First off, a confession; the picture accompanying this post has nothing to do with the text. I'm not actually writing about my photography this time but still wanted to have some sort of image to brighten things up. The photograph above was taken with a fixed lens camera I like to carry with me when walking the dog (perhaps a subject for a later blog and a very tenuous link to the subject of this post).
When deciding to revive this blog, I had serious concerns about how relevant it would be in the light of the YouTube based community of vlogging photographers which has sprung up in the last year or so. Then I decided it didn't really matter since no-one reads this anyway and it's just a platform for self-reflection or the first sign of madness (talking to myself). However, it is impossible to ignore the fact that these vlogs are so much more effective in educating, informing or simply getting a message across than a collection of still images and text could ever be. I am in no way a novice photographer but I am finding that I can learn and be inspired by the often excellent output being produced by an ever increasing band of vlogging photographers. Fortunately for you dear reader, I am just not inspired to take up the medium myself (a face for radio and no-one wants to hear me pontificate about photography - not even my family).
I bet you can feel a list coming on - I am a man after all.
Just in case there is still anyone out there who bothers to read blogs, I am going to share my favourite landscape photography YouTube channels with you. If you are interested in landscape photography, you really should check them out. This is not a paid endorsement.
Thomas Heaton : This was where it started for me. I actually didn't bother with YouTube for anything much more than following Casey Neistat (who, imo, set the gold standard for daily volgs) but then stumbled across Thomas's 'Landscape Photography Fail' vlog. It was a revelation. Here was someone experiencing the kind of struggle I have faced so many times myself. This was different. I caught up with his older posts and have followed him ever since. It has been interesting to see how his channel and presentation has evolved but, at the heart of it, you have an engaging individual who takes some really excellent images and who isn't afraid to show his travails.
Simon Baxter : Simon doesn't blog regularly but his posts are worth waiting for. The production quality is excellent and his use of the drone is in woodland is stunning. He tends to concentrate on his local area and, although he does live close to interesting and varied landscapes, he particularly focuses on woodland. Simon also has a secret weapon in the form of his dog, Meg, who often steals the show.
Adam Gibbs : Adam is based in British Columbia and has access to some spectacular scenery but, like Simon, he does seem to enjoy photographing forest scenes. He also doesn't post regularly but I eagerly await his new vlogs which make me long to go back to Canada.
Nigel Danson : Nigel is the only person listed here who I know personally. We were both members of a local photographic society for a while and Nigel regularly beat me in competitions. I bear him no ill feelings for this as he can't be held responsible for the dubious tastes of competition judges. Nigel is quite new to the vlogging scene but his enthusiasm is infectious and he makes some beautiful images.
Having made the odd timelapse and had a little experience of filming video with a GoPro, I can't help but be impressed by the time and effort these guys must put into their YouTube posts. They are all seriously good landscape photographers with a wealth of experience which they are happy to share via their videos. I believe they also either already run, or are planning to run, workshops and I feel sure it would be worthwhile for anyone wanting to learn more about the art to spend some time with any one of them.
Of course, I am sure that they would all agree that the most important thing is to get out there with the camera and practice and not spend too much time living vicariously through their vlogs.
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