Thomas Heaton's Blog

I Need Your Help

In This Week’s PostWhere Have I Been?I Need Your Help With Something.I Have an Update About My Photo Club.Video of the Week.Where Have I Been?It feels like a long time since my last newsletter and a few weeks ago I missed a Wednesday video upload. Well, I feel like this is the place for honesty and a glimpse behind the scenes, and it’s nice for me to get things off my chest every now and then. 

The problem with working alone is that if something happens at the wrong time and I am unable to work, the knock-on effects can be huge. 

After an amazing trip to the USA (still more to come from that trip) I returned home for a couple of days and then went on a 5 day break to Madeira with my wife.  The plan was to use this time to recharge and plan the next month or so of work. 

The day after returning home from Madeira, I got sick. So much so that I went to hospital twice. I have no idea what the issue was, the doctors were not concerned and I am 110% now, but it meant that I was in bed for well over a week. I was drained and could not do any work. I basically slept for a week. I didn’t eat and during that time I lost 4kg in weight (That’s a body and a lens). 

The result of this illness meant that I fell far behind on work. I was already behind due to the USA trip, and even further behind due to my week off in Madeira. Throw in a 10 day illness and it was game over. I missed tax return deadlines, I lost sponsorships, I neglected this newsletter, I am behind on editing, the list goes on. 

This is not the first time I have experienced such knock-on effects, so I have decided to make a few changes in the hope of preventing such things in the future. One of which is to become less reliant on video sponsorships.  

The truth is, I don’t always like doing them. They can interrupt the flow of the story and they can be a pain to fit into a video as well as putting pressure on me to release content, even if I’m not happy with it.

When I have no sponsor on a video, it is bliss. However, I need the sponsors to fund the videos and to make a living. So, how can I slowly move away from sponsors? Start a photography club…

Before I talk more about the club, I need your help with something.

It’s that time of year again when I need to place my 2025 Calendar order with the printers.

As always, my calendar will be available for pre-order and all pre-orders will be discounted and hand signed.

But, I need help selecting images for 4 of the months. 

My wife and I can’t agree, so I thought I would put it to you and ask for your vote.

I have created a simple poll in Google forms. Click on the link below and simply select the image you prefer. 

Image Poll

You will need to be logged into a Google account to access the poll.

The images in the poll are quite small, so I have copied them below for a better view. Click on them to see larger.

Your input is much appreciated.

April May June September NovemberTake the Image Poll HereMy Photography ClubA few months ago, whilst alone on a wet and windy trip to Harris, I was inspired to start a camera/photography club. Well, I have been quite busy. 

No longer can I call it “My club” because I have now partnered with Simon Baxter. Simon is one of the most passionate photographers I know, and when I ran the idea past him, it was met with great approval.

He had so many ideas and suggestions that I immediately said – ‘Why don’t we do it together?’ I would like to introduce you to The 617 Club. 

The club is far from ready, however we do have a logo.

A few things to note about the logo. The colours are RGB. The dots are 6 red, 1 green and 7 blue and the aspect ratio of the central frame is 6 x 17.

The club has 3 main principals: to get people out shooting more, to encourage members to make real connections with each other and to help members thrive as photographers.

How do we plan to do this?

Themed Photo Challenges with Rewards.In person Meet-Ups.Educational Content.

There will also be lots of features within the club, such as ‘Member Maps’ so you can connect with other members near you. Image feedback forums. Weekly Live Streams with guest photographers. Monthly photography articles as well as access to Elements Photography Magazine, the list is constantly growing.

Simon and I are very excited about this and will have so much more to share when the club is ready and open. We are planning to launch our first season this September, so watch this space.

Video of the WeekAt the end of 2023 I took part in a photography documentary, filmed in Andalucia. I was 1 of 10 photographers, and it was an incredible trip.

Finally, the documentary is complete and it’s well worth watching, not for me, but for the other talent in the film. Thank you for reading this week’s post and if you managed to take my calendar image poll, thanks again!

Don’t Have Any Regrets

In This Week’s PostStuck in Oslo with a Puncture.3 Things I Learned in Svalbard.

Read Time: 4 Minutes
Click on images to see larger

This week I am writing from Oslo airport where I will spend the next 9 hours. Whilst sat on my KLM flight, destined for Amsterdam and then home, an Airplane Tug vehicle missed the coupling link of the aircraft and slammed into the front wheels puncturing both tyres.

As a result of this mishap, I will now arrive home at midnight rather than 2pm. On the plus side, I have lots of time to reflect on my trip to Svalbard, which I am currently returning home from.

Arctic Fox Marking It’s Territory3 Things I Have Learned

On every workshop I run, I learn so much and this one was no different. Jonas Paurell and I took 10 photographers sailing around Svalbard for 10 days of wildlife and landscape photography. We were blessed with beautiful conditions, a great ship, an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crew and a fantastic group of photographers. 

Here are 3 things I learned on this trip.

Shoot as Low as Possible.

A lone Walrus sat on a floating iceberg. The light was a little harsh and the foreground was messy. My photos of the Walrus were underwhelming and didn’t capture the beauty of the surroundings or the majesty of this 1000kg lump. 

Walrus shot at 3ft above water.

I looked to my right and saw Conrad (one of the participants) shooting the same Walrus, except Conrad was hanging over the boat, his lens inches from the water.
Like a naughty schoolboy copying my friend’s maths test, I glanced at Conrad and leant over the boat myself. I saw an immediate improvement in my shot.

With my lens hood scooping up sea water I used my tilting LCD screen to compose, I awkwardly focused and took a few shots. Losing my camera to the sea was a constant threat.

Walrus shot at 3mm above water.

The image I captured was an improvement on my previous attempts. The foreground ice clutter was no longer an issue and the majesty of the surroundings and of the Walrus came through beautifully. 

