How this will improve your photography...

Teo Crawford
25 Mar 202417:07

TLDRThe video discusses a social media trend that highlights the beauty in mundane aspects of life, often through aesthetically pleasing videos set to melancholic music. The narrator reflects on the dual nature of this trend, which is both uplifting and a reminder of our tendency to overlook the beauty around us due to overstimulation and distraction. The video then shifts to a personal account of how embracing this trend has improved the narrator's photography by encouraging a more mindful and consistent approach to capturing the world's subtle beauty. The summary is enriched with examples of the narrator's recent work, emphasizing the importance of being present and actively seeking out beauty in everyday life.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ“ธ **Embrace the Aesthetic:** The trend of focusing on the beauty in mundane things can inspire photographers to see and capture the extraordinary in everyday life.
  • ๐ŸŽถ **Musical Accompaniment:** These aesthetic videos are often set to melancholic music, enhancing the emotional impact and reminding viewers to appreciate their surroundings.
  • ๐ŸŒ… **Notice the Mundane:** The videos aim to highlight the unique beauty in ordinary scenes, encouraging viewers to be more present and aware of their environment.
  • ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ **The Art of Noticing:** Being open to embracing the beauty around us can improve our ability to appreciate the world, which is a skill that can also enhance our photography.
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ **The Downside of Distraction:** The trend also reflects a societal issue where many people are so distracted that they miss the beauty around them, leading to a sense of longing and dissatisfaction.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ **Consistency Improves Craft:** The speaker shares their personal experience of how consistency in photography naturally improves their skills over time.
  • ๐ŸŒŸ **Seek Out Beauty:** The speaker was reminded to actively look for beauty, which helped them become more consistent in practicing photography.
  • ๐Ÿž๏ธ **Documenting Home:** The speaker's ongoing project of documenting their home city is a way of capturing the beauty they find in their everyday environment.
  • ๐Ÿ“ท **Carry a Camera:** The advice to always have a camera on hand to capture moments of beauty as they occur, emphasizing the importance of being prepared to photograph at any time.
  • ๐ŸŽจ **Personal Style:** The speaker's photography style focuses on capturing interesting and beautiful things, which is a personal interpretation of the art of noticing.
  • ๐Ÿ‘€ **The Power of Observation:** The trend encourages a more mindful approach to life and photography, suggesting that by observing closely, we can find inspiration in the world around us.

Q & A

  • What is the main theme of the video?

    -The main theme of the video is the art of noticing beauty in mundane surroundings and how this trend can inspire and improve one's photography skills.

  • How does the trend of aesthetic videos on social media platforms influence viewers?

    -The trend influences viewers by reminding them to be open to embracing the beauty that surrounds them, often in their everyday lives, which they might otherwise overlook.

  • What is the 'sad' aspect of the trend mentioned in the video?

    -The 'sad' aspect is that while the intention of the trend is sweet, it also highlights the state of many people who have lost the ability to be present and appreciate the world around them due to overstimulation.

  • How has the trend helped the speaker personally?

    -The trend has helped the speaker become more present and aware of their surroundings, reminding them to actively seek beauty and improve their photography by being more consistent.

  • What is the '30-day challenge' mentioned in the video?

    -The '30-day challenge' is a personal initiative the speaker took to become more consistent with their photography, which resulted in a revitalization of their practice.

  • How does the speaker use their photography to document their life?

    -The speaker uses photography to capture interesting and beautiful moments they encounter, aiming to create a collection of these moments as a personal documentation of their life.

  • What is the significance of the mountain area called the SE in the speaker's photography?

    -The SE is a small ski area above Innsbruck and is a core part of the city's culture. The speaker's visit and photography there represent a significant experience and a source of inspiration for their work.

  • What is the role of Squarespace in the speaker's workflow?

    -Squarespace serves as an all-in-one website platform that the speaker uses to present their various projects, such as short films and photography, in an organized and accessible manner.

  • How does the speaker approach street photography in the city?

    -The speaker practices street photography by capturing candid moments and scenes while riding trams and buses, focusing on the interesting aspects that strike them as beautiful.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the importance of being present in the real world?

    -The speaker believes that being present in the real world is crucial and that many people, including themselves, often neglect this due to distractions, which can lead to missing out on the beauty around them.

  • How does the speaker encourage viewers to improve their photography?

    -The speaker encourages viewers to take their cameras with them more often, practice the art of noticing, and be more consistent in their photography to capture the beauty in their everyday surroundings.

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŽจ The Aesthetic Trend of Embracing the Mundane

This paragraph discusses the trend of aesthetic videos on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which highlight the beauty in everyday, seemingly mundane scenes. The videos often feature ordinary moments set to melancholic music, with the intention of reminding viewers to appreciate the unique beauty in their lives. The speaker reflects on how this trend is both heartwarming and somewhat sad, as it also underscores a societal tendency to overlook the immediate surroundings in favor of digital distractions. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the positive impact of this trend on the speaker's personal photography practice, encouraging active seeking of beauty and a more mindful presence in daily life.

05:01

๐Ÿ“ธ Consistency in Photography and the Impact of Daily Routines

The speaker shares their experience of how the aesthetic trend influenced their photography habits. They discuss the importance of consistency in photography and how their daily behavior, including running errands and being in the city, provided opportunities for capturing moments. The paragraph includes a presentation of the speaker's photography work from the past few months, showcasing various scenes such as cityscapes, nature, and personal projects. The speaker also expresses gratitude to Squarespace for sponsoring their channel and facilitating the presentation of their work online through a user-friendly platform.

