so it was actually my uncle  who told me about this spot
so it was actually my uncle  who told me about this spot

he sent me a photo a few days ago
he sent me a photo a few days ago

he thought that it could be a potential good image
he thought that it could be a potential good image

and he was absolutely right!
and he was absolutely right!

this spot has everything I look for in an image
this spot has everything I look for in an image

if anything, I'm just missing a little bit of fog
if anything, I'm just missing a little bit of fog

but still, I think it's pretty good
but still, I think it's pretty good

now, this is not going to be  my best image by any means
now, this is not going to be  my best image by any means

and I knew that before coming here
and I knew that before coming here

but if there is one thing I've learned  about photography in these last few years
but if there is one thing I've learned  about photography in these last few years

is that this is a long-term  journey, a life long journey
is that this is a long-term  journey, a life long journey

one that we can only take step by step
one that we can only take step by step

or in this case, click by click
or in this case, click by click

when I say click, I mean every single click
when I say click, I mean every single click

not just the ones that end up becoming...  I don't know, portfolio-worthy images
not just the ones that end up becoming...  I don't know, portfolio-worthy images

in fact, in many ways, I'd say that  those are the least important ones
in fact, in many ways, I'd say that  those are the least important ones

because those are the finish  line, the end of the path
because those are the finish  line, the end of the path

but it is the clicks that don't work
but it is the clicks that don't work

the clicks that don't make for good  images, for good photos those are
the clicks that don't make for good  images, for good photos those are

the ones that matter because those are the ones  that are carving our path towards that finish line
the ones that matter because those are the ones  that are carving our path towards that finish line

this is something that I think we photographers  tend to underestimate, me included
this is something that I think we photographers  tend to underestimate, me included

the amount of work, effort and  clicks required to make a good image
the amount of work, effort and  clicks required to make a good image

if there is one thing that the  masters of photography have in common  
if there is one thing that the  masters of photography have in common  

is that they shoot a lot,  for a long period of time
is that they shoot a lot,  for a long period of time

you know, when I look at the  work of a photographer I admire
you know, when I look at the  work of a photographer I admire

the most valuable information to me is not  the camera, the lens they used, the settings
the most valuable information to me is not  the camera, the lens they used, the settings

not even the location
not even the location

for me, the most important  piece of information is the date
for me, the most important  piece of information is the date

that is because the date tells  you much more about how they work
that is because the date tells  you much more about how they work

about their process, than anything else
about their process, than anything else

and what I've seen, with almost no  exception, is that the work I like
and what I've seen, with almost no  exception, is that the work I like

where the date was provided of course
where the date was provided of course

well, it took time to make
well, it took time to make

those dates give us some perspective
those dates give us some perspective

first, they show us that  even the best photographer  
first, they show us that  even the best photographer  

needs a lot of time to finish a compelling project
needs a lot of time to finish a compelling project

several weeks, months, if not years
several weeks, months, if not years

second, they hint what we don't see:  the photographs that didn't make the cut
second, they hint what we don't see:  the photographs that didn't make the cut

a couple of images from a trip to Iceland in 2010  
a couple of images from a trip to Iceland in 2010  

tell us that the photographer  got rid of a lot of images
tell us that the photographer  got rid of a lot of images

there is no way they only  made those two on such a trip
there is no way they only  made those two on such a trip

they definitely pressed the shutter  dozens, if not hundreds of times
they definitely pressed the shutter  dozens, if not hundreds of times

they clicked
they clicked

what I like about seeing those dates is that  they reveal something that you can't see
what I like about seeing those dates is that  they reveal something that you can't see

something that you can't know  from looking at the images alone
something that you can't know  from looking at the images alone

and is the amount of time invested in making them
and is the amount of time invested in making them

it's usually a lot of time, but what we must...
it's usually a lot of time, but what we must...

be careful with the camera, okay?
be careful with the camera, okay?

hello!
hello!

okay, I have to show you the puppy
okay, I have to show you the puppy

because it's going crazy
because it's going crazy

hello, okay
hello, okay

as I was saying, it's usually a lot of time
as I was saying, it's usually a lot of time

but what we must realize is that  conditions are not always perfect
but what we must realize is that  conditions are not always perfect

in fact, they very rarely are
in fact, they very rarely are

today is a very good example of that
today is a very good example of that

I don't like this weather, I don't  like to shoot in these conditions
I don't like this weather, I don't  like to shoot in these conditions

the light is very harsh, and making an  image here for me has been very challenging
the light is very harsh, and making an  image here for me has been very challenging

because I have to deal with the puppy
because I have to deal with the puppy

but also because yeah, the light is just not  right for the kind of images that I like to do
but also because yeah, the light is just not  right for the kind of images that I like to do

and I know that most of the photographs  I'm taking today are no good
and I know that most of the photographs  I'm taking today are no good

probably none of them will ever make it to  my website, my portfolio, one of my books
probably none of them will ever make it to  my website, my portfolio, one of my books

maybe not even my instagram account,  or maybe not even this video
maybe not even my instagram account,  or maybe not even this video

but I don't see those clicks as  failures, quite the opposite actually
but I don't see those clicks as  failures, quite the opposite actually

because every time I try to make an image,  especially when it's hard to make one
because every time I try to make an image,  especially when it's hard to make one

