My TOP 3 PHOTOGRAPHERS on YouTube - Part 2/3 Henry Turner
Whether hobbyists or professionals, we must surely realise how fortunate we are as photographers to enjoy such an abundance of online content in 2026.
Be it conversational, confrontational, instructional or downright inspirational, it is, for the most part, free!
In this series of blog posts, I present (in no particular order) my TOP 3 PHOTOGRAPHERS on YouTube who have guided me, and undoubtedly many others, on our photographic journeys.
Introducing: Henry Turner
A quote frequently attributed to Mark Twain is: “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. Henry Turner is a young man who has managed to make a career from doing what he loves and is, in that sense, a mentor to all of us. Something of a free spirit, he roams around (#vanlife) exploring the English Lake District and surrounding area.
“Unfortunately, I have no romantic story. Landscape photography has been a very gradual adventure for me. An adventure which began with travel.”
Henry Turner
Unlike many other photographers (myself included, albeit exclusively outdoors), Turner has happily narrowed his focus to one particular niche: landscape photography.
“I lived in Canada for almost 2 years, and it’s where I really started to fall for landscapes, and for photographing them.”
Henry Turner
Most recent video on YouTube: This Is Why I Don’t Use Expensive Lenses…
Top-rated viewer comment:
“I use a kit identical to yours. I feel like the modern day photography community normalises spending thousands of dollars on the latest thing. In reality, what matters most is the eye of the photographer. Well done, Henry. I'm a true fan of your work.”
@MatthewTylerPhotography
Subscribers: 90.9K
Videos: 554
Self-portrait:
“Just a normal guy from the north-west of England, with a child-like desire to explore this beautiful planet with my camera. Share my photographical adventures with me.”
Henry Turner
What is it About Him?
You need only peruse the comments section to understand why Henry Turner is so admired:
“This video really put a smile on my face today. Photography is therapy, regardless of how many megapixels are in your hands.”
@PhotoThreadsTees
“I have watched this channel from the beginning because there was no pretense about you and the chats you have with us the viewers. You are taking awesome images with cameras that we can all afford [my italics]- no free Hasselblads here - and you are sharing the experience in a super authentic way. Feels like we are walking next to you having a conversation. I am watching from LA, but I hope that one day I will be able to take a workshop with you.”
@mcutler71
“Wow what a lovely video. Authentic, beautiful scenery, normal-people equipment, useful tips, emotional. Lots of YouTubers lost their roots and became play balls of the camera industry. Nice to find some grounded and normal content.”
@boulderdash2000
It’s all about the gear…or is it?
Although his primary camera bodies include the fabulous Nikon Z7 and OM5 Mark II, Turner has recently reverted to a camera from his earlier photographic career, before turning professional: the mighty Nikon D7200. (A camera I owned and absolutely loved!) His justification for readopting this rather dated, yet still perfectly capable system, is that he wanted to “slow down” and be more intentional, free from the mod-cons of high-spec tech. This I can well understand.
With video titles such as “The Budget Camera I’m Choosing for 2026” and “I Tried Nature Photography with an Old, Cheap Camera”, Turner makes photography accessible to the hobbyist and gives confidence that stunning shots are not reserved of those with bags of cash. (No Canon EOS Mark II paired with a 600mm f/4 lens here). P.S.: He’s also a Nikonite so that swings the bell in his favour as far as I’m concerned. (Other camera brands are available ;))
The main reason I enjoy tuning in? Henry Turner, I would go so far as to say, has been my biggest online inspiration for what I hope to achieve with my own photography in terms of turning passion into profit. Maybe it is the fact that he is entirely relatable; we are similar in age and hark from the same neck of the woods - Morecambe bay - with its sensational sunsets and easy access to the landscapes of The Lake District.
Turner clearly loves adventure. Witnessing the wonders of the world whilst bathed in a magical, golden light, he chats away in a conversational tone, discussing what he likes about a particular composition, drawing attention to aspects of the surroundings or weather conditions that may present an issue, and how he hopes to mitigate them.
No matter how good you get…
What I think makes a great photography YouTube channel is a host who regardless of how experienced they are, presents themselves as a student of the discipline. Yes, Henry Turner reveals tips, tricks and hacks (kind of, “I’ve made these mistakes so you don’t have to…”), but with that comes a willingness to admit failed attempts and remain humble. We accompany him on his journey and learn side-by-side through trial and error.
Furthermore, Henry always comes to us live from location. I’d say a good 95% of his videos are out in the field. Productional elements such as fancy video montages and AI clips laid over a prerecorded VoiceOver are spared. His patter is unscripted and his appearance ordinarily battered by the elements. This is not polished to perfection. There is no indoor studio backdrop. This is real, raw photography as intended.
…
At the end of each of these blog posts on “My TOP 3 PHOTOGRAPHERS on YouTube”, I wish to end with a lesson from the master:
“I think it’s so important to remind ourselves that we have to photograph what we want to photograph. You have to photograph what you want to photograph. It doesn’t matter for the most part what anybody else thinks because it’s all emotion based, isn’t it, right? So you have to feel a certain emotion about what you’re photographing. If that’s classic locations, so be it! There’s no moral high ground about going out and photographing original images all the time…If you wanna go out and shoot hotspots for the rest of your life, goodness me, man, go out and do that! If that’s what gets you excited, if that’s what gets your heart beating, if that’s what gets you outdoors with your camera, hundred percent, go and do it!”
Henry Turner
YouTube is an excellent resource for anyone interested in photography