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Photographing Trees Older Than Time | Into the Ancient Forests

Adam Gibbs

29,812 views

Check out our sponsor, SQUARESPACE - https://squarespace.com for a free trial and https://squarespace.com/adamgibbs for 10% off your first purchase. We recently set out on a photography adventure into one of Vancouver Island’s wildest and most remote places—Carmanah Provincial Park. What we didn’t expect were the challenges getting in.

Once inside, the forest delivered. Towering Sitka spruce, thick green undergrowth, and filtered light created incredible photographic conditions. Brian Barnham and I, along with the two other participants on the trip, came away with a set of images we’re genuinely proud of—some of the best from this area in recent memory.

Carmanah is not an easy place to reach, but when you do, it rewards you with raw, untouched beauty. This trip was a reminder of why we seek out the difficult places—because they often offer the richest experiences.

Vancouver Island Photography Guide - https://www.rexby.com/QuietLight

MY WEBSITE - https://adamgibbs.com

MY BOOK, LAND & LIGHT - https://adamgibbs.com/books/landlight

ANTARCTICA BOOK - https://quietlightphotoadventures.com...

Aspen Zine - https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/a...

Quiet Light - Patreon Page - Patreon: QuietLight

KASE Filters - https://kasefilters.com/ref/AdamGibbs/

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20 Comments

@QuietLightPhoto Creator 1 year ago Pinned

Thank you, everyone, for the feedback and support—it truly means a great deal. From the comments, it’s clear that gear reviews aren’t something most of you are keen on seeing. That’s totally fair. The tricky part—and something many of my YouTube friends wrestle with—is that things like reviews and sponsorships are often what help keep the lights on (unless you're Ben Horne, of course 😉).

Striking the right balance can be tough. After eight years of making videos, I do sometimes feel like I'm repeating myself. But as long as I still enjoy creating content (which I do) and there's an audience who enjoys watching (which there is), I’ll keep going.

Thanks again for sticking with me.

@johnburke1682 1 year ago

dude, do not change, keep it as it is, you are my chill time and educator all wrapped up in one.

@helven.raeder 1 year ago

Hi Adam, beautiful video as always. I'm a long time follower, based in the Netherlands. Love your videos and for me it's all about the experience, the knowledge you share and the beautiful images. As far as I am concerned, don't change a thing, keep doing what you're doing and the ones that stopped watching don't know what they're missing 😉

@websterroger 1 year ago

Don't change please - I may not get a chance to watch your videos immediately upon release, but I do try to watch as soon as I get a chance. I really like the format and content. A gear review every now and then is fine but your on-site experience of photography is what I really like.

@jeff8289 1 year ago

These videos in the ancient forests, to me, are what you do best. You seem to be in your element. It is also immensely helpful to discuss your selection criteria, which you have done here. More please.

@erichstocker8358 1 year ago

I truly admire your editing of the raw files.

@duncanwallace7760 1 year ago

I love your videos because they show an appreciation of nature without hype, so I have no complaints. A lot of people used to comment on how much they enjoyed your drone stuff, and this one reminded me of that. The music you use is also very good and conveys the forest and wild places well. Not sure how to get more views. The quality of your stuff deserves it.

@Kotawii 1 year ago

Hard to find any criticism Adam, but I think for many of us who are not landscape photographers, but love nature - much of our enjoyment is vicarious… your lifestyle, your drone video content, music and your zen-like capture of the sense of place. Thank you.

@astrujillo 1 year ago

I miss the humorous interplay with Gavin and Amanda when they lived closer. As you yourself have mentioned, shooting the forests in Vancouver is compositionally difficult and so I am drawn to your videos from other parts of the world. In particular I remember your trip to China several years ago as one of my favorites of all time. Time and money though. Still one of the top-three landscape photographers, imo!

@dennisheckman5916 1 year ago

Hi Adam, Don't change anything please! And no gear talk either! When I want to watch one your new videos, I prepare my space to be quiet with no distractions. Then I drift off into the wild lands that you show us. Your choice of music to accompany the images and drone footage is something I always love and look forward to seeing and hearing. Viewership is probably ebbing due to status of the world right now. Don't change to satisfy the masses. Keep doing Adam, that's what I love.

@mathias_steins 1 year ago

Hey Adam, since you asked, I'd like to tell you, that I am watching your videos, because I love your Out-And-About-Vlogs. I love to watch them when I want an enjoyable break in the day. Maybe during lunch break or to have an amazing start into the day like today. Together with a cup of coffee or tea, it doesn't get better than this. Keep doing those vlogs! I would miss them otherwise.
Gear reviews would probably get you more views for those videos. But as people have already said, your core audience is here because of you and your adventures. Not gear.
Have lots of great adventures to come and a lot of fun, Adam!

@djjurky 1 year ago

Love your honesty, Adam. I personally love your down to earth style.

@Macman608 1 year ago

Don’t change a thing. Just keep producing great photography.

@zfisher 1 year ago

For the most part I like your videos the way they are. I like seeing you out in beautiful places, and how you make the shots you take from approach, framing, composition, and the final edit. Your channel is about perfect for my viewing tastes. I wouldn't want you to become a gear-focused channel, but as someone who recently adopted the GFX 100s and figuring out how to build out my kit, I would occasionally like to hear your thoughts on the system, what lenses are working for you, or what you wish they did differently. So sprinkling in some gear talk wouldn't bother me. Thanks as always.

@vhobus 1 year ago

It's great to see you photographing old trees again. I started watching these forest videos a few years ago... it's like coming home!

@jonglass 1 year ago

Honestly, moving to the midweek from the weekend, when it seems most photogs post their videos has helped me more easily see your videos. I've gotten a bit overloaded with the weekend rush.

@sebastianberes 1 year ago

Missing your adventures with Amanda and Gavin. Loving your videos with Brian :)

@mikewoods1313 1 year ago

I guess the audience you really want to hear from are the ones that have left over the past year! For my part I really enjoy the current format but I think I’d also enjoy maybe mixing it up a little bit, with collaborations, some gear reviews (some), tips and techniques, etc. All the best. Mike

@brianbeattyphotography 1 year ago

beautiful work as always! please do not go the gear review route.... best part about your videos is the experience focus.

@petertulner623 1 year ago

Hello
Adam. Nice to see the new upload. I like the way as it is now. You take the viewer with you in the action and show us the raw and the final picture. Also you have a lot of variety’s in your YouTube videos wich is great. Personally i would really like to
See sometimes how you approach the edit of your forest photos. Looks really great ! Greeting from the Netherlands