Why Your Photos Are Boring ... and how to fix them ...

[@ivotouart]

You know the biggest thing holding me back? My inability to balance my work and leisure time and get up early enough to actually catch the good light. To me this is the hardest part of landscape photography besides the lack of mountains...

[@mikesphotography]

Life does get really busy sometimes doesn't it. We only have one car at the moment and my wife uses it for work ... this makes it almost impossible to get out for sunrises and get back before she needs it ... really frustrating, especially when you look out the window and see a beautiful sky!! I feel your pain. Thanks for watching anyway 👍

[@paulcollingridge8387]

Add kids to that and the camera becomes a luxury treat

[@Aviator168]

No need to go out. You can take every interesting shots just in your backyard garden. If you get very low, a small rock can be made look like a mountain.😀

[@matthewsinger]

You don't need mountains for good landscapes. I've seen great and interesting images coming off of the great plains that utilize texture and lighting, dramatic skies, and simple subjects that range from a single tree in a pasture or farm field to a barn, farmhouse, tower, old tractor, etc. The key is to find a scene that tells a story about the location you are in. Some locations are naturally photogenic and it can be easy to make bad images that look great with little effort. But in a less dramatic landscape, it takes work to build skill, but you'll appreciate that skill when you do visit a photogenic landscape as you end up shooting with intention.

[@jaredhammonds8255]

​@@mikesphotography tell me about it. I drive by neat stuff daily this time of year (really just the one neat thing every day) but that's on my way to work and it's too dark for the trip home lol. It's important to get out when you can

[@sarahbatsford4791]

Thanks Mike really appreciate your tips. Easy to forget sometimes & end up disappointed😊

[@alangrist9259]

Thanks Mike, great Share and appreciate you positive hints and tips 👍

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Alan! I'm really enjoying making these videos so it is great to hear they are helping. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks for sharing another wonderful video like always and useful tips 👍👏👌

[@mikesphotography]

No worries Miguel, and as always thanks for watching and commenting. 😀👍

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Great reminders, as usual. Time to go out and apply them!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much. It is one that is so simple it is often overlooked ... I even had to reshoot the closeups at the start of the video as I forgot to get them when out shooting! 😆😆😆 As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@colinbrewer6507]

Thanks Mike more great info to take on board 👍

[@mikesphotography]

No worries, thanks for watching Colin! 😁👍

[@adenewton]

Mike got to say you are by far my favourite photography KZbinr now. So glad I found you. Your videos are well produced, informative, and best of all, they are short and too the point without a load of pointless waffle. I've even started going through watching all your old stuff. (Hope it's helping the monetisation, lol) I'm learning something new nearly all the time from you. Especially as I'm a new Sony user and you're using pretty much a lot of the same kit (Tamron lenses too) which helps. Keep up the good work.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words Ade! Haha! Binge watching is always welcome!! 😆 Great to hear you are learning from my channel ... lots more to come as well!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@MrTodd76123]

great advice for me I've been in a rut. Thank you!

[@mikesphotography]

No worries Todd, I hope it helps. I did an actual video on getting out of a rut a while back: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnrYg6yundSBfq8 Hopefully that will help as well. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@thelberg62]

Great tip, Mike - again 👍😊

[@mikesphotography]

No worries, thanks for watching Terje 😁👍

[@michaelhale416]

Yet another great tip. Something I have tried, only because I could not see what I wanted to see, but not really thought of making it part of the work flow. Thanks again Mike.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Michael! It's a great way to think about what you're shooting. I had my own videography company for about 10 years and learned about this principle through that medium ... and it really is a transferable skill. As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@remco2777]

That is a great tip! I have been following quite a few landscape photographers, but had not come across this before. Thank you!

[@mikesphotography]

That's great to hear!! It is a fun one to do and it really can open up your ideas about shooting a landscape that you have in front of you. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@luxdalet]

Another great video Mike! Thank you for the motivation and awesome tips!

