✅ Question: What top advice did I miss??

@milosivanisevic1311

9 ай бұрын

Well the one that you, and all other photographers say, "Get Out" explore even with your phone. Sit in nature and observe the environment. Great tips Mark!

9 ай бұрын

Maybe this one: Buy a camera you are actually gonna use. That means to not buy a camera you fear to use in public, on bad weather… (that applies to all equipment).

@AR-vf7vg

9 ай бұрын

Well then it's not for beginners anymore.

@fungiformenow

9 ай бұрын

Practising not practicing 😊

@fungiformenow

9 ай бұрын

On the subject of viewpoint, there is/was a well known English photographer (I can’t recall his name right now) who’s photo equipment often included a step-ladder to give him a higher viewpoint. Must have been a real pain to carry.

Here’s why I like your channel. No musical opening, just straight to the point. No jump cuts and quality editing. Oh and yes the advice is good too.

One piece of advice that I was given, and that I try to pass on to others is to think about why you like a photograph that you see online. Don't just look at it and say "I like it". Try to define why you like it. What is it that looks good to you....what makes you feel a certain way that it pleasing etc. Because then, you can have a better chance of replicating that quality in your own work. And, while looking at a photograph and trying to define it why I like it, I will often learn a lot more than by simply stopping at "I like it".

@BlazeinD

9 ай бұрын

100% agree,since we are our worst critics. what is worse is when you show to others either in a post or in person looking feedback and they say they like it than you ask why or what specificly and no answer. Thanks for the help people. 😅

@drwhoscumrag

9 ай бұрын

I did a night class and the best thing that came out of it was exactly that- the "say why" for photo critique. It's something I've tried to apply in other areas of life and I find myself giving and receiving better feedback.

It is really important to practice, especially with the camera at home. Practise quickly changing lenses, how to access the menus and change the settings, how to get the best out of the focus system and finding out which settings are the most important for ones style if shooting. I do this every day.

Great advice, Mark. The idea of practising your photography in your local area is so often overlooked, but it is the best way to make sure that you are ready for those "special" locations. You might even discover that your own area is more special than you thought.

“You might not touch your camera for months, but you do a lot of thinking about photography”… I don’t know if I’ve ever felt as personally attacked by 30 seconds of a KZread video before 😂🫠

@jakemcavoy2554

9 ай бұрын

All good. I felt being kicked in my shin and what Danny says is all true to my situation. I think about it all the time and sign up workshops then I don’t touch my camera bag pretty much until next workshop. Take care, 😊❤

@krakapoww

8 ай бұрын

I have my cam on top of the fridge, the sun light in my kitchen at morning is great, my livingroom in the evening. I might shuffle some plants around, or kids toys or the kids themselves. My gf is sooo tired with it but hey, i Gets my practice in

@pawemarszaek7617

8 ай бұрын

Yes, as if I was listening about myself😂

@roachroacharito9113

8 ай бұрын

Agreed. It was very hurtful. 😅

@RamRam-wb9nw

8 ай бұрын

...........I bought a r5 and .....wtf he's right

Epiphany moment - my thinking all the time has turned into procrastination and fear of never being able to take a gorgeous shot on my ridiculously expensive camera 😂 Sooooo my mantra for the next few weeks is practice, get low and see the world with the wonder of a two foot high toddler. Thanks so much 😊

I can sure identify with one statement you made. Getting lower definitely becomes more difficult with age. I'm almost 77, and I still like to get down low (even flat on my stomach a few weeks ago), but it's more of strain to get back up again each year. However, if that's the photo that I see, then that's what I'll do to get it. Although I never called it "practice", I do try to get out once a week to my local spot just to see what might find. Take the same shot I've done many times before, only try it with different conditions, or change focal lengths, sometimes experiment with different settings - all to change things up, make the same old not quite the same.

@richmilligan5881

9 ай бұрын

I am in my early 60s and I have found the getting low is not nearly as important as the plan for getting up off the ground!

Couldn’t agree more. I was so tempted to hand down my DSLR to my daughter when she was younger so she could really take pictures but I withheld instead I got an iPhone. And just taught her light/composition. It is amazing the picture she got with the iPhone, and after she got a bit older and I could see she understood those things I gave her her first DSLR. The photographs that she’s getting these days are absolutely moving full of interest. And I really believe it’s because I held off getting her a big camera and she just used her iPhone to learn light and composition. She spent four years in Norway and now she’s on her fourth year in Iceland and the images that she’s got are just world class.