I continued with this low shooting method for the rest of the trip and although awkward to do, the results speak for themselves. 

Common Eider Ducks – Photographed from Water Level.

2. Birds Take Off and Land Into the Wind.

I have never had much of an interest in photographing birds, but after this trip I am hooked.

On the ship was Simon d’Entremont, an expert wildlife photographer. I expressed an interest in capturing some compelling images of Guillemots, Puffins and Guls. 

Simon offered some advice, most notably that birds fly into, land into and hover facing the wind. 

With this simple piece of knowledge, I was able to position myself better and anticipate the bird’s movements, which made getting a good shot far more likely. 

Guillemot Taking Off.

3. Patience is Everything and NEVER Choose to Sleep.

Although nobody wants to say it out loud, we were all on that ship for one reason: Polar Bears.

A close encounter with one of these magnificent animals is a rare thing, so if there is a sniff of a chance, take it!

After 4 days at sea, we had our first Polar Bear sighting. A mother and her young cub (approximately 2 years old).

Bears can roam for miles and they can also sleep for days. The latter is not ideal for photographers.

Our 2 Bears were 500-700 metres away, I like to call them Pixel Bears. They were also mostly sleeping. It was nice to know they were there, but on a rolling ship, they were almost impossible to shoot and observe. 

Pixel Bears Shot at 800mm

After 12 hours, the Pixel Bears had not moved a great deal and a decision had to be made. Should we move on or wait it out?

The decision was an easy one: we wait. This is why we’re here.

The Bears were sleeping, and it was time for us to sleep. At midnight, I retired to my cabin. After getting ready for bed, I clambered under the duvet and allowed the ship to gently rock me into a deep slumber.

Just as I was drifting off, the PA system snapped me out of my half dream.

“Dear passengers, the Bears are now awake and looking active. Get your warm gear on and be ready for the Zodiac launch in 10 minutes”.

I jumped out of bed, opened my blinds and looked out through the porthole. The fjord was like a mirror. Not a breath of wind, and snow was gently falling.

“Oh wow. This could be incredible” I said to myself as I was hopping on one leg, trying to get my trousers on.

I grabbed my camera bag and ran to the Zodiacs. One by one we made our way down the steps and into the inflatable boats. As we set off towards the edge of the fast ice, I did a head count. There were only 9 of us. Who was missing?

Conrad had heard the PA but chose to stay in bed. What a terrible decision that was.

We killed our engines and slowly drifted towards the ice. Silence filled the fjord, only interrupted by the occasional shutter release. I could hear the snow falling on the water. It was one of the most beautiful things I have experienced, but the Bears were still Pixel Bears.

Looking through my viewfinder, it seemed the Bears were getting larger. They were! They were coming this way, curious about what we were.

The next 45 minutes can only be described as surreal. The Bears were calm, happy and playful. The mother Bear sat patiently whilst the youngster played, swam, rolled and jumped, and all within just 30-50 metres of us. 

Mother Bear Checking Us Out.

This was my second Polar Bear encounter, and to be so close at eye level was truly a privilege. I will never forget this experience. 

I thought about the ships that came and chose not to wait it out and, of course, I thought about Conrad, who chose to stay in bed. I felt terrible for him. But he took it well and showed us his Polar Bear images from previous adventures, which helped ease my guilt. A second, equally exciting Polar Bear encounter with a kill on the final day quashed all remaining guilt I had.

This trip is one I will never forget and one that I am unlikely to ever repeat.

Watch the video below.

Landscape Photography On Location Vol 1 & Vol 2 Help support my photography YouTube channel by ordering a copy of my book today. Full of images, stories, ideas and inspiration.Order Here

There’s No Integrity Left

In This Week’s PostExhausted in Spain.There’s no integrity left.Shooting film.Online Photography Club Update.Video of the Week.Exhausted in Spain

This is supposed to be a weekly newsletter, so please accept my apologies for missing last week’s issue. I was working at a photography conference in Spain.

Whilst I had every intention to juggle both the conference commitments and my own commitments, such as this newsletter, the gruelling work hours meant that any spare time I had was spent under the duvet, catching up on sleep.

Seriously, just wait until next week’s behind the scenes video and you’ll see exactly why a newsletter was not sent.

In the meantime, here is an image from my week in northern Spain, which despite the SAS style work schedule, was a lot of fun and very beautiful.

There’s No Integrity Left

I received an email letting me know that I was in the running to be featured in MSN magazine, with over 32 million readers. 

The article would be titled “Top 15 Travel Experts Showing a Unique Perspective”.

Despite the title being somewhat of a mouthful, I was so thankful to be recognised for my years of hard work.

Seriously, Top 15 in the world. Was it my Mongolia trip? Perhaps it was my unique perspective of driving a van from the UK to Iceland. Possibly it was my recent road trip showcasing the beautiful Isle of Harris & Lewis.

Who knows, who cares. To be recognised is enough.

And for a small fee of $700 I could secure a place on that list.

Ffs.

Is there no integrity in the world anymore?

Where has all the authenticity gone?

I don’t believe half of what I read these days thanks to an erosion of trust over the past 4 years. I only recently found out that the New York Times Best Seller list is not entirely accurate as they can choose to omit any titles they don’t like.

(Take a deep breath).

This email got me so triggered that I sent a strongly worded reply, which I probably shouldn’t have.

All I want is to live in an honest and fair world.

So, if you happen to be reading MSN magazine and come across this Top 15 list, you can rest in the knowledge that each and every spot on that list has been bought.

Rant over.

I have 2 landscape photography books available. Get inspired, learn and help support my work.Visit My ShopShooting Film

If my story about the Top 15 list made you as angry as me, don’t worry, you can relax this evening with my ‘Film’ video. 