[@mikesphotography]

No worries, glad to be helping!! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Lordvader330]

Love this. I travel with my 12-200 lens on my OM-1. I do this all the time. I get some great holiday shots this way.

[@mikesphotography]

Fantastic!! I bet that is a great range for the OM-1!! Nothing quite like a superzoom to get all the shots you need!! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@robertleem5643]

Another cracking video, well put together. Not a cheap hobby photography, lenses are so expensive. I've got the Tamron 18-300mm for Canon, 24mm and a 10-18mm, am looking at the Sigma 150-600mm lens but need to save up for it. I love panoramics and night photography Like so many have said below, it's balancing work and family, when we go away I always use google maps to find interesting places within an hours distance, old churches, hills, ruins etc. We are visiting the Peak District in August, myself only for Pennines and then back to Wales in December for some early morning mist and hopefully snowy shots.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Robert! It is an expensive hobby isn't it!! 😩 It is very much about balancing work, family and photography ... that's a good tip in finding interesting things around you. We only have one car at the moment, so when my wife is away at a conference, I do exactly that ... hunt for local things to photograph and try to get them in the best light possible. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Smillii]

I recently bought my friend's Sony A6000 for a bargain of a price with all vintage prime lenses. Compared to my Nikon, which came with 18-105mm lens, it's very different experience. I usually mix my work lunch breaks up the same way. I use 28mm lens for wider shots the first day, then take 135mm lens out the second and finally end up with 400mm the third day. I can't really go far due to my 30 minute lunch , but it does give me the variety. What I'm more so struggling with these days is making the light look more interesting in post at the moment. I assumed at the beginning of the video that you were going to talk about different rules for framing the photo, as in leading lines, rule of thirds etc. Your advice is really good!

[@mikesphotography]

That sounds like a great strategy! Haha! I thought I'd mix it up with this one. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@Smillii]

@@mikesphotography Oh it's a great advice. Besides, it's something that you don't usually hear. You're usually taught the very basics and no tips like that. Thank you for the video!

[@davidsundbaumphoto]

I actually did this last summer when shooting a waterfall. A really great tip!

[@mikesphotography]

Fantastic!! It is a really good strategy and gets the brain working overtime!! Thanks for watching David 😁👍

[@johnbroman7134]

So helpful! Thank you

[@mikesphotography]

No worries John, great to hear it helps. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@briankoperski]

Another great video, Mike! I was just revisiting your "strap guide" and was looking for a good new piece of kit to "strap on :)" to my Sony gear. Super happy to see you've got the Tamron 50-400 clicked in on the PD Capture. You've helped me make up my mind to get the Capture to add to my rucksack! Cheers! A firm believer in the Wide, Medium, and Close-Up composition practices, but great use in putting this video together.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much! Haha!! Gotta watch those search results and history records when searching for a strap on!! 😆😆 I was out the other day and someone asked me if I trusted the capture clip with such a big lens on it but the fantastic thing with it is that it has a solid bit of metal to stop it dropping out the bottom, so the only way it could come out is if you were upside down and pressed the release button. It's a fantastic device to have your camera accessible at all times ... one of my favourite purchases of all time!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@lynsmith1096]

Good advice Mike

[@TubTechGuru]

Here you go! Got yourself a new subscriber.

[@henriksorensen1]

One of the best photography advises I've heard recently - thanks Mike :-)

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Henrik! 😁👍

[@nevvanclarke9225]

The thing that helped me guys was that I got a few bits printed. Sorry, I just put them on my own wall in my house so I can look at them and that inspired me to go out and improve. Once I felt like I was good enough to put more photos on walls. I approach local cafes and asked if I could put some photos up for sale and it went from there. You have to have a goal with you Photography you have to have a reason to do it now. You might just want to go out and shoot and not care about the outcome and that’s fine too but if you want to get better you’ve got to expose yourself and I found it printing. My work really did help. It gave me the confidence when someone purchased an image I thought actually wow I’m good at this and that felt good, and then made me want to take more photos.

