Photography is full of lessons that take years to learn, but what if someone who's already gone through those years shared their insights today?
Coming to you from Nigel Danson and James Popsys, this insightful video touches on essentials for those new to photography—and maybe even a few things seasoned hobbyists overlook. Danson challenges common worries, like gear obsession, explaining that your camera feels and handles matter far more than how many megapixels it boasts. To support his viewpoint, Danson shares examples from his own early career, back when 6- to 12-megapixel cameras were standard. The photos look great—proof that the endless pixel chase is misleading. Instead, Danson confidently advises starting simply, possibly with something like a 24-200mm lens, as it can serve many situations without you needing a bag full of gear.
Danson and Popsys bring up an important point about image sharpness, poking gentle fun at those who zoom deep into their shots hunting for imperfections. The message from Danson is simple: real-world viewers won't notice if a tiny corner isn't perfect, so stop getting caught up in technical nitpicking. He uses a helpful comparison to paintings: you wouldn't dismiss a work of art because brushwork at the edges isn't as precise as at the center.
Danson emphasizes the influence of weather conditions, recalling images he captured during harsh rainstorms. Conditions that might look miserable at first glance can lead to far better photos than picture-perfect sunny days. The most crucial tip he gives? Going out with your camera regularly, even when conditions aren't ideal. Sitting home guarantees zero great photos. Danson's own experience highlights that local, everyday areas can produce surprising results. He illustrates this with images taken near his home, proving that brilliant shots aren't limited to popular tourist spots.
The two go deeper, briefly exploring the practicalities of capturing sharp images (hint: don't overthink it) and camera settings. Muscle memory helps ensure you're ready just when a perfect moment appears. Danson shares a useful learning exercise taught by wildlife photographer Morten Hilmer: practicing operating your camera blindfolded ensures your fingers quickly find needed controls without thought.
Another aspect is editing, reinforcing that the difference good editing makes is often substantial. They demonstrate transformations between raw shots and his edited final versions, highlighting the power simple techniques like dodging and burning have. It's not about layering dozens of filters—it's about focusing viewer attention exactly where your image demands it. That's just the start, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Danson and Popsys.
The title is good BUT first you are not a Photographer you are just someone looking at images of photographers and there are a lot today and you are thinking of ways to do something like some. There is one very important thing in todays world not available in the beginning of digital and that is software for editing an image. Think about it when say PS/Lr/Lrc was the only thing it went for about $800+ each and for each full update another $800 and nothing forever. So to start if you plan on editing find the lowest cost programs for editing! Next find a camera system that is cost effective to you, camera and lenses and remember it is not the camera so much as it is for knowing how to operate the tool and it's options. It is like when Sony started with the mirrorless camera, there was another but Sony had some added things. It got other companies to add to a stater package sort of, Capture One a major Pro editing program for $30 that is and was like Lrc, Adapter companies to made adapters that let users adapt film and other makers camera lenses to its cameras that let new/old people to photography use of what was on hand vs outlaying $ to come aboard. A major thing that has gone away as of late was the on camera apps that did things like a filter program, multi things in one image, to see more https://www.playmemoriescameraapps.com/portal/
a boatload of things to play with to help one do many things like a Mad Professor because a photographer really is just an experimenter and these programs helped to stir the imagination and play!!! Sad few knew about even some of the field reps in stores, I was in BEST BUY and just talking to a Sony Rep told how I used a on camera app and after went to the site and downloaded all. The programs were/are on only Mod 1's and 2's but a good find if you find a used one with them.
A very important thing to learn is the Shutter Speed, ISO, and F/# and how they work together and it is hard to find a chart where each are listed side my side from top to bottom in 1/3 steps. To help with this is using the Auto mode to take images Sony has two Auto's to pick from, in the second one is one that lets you take a image of someone at night with a flash but takes two images one for the dark background being bright and one using a flash, extra you have to buy one. The thing is you pay for all the auto options they come with the camera and you can learn about how the camera used these settings to make the image so when you go to manual mode you have some info before hand. Also very important is no matter what other photographer say about only using manual mode using it does not make you the best for many use the other settings "S", "A" and "P" of the 3 Aperture is used the most for you select the F/# and the onboard computer (you also paid for) works the rest, example I use Aperture mode when capturing the the Astro Milky Way while under the lights of a parking lot or in front of my house under a street light and not in Manual mode.
The truth is I started out with film with a Canon Ftb that had a light meter built in and all one had to do was marry the aperture needle with the light meter needle, it was just easy and like Aperture mode. Well when I went digital and using "A" mode I used like f/22 a lot thinking it was the sharpest but I got a very amazing capture using f/22 during a sunrise on a beach and that was what looked like a pirate holding a knife in his mouth in the foreground I did not know about till editing and also it was with the Canon Ftb and a bracketed 3 at +/- 2EV.
Last but never LAST is to get/buy a book on your camera before/after you buy for no book comes with the camera just a folded up big peace of paper and no
YouTube video is long enough for all things, I have a book, some over 600 pages, on every camera I have!! I do Sony and Sony has a on line help place that you can get info also but like the paper that came with the camera, BUT some extra info Like when using a 200-600mm lens on your Sony camera what happens when above f/8 that Canon/Nikon do that the Sony does not - the others when using a teleconverter you go above f/8 and AF may not work but the Sony is only affected when using a teleconverter and above f/11 where tracking may be affected, fast info where even a few years back not even the web had.
My point to this long and not complete is today is if wanting to start photography you will have the knowledge of those before and better everything as far as camera/lenses and most important Software if and only if you want to edit you do not have to edit for it takes a lot of time out of a busy young life. Going Pro is another info overload subject.
Lenses a ultra wide 16mm-35mm or a 12-24mm, a mind range 24-240mm and a super telephoto 200-600mm and a bag to carry you will use the most!
Learn panoramas and today vary inexpensive heads but a 12mm or 10mm will give you the same look without the cut off top an bottoms and a lot of work in editing.
Lessons learned even a mirrored camera from the beginning of digital will last you with years of images so what most will call the best is just that now but the past cameras are the best also for their time - think about it!!!