I shoot 2 rolls of film in my Hasselblad 501CM 6×6 medium format camera. It’s about as authentic as you can get. 

Inevitably, whilst chatting to people about my film photography, I got the question “Yeah, but why bother with film”?

I think now I have the perfect answer.

“Would you tell a classic car enthusiast to just drive a Tesla”?

For me, shooting analogue is about the process, the feel, the simple joy of operating a beautiful thing. It’s not as clean as digital, it’s not as convenient & nowhere near as flexible. But, man, it feels good.

Tune in to My Channel later today to watch the video.Online Photography Club Update

In my last newsletter, I floated the idea of creating an online photography club, structured like a traditional camera club.

The idea was to create a strong community of like-minded enthusiasts. A place outside of YouTube where we aren’t controlled by algorithms. 

The club would encourage in-field shooting with themed photography contests with big prizes, weekly live streams with guest speakers, image critiques, meet-ups and an end of season party amongst lots of other ideas.

I received so many ideas and suggestions, so thank you to everyone who replied.

What’s next?

Well, the idea has not fizzled out. In fact, quite the opposite. I have not stopped thinking about it.

I have figured out the best way to host and operate such a thing, which is a big hurdle overcome.

Most importantly, I will not be doing this alone. 

I asked my friend (and fellow photographer), Simon Baxter, if he thought it was a good idea. He agreed and after a long chat, we decided that 2 heads are better than one, so we have teamed up.

It is still very early days, but the benefits of having someone to help with this are huge. There will be less pressure on me to run the club, Simon has a wealth of photography knowledge he can share in the club as well as having great ideas of his own to implement. 

I am so excited for how this year is shaping up.

Video of the Week

Today I am recommending a fantastic video by Nick Carver.

There is one line in it that I found incredibly poignant – If someone had of told me, 20 years ago; “One day you will be shooting a passion project that you care about so much, you might be working on it your whole life”. 

“Touring the national parks”?

“Nah, son. Shooting old, vacant office buildings. The shittier, the better”.

Nick’s videos never fail to disappoint.

(Nick, you owe me $700 for sharing this video)

Thanks for reading.

Shootin’ Street & Work Life Balance.

In This Week’s NewsletterNick Page & I tried street photography in Birmingham. It did not go well.I got triggered by an audience member’s work/life balance question at The Photography Show.20% Off my Landscape Photography books. Blog readers only.Video of the week.Shootin’ Street with Nick Page. 
How Hard Can It Be?

Last weekend, Nick Page and I took it upon ourselves to try our hand at street photography in Birmingham… with an instant film camera.

I thought this would make for a refreshing change on my channel and that it would be interesting to see how 2 landscape photographers would fare on the mean streets of Birmingham with such limiting gear.

Needless to say, the photography wasn’t the best.. 

Nick and I both struggled to get to grips with exposure. It seemed that almost all our shots were grossly over exposed.

If only we had more time to practice. However I had placed a couple of restrictions on our shoot:

We only had 5 shots each.We only had 1 hour.

These restraints, in all honesty, were for the benefit of the YouTube video and it worked!

The video is highly entertaining, with the ever jovial American, Nick Page, adding some contrast to my britishness. 

After our shoot was up, we chose our 3 best images and took to The Photography Show to ask the public which images they liked best.

This video was a bit of an experiment for my channel and I thoroughly enjoyed making it (this is clearly visible on camera). I hope the video is well received as I would love to do more collaborative work in 2024.

Actually, if you have any suggestions for collaborations you would like to see, please send me an email.

20% Off Both of My Books

For the next 7 days (Until March 27th 2024), you can get 20% off the price of my physical landscape photography books with this code: THANKS20

Thank you for being a reader of this blog.

I Was Asked About Work/Life Balance. Not Good.

After filming my video with Nick, it was time for me to take the stage at The Photography Show. 

Thankfully, I was not alone. 

This would be my second collaboration of the day; this time with Sean Tucker. 

Sean and I took part in a 1 hour Q&A session, all about being a YouTuber.

We were amazed to see such a jam-packed room, with crowds spilling out into the main hall.

The session was a blur, but I did receive one question which I struggled to answer and that I wish I had more time to reflect on. Thank you to the audience member who asked:

“Do you have a healthy work/life balance as a Youtuber”?

The answer that came from my mouth, without any thought, triggered me.

“I do NOT have a healthy balance”.

I went on to explain that I struggle to switch off. I do not delegate anything and sometimes, I am so dependent on the weather conditions, I often fail to build up a backlog of YouTube videos. This is NEVER a good thing and often results in last minute, ill-thought-out videos. 

I knew that my work/life balance needed addressing, but this weekend’s Q&A made me realise that I have been aware of this problem for many years and have failed to act.

So, what am I going to do about it?

Here are some thoughts, which I can apply to a system and then develop that system into a habitual routine (in other words, plan my calendar better and have more discipline):

Always have a minimum of 2 videos in the can at any time.
 Have clearly defined ‘shooting days’, usually in the form of a 2 to 10-day trip.
I am at my happiest after a productive trip away. Spending 7 days on the road, dedicated to film making, means that when I get home, I am free to spend days/weeks with family and friends as I have many videos in the can. My only tasks are office based for just a few hours per day.
 When in the office, be disciplined with my working hours. Ideally, 8am – 3pm, 3 days per week. 
(This doesn’t sound like a lot of work hours, but remember, I will be away at least once per month on a ‘content creating trip’).
 Prioritise my most important tasks each day, complete them before noon and don’t be afraid of saying ‘no’ to more things.
 Have dedicated video/photo planning days, perhaps in new and inspirational environments to get the creative juices flowing.
(One of the hardest parts of being a YouTuber is coming up with new and exciting video ideas on a consistent basis. This results in procrastination and rushed last minute content).
 Automate Instagram. Dedicate a block of time each month to creating and scheduling posts/reels or look in to hiring a Social Media Manager, to do FB & IG for me.
 Keep my office tidy.