[@mikesphotography]

I completely agree Nev. Printing your own work is such a great way to learn about your photography, from the mistakes to the achievements you have accomplished... and then taking them to a local shop and selling one from that, that is taking it to another level again!! Thanks for sharing that invaluable bit of knowledge 😁👍

[@nevvanclarke9225]

@@mikesphotography what I did Mike was I said to the shop you can have 20% so my margins weren't great but it meant that I was getting my photos out the public on walls instead of just on phones full stop people just click like scroll comment but they don't purchase images much ... However when you put your photos on a wall it's a whole new ball game

[@mikesphotography]

@@nevvanclarke9225 I bet it was a whole different experience.

[@martynunyabussiness]

Great Video Mike, Have so seen the ATOLL L bracket they are selling in B&H you can rotate the camera 360 from portrait to landscape without having to take it off the tripod! I love it.

[@mikesphotography]

It does look like a great little invention ... I might have to try it out. Thanks for the tip and thanks for watching 😁👍

[@andrewhillphotosvideos2909]

l always love your videos because they relate to my photography... 👌

[@mikesphotography]

That is great Andrew!! I'm trying to make them as relatable as possible so it is fantastic to hear it is working. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@kimberlyfoxdemeza6662]

Great advice Mike, but then again, I find I learn from every one of your videos. Thank you for being so open with your education! Also - you’ve got a wonderful playground in Wales for shots!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words Kimberly! I am spending lots on petrol to get to these locations, but it is well worth it!! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@ianloe4423]

I wish I'd known this when I first started in video! Had a reporter I was supposed to shoot with hate me until the day I left because I was so inexperienced when I first shot with her. Great video as always Mike!!

[@mikesphotography]

Well that shows you've got superior marketing skills to get the job in the first place!! 😆 I bet she would have hated you even more if you'd have got 8k resolution and got the super tight closeups of her face!! 😆😆😆 As always, thanks for watching dude! 👍

[@ianloe4423]

I would have been frustrated with me too, but you gotta start somewhere! Thanks Mike! Keep up the great videos 😊

[@debbiemiller9762]

This was great! Thank you! I'm excited to get out once again.. ...I've been in a dry spell.

[@mikesphotography]

That's great to hear Debbie! This is exactly why I make these videos, to try to motivate you to go out and shoot more!! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@barrynoon1812]

Good advice Mike, great to see you using the new 50 400, a great lens. I have certainly got a lot of more interesting shots at longer focal lengths since getting one. Happy days!!

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much to you Barry fro my bank account being a little more slim!! 😆😆😆 It has pretty much stayed on my camera since I have had it ... fantastically sharp as well!! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@colinhothersall8343]

Well that’s annoying……. Went out yesterday and that’s all I could think about “wide - medium - closeup”. What a brilliant method. Now I’m watching films to see the very same. Thanks for the great tips.

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! In slowly infiltrating your mind ... 😳 Great to hear it's helping!! 😁👍

[@johnleftwich627]

Great tutorial Mike

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much John! And thank you for watching 😁👍

[@sue.Hoo123]

Lovely to see Church Stretton featured, I hope you visited Berry’s tearooms after? Don’t know if you use paper maps, but my photo is on the front cover of the OS Explorer map covering this area. Taken from the top of Caer Caradoc looking towards Lawley and The Wrekin. Great tips as always, thank you.

[@mikesphotography]

Oh wow, that's fantastic Sue ... I'm an OS app user, but will have to get the explorer map just to see your photograph. 😁👍 It's my first time here for a long time, and I'll definitely be back a lot more as I live really close to this place now. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@PBKB]

Duuuuuuuuuuuude! This is like full on KZbin creator life hack. YOINK, hehe. Will grab all these tips and start implementing. Thanks 👍🙏

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! Maybe I should rename the title, "Photographer life hack." 😆 Thanks for watching dude! 😁👍

[@stephenwoodburn2970]

Great tips, Mike. I have been doing this technique for a while and it definitely makes culling photos much more enjoyable not seeing a similar focal range over and over. When you took that first wide shot with the 35mm, I thought, this video is going to take forever for him to walk close enough for a close-up. lol. Good call on just placing the rocks in the foreground. Hope all is well, brother. Take care.

