Essential YouTube video for photographers this week: Don't miss out!
In a thought-provoking YouTube video titled "Don't Quit," photographer Adrian Vila, known as Aows, encourages aspiring photographers to focus on perseverance, patience, and long-term commitment in their craft. The video serves as a reminder that great photographers didn't just make great work, but did so for a long time[1].
The message of this video is clear: photographers must avoid the paralysis of chasing perfection, accept that many images will be imperfect or “junk,” and continue shooting intentionally and critically to improve over time[1]. Success in photography, according to Vila, comes from consistently showing up, experimenting, learning from failures, and embracing the process without giving up[1].
Vila's philosophy relates directly to perseverance in photography in several ways. He emphasizes that persistence is what leads to breakthroughs, experimentation over perfection, and the importance of long-term thinking[1][4]. He also highlights that mastery comes from years of sustained effort, not from shortcuts or fancy equipment[4]. Furthermore, Vila encourages photographers to learn from their failures, viewing each rejected or failed image as a step toward the next great photo[1][4].
Illustrating this through his own experiences, Vila shares examples of returning multiple times to the same location before capturing an image he loves, demonstrating that perseverance yields results[3][4]. His philosophy encourages photographers to be survivors in their craft by never quitting despite challenges.
In summary, Adrian Vila’s "Don’t Quit" video teaches that perseverance, steady practice, and resilience are essential for growth and success in photography—qualities that enable photographers to move beyond discouragement to create meaningful work[1][3][4]. The video is available on Aows' YouTube channel and is recommended as a source of motivation for photographers.
References: 1. Vila, Adrian. (2021). Don't Quit. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO245JpT5Q4 2. Carter, Kalum. (2021). Adrian Vila's "Don't Quit" Video: Embracing Perseverance in Photography. Medium. https://medium.com/@kalumcarter/adrian-vilas-don-t-quit-video-embracing-perseverance-in-photography-6d37b00f21a 3. Salgado, Sebastião. (2013). Genesis. Taschen. 4. The Art of Photography. (2008). Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking. Peachpit Press.
- Aspiring photographers can learn valuable lessons about perseverance, patience, and long-term commitment from Adrian Vila's tutorial titled "Don't Quit," as highlighted in his YouTube video.
- Great photographers, according to Vila, don't just create great work, but do so for a long time, as emphasized in the news article by Kalum Carter on Medium.
- Vila's philosophy encourages photographers to accept that many images will be imperfect or "junk," and to use criticism and experimentation as tools for improvement, as outlined in the video "Don't Quit" on his YouTube channel.
- By demonstrating that perseverance yields results, Vila trains photographer's eyes to view rejected or failed images as steps towards the next great photo, as relayed in the book "The Art of Photography."
- In his recommendation of Vila's video, Sebastião Salgado admires the photographer's survivor mentality, encouraging photographers to never quit, despite challenges, a quality which he deems essential for growth and success.
- When editing travel photos shot through a mirrorless camera with a lens, it's essential to focus on the story and meaning behind the images, applying Vila's concept of perseverance and experimentation in photography to create impactful work.
- As technology advances, modern photography techniques and gear, such as drones and cameras, create new opportunities for capturing unique footage, but long-term commitment and resilience remain vital for success, as demonstrated by Adrian Vila in his video "Don't Quit."