The list above is nothing more than me spewing ideas onto a page, but the process of doing so helps me identify problems in my work life. 

The key thing here is blindingly obvious; I need to have content in the can to feel relaxed and happy, and I need to dedicate time specifically to generating ideas. With good ideas comes motivation and action. 

If I get this right, there’s no reason why I couldn’t end up with 20 videos ready to go. 

With that much freedom, I could do some incredible, elaborative & adventurous projects that require time and planning. With a bunch of content already shot, time and planning should be easy.

Video of the Week

Alex’s video popped up on my feed and I thought “I recognise this guy from Gavin Hardcastle’s videos”. So, I gave it a watch.

Although the title of the video might suggest that it is some sort of “How to hack Instagram” nonsense, it is not. 

This video is thoughtful, well made and incredibly helpful to anybody who is trying to “make it” as a photographer by using social media.

I won’t give away the key message, but it is not that you need to post reels to Instagram every day, thankfully.

Thank you for reading this week’s newsletter.

Remember, if you would like to see a particular collaboration with another photographer/YouTuber, please email with your suggestion.

Should All Photographers Do YouTube?

In This Week’s PostShould All Photographers Do YouTube?The End of Polar Bear Photography in Svalbard?Video of the Week (Only 151 views).

Read Time: 6 Minutes

Should All Photographers Do YouTube?

This year will be my 10th year on YouTube. I can’t believe it.

10 years ago, nobody knew my name and my images struggled to find an audience. 

10 years ago, I was unhappy in my job.

10 years ago, I was not well travelled and, since the age of 18, was still living out of my overdraft. Pay day would come and the money would go.

10 years ago, my escape from my unfulfilling job and lack of financial security was landscape photography.

When I was out with my camera I didn’t worry about a thing. I loved it. I wanted to do it all the time, I wanted it to be my job, but this seemed impossible.

I would dream about owning a VW T25 camper and travelling the world, sleeping under the stars, climbing mountains, and making images. Writing for magazines and books and getting paid to do it.

Pah, keep dreaming, Heaton. You have more chance of winning the lottery.

But then, on November 24th 2014, I uploaded my first Youtube Video.

My 1st video

Little did I know that this one step, this one single action would change the course of my life forever.

Since 2014 I am no longer in my overdraft and have financial security for the foreseeable future.

I am happy and fulfilled with my job.

I consider myself incredibly well travelled, certainly compared to pre-2014 Heaton: Argentina, Chile, Svalbard, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal to name some of the more exotic places I have been lucky enough to photograph.

I have my camper van, which may not be a VW T25, but Delica has served me well. 

Best of all, I am pretty much living out the life I used to dream of all those years ago when settled in for the evening, drinking Whiskey and reading David Noton’s Waiting for the Light.

Should You Do it Too?

Naturally, my answer is going to be yes because I have seen success with YouTube, however it all depends on what your goals are?

If you enjoy photography for very personal reasons, you love the process and the peace and quiet it can bring, then I would be hesitant for anybody to disrupt that by trying to document and share the process. 

If you love sharing, talking about, living and breathing photography, then having your own YouTube channel will certainly help your work reach a much wider audience.

It’s not easy though. Initially, making videos whilst out in the field will disrupt your photography and you may feel like you have missed shots. 

Soon enough the disruption will ease, and you will be documenting your photography shoots without even thinking about it. If anything, the video making will improve your photography as it will force you to be more selective with what you choose to shoot. 

One Piece of Advice.

Beneath this text, you can watch a video I have made which goes into a little more depth on the topic of Photographers and YouTube, but if I could only give one piece of advice to photographers looking to document their own photography, it would be:

You must distinguish between what is a photo shoot and what is a video shoot.

I see this all the time. Photographers go on a photo shoot and bring along a video camera in case they want to make a vlog. The result of this is a half-hearted attempt at a photography video, which fails to capture and engage the audience and fails to tell any kind of story. These videos usually begin when the photographer has already set-up and framed their shot. They talk through the image, show a little b-roll and then end. 

I get it. Video gets in the way of photography and you’re a photographer first, not a Youtuber.

But, with a little practice, you can become both. 

The day before your shoot, tell yourself – “I am not going out on a photo shoot. This is a video shoot”.

That little shift in mind-set will dramatically change how you approach the day.

When you’re making a video, you’re not only thinking about the main topic (your photography), but you’re thinking about the entire process and how you can best show and communicate this with your audience. 

It’s almost like you’re having an out of body experience and looking down on yourself as you tackle your photo shoot. 

What gear have you packed and why? How has the weather forecast influenced your decisions? Are you excited to be out or are you feeling a little pessimistic? Are your feet wet? How far have you walked? How has the light affected your mood?

By sharing the full story of a photo shoot, you can make so much more of a connection with your audience and ultimately, this is what leads to success.

But it is tough. When you’re tired, it is difficult to think about photography and video. 

All the b-roll required to tell a story takes up a lot of head space, not to mention the time.

The extra gear is heavy. It is cumbersome. 

It’s embarrassing to film when people are around. 

All the above is true, but it is what is required to make a good video. You must work hard, with little to no rest, especially when you’re chasing the light.

But the rewards are so worth it. Look at me, where I am today and where I was 10 years ago.

I wouldn’t change a thing. 

Watch a more in-depth video on the topic: https://youtu.be/yIKy_A3eGkA

Norway Moves to Make Photographing Polar Bears Almost Impossible.

The Norwegian Government has adopted several amendments to the environmental regulations in Svalbard that will affect photography.