One of the advantages of a camera with a flip out screen is that it makes it easier to “get low” without having to actually kneel or squat on the ground.

That first piece of advice to practice is so underrated and something I can totally attest to improving my photography 1000%. I shoot a lot of stage performances. In fact, I started doing it because my wife and I attend about 100 concerts a year and some of the artists we see didn't have great media so I started bringing my camera along. Fast forward to 4 years. Later. And now I'm getting hired to shoot bands and other photographers. Even love my style, but when I look back at my first photos I can't believe how much I sucked for a lack of a better term. Without even really noticing, I learned from my mistakes and as I scroll through my lightroom timeline, I can see how I saw things that I liked I was getting and then the next time incorporated those techniques all subconsciously. So I guess my question to you now would be when you get to the point where you generally like your work and your very well regarded by others in the community. What is next? I feel like my new photos are not always better than my last and I've gotten to the point where I'm just not learning as much.

Practice makes perfect. That goes for photography too. Totally agree 👍🏻

@MarkDenneyPhoto

9 ай бұрын

Yes it does!

When I retired, I set out to find something new to photograph in my back yard everyday, So far it's been 3 years and I'm still shooting in my back yard. It has taught me to see a photograph in any subject. It made it up to me to be creative with what I have. Besides, I'm too lazy to want to go any where else to shoot.

Totally agree with you Mark. I live a few minutes away from a lovely park and have taken early morning walks there for a few years now. Since Covid I have taken thousands of photos there and still find new things to photograph. It has also given me a passion for nature and the local wildlife.

My favorite way to practice is to visit a local park that I've been to many, many times over the past 20 years, and see if I can create something different each time. When I get a new piece of gear, this park is where I go test it out.

One great tip or advice I can offer here is ALWAYS Look behind you, or look back, many will be surprised of the photo opportunities that are behind us. 👍🏼👍🏼

@MarkDenneyPhoto

9 ай бұрын

Very true!

Excellent channel. I would also add that whenever possible, be flexible. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to shoot a particular subject and come home with my favorite shots of something completely different and unexpected. This is particularly true with Fall color landscape shots, and wildlife. Don’t get discouraged when your wildlife isn’t at the same place that you’ve seen them for the past three months. Keep your eyes peeled for other possibilities!

Plain and simple and so true. Thank you Mark for these golden tips.

There’s were really practical and such helpful tips and I appreciate your transparency

Mark I try my best to get everyone who talks to me about photography on to your channel, its great that you mentioned practice, it makes you aware and ready, you learn of conditions, time, seasons, and most of all the camera. brilliant piece of advice.

Makes perfect sense! Thanks for a great video.

I love your realistic discussion about getting low. When I was younger I could squat down with the camera and sit there for several minutes. Now, my knees don't agree with me even trying it. I still try to get the camera low, but now I either kneel down on one knee, which isn't always comfortable, or I stand there with my butt up in the air, which I'm sure is a great sight for any passers by. The flip out screens have definitely been a help in this area too.

@joepublisher166

8 ай бұрын

Boy, I can relate to your post! 80 years old and loving picture taking, but getting low is a challenge, yet I fully understand why you would want to include this in your picture taking.

One of your best videos !!!. Excellent recomendations !!!

Mark! You are in my head with this one! The first 2 minutes of this one described me EXACTLY! I guess I better start practicing.

Exceptional video Mark! Spot on advice for the majority of us all.

Thanks again Mark. Your lessons have changed my photo IQ and improved the quality of my photos. Forever grateful!

You've taken me from idle to inspired in one video! Thanks Mark 🙌

Your first point describes me perfectly. It seems like I am always waiting for the next trip to take photos. Between trips I watch KZread videos on photography, read books and research articles on photography. And I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains, so your first point really hit home. Get out and practice in my local area! Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

Very powerful video. You hit the most important things. Your intro nailed my photography like you know me personally: read, watch videos, etc., while waiting for that “special place”.