10:01

๐Ÿž๏ธ Capturing the Beauty of Light and Nature

This paragraph details the speaker's continued efforts to capture the beauty of light and nature through photography. It includes descriptions of various settings such as a ski area, cityscapes, and the mountains, emphasizing the speaker's attempts to document their surroundings and the unique moments they encounter. The speaker also discusses the technical aspects of photography, such as composition and lighting challenges, and their efforts to overcome these issues. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the joy of documenting significant moments and the satisfaction derived from the practice of photography.

15:02

๐ŸŒ The Art of Noticing and Family Visit Photography

The final paragraph describes the speaker's visit to their family in Zรผrich, where they continued to practice the art of noticing by capturing foggy scenes and other atmospheric moments. The speaker shares their excitement for finding and photographing interesting compositions, including a scene with a car adding an unexpected element to the photo. The paragraph concludes with a summary of the speaker's recent photography endeavors, an encouragement for viewers to practice photography more often, and a thank you note to their Patreon supporters. The speaker also mentions their print shop and provides links for those interested in their work.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กAesthetic

Aesthetic refers to the visual or sensory appeal of something, often associated with beauty or a pleasing appearance. In the video, the term is used to describe the type of content that is visually pleasing and captures the mundane aspects of life in a beautiful way, which is a central theme of the discussed trend.

๐Ÿ’กInstagram

Instagram is a popular social media platform primarily focused on sharing photos and short videos. It is mentioned in the video as one of the platforms where the discussed trend of aesthetically pleasing videos has been observed.

๐Ÿ’กTikTok

TikTok is another social media platform known for short-form videos. It is referenced in the video to illustrate the trend's migration from TikTok to other platforms like Instagram and eventually YouTube Shorts.

๐Ÿ’กContent funnel

A content funnel refers to the process by which trends or content types move from one platform to another, often starting on a platform like TikTok and spreading to others like Instagram and YouTube. The concept is used in the video to describe the pattern of how trends spread across social media.

๐Ÿ’กMontage

A montage is a sequence of short video clips or images edited together to create a single coherent scene. In the context of the video, montages are used to create aesthetically pleasing videos that highlight the beauty in everyday life.

๐Ÿ’กPhotography

Photography is the art or practice of taking and processing photographs. The video emphasizes how the trend of noticing beauty in the mundane can improve one's photography by encouraging photographers to be more present and seek out beauty actively.

๐Ÿ’กConsistency

Consistency in this context refers to the regular and continuous practice of an activity, in this case, photography. The video discusses how maintaining consistency in photography can naturally improve one's skills over time.

๐Ÿ’กStreet photography

Street photography is a genre of photography that focuses on capturing candid images of people and everyday life in public places. The video mentions it as a common practice when the speaker is in the city, aiming to capture the essence of urban life.

๐Ÿ’กSki area

A ski area is a place designated for skiing, often with facilities like ski lifts and slopes. The video describes a personal experience at a ski area, highlighting the beauty of the location and how it served as an inspiration for photography.

๐Ÿ’กLight meter

A light meter is a device used to measure the intensity of light. In photography, it helps determine the correct exposure settings. The video discusses the challenges of using a light meter in certain conditions, such as snowy landscapes, which can lead to underexposed photos.

๐Ÿ’กArt of noticing

The art of noticing refers to the practice of being attentive and observant of one's surroundings, particularly the beauty and interesting details that might otherwise go unnoticed. The video's main theme revolves around this concept, encouraging viewers to practice it to enhance their photography and appreciation of life.

Highlights

The trend of aesthetic videos on social media platforms emphasizes the beauty in the mundane, encouraging viewers to embrace the little bits of beauty around them.

The trend, often featuring relatable scenes accompanied by melancholic music, has a dual nature: sweet in its reminder to appreciate life's beauty, yet sad in highlighting our tendency to overlook it.

The videos serve as a reminder to slow down and be present, noticing the unique beauty in our everyday lives.

The speaker shares a personal anecdote about their own struggle with being present and appreciating the world around them.

The trend's positive impact on the speaker includes revitalizing their consistency in photography and seeking out beauty actively.

Consistency in photography naturally improves the craft over time, as demonstrated by the speaker's 30-day challenge.

The speaker's personal style of photography involves capturing interesting and beautiful moments, which has been influenced by the trend.

The speaker discusses the importance of carrying a camera to document life and the beauty encountered, especially when out and about.

A series of photographs are presented, showcasing the speaker's work from the past couple of months, with emphasis on the beauty found in everyday settings.

The speaker's photography project aims to document their home city, capturing its essence and their perspective on it.

Street photography and the capture of atmospheric conditions, such as fog and snow, are highlighted as key elements in the speaker's recent work.

The speaker expresses gratitude to Squarespace for supporting their work and discusses the ease of use and customization of the platform for presenting their projects.

The art of noticing is emphasized as a theme that has influenced the speaker's photography, encouraging them to seek out and capture beauty in unexpected places.

The speaker shares a behind-the-scenes look at a short film project, including the challenges and creative process involved in the photography.

The impact of weather conditions, such as snowfall and fog, on photography is discussed, with examples of how these conditions can transform landscapes and create unique opportunities for images.

The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to practice the art of noticing and to take their cameras with them more often to capture the beauty around them.

Support from Patreon is acknowledged, and additional resources such as Lightroom presets, tutorials, and a print shop are mentioned for those interested in the speaker's work.