Walrus, Reindeer, Arctic Fox & Birds

Already adopted changes limits landing sites, meaning it will severely impact opportunity to photography of all the wildlife photography that takes place from land.

Polar Bears

There is a second round of proposed legislation. It is a proposed distance requirement of 300 and 500 metres to polar bears. This forces photography of polar bears to be done as such a distance that it will be pointless.

The amendments enter into force 1 January 2025.

My Thoughts?

This is a tough one and I don’t feel qualified to weigh in with a strong opinion, but I do have 2 questions:

How will this affect tourism in Svalbard and will the local economy be hit by people choosing to travel elsewhere?
My first thought is that Svalbard may lose an enormous chunk of its economy. Currently it is the best place on Earth to observe and photograph Polar Bears. If this is taken away, people will decide to travel to Greenland or Canada.
 How much of a negative impact do the current regulations have on the wellbeing of Polar Bears?
I don’t need to say how important it is to protect wildlife and there is nothing worse than irresponsible tourism. However, when I was in Svalbard last year, I witnessed zero negative impact on the Polar Bears when we were close. 

Firstly, the Bears approached ‘us’, out of curiosity. 

Secondly, if the bears are on the fast ice (ice that is fastened to the land), we can’t approach anyway. It is illegal to break the fast ice because this is their main habitat for hunting.

Finally, if we did see a bear in or close to the water, we would cruise toward it in a small Zodiac. The expedition leaders were incredibly respectful and never approached too close, they would kill their engines to avoid noise and we would simply observe from a distance of about 100 meters. The bears either ignored us or came for a closer look to see what we were.

I am certainly not an expert and I have next to no experience, however from my own trip last year, I witnessed nothing but good things. We saw happy, healthy bears who were unbelievably relaxed in our presence. I saw nothing at all that would warrant the imposing of such strict measures. However, I am under no illusions that there will always be incidents when irresponsible tour operators push things too far in the name of profit. 

Read all of the details about the proposed changes here .

If You Want to See Polar Bears in Svalbard Before the Proposed Changes, I have 2 Places on my 10 Passenger Ship.

May 15th – 24th 2024.

10 Passengers.

A1 Ice Class Polar Yacht.

Landscape & Wildlife Photography.

More Info HereRecommended Video of the Week

I am excited to share this video because it only has 151 views and I think more people need to see it.

The video feels quite relevant as I sit here and tell everyone to start a YouTube channel, which is to embark on a lot of work. That is NOT the message of this video. Instead, the message is to live more and stop comparing yourself to everything we see online. 

I have never heard the term “Stresslaxing”, but I have experienced it. It’s awful.

Give it a watch.

Thank you for reading this week’s post.

Do You Ever Regret Going Out?

In This Week’s PostOops – a message from My Company.How important is EXIF data?Have you ever regretted going out with your camera?Northern Spain in April.Video of the week.

Read Time: 4 Minutes

An Email from ‘My Company’ – Oops.

Last week, I sent my newsletter twice. The first email showed the sender as ‘My Company’. 

What a rookie mistake. 

When I receive emails that begin with [To Thomas Heaton Team] or [Dear Influencer], I immediately delete them.

When sending my newsletter, if I do not fill in the field for ‘Who Is This From?’, it defaults to ‘My Company’.

This is a terrible look.

“You’ve received an email from My Company”. Urgh.

I assumed most people would delete this email, so I re-sent it with the correct sender ‘Thomas Heaton’.

Thank you to everyone who replied to that newsletter letting me know about my mistake, as well as a few other typos. I rely on you all keeping me right.

How Important is EXIF Data?

Most of the time, I share my EXIF data beneath my images in my YouTube videos. 

It usually looks something like the image below:

ƒ5.6 | 1/500 sec | 55mm | ISO 320

Sometimes I omit this information and just show the image by itself. 

I have received criticism in the past for leaving out the EXIF data, which always leaves me wondering if it helps more people than I realise.

One argument I hear is that it makes no difference to the viewer because every situation is different and one photographer’s EXIF data is of no relevance to another’s work.

I think the EXIF data helps beginner photographers understand the construct of an image more clearly. For example, when capturing a seascape with very pleasing wave motion: “Ahhh, only 1/4 a second to soften the crashing waves”. 

ƒ13 | 1/4 sec | 39mm | ISO 100

ƒ13 | 1/4 sec | 39mm | ISO 100

I created a poll on my YouTube page asking the same question and here are the results:

How valuable is EXIF data when included in my videos?

7,400 People answered.

Incredibly valuable: 28%

It’s nice to see: 59%

It makes no difference: 14%

Do You Regret Going Out With Your Camera?

If you’re debating whether to wake up early for a sunrise, or to drive 3 hrs for a photoshoot, because it might not be worth it, you’re not alone.

Here is my internal monologue right before I commit to a shoot:

“3hrs is a long drive”.

“It looks a bit grey and windy”.

“Yeah, snow might be in the forecast, but it won’t stick”.

“If I wake up at 4am, I will be knackered for the rest of the day”.

“There won’t be any good light”.

“The weather looks like it will be better next week”.

All these negative voices in my head are trying to prevent me from going for a shoot, but what is the alternative; To stay in bed? To shoot locally because it’s more convenient? To only shoot when the conditions are 100% guaranteed? 

There is a lot about landscape photography we can’t control and yes, some photo shoots might be a complete washout, but they are always worth it.

In my next video, I chase down an Amber weather warning for snow in the Peak District. Subscribe to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss it.

Desperate to get my share of winter weather here in the UK, I drove my van for 4 hours (one way) for just 2 of hours of wet photography. 

I encountered horrific traffic as vehicles became incapacitated due to their lack of appropriate winter tyres and I got drenched through as the snow melted on impact.

