Since I started writing my blog posts here on wildwillowways.com I have tried to keep the content personal and relevant to amateur photographers like me - those who do photography for enjoyment.
I started by charting my initial journey into this exciting hobby, and continued by sharing my learning and my difficulties, my frustrations and how I overcame them. I have shared some insights and inspirations that I found through my own practice as well as from other photographers, and I have made connections, for myself and hopefully for others, between photography and wellbeing.
I have always resisted the urge to label myself as one type of photographer.
I don’t call myself exclusively a landscape photographer, although I enjoy photographing landscapes.
I don’t call myself a street photographer, even though I enjoy that genre too.
I love to experiment with different styles of photography and will often spend weeks concentrating on one aspect of photography to the exclusion of others, only to return to another style later.
I have documented these changes as part of my overall journey as I believe that constant change in photography is what gives me most enjoyment.
I have recently spent many hours either photographing flowers, doing macro photography, experimenting with ICM techniques or shooting in monochrome, and I have enjoyed each of these aspects of photography.
Occasionally on my blog I have shared links to the work of other photographers whom I admire. I have learned a lot from these photographers, especially those who share their experience freely on YouTube.
But following some of these photographers has often left me feeling downhearted, as I know that I’ll never produce images like they do, or visit the amazing locations they visit, or work with the camera equipment that they can afford.
This is why I tend to be drawn to photographers who generally use inexpensive equipment, photograph locally, and do photography for enjoyment and pleasure rather than for monetary gain. I have more in common with their approach and have learned a lot from them.
Yet these photographers often struggle to keep producing content on YouTube as they have fewer viewers and are therefore not promoted to the same extent. That's why it's good to support lesser known photographers. They may not have the wealth of resources that better known photographers have, but most of them put a lot of time and effort into creating good, useful, relatable content. I can relate to what they are trying to do – be authentic on a platform ruled by commercialism – and I like to share their channel links in the hope that someone will like what they produce and share further.
Below are links to three recent videos that resonate with me. I hope that they will resonate with you too.
I haven't got what it takes - Joshua Peg
The truth about my mental health struggles - Chris Orange
Landscape Photography - Shoot like an amateur - James R Burns