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! I am far too lazy to walk all the way over there!! 😆 IF in doubt, throw some rocks in the foreground!! 😆😆 All good here, I hope all is good with you guys. 👍

[@paulm8157]

Solid “3-D” variation of working the scene, Mike. Movie comparison a plus - a reference viewers can identify with and be mindful of next time they see a film, nice. Title shows Mike has ESP, or else dares to insult viewers at the outset😊. Noticed audio drop out when you referenced year “19xx” - clever😊. Not sure images at 3:40 fit the model, but we get the idea. Smooth drone footage. Cheers!

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! It was the mic failing, honest!! 😆 Nothing quite like a mildly insulting title to get the brain working!! 😆😆 To be honest, KZbin was a lot better when you sub'd and then saw all videos from that person, but it's not like that these days, so I am working on intriguing without being too clickbaity ... sometimes I get it, and other times I overstep the mark a little. 😆😆😆 It's something I learned from running a videography company for 10 years, and it is often overlooked in photography. As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@tomtom-tsz]

Mike, KZbin recommended me your video and I'm very happy about it. Great material. Very well-explained strategy/technique. No rush, no unnecessary extras. Thank you very, very much. I will definitely watch your other videos. By the way, what is the clip that you have on your backpack strap for hanging the camera called? I see it again but I don't know what it's called in English, and I would like to buy one. Greetings from also rainy Poland :)

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Thomasz, great to hear you're liking my channel! It's the capture clip from Peak Design. Here's the link to it: geni.us/PDCameraClip It is a little expensive but well worth it. We've finally had a break in the rain here in the UK. 😁 I hope you get some sun in Poland soon as well! Thanks for watching 👍👍

[@damienc7303]

That's a good piece of advice. I tend to forget to do that, even though a few of my favorite landscape photographies are actually when I took highly zoomed shots from remote mountains/stuff, instead of the regular wide angle. As someone else said though… the hardest part is to be out there at the right time and with enough time. (My photo sessions are mostly when on vacation and my beloved wife doesn't like to wait much). Anyways. Cool video. Thanks. 🙂

[@mikesphotography]

Haha!! I know what you mean ... when that light looks like it is going to develop into something special and the wife is tapping her foot ... or even worse, is getting hungry!! 😆😆😆 Thanks for watching Damien 😁👍

[@chryseass.5143]

This was a good topic, Mike and you covered it well. You didn't mention it but you also switched up your framing from landscape to portrait which also can give a fresh perspective. I especially liked how you addressed being able to utilize a prime lens and still follow your wide, medium and close up philosophy. I am looking forward to taking my new Tamron 70- 300 zoom on my A6500 with me on my next trip to gain a fresh perspective on a familiar landscape. Ditto with my also new Tamron 20-40 lens on my A7C. I also take several shots from different angles when I like a particular scene -it is amazing just how "different" the same composition can look with a focus shift as you clearly demonstrated.

[@mikesphotography]

That's a good point about changing it up with different orientations. The 70-300mm should be a great lens on the a6500. 😁👍 How are you getting on with the 20-40mm on the a7c, not too wide, but not too long either!! As always, thanks for watching and commenting, much appreciated. 😁👍

[@jakebechtproductions3850]

Love you videos. Question about your jacket. What model of TNF is the one you are wearing.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Jake! This one is the Carto Triclimate ... here's the link: geni.us/MyJacket It keeps me warm but I have to keep treating it with waterproof solution as it starts to soak up the rain quite quickly. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@huubdegroot]

Thank you Mike, good advise ! I will swap the lenses at my shoots and try it. have the range 16mm till 400mm 🙂

[@mikesphotography]

That's a good range to have!! 👍 Thanks for watching 😁

[@bamsemh1]

Did you mean 18-400? Can't seem to find a 16-400mm lens 😬

[@huubdegroot]

@@bamsemh1 sorry, no :-) I have 16-28, 24-105, 100-400 lenses, so have the range 16 to 400 mm 🙂

[@huubdegroot]

And yes, these together is some weight to carry, but I'll try to take pictures with these lenses....