Despite the challenges, it was worth it. Not because my images were anything special, but because I made the effort to get out there. 

If I didn’t go, I would 100% have regretted my decision not to go and that would have been worse than all the above. 

I very rarely, if ever, regret going on a shoot. I have often regretted not going on one.

Next time you’re talking yourself out of an early morning shoot (or any shoot), just ask yourself: which will I regret more? Staying in bed, or taking a chance tomorrow morning?

Northern Spain in April

There are still a few places available on a landscape photography retreat in the north of Spain, which I am attending.

There will be amazing food, a beautiful beach-side hotel, daily photo shoots & presentations.

You can get a €200 discount with the code: HEATONPW2

Video of the Week

This week, I am recommending a video by Joe Allam. I’ve known Joe for quite a few years & I was so excited for him when he announced he was moving to Japan.

I am envious of this huge change and exciting adventure that Joe is beginning.

Here is a strangely satisfying video of Joe setting up his apartment, from scratch. I’m sure it was not a cheap endeavour, but what a great opportunity for a do-over. 

Thank you for reading this week’s post.

DJI Pocket 3 Love/Hate

In This Week’s PostMy favourite Pallas Cat image received a critique. They might be right.There are still a couple of places left on my Svalbard Trip.I hate my new DJI Pocket 3. It’s so good, but I don’t like it.Video of the Week.

Read Time: 4 minutes

To see larger versions, click on the images.

Pallas Cat Critiqued

Below is one of my favourite wildlife shots from my recent Mongolia trip.

It shows the incredibly harsh environment that these wild cats have to endure.

Pallas Cat in Snow Storm

But… would it have been better if the eyes were open? 

This is one particular critique that really got me thinking. 

The eyes open would have made more of a connection with the viewer.

The eyes closed show a less lucid portrait of this cat and the struggle is emphasised.

It doesn’t matter either way. I can’t change it and had no control over it at the time. The cat was only in this pose for a few seconds before wandering off into the whiteness. 

This was a positive critique to receive because it got me thinking. I always encourage debate, no matter what the subject and never like to shut down any criticisms or questions. 

Every critique (photographically or otherwise) should be welcomed and considered. This is how we grow and improve.

Watch the video to see the full Pallas Cat adventure.It’s Not Too Late To Come To Svalbard

We stil have a couple of spots open on our 10 Passenger Ice-Breaker. We will sail from May 15th to May 24th and witness some of the worlds most pristine wilderness.

Love/Hate Video Camera

Over the past few months, the DJI Pocket 3 has been responsible for more and more footage that you see on the channel.

This camera was only ever meant to be a backup, yet somehow it has been over taking my Fujifilm X-T4.

I love it, but I don’t trust it. It’s like having an incredibly attractive girlfriend, who you know is going to cheat on you at some point.

It ticks most of the boxes when it comes to what I look for in a video camera:

Compact & lightweight.Good IQ.Capable in low light.Affordable.Acceptable battery life.Excellent audio.

It has extras that I never knew I needed, such as Face Tracking, which is like having a cameraman with me at all times, although the face tracking cameraman doesn’t understand how to compose a portrait, but we will let that slide.

With all that being said, the DJI Pocket 3 will never be my main camera because it is quite frankly too unreliable. 

DJI products, in my opinion, are not to be relied upon. They fail at an unprecedented rate, at least that is my experience. 

I have had drones that fly away, action cameras that become ‘bricked’ after only a short amount of use. I have had wireless mics that stop taking a charge, all of which either get repaired or binned. 

My default position on DJI products is that they are great, but they will let you down at the worst possible time.

My most recent example of this was in Mongolia, when after 7 days of searching for Snow Leopards, we finally found one. Just as I was beginning my hike up the mountain, the Pocket 3 failed to start up. The timing could not have been worse. 

In the end, I gave up trying to bring it back to life and, ironically, borrowed a Pocket 2, which is nowhere near as capable. 

Ok, so now that I have that out of my system, what’s the solution?

Keep the Pocket 3 as a backup only. This would be shame because it is so handy and so good.Risk it. Most of the time it will be fine, until it isn’t.Buy 2 of them. Annoyingly, this makes the most sense. They’re so small, you wouldn’t notice another one in your bag. They’re affordable, so if “vlogging” makes up part of your income, it’s a worthwhile investment. They do tick enough boxes and make life so much easier, that this option is not a bad one. Although, it is a tough pill to swallow.Video of the Week

Today, I am sharing a recent video from Simon Baxter. His content is always thoughfull, inteligent and insightful, but this particular video really struck a chord with me, as it seems we both had the same childhood.

Thank you for reading.

Svalbard MK II

In This Week’s PostAssumptions Are the Mother of All F*** Ups.Svalbard MK IISome Words of WisdomI’ve Started CrossfitVideo of the Week

Read Time: 3 Minutes

Snow Leopard Assumptions

After photographing a Snow Leopard on day 1 of my Mongolia trip, as we had barely disembarked our airplane, I made the assumption it was going to be an easy trip. 

I was wrong. 

I failed to fully appreciate and make the most of my first Snow Leopard encounter.

I would soon regret my nonchalance.

Tonight, I release part 2 of my Snow Leopard adventure and it’s a good one. 

Filled with painterly landscapes, Camels, Ibex & a 5 day search for a second chance with a Snow Leopard, this video is not to be missed. 

The video goes live at 6pm UK time. Be sure to tune in to my YouTube channel.

Svalbard Adventure Mk II

After my incredible Svalbard trip last summer, I have been itching to secure a trip back. 

That trip is now on! 

10 passengers only – 15th to 24th May 2024.

I had previously booked the Polar Pioneer to sail in late June, but minutes after I launched that trip the ship’s owner decided to postpone the season by a month. This was both disappointing and embarrassing. The trip was cancelled faster than I could say ‘Polar Bear’.

