How do I improve my photography?
We all own cameras, and all carry a good one round with us every day. There’s no problem with taking too many photos, we can take as many as we want. And there are any amount of pictures available online about any subject.
There are still some choices left; in what to photograph, how to compose and record the image, and how to process what’s recorded. I’ve wrestled with all of these in recent months, and these are notes of the main sources I’ve used to improve, to the extent I’m happy to share what I produce.
These notes are in gratitude to those I’ve recently learned from. To be clear, while I’m grateful I’m not recommending any just because they are good photographers (though they all are), rather because they made me think about why I take photographs, or encouraged me to take and make more of them.
Great all round:
Chelsea and Tony Northrup- they have lots of free videos on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDkJEEIifDzR_2K2p9tnwYQ You can pick and choose from their channel. Their ebook Stunning Digital Photography (which includes more free linked videos than I’ve been able to watch) is far more structured. It is available from their website https://northrup.photo/product/stunning-digital-photography/ or Amazon is a great resource. The Northrups also guarantee to give you free updates to their ebooks (and I’ve availed myself of these for other titles)
Why take photographs:
Sean Tucker’s philosophical videos https://www.youtube.com/user/seantuckermerge are all worth watching, for Sean’s considered and generous manner. They also have great cinematic quality. His philosophical playlist is worth watching to improve any creative endeavour https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtEck2fInszGXrz5T7KanHqB8E8i9E9NA
Landscape photography:
Nigel Danson has lots of great material on taking and editing photographs, with a strong emphasis on landscapes. Much is available free https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkJld-AoXurbT2jDnfM8qiA. I’ve been tempted by his landscape masterclass https://www.nigeldanson.com/landscape-photography-masterclassold, particularly with the substantial periodic discounts. If I were starting again, I would make the financial and time commitment.
Developing a personal approach to landscape photography
Alister Benn’s Expressive Photography videos are useful, albeit many are available only to paying subscribers https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCILI7Qu2dfTE0iWHGvIPwqA. I have bought some of his ebook and video training series, which have been good value.
Pool.
OMD EM1 Mk ii. M Zuikio 1-40mm f2.8.
19mm. 1/2 sec. f11. ISO 320
More recently, I’ve found Mark Denney’s insights on editing technique very helpful https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCujr_HrX3ThMb34DV5YXHIg.
And, of course, take lots of photos!
Finally, a disclaimer- I put together these links based on what I’ve found useful. I have no financial links to anything I have recommended here. I have bought products from them, out of my own pocket. I have not received any financial inducements.