Nice work, Bryan. From one photog to another, don't limit yourself by what you describe as "30-40 year old white guys." If they were the only subjects available what would you do? How would you shoot them? Most importantly, how would you tell their story? Everyone has a story. My favorite quote from Maya Angelou is, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you." Keep telling those stories - whether they are of "average looking white guys" or not. Grace and peace - Hal

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Hal. I agree with you for sure. My comments may have sounded harsh a tad but I meant more along the lines of “I’m looking for diversity”. But I agree that things can lead to opportunities which I do welcome with open arms. But also film is expensive and I can’t be shooting a bunch of 4x5 color of people that I don’t really connect with right off the bat. Maybe if I was shooting digital I could explore a bit more.

@bryanotero123

Жыл бұрын

@@BryanBirks yo it never occured to me to be in places im google mapps then going to the place and take the photo

@bryanotero123

Жыл бұрын

@@BryanBirks u sound or give me the impression that ur a smart man

Vice grips!

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

I knew it was something else. Haha I’m not a smart man.

@steveneate

Жыл бұрын

@@BryanBirks Yours are different types of tools.

The vulnerable path you've taken to share all of this with us is actually helping. A long term project is such a rollercoaster of emotions... Seeing someone else in the process reminds me that I'm not alone trying to make meaningful things happen, to keep pushing by being true to what's really inside. The last bit with the therapist resonates a lot, when we'll be old, will we be able to say that we made choices based on who we are or just what society wanted us to be...

@anthonymoreno894

Жыл бұрын

Well said. ❤

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Bruno. Sometimes I want to hide it all and work that way but I can do that down the line or another project. I’m learning just as much about myself doing these videos than a thing else. Glad you enjoyed it!

I see a Bryan Birks video uploaded, I press play.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

He doesn’t miss.

Great video, wonderful shots. But they are some sad eyes at the end. Big hug dude.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Andy. My eyes are sad? Haha I can assure you it’s only because of the talking head parts that make me want to punch myself.

Stops video....searchs for Phil Stutz.......thank you Mr Birks, another successful thought provoking video 👍

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

He’s a treasure trove.

I cannot wait to get my hands on whatever this project turns into. Your eye is incredible.

so rad! love the opening shot

Great video dude. God bless.

Car interiors are one of my favorite things to photograph!

Man! Loving your videos/channel 🤌✨ Going through the catalog little by little

I love the open-ended format and subject matter of your videos! They compliment your photography while also being able to stand alone. Thanks for making them and inspiring us, man. Will definitely be buying. a print at some point down the road.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Really appreciate that. Happy to have you following along 🍻

Thank you for your videos man! Equal parts catharsis and inspiration. Looking forward to getting my hands on what ever final shape this project turns out to be! Keep up the hard work!

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Appreciate that. Glad you enjoy!

Vice grip! Great detail! Really enjoy your videos. Keep it up.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, will do!

Thank you for sharing this.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching 🍻

Stumbled on your channel a day or so ago. Love it man. Great stuff!

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Welcome aboard!

This is just what I needed. Thanks

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, Jan.

This video actually triggered an idea for an image I hadn't thought about. I've been struggling with getting out and thinking about possible subjects. This video lit a spark of inspiration. Good work. Like your videos and your approach to photography and sharing your journey.

greta video man. really inspiring.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, sir 🍻

Your videos are so refreshing to watch. Thank you for your honesty and for making thought-provoking content. Loved the shots of the car interior too, and the message you included about them.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Jonathan. Really appreciate that. Glad you enjoy the channel!

Great video and thx for sharing

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

That 'Choose Your Path' insert was really powerful. Inspirational. Thank you.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Definitely one of my favorite parts and something I really try to convey to anyone that starts a channel on KZread.

Loved this one Bryan, always great to see so much honesty in a KZread video. Recently watched the Stutz documentary too, interesting seeing you translate it into the world of photography, very relatable. Keep it up, shot of the windscreen & the snakes are beaut

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Rory. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

This is stunning Bryan. Thank you sharing this with us. Gorgeous photos. I've been using the HIPA tool for some time and it has been incredibly beneficial to my spirit and work.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching. 🖤

B. D❤PE segment, thanks for the plug on Stutz. Cheers! 🎉

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Cheers, sir 🖤

Always admired your raw honesty in your videos Bryan, not easy to do but you commit to it. The thing about negativity is that it so easily turns into begrudgery, when that sets in you’re spending more energy begrudging others relative success than working to build it for yourself. I’ve been there brother, it feels crap, but having the self awareness to recognise that’s what you’re doing is what matters

Great video, Bryan, and I loved the ending. There was a lot here that really resonated--the P in HIPA, that action breeds confidence, that the sun is always there--magnificent. I like to know that you are making strides in confidently asking to photograph, which is definitely a challenge for me as well. Thanks for all you do.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed, Pat. Confidence has been a big hurdle for me with photography and life in general but it’s nice to see ways that can help you push passed it.