I'm learning, I'm growing as a photographer
I'm learning, I'm growing as a photographer

the easy thing would be for me to have fog here
the easy thing would be for me to have fog here

it would be very easy to take a photo, to make  a good image of these trees here in the water
it would be very easy to take a photo, to make  a good image of these trees here in the water

that would look amazing
that would look amazing

and it's an image that I will  try to make at another time
and it's an image that I will  try to make at another time

but trying to make an image with  what I got today is more challenging
but trying to make an image with  what I got today is more challenging

it's harder, it's pushing me farther
it's harder, it's pushing me farther

it's easy to dismiss all of this because  luck plays a big role in photography
it's easy to dismiss all of this because  luck plays a big role in photography

and even though yes, we might  get lucky every once in a while
and even though yes, we might  get lucky every once in a while

I do believe that we create our own luck
I do believe that we create our own luck

and we do it by, you know, getting out, and  practicing, and taking photos, and clicking away
and we do it by, you know, getting out, and  practicing, and taking photos, and clicking away

okay, hello
okay, hello

you wanna come here talk to the camera?
you wanna come here talk to the camera?

okay
okay

photography can be overwhelming
photography can be overwhelming

especially if you are just getting  started because you start with zero images
especially if you are just getting  started because you start with zero images

and you are comparing yourself  to other photographers
and you are comparing yourself  to other photographers

how they're more accomplished than you
how they're more accomplished than you

so it is very important to be aware that  all of those photographers we admire
so it is very important to be aware that  all of those photographers we admire

and the amazing work that they've done
and the amazing work that they've done

we're looking at their finish line
we're looking at their finish line

they they've already gone through the whole  path, and through the whole journey to get there
they they've already gone through the whole  path, and through the whole journey to get there

we're still going there, we're still on the way
we're still going there, we're still on the way

I'll say even more: I'll say that many of  those photographers that you look up to
I'll say even more: I'll say that many of  those photographers that you look up to

they feel the same way that  you might be feeling right now
they feel the same way that  you might be feeling right now

I feel that way as well many times, very often
I feel that way as well many times, very often

this video, like every other video in this channel
this video, like every other video in this channel

is not just to share my journey with you
is not just to share my journey with you

but they are little reminders to myself
but they are little reminders to myself

of what matters in photography,  of what I should be worried about
of what matters in photography,  of what I should be worried about

today is the first time in...  I don't know, a couple weeks
today is the first time in...  I don't know, a couple weeks

that I go out for photography, and  it feels amazing to be out again
that I go out for photography, and  it feels amazing to be out again

it's important to take breaks here and there
it's important to take breaks here and there

don't you think?
don't you think?

yeah, he agrees
yeah, he agrees

the only way to get better, the only way to  improve, the only way to make good images
the only way to get better, the only way to  improve, the only way to make good images

is to press, to click the  shutter in your camera and try...
is to press, to click the  shutter in your camera and try...

dude, you are disgusting
dude, you are disgusting

I'm gonna have to take a shower now
I'm gonna have to take a shower now

photograph is not linear
photograph is not linear

most of the time, our images  are not going to be good enough
most of the time, our images  are not going to be good enough

and that is normal, that  is how it's supposed to be
and that is normal, that  is how it's supposed to be

but it is important to get  out to practice, to get better
but it is important to get  out to practice, to get better

so when the day comes, because the conditions  are magical or we go to an exotic location
so when the day comes, because the conditions  are magical or we go to an exotic location

whatever it is
whatever it is

we are ready
we are ready

never forget that the most important  skills in photography are perseverance
never forget that the most important  skills in photography are perseverance

like he's doing... he's very... he perseveres, and  this is what we need to do with our photography
like he's doing... he's very... he perseveres, and  this is what we need to do with our photography

and we need to be patient as well
and we need to be patient as well

he is not that patient, that's  why he's not getting what he wants
he is not that patient, that's  why he's not getting what he wants

you want me to pet you, but  this is not the way to do it
you want me to pet you, but  this is not the way to do it

not going to happen
not going to happen

we are here for the long term,  this is a very long journey
we are here for the long term,  this is a very long journey

it's a lifelong journey
it's a lifelong journey

we just need to be aware of where we are  in that journey, and that to keep going
we just need to be aware of where we are  in that journey, and that to keep going

we need to do it one click at a time
we need to do it one click at a time

before letting you go, I wanted to highlight  the work of one of my Patreons, Steve Bennett
before letting you go, I wanted to highlight  the work of one of my Patreons, Steve Bennett

Steve has beautiful images on both his website  and instagram account that I'm gonna be  
Steve has beautiful images on both his website  and instagram account that I'm gonna be  

linking in the description down below
linking in the description down below

but I gotta say, that as much as  I like his photos of the foxes
but I gotta say, that as much as  I like his photos of the foxes

they are very, very cute
they are very, very cute

I really love his black and white work
I really love his black and white work

totally worth checking out, as I said the links  are going to be in the description down below
totally worth checking out, as I said the links  are going to be in the description down below

thank you so much, Steve, for your support
thank you so much, Steve, for your support

to all of my patreons, tomorrow we're going to be  hosting another live stream so stay tuned for that
to all of my patreons, tomorrow we're going to be  hosting another live stream so stay tuned for that

thank you so much everyone for  watching, see you in the next one!
thank you so much everyone for  watching, see you in the next one!