as long as you had a blast making them ( do like the foam set though👍).

[@charliewaterman816]

Like foam shot 2 and 3. Definitely, one of those less is more moments. The branch didn't go with the textures. Just ended up a distraction. But the foam on its own had some great feeling. Good find :)

[@IainHC1]

Another cracking vid there Gavin 🙂 Enjoyed it 🙂

[@ABullet520]

Especially today with digital, if you think it might be a shot then shoot it. You were there, what else were you going to do. Even if you consider them failures, you might learn something or come up with a different composition that you would have never thought of if you hadn't at least tried. Sometimes, photography is like any other hobby or passion, it isn't always about the photo it is about the enjoyment from looking for the shot. Regardless of what you think of the shots, it sounds like you had a good time, what else really matters. Great weather will come again, grand compositions will come again but sometimes days like this are not bad at all in the grand scheme of things and actually can be quite enjoyable. I recently went out on a foggy morning thinking the fog would lift and I might get some great woodland shots, but it never did and if anything it got worse. But I had a beautiful morning walk and with nothing else planned and nobody bothering me about anything. Just me and the woods, got a few shots I don't consider failures but I really enjoyed that morning walk.

[@jstuempges1985]

Always love watching your videos. I came across your channel around 2016/2017 and have always looked forward to your weekly videos. There is not a single person who has motivated and inspired me more than you. Even on those days when the conditions aren't great, you still make an effort to get an image. Watching your videos always motivates me to get out and explore the world around me. And on those days or weeks that I cant get out, you transport me to those places. I would just like to say thank you.

[@bradzaruba9686]

Tom, I agree with you on both counts that the second one was better.

[@CMDR_Scorpion]

Aeropress FTW for quick / nice coffee use the inverted brew method and you cant go wrong!

[@willemschottert]

It's like you said. It is not what you see, but how you see it. Or.....what you see in the photo Or....what emotion occurs when seeing the photo. Love your work. Very inspiring. 👏👏👏

[@Wklambert]

"Keep an open mind." Amen sir. This is soooo hard to do sometimes. (I think image #2 works well. Especially w the movement in the upper portion of the photograph.)

[@tariqabdullah8162]

2nd picture of the falling trees was my favourite

[@lisasimpson9343]

Totally agree, I have limited time and budget so I dont go anywhere out of my local area except a trip to a specialist in Adelaide every 6 months so I have to have that mindset of finding images in the everyday landscapes. That will be changing this year and it will feel like Xmas, or better..... We are only here once, make the most of it. I liked the image of the fallen trees with the young ones the best. Thank you Thomas.

[@RonK]

When people stop and ask what you're doing, you should answer "I'm a landscaping KZbinr with half a million subscribers, and turning seemingly boring trees into great emotions is one of my three greatest gifts.". Obviously they will ask for the other two, and you'll be happy to see that they ALL DON'T think that what you do would be questionable at all. Try it out, you'll be surprised.