Alas, thanks to my good friend, Jonas Paurell of Terra Expeditions, a second opportunity has presented itself. 

This May, Jonas and I will be chartering a 10-passenger ship to sail into the ice in search of landscapes and Polar Bears. 

With only 10 passengers and 2 Zodiacs on board, this is sure to be an unforgettable journey through stunning landscapes and encounters with captivating wildlife.

Details at a GlanceSailing Dates: May 15th – 24th 2024.Price: €10,995 per person (2 Sharing Twin Cabin).Risk Free. No Need to Pay Anything Until We Secure 8 Places.10 Passengers + Jonas Paurell & Myself.Ship’s Ice Rating: A1 ice-classMore Info & Booking HereSome Words of Wisdom

I subscribe to a lot of newsletters and blogs of my peers. So much useful information can be garnered from bite sized content, just like this newsletter.

Today, I received a newsletter from street photographer, Mike Chudley. The advice/wisdom struck a chord with me, so I feel the need to pass it on:

“Simon Cowell can’t write a song. If the world was full of Simon Cowell’s then we would have no music. Someone has got to do the building”. – Alex O’Connor

Everyone can have an opinion about a thing. But not everyone can create the thing.

Thanks, Mike. 

This quote and short sentence put a lot into perspective when sharing our own work, whether it be photos, videos, written words… anything.

it’s not always easy putting yourself out there, publicly, so next time you want to share a thing you made, always remember: Everyone can have an opinion about a thing. But not everyone can create the thing.

I’ve Started Crossfit

Wait, what? Who cares!

I know. My intention is not to turn heel and become a fitness guru.

I’m nearly 40, believe it or not, and I can feel the slow creep of age.

Aching knees after a hike, tight shoulders from my camera bag, the inevitable onset of the middle-aged spread caused by too many bacon sandwiches. 

I want to thrive and excel in my 40’s, not give in to my body. 

Luckily, I have some good foundations from years of hiking and climbing, but I very rarely, if ever, push myself physically and truly focus on my health.

Well, there’s no better way to do that than with Crossfit.

The bigger picture is that of more energy for early morning shoots and to float effortlessly up mountains without complaining about Nikon making the Z8 too heavy.

For my next Polar Plunge in May, I want to resemble Adonis We’ll see.

Video of the Week

I’m a little late with this one, but if you haven’t seen Nick Carver’s Spanish Adventure, I highly recommend it.

This guy knows how to make videos and he puts my Andalucia Vlogs to shame.

Back from Mongolia

In This Week’s PostNo Jet LagHow was Mongolia? Not Great, for a YouTuberMy Snow Leopard EncounterDelayed UploadsJoin Me in Northern Spain

Read Time: 3 Minutes

Click Images to See Large

Last night I arrived home from Mongolia, where it is currently 03.20 in the morning. As I write this it is 19.20 in the evening in the UK.

Surprisingly, I feel fine. I also felt fine when I arrived in Mongolia. So, how did I avoid the dreaded jet lag, which can be crippling at times?

I don’t accept jet lag as an inevitable thing.I immediately drop into my new time zone and do not sleep until bedtime.Exercise. As soon as I landed in Ulaanbaatar, I went out for a 3hr walk in the bright sunlight and fresh air. When I came home to the UK, I went climbing straight away.I stay hydrated and eat at the appropriate times.How Was Mongolia?

As an experience, it was incredible. The people, the culture, the landscapes: I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Local Shepherd

However, from a “Work” perspective, the trip could have been better. Let me explain.

As somebody who creates YouTube videos, being productive is important. When I plan a trip, I take into consideration the costs, the time away from home and how many videos I can produce in that time and for that cost.

The videos must be diverse, high quality and there must be a story to tell.

A good trip will usually cost less than I can make from half of the videos produced. 

Making In-Field Videos

I typically aim for an average of 1 video per 2.5 days away. A week-long trip should product at least 3 videos. 

To hit these numbers, the travel location must be diverse so that I am not repeating the same video each time.

Unfortunately, a 3-week trip to Mongolia produced only 4 videos, 1 of which was a travel vlog. A 3-week trip should have produced at least 7 – 9 videos. 

There are a few reasons for the lack of productivity on this trip:

I was in a group and did not have my own transportation. This meant that I was restricted to the activities of the group and unable to go off and do my own thing.The trip was split up into 2 activities: Part 1 was photographing the Snow Leopard and part 2 was photographing the Pallas’s Cat. There was very little diversity in the trip and every day was (more or less) the same. From a video standpoint, this makes it difficult to create varied content.Whilst I was able to shoot both wildlife and landscapes during the 1st part of the trip, this was impossible during the Pallas’s Cat shoot, which took place on the Mongolian Steppe. This is a vast, featureless environment. With the best will in the world, it was impossible to shoot landscapes here, especially when being part of a group searching for Cats.

Despite the shortfall in content, I am ecstatic with images and video I have produced. The quality, excitement and stories are all there.

Mongolian landscape shimmering through the late morning heat haze.An Encounter with a Snow Leopard

We were lucky enough to see a Snow Leopard on Day 0 of our trip. 

This was supposed to be a travel day, but we got a call about the sighting whilst en route to our camp. We decided to forgo dinner and head straight to the mountains. 

Having such an incredible sighting so early was both a blessing and a curse.

My assumption was that these cats are common and easily seen, so I didn’t fully appreciate or make the most of the encounter. I took it for granted. This was a big mistake as it would be another 7 days before seeing another Leopard.

I did not take enough images or film enough video – “I’ll do more tomorrow” I naively thought.

Snow LeopardMy Delayed Video

I had hoped to release my first ‘in-field’ video last Wednesday, but with such a hectic travel schedule and very limited internet in Mongolia, this was not possible. 