Solid advice! As a relatively novice enthusiast, I sincerely appreciate these thoughtful nudges in the right direction. Many thanks!

Best damn photo video I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a lot of them by now. Makes perfect sense. Upsetting that it never occurred to me to actually practice. Thanks for that.

Mark, you described me perfectly!!! I hve slowed down taking pictures but continue to watch videos on the subject. Thanks for the good advice!!!!

Great advice, Mark. I live in Oregon and, as you know, there's beauty all around me here. I think I'll go out this afternoon and practice photography.

The first piece of advice really hit home with me. It’s motivated me to pull my camera out, leave it somewhere easy to access and make it a point to just go out and practice at least once a week. I’m very guilty of sticking it in the closet until the next trip.

It's good to here confirmation about something you're already doing, although I never thought of it as practice but just because I love being outdoors. I'm lucky because we have several State parks between Denver (where I live) and Colorado Springs (where I work). Sometimess it turns out to be just a nice walk but often I come back with a pretty good picture, or at least one that I enjoy. I always get something out of your videos and look forward to each Wednesday.

Excellent advice! I need to think less and click more! Thank you for what you do!!

Always sage advice in your vids. I can always take, sometimes many things from these.

What helped me was becoming a member of a a photo club. Having like minded people tell what they like, and more importantly what they think can be improved in my photos , helped me a lot.

Thanks for the always exceptional advice!

Agreed!!! Practice makes you better,wayyy better, not perfect. I do wanted to thank you for this video, absolutely brilliant advice!!!

Thanks Mark. I always enjoy your advice. I definitely need to get out and practice more. I think about it as shooting intentionally.

Sage advice Mark. I visit your channel often. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience. I practice regularly, visit areas of interest often, and look for a new vantage point or perspective or composition. But, perhaps my biggest struggle is with being able to articulate what I like or dislike. It's like lacking the vocabulary to express what is in my mind. Being able to describe things gives me a sense of purpose and direction. This is what currently occupies my thinking in between my practice. At 70 the part about getting lower is always preceeded with, how am I going to get back up. Cheers, the one handed southpaw.

I relate. Outstanding advice!!! 👍🏼👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼🫶🏼🤗

Practice: The best advice ever! Thank you for the reminders.

Thanks. Needed to hear that simple advice. That simple kick in the butt. I was thinking to much about gear and client relations and not practicing

Hands down the best photography advice to date! I totally agree and will do it from now on! The pros in EVERYTHING continuously practice! It's time I start! Thanks for sharing!

Yep…been doing a lot of studying but not enough pressing the shutter! Good advice! Thanks!

Super advice on getting our there and practicing. Your composition talk also very beneficial. Thanks!

Great advice! Live your screen wallpaper… one of your best!

Thank you, Danny. I always get something out of your presentations. This session in particular, it sort of feel you’re speaking to me, giving me a gentle kick in the shin. I call myself “a professional beginner”, who goes to photo workshop, have a great learning and times, comes home , leave my camera bag in my mudroom meant to clean it before bringing into home office; often only to touch few times before go to another workshop. No wonder I am a perpetual beginner. I’ll do better, Danny, follow your advise closely. Thank you very much!!! ❤

Excellent advice. These really are pillars of great photography practice

Solid advice, especially #1. And because practising is so damn important, don't forget to apply this rule to #3 (composition). Only "collecting" some information through articles or yt-videos is, once again, way too much thinking. In order to make it stick, you have to actually practise by analysing images yourself, and by consciously trying to apply select composition rules to your next shots. Otherwise it will all be lost, you know, like tears in rain.

Being retired I shoot almost every day. I just returned from Acadia and I was so comfortable with addressing my various conditions because I've addressed them so many times locally. I agree the time spent "practicing " is very valuable. Thanks for your great videos.

Such good advice. I have spent so many hours watching photography videos compared to actually going out and shooting.

I always enjoy your videos Mark. You have some great advice especially for beginners. Really enjoy your lightroom tutorials as well. I was wondering if you could maybe share in a future video your workflow for printing up your photos at home with your printer. My understanding is that there is editing for a website but there is additional editing to prepare an image for printing

Brilliant video, just described me, too much theory, not enough practice. Thank you😊

Great advice Mark. I was in this exact rut getting bored with my local area and then studying and watching KZread videos. I'm going to get out and do some shooting!