[@garreswe]

Not all kit lenses are bad. The Panasonic 20-60 mm has quite good range and performs well in different situations.

[@mikesphotography]

I agree, kit lenses are good and you can learn a lot form them. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@TobSounds]

I like this video. I feel like everytime when im in Oslo taking photo's of the ships, i think sometimes "eh, im not sure, it's the same composition everytime" specially when it comes ot the passenger car ferries, but i do sometimes find a bit different angle to get some nice shot's of the ferries, and sometimes i "just" edit the photo's abit different. I also feel like i have changed my photo editing abit too lately 😄 and when there is some cruise ship's in Oslo, then i get some new and fresh photos 😅 alot of ships mentioned in this comment 😆 i look forward to your next video!! 😄

[@mikesphotography]

It is a great mindset to have, and it get's you thinking of different shots and frames. Great to hear you are developing your editing style! As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@TobSounds]

@@mikesphotography Yeah🙂 and Thank’s! 😊 i send you a photo i edited yesterday🙈

[@bamsemh1]

Good thing we see thing differently 😉 for me it's what my eyes find interesting, that I find interesting 😊 no matter if others find it boring 😉 Capture the moment, not the rules 💪

[@mikesphotography]

Exactly!! 😀👍

[@jonkirkwood469]

Thanks for the work you put in to your videos. Your tips force me to think. I love the shot with the cairn in the foreground. I've got a 50mm lens I'm quite fond of because it's fast and sharp. I'll do some homework with it. I'm planning a trip to Scotland and the Dolomites in Italy (Kirkwood-Scotland = must see). I make frequent outings to determine which equipment I need, and which equipment I can do without. Your videos are quite helpful. F'rinstance, the two kilogram 500mm telephoto stays stateside. The 28-200 kit lens with a polarizer is a must have, and I'll use my 50mm as a body cap. I've got an ancient manual 18mm lens which might make the cut after seeing this video. Here's a tool tip: I used the camera clip from your link on my last hike. I found the screws holding the clip on the backpack strap loosen as I hike. A drop of Loctite blue on each screw stopped that.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much for your kind words Jon, and thanks very much for the tip ... Loctite would do a great job of holding them together ... what I have done is used a pair of pliers to squeeze the clip closer together and then tightened the screws even more than I could with just my grip ... so far ... this has been holding ok. As always thanks for watching 😁👍

[@1live2]

Thanks 👍

[@mikesphotography]

No worries, thanks for watching Alex. 👍👍

[@1live2]

@@mikesphotography maybe two cameras with different lenses can also be useful with this technique. 👍

[@onikaimu]

Another great advice video, Mike. Zoom lenses are so overlooked by some people because they say to just walk closer. Tell that to a lion or tiger, oh my. For me it is the ocean I can't just walk or float out 100 meters into the water for a shot. What I can do is turn the lens from 28mm to 100mm though. Stay safe and wishing the best for you.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks so much Lance! You're right, sometimes you just can't zoom with your feet ... luckily no tigers here in Wales!! 😆😆 As always thanks for watching my friend 😁👍

[@findermanimages]

I was out today with a new (to me) zoom lens (APSC: Fuji 55-200) and pretty much did exactly what this video mentioned. This must mean that I'm a professional too, just like you 😍😂. I mostly go out with one lens as I love the challenge of trying to make it work - it certainly makes you think more about the shots you can/can't take! I also found that going out with several lenses at once would overwhelm me with choice. Another great video with a new and improved 'high and tight' haircut!! 😉

[@mikesphotography]

