Ever feel like your photos are just shy of great, missing something small yet crucial? Many photographers experience this subtle frustration, and recognizing what's off is the first step toward exceptional results.
Coming to you from Pierre T. Lambert, this insightful video breaks down three practical photography habits that could be holding you back. Lambert shares personal insights from recent trips to Japan, Thailand, and New York, emphasizing a key issue many overlook: photographers don't move around enough. Instead of settling for the angle immediately in front of you, Lambert demonstrates how repositioning can dramatically change your photo's impact. He illustrates this clearly in a Thai tobacco field and Tokyo streets, explaining how intentional movement allowed him to align subjects effectively. Lambert's advice here is straightforward: to elevate your photography, actively reposition until the elements of your composition fall naturally into place.
Next, Lambert highlights the underestimated power of tight compositions. Photographers frequently default to wide angle lenses, especially in expansive settings like national parks or coastal villages. But Lambert challenges you to rethink this instinct. Using examples from a boat trip in a national park and a fishing village in Thailand, he shows how switching to a longer lens—like a 70-200mm—can transform ordinary scenes into compelling visual stories. By zooming in tightly, you isolate elements, capturing details and emotions that a wider lens would miss. This approach not only refines your composition but also sharpens your storytelling. Understanding when to tighten your frame rather than expand it is a subtle yet powerful shift that Lambert advocates strongly.
Another critical mistake Lambert covers is neglecting the importance of revisiting locations repeatedly. A common misconception is that capturing the perfect shot is mostly about timing or luck. Lambert argues otherwise, stressing how repeatedly visiting a location helps you deeply understand its rhythm. He recounts photographing a specific Tokyo neighborhood multiple times, eventually knowing exactly when and where the best shots would appear. By understanding changes in lighting, the flow of people, and daily routines, you gain control over capturing the most evocative images. Lambert emphasizes that this strategy works exceptionally well for street photography, where timing and familiarity with the environment can distinguish a good photo from an extraordinary one.
Lambert also briefly covers a valuable bonus tip to drastically improve your photography: waking up early. Popular locations in bustling cities like New York or Tokyo transform dramatically at dawn, offering rare opportunities to capture scenes uncluttered by tourists or crowds. He provides a vivid example from his recent sunrise shoot in Tokyo, capturing striking images that wouldn’t have been possible later in the day. Understanding how light and activity shift with time of day gives you a significant advantage in creating standout images. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Lambert.