My fall-back day was 2 days ago (Sunday), but I could not make this date either.

The edit for the first episode is too complex. It involves lots of narration and time-hopping to tell the story in a succinct way. To upload it on Sunday would have been too much of a rush.

My 3rd upload date is tomorrow (Wednesday). In the past, I would have been hard on myself for skipping a week, but I’m learning to be a little more laid back, putting quality ahead of quantity. 

Make sure to tune in to my YouTube channel tomorrow. 

Is Owning a Gallery a Good Idea?

In Today’s PostCostly Home Printing.Why I Don’t Sell Prints.Is It a Good Idea to Own a Gallery?Video of the Week.

Read Time: 4 Minutes

I finally updated my printer’s (Canon Pro 1000) firmware so it can now take a roll of paper. 

This extends its printing capabilities far beyond the previous limitations of A2 and I can now print panoramic prints up to 120cm long.

For context, this print is 150cm, so I can’t go as big as the Canon Pro 2100, but 120cm is big enough. Watch how I made that print here .

This is exciting because I am keen for printing to be a bigger part of my workflow. 

I have been saying this to myself for a long time and I am constantly disappointed by my own lack of action.

The result of this inaction is a feeling of unfulfillment. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to set out with your camera, not to make an image, but to make a print?

The main barrier to entry when it comes to home printing is cost. 

Here’s how much I spent this week on a few relatively minor supplies:

Maintenance Cartridge:                        £17.95

Chroma Optimizer Ink Tank:                £50.40

Black Ink Tank:                                    £50.40

17” Roll of Baryta Paper:                      £148.00

Fine Art Textured Paper Test Pack:     £14.99

VAT                                                      £47.79

*My Printer takes 12 cartridges in total (£50.40+VAT per cartridge).

* approximately 12 panoramic prints from a 17” roll.

Why I Struggle to Sell Prints

An obvious solution to the costly printing problem is to sell my prints. 

Yes, this is something I would like to do, but something I have always struggled with.

My problem is twofold: 

(1) I find it difficult to value my own prints. The cost of materials, the time, the costs involved with capturing the actual image (travel, accommodation, food etc), the intrinsic value of the art itself… quantifying all of this is a struggle. 

(2) I do not wish to list all of my photos for sale as prints, only the absolute best. But, in the past when I have listed prints for sale, I will get just as many requests for bespoke prints as I do sales for the prints I have listed. This is because images are so personal.

Making a print is more than File>Print. It takes time, testing, image prep, paper selection etc. This is why it can be troublesome, costly and time consuming to offer ‘print on demand’. 

I am still working on a solution to ‘Selling Prints’. Maybe I should stop overthinking everything and just be grateful that anybody wants to buy a print in the first place.

If you are interested in a particular print, please don’t be afraid of reaching out.

Does a good image make a good print? 

Not necessarily. Firstly, what is a print?

To me, a print is more than a photograph. It is a ‘Piece’. Therefore, it should be special in some way or another. 

It must be more than just a colourful sunset, or pretty reflection. A banger for Instagram might be a migraine if printed.

Bruce Barnbaum, when asked about what he looks for in a print, stated in an interview with Elements Magazine: “I look for one of two things: either the photograph is something I’ve never seen before, or it’s something I’ve seen a million times, but I’ve never seen it like that!”

How important is paper choice? 

Well, you might have noticed that in my itemised list of printing supplies, there was a test pack of textured papers. 

Textured Matte Papers

For me, the paper choice is vital and can serve to amplify the qualities of the photograph which is to be printed. Gloss will suite high contrast, vibrant images. Textured matte will suite less detailed black and whites, for example. 

The trap I am trying to avoid is that of overthinking the vast paper choice for each image. 

I would like 3 ‘Go To’ papers that will work across all of my images: Lustre, Matte and a Heavy Textured Matte.

Should one of our goals be to own our own gallery?

There is no doubt that many of us have had the fantasy of owning our own gallery. But, is it a realistic/sensible goal?

I had to think about this for some time and concluded that I was in no position to say whether it is a good idea to open your own gallery. 

This would be a monumental business decision and a subject I am not qualified to discuss. 

So, I asked Norman McCloskey, who runs an incredibly successful landscape photography gallery in Kerry, Ireland.

Norman told me that, like many photographers, it was his dream to own his own gallery in Kerry.

This was a dream that took Norman 20 years to realise, so it is certainly not something he rushed in to.

Norman told me he was daunted by the scale of the undertaking, leaving a well-paid job to become a self-employed artist/shopkeeper.

Thankfully, Norman’s risk paid off and his gallery was a success from the start and continues to be a success 9 years later, seeing his prints shipped all over the world. 

How did Norman succeed where so many others fail?

Norman explained that he already had a published book under his belt, a strong body of work and had built a reputation, so opening a gallery as a mature photographer certainly gave him a head start. 

I would say this is a valuable insight, that opening a gallery should not be rushed in to and must sit on a foundation of reputation and excellence, which takes many years to build. 

If you’re ever in Kerry, please go and check out Norman’s gallery.

This week, I shall be playing with home printed panoramic images, testing different paper types and no doubt draining my almost criminally overpriced ink cartridges. 

Keep an eye on my YouTube channel. I plan to take my 6 x 17 panoramic film camera with the sole intention of shooting an image to print.

Christmas is creeping ever closer, so if you haven’t picked one up yet, my Landscape Photography Books are available. Give a great gift and help support the channel.

Video of the Week

Selling Prints | Improving a Best Seller by Stuart McGlennon

Stuart is a fantastic photographer and runs a gallery in the Lake District. He recently uploaded a video discussing the commercial side to taking a photograph, specifially, taking a photograph to sell as a print. Well worth a watch.