Nice! Always good getting new kit!! We're all professionals!!! 😆 The one lens challenge is a lot of fun, as longs as it's a super zoom!! 😆😆 I know what you mean about going out with all your kit. I've done that a few times in the past and had a few sessions where I didn't take one photo... 🤦🏻‍♂️ The hairdresser definitely got scissor happy this time!! 😆

[@findermanimages]

@@mikesphotography it's still not quite the super zoom of a 24-600mm RX 🤬, but it'll do for now 😉. Out of interest (maybe something for a separate video 😉), how often do you take photos and consciously think, 'this isn't what I want but I know how to get it where I need it in post'? Is this something you are aware of in the field or is it only when you get back home that you look through your images for the day and then work in LR (etc.) to make something of them?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Mike - nice video! You have a new subscriber.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much James. Welcome to the community and thanks for watching 😁👍

[@BritishRosie-es3zr]

Interesting that when I started landscape, I got a wide lens as that's what most people told me to get. Now my lens of choice in my 70-350mm. People don't realise the power of a big zoom for landscape as it goes against what a lot of 'beginner' advice suggests.

[@mikesphotography]

I've been saying this for such a long time. A wide angle lens is very much an advanced lens for landscapes, but to get good shots as a hobbyist with limited time, a long lens is so much better l, and so much fun!! I even made a video on that very subject a while back: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGnVnnR5oN6sopI Check it out when you get a chance. Thanks for watching Rosie! 😁👍

[@flat-out]

Hi mate, I'm a subscriber to your channel. We gotta get out of the rut sometimes to maintain that love for photography hence producing non-boring photos. Switching to Sony 8 years ago coming from Pentax it's been more enjoyable, rewarding and profitable for me being a Sony owner(It doesn't matter if the other brands are catching up with their tech) I do thank Pentax though as I started my photography journey with them and look back from the days learning with it.

[@mikesphotography]

Welcome to the channel and the community Juan! It's a shame Pentax didn't step up to the mark when the tech went mirrorless, but great to hear you're enjoying the switch. It's hard changing brands, I know I took a while to adapt to Sony from canon a while ago. Great to hear you're enjoying the Sony ecosystem and it's working for you. 😁👍

[@flat-out]

​​@@mikesphotography Yes having Sony is quite pleasurable not just photography wise but video production as well. Knowing Sony has the reputation in the TV and movie industry, their tech and know how trickles down to the consumer cams. It was an easy choice coming from Pentax to Sony because I wanted great video and started with A6000. Going back over 10 years ago in 2013 a salesguy at an electronic store BestBuy here showed me the original Sony A7 and he said this is the future of photography small and mirrorless...so I said Nah I'll stick to my DSLR camera thanks. I was glad that I was wrong, that salesguy was right and 2 years later I went with Sony. I'm a poor part time photographer I don't pursue getting lots of clients as I still have regular day job plus volunteer video production work at my church. But the pay I had from clients for my work have paid off the gears I got, couple years ago I sold my Sony A7R II to get the A7 III. I gave up megapixels for better low light and video features. I also don't have newer lenses I can't afford the GM lens or even some G lenses. My modern lenses are just the FE 85 1.8 and the Zeiss 16-35 F4 all the rest are vintage Canon FD lens, Minolta MD and Tamron A-mount lens all of which I use adapters for on my A7 III. I love the feel of vintage 70's 80's lenses with solid metal body full manual and tactile focus ring feel. Anyways thanks for your time reading my Sony story...if you don't mind I'll share my gallery site: westhillstudio.smugmug.com/ mix of my personal.and client work. My youtube channel here is mostly my other passion...RC trucks.

[@rob-cowell]

I like the upbeat style of your videos which offer encouragement to those at all levels on varying budgets. No denying it though, this video proves how useful a telephoto lens can be but carry that 400mm up mountains can be a bit of a slog. Do you reckon 200mm does the rick - a 70-200 perhaps?