Thanks Mark. Sometimes we just need a kick in the ars..

Oh dear. Mark, how right you are. I was always guilty of your first comments about "doing more and thinking less". Good advice all round, thanks.

Great advice again Mark, you have helped me alot with my photography in the past few years since I started to watch your videos. I definitely agree about practice, practice, practice!

@MarkDenneyPhoto

9 ай бұрын

Great to hear!

Very well put. Thank you.

Great video ! thank you so much.

wonderful thoughts Mark. I really appreciate your style and the content you talk about. It helps and inspires me every week.

@MarkDenneyPhoto

9 ай бұрын

I appreciate that!

These are great reminders even for long time photographers! I especially like the perspective tip. I do tend to stay on the tripod but will make a point of getting down low next time I go out to shoot. Thanks!

Wow that first bit of advice is what I needed to hear.

Thanks for all good advice. As some others have noted, you need to love your mistakes and learn from them. In order to learn from mistakes, you need to take a lot of photos of the same topic, over time, from different angles, lighting and lens. As the saying goes, perfection is the enemy of the good. Practice to get really good.

Mark, I love your videos in content and pleasant delivery. Every now and then you get excited or ahead in your thinking that you say something that cracks me up. About 5:35 you make an awesome point, "Nine times out of ten you can always do that." :) Exactly.

All great advice, but the best one is the first one: practice! As you noted, anything we want to do well, we would practice regularly. This inspires me to get out there and photograph more. No excuse: I am retired and live in Florida. NO EXCUSE! Thank you again. I love all your videos, but especially the more recent ones.

That's really good advice. A couple of comments: 1. As part of "practicing," really get to know your camera. I see so many people thinking that buying more gear will make them better (of course, we all do to an extent), but many people really do not know how to use the gear they already have. 2. Getting lower is a real pain, literally, for me at 66 years old with an arthritic knee. I try a little. Some may want to consider a collapasable stool or camp stool; 3. So much of photography these days is about post-processing--Don't fall into the mantra "I can't learn Photoshop, etc." Yes you can. To me, Bridge and Photoshop are much easier than Lightroom, but to each his or her own. 4. Experiment. Try different angles, "weird" compositions, etc. Try processing an image in black and white, etc.

This is helpful. In April, I plan to visit friends in Holland where I will spend a lot of time taking pictures of the tulips. So, I've been watching videos and thinking about where I will shoot. Since I live on the Mekong Delta, I will begin taking pictures of lotuses and water lillies in order to prepare. Thanks, Mark.

Your first piece of advice definitely resonates with me. It’s easy to look at fantastic photos and assume that it’s the location that makes them special. My gear sits in the cupboard because I feel like there’s nothing worth shooting. I live on the edge of a Green Belt so there’s nothing but forests and country parks for miles. I think I just need to get out there more.

Ha!! Started watching this as I sit in the golf range …. And I did actually played golf at a course for the first time ever, it was a company event and I fell in love.

Facts! 🎯 Great video.

Good sound advice Mark, I agree with all the points you make in particular you allude to getting how your camera works into "muscle memory" so using your equipment becomes second nature, you don't need to think. That way you focus ( sorry for the pun ) on making images and not on wrestling technology to give you what you're trying to capture.

I really like your 'back to basics' approach which is in many of your videos. The most important tool for learning is reflection for me, both in looking at my own photos and those from other people. Looking forwards to your next video & thank you for the past ones.

@MarkDenneyPhoto

9 ай бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

#1 is Spot On! I need to find my motivation, even though I live in Indiana. One puece of advice I learned from Rick Sammon is "look behind you". I have discovered many great compositions that way!

"Planning and thinking about your next big trip"--boy does that hit close to home! I don't travel much and I'm forever visualizing what to do when I finally go. All too often we feel stuck at home, in our local neighbourhoods, with "nothing to photograph". We gotta take your advice and just go out and challenge ourselves.

Great video as always. ❤

Lighting. Lighting. Lighting. Whether that's chasing golden light at dawn/dusk, or studio strobes/speedlights. The difference between a snapshot AND a photo... is always lighting quality. Dollars to donuts, that local park looks unremarkable with harsh, contrasty sunlight from 10AM-4PM. Get there before dawn or at dusk? You'll undoubtedly have better light.

Great ep. Thanks for reminding me I have a camera. I’ll be clicking the shutter button in the morning.

Great advice! Thanks.

Precious advices thank you.

Very valid points in this video. And the best part is you can combine them!

@MarkDenneyPhoto

9 ай бұрын

Glad you think so!

Good advice - my wife has a great eye for composition, and I learned from what I saw in her photos. I do try to also take my photos from different angles - as you menitoned, just getting down can make a big difference in the look of the photo.

Another very useful and thought provoking video. Thanks for sharing with us, Mark.

@MarkDenneyPhoto

9 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

That is something that I tell myself most days. Get out and practice. Many of my captures are random and not planned at all. I have mobility issues that saw me get into photography 2 years ago to give me something that I could do while not able to work, still have 3 more years of surgeries and healing to go. Only tip I can add is always have you eyes open when out and about. Take note of the sun and its casting shadows positions, are a couple of things I keep in mind when out. Enjoyed your topic and have subscribed. Thank you all the way from New Zealand.

I'm no photographer, but It's a hobby I am very passionate about. I go out and practice everyday all those things you mention in this video.

Sound advice, Mark. Love the Adams T-shirt, too....Now there was a man who gave us the Grey Scale - one of my all time priority factors, whether I'm shooting in colour or monochrome (tho' I don't own a truck to transport my camera & lens ) 😉

Some of the best shots I've ever taken, I literally didn't realize how good it was until I loaded it onto the computer. But yeah, like you said, training and getting that into your subconcious.

This is the first video I've watched that I can honestly say I do this! We go to local wildlife areas and do long walks. I have so many pics of the same type of birds but I can see how much better they are now. I'm still learning. One thing I realized is using my old camera really taught me a lot. I used my Sony A6000 and struggled in low light and a lot of soft pictures.When I finally took better pictures I wanted to upgrade. I bought the Sony A6700 and invested in a Sigma 150-600 mm lens for our Yellowstone trip. Having to change my shutter and ISO so much really taught me more than starting with a camera that handles low light. Plus side of this is getting outside and getting exercise.

Thank you. Every day, I take my dog for a walk. Every day my camera comes along, too.

Terrific advice. I saved this video so I can watch it whenever I feel like I am board with my local environment. THANK YOU.

@MarkDenneyPhoto

9 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Ok So I have mastered my camera's controls and have lenses I like, but I was bored. Your advice to practice was very timely to me. Such a simple concept and so easily overlooked. Thank you.

Great video. Don't know if anyone else commented on this, but Ben Long wrote a small book ALL about Practicing Photography. I think that is the title. Great little book, lots of interesting points made throughout!

Excellent advice!

As a new photography hobbyist 90% of my snapping takes place in my back garden. I pick up my camera every day and practice a technique, or specific composition or mastering a specific camera setting. This week its macro so I am annoying a couple of spiders who have kindly spun their webs at eye-level. Whilst I'm in the garden I use the kneeling device that I use when weeding to get me up off the floor, but I'd feel a bit silly dragging that round to local beauty spots! 😊 😊.

@gilknutson1938

9 ай бұрын

Don’t worry so much about looking “silly” using your “aid”...!!! It’s a part of aging that some of us get “less agile” as the years go by. AIDS, such as canes and scooters become more a part of your life. If you need something to advance your photography skills, use it!!!😀

And above all - practice!

Mark, I totally agree with you, we need to go out and practice our photography, great point. And finding new perspectives... AWESOMENESS!!! I teach some photography at the local photo shop and I tell people to go to the art museum and study the masters as well as your fav photographer like Mark Denney :) I'm off on a big trip to the Finger Lakes and Smokies to practice my photography... THANKS

I literally turned on this video and started looking through my photos and stopped listening 😂(of course I rewinded and watched it again, and that's so true)

I take photographs every day either with the drone or the land camera it really is the best way to learn we have been travelling now for the last 14 months and my photography has come on leaps and bounds since I've really concentrated on it 10,000 hours is the standard I think I'm. getting there great content as usual Thank You oh we coming to the states later this year with the camper can't wait