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much for your kind words Rob. Telephotos are such a great tool to have in your arsenal, especially if you are short of time. The 50-400mm is actually not too bad, and it is surprisingly light for what it is. Looking at the specs, the 70-200mm f4 from Sony is 840g, whereas the 50-400mm is 1155g so 300g difference between the two, and the 50-400mm covers more than the range of the 70-200mm and the 100-400mm. At 200mm, you will get most of what you want, but having that extra reach is a nice option to have when you are at a viewpoint and there are things to photograph in the distance. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@gary9771]

Hi Mike, great video. I like the zooms for the versatility as well and they sure help to create a story. Just a quick question. I see from your equipment list that you have the 24-105 as well as the Tamron 28-200. To me it seems redundant to have both. I’ve been considering the 28-200, but trading in my 24-105 to pay for it. Am I missing something and should be keeping the 24-105? I also have a Tamron 17-28 so my thought is that I have a good range. Thanks!

[@mikesphotography]

Hey Gary, I just put the 24-105mm in the description as I mentioned it in the video. I have the 17-28 and the 28-200 and they work well, but the 28-200 is a little soft. I just got the 50-400mm which blows it out of the water when it comes to sharpness. I'm hoping to hire the 24-105 and the GM 24-70 to do a side by side comparison with the 28-200mm just to see what they are like in a head to head. Thanks for watching. 👍

[@ItsMe-oi9dy]

Both the medium and close up are "close up" @3:20. One's just more close up. All of the example images here are boring, this location/lighting wasn't a good way to show focal lengths as a solution to boring photos, because it doesn't matter what focal length was used here, they're all boring. Reality is if you can't recognise when a scene is boring, then changing the focal length won't help. Too many people don't understand that even though you can enjoy a location in person, it won't always translate to images.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks for your feedback 👍

[@Danny_Roman.]

Thanks Mike for your amazing knowledge and tips.Been looking at getting a new lens but can't afford it at present. I have the z6ii kit lens but not sure what to get as a good lens ?

[@mikesphotography]

No worries John, thanks for watching! 😁👍 What type of photography are you in to?

[@Danny_Roman.]

@@mikesphotography hi Mike I like waterfalls and landscape.

[@mikesphotography]

If money is tight, I'd stick with the kit lens for now. Nowadays, even kit lenses produce fantastic images, especially with landscapes. It's nice shooting in a genre that doesn't require really wide apertures, like portrait photography! When you can afford it, I'd say to get a telephoto lens. When out and about l, like in this video l, you can sit at a viewpoint and pick off the interesting things within the landscape. I remember when I got into photography, I had the kit lens for a long time before getting any others and I learned a lot with that lens. I hope that helps. 😁👍

[@Danny_Roman.]

@@mikesphotography spot on mate. Do you have an email address to send a few of my pictures to see what you think?

[@FinsburyPhil]

I love really simple principles - just two or three like this don't clog my mind up with loads of detail when I should be concentrating on composition and light and they make a real difference. Thanks Mike.

[@mikesphotography]

Great to hear it has helped Phil! I know what you mean. Sometimes when I am watching a video, I either have to watch it a few times to get it or I just forget most of the principles before it has ended! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@klaras286]

... wide, medium, closeup... i'll remember!... thank you...

[@mikesphotography]

Great!! Thanks for watching Klara! 😁👍

[@Joeyolos]

Hi Mike I’m new to your channel, I’ve just brought myself a Sony A6400 as a starter camera, mainly for landscape when I go on walks.. what lens would you recommend for me?

[@mikesphotography]

Hi Joseph, That's a great starter camera to have! If you're doing a lot of walking and only want one lens, I'd suggest something like the Sony 18-105mm. If you're ok with switching lenses, and already have the kit lens, the 55-210mm is a good addition, and then later on, maybe the 10-18mm for wide angles. If you want an upgrade to the kit lens, and wanted the best quality possible, get the 16-55mm f2.8 ... Although this is quite expensive for what you get. What country are you based in? If you let me know, I'll send you some links so you can see exactly what I am talking about.

[@Joeyolos]

@@mikesphotography hi Mike! I’m from the UK, Derbyshire !

[@Joeyolos]

Probably just want one lens for now, I have a starter kit lens but would like something that could maybe zoom in a little more, im new to all this but I just wanna take photos of scenery as if it’s from eyes! My phone camera never does justice for me that’s why I brought a camera 😀 and I also love stopping and taking photos to keep as a memory, nothing better!

[@SilverFlint247]

Wow, I was not aware of any camera able to go as low as ISO 16. And what about an F64 lens 😊

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! I was wondering who would spot those first on the thumbnail!! 😆 Top marks for spotting that Easter egg! 😁👍

[@bwoo74]

Do you carry all 3 lens in your bag?! Must be so heavy. I have 16-35 Sony, 24-105 Sony... would u recommend the 70-200 or the 28-200 for tele?

[@mikesphotography]

The 28-200mm is ok, but the image quality is a little soft, especially compared to the 70-200mm. My bag is pretty heavy but I am used to it now. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@cicco5833]

I’m always so nervous switching lenses in the field. Not sure why.

[@mikesphotography]

It does feel a bit strange exposing the most precious part of the camera to the elements ...

[@elliottkingdom]

i am going to iceland in june and im still contemplating if i should bring my big camera or not... seems like smasung and iphone can do a great job with better HDR computation.... so struggle now...

[@mikesphotography]

It's all about your knowledge of using the camera. If you know how to use the Canon RP, then you would be able to get better results with it, especially in low light. It might not give you the images you want straight out of camera like your phone, but if you were to learn to take photos properly and edit them properly, then you would see the benefit. Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@elliottkingdom]

@@mikesphotography are you saying i need to get Lightroom software for editing?.... geee.... another monthly subscription cost lol

[@mikesphotography]

@@elliottkingdom Haha! maybe ... 🤔😆

[@Suhailkhan53]

Nice video

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks very much Suhail and thanks for watching! 😁👍

[@thegroove2000]

And no need to go to locations like you do. Just eveyday things all around can be artful. Taking a stroll around home,garden local area. What has the potential for art.

[@plumberski8854]

Thanks for revealing this common sense. No wonder they say common sense is uncommon!

[@mikesphotography]

And thanks for your feedback PS. 😁👍

[@plumberski8854]

@@mikesphotography This will now be the default shooting mode. The drawback will be I will need to get bigger memory cards! Ha. Thanks once again for this brilliant common sense.

[@flat-out]

Btw mate, not photography related but as a Canadian did you know that your name(Mike Smith) is a well known hockey goal tender with my fav team Edmonton Oilers in the NHL?

[@mikesphotography]

Haha! I did not know that ... But now I do. 😁👍

[@flat-out]

​@@mikesphotography I'm willing to bet mate that out of the 87K+ of your subscribers I'm the only one who knew that info about a pro hockey player with same name as you or else someone else would have mentioned it to you before I did😅.

[@tlareG]

👍

[@mikesphotography]

😀👍

[@brottochstraff]

I feel like a lot of landscapes are lacking something more than just being pretty. I miss some sort of story in them, or some meaning that the photographer is trying to communicate to the viewer. 99.9% of landscapes that I see, and that I take my self, are just pretty photos that I would use as a screensaver, but they wont make me think twice about the photo. We focus too much on good gear, good techneqie, good post processing, and in the end of the day all we end up with is the Windows XP background picture over and over again. If I have to look at another sunset picture of Ysemite I'm going to be sick.

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts 👍

[@daveprice9128]

I live in a BORING … non scenic place in West TN … No amount of editing can fix this

[@mikesphotography]

Sounds like you need to arrange a trip to somewhere with mountains ... although with your location, that would be one hell of a trip ... it's a shame the Appalachians don't swing a bit further west ...

[@randomxnp]

That's gorse, not heather

[@mikesphotography]

Thanks rich

[@superhussein]

is this bad advice for a newbie?

[@mikesphotography]

I would say it's good advice if you take photos and they are all looking the same, regardless of where you are on your photographic journey. Thanks for watching Mohammed. 👍