Bryan. This is so amazing.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Kaitlin. Your support has been amazing and I truly appreciate it!

Enjoyed the quotes, the photos and self reflection. Very inspiring, humbling and interesting.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Dave. Glad you enjoyed it.

Great video, as always, Bryan. Thanks for letting us in on your thoughts about the creative process. Looking forward to the next one!

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Bryan, I always appreciate how you talk about your work, how you criticize and analyze your photographs. It helps me to look deeper into my images and see better my flaws.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Rostyk. Some people say I’m too hard on myself but I think you need to be at least a little like that to get ahead creatively.

Bryan, you are an authentic person and your videos are so inspirational. I have been watching them before going out on photo projects and they calm me down and make me inspired to shoot. Thank you.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Glad you can get inspiration from them. Thanks for the support 🍻

Hey, man, your work its insteresting. The videos are calm and has great content. Keep doing it, thats why we whatch it. Hugs from Brazil.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Renato. Glad you enjoy!

I really needed this video. You don't know how much it helped me. Beyond making photographs.. Thank you for sharing.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

I'm very glad. Thanks for the watching. Cheers.

Please please more of these!

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Working on it! Haha

Thank you for what you do. I’ve just started getting into photography and making videos and I find what you are doing very inspiring. So just wanted to say thank you and look forward to following your future work. Ben

@BryanBirks

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching, Ben!

14:58 … ah, there’s that Bryan Birks angst i was hoping for! thanks for always keeping it 100, man. your work is phenomenal as always, and your vulnerability and honesty is the antidote we’re all looking for in this ridiculous/fake/“perfect” social media world we all exist in nowadays.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Appreciate that. I try to be real so that really means a lot. It got me in trouble a bit in the past but I’m trying to continue doing it while staying mostly positive. Haha

thank you for this video

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching!

Just. Excellent.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly 🖤

Really happy to see you aren't hiding your face behind your microphone! :)

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Haha and did you notice the audio was slightly worse? Still trying to find the best way for that.

your vid is very very inspirant for me. instinct, faith, the safer path... all those concepts touch my heart very deep. way more than other content on youtube. it sings like a melody to my soul, i'm very happy to stumbled upon your work. as a film photography amateur it makes me feel so good 🙂 because here I don't hear anything about technics and, as you said it : "you have to it THIS way to be GOOD". just philosophy / spiritual way of sharing thoughts sorry for my words I can be shaggy with the english langage sometimes, as it is not my native ^_^

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

You’re good, sir. Thanks for the kind words. Let me know if you ever have any questions about anything!

There is a strong relationship between mental health and photography or art in general. Some people with high skill level manage to take advantage of their mental problems and turn them into powerful art, these people are sometimes called geniuses but for me at least, that's not a reality. My mental health sometimes gets in the way of me getting off the couch, going out and taking the camera with me. Once I am out there things feel much better with the camera in my hands, specially when I am "on the zone" but before that I just struggle to get out and shoot.

I need more ❤

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Working on it!

Sometimes in life, the greatest curse is thought and the greatest gift is feeling, the flow of emotion.

Hi Bryan, this is the first video of yours I have watched, The thumbnail pulled me in. I took like that image of the windshield sticker. Thanks for sharing the therapy insights, they are interesting. I wanted to comment on something I picked up you saying about your shooting TMAX, you said you exposed for the shadows to get a little bit of overexposure. If you are exposing for the shadows, or I would argue exposing as intended, you are not overexposing. With film you should be exposing for the shadows and developing for the highlights. I realize there are many ways to do things, and that isn't the only way, but wanted to put that out and see what you thought. Thanks for sharing.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

I get that. I would say it’s still overexposed personally. But it doesn’t really matter at all. Just get a good negative. Too many people are worried about the logistics and technical aspects that they forget to get a good subject anyway.

The saddest part about being negative on social media... ya get attention. Thanks for this video

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

I can attest to that. Bad publicity isn’t good publicity in the creative world though.

I'm not past the first advert yet but the pic in the thumbnail is an instant classic!

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Hope the rest of the video didn’t disappoint!

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Hope the rest of the video didn’t disappoint!

@SmallerLives

Жыл бұрын

@@BryanBirks You never disappoint, Mr Birks. Great video as always. That pic of the windscreen really is fantastic. Isn't it funny the photos that really do it for you?

Bryan, did you send Tim the portrait images given you weren't going to use them in your work? Insightful video, thank you.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Not yet but planning on it. I’m sure he will be pleased with them.

I too have self employed myself as the “hero” to the broken and sad people who may feel alone by taking photos and making music that evoke sadness and nostalgia. Obviously, a part of the reason I do this was to express my own feelings of sadness and nostalgia for a better time from the past. But I think anybody is predisposed to being sad and nostalgic if they walk into that space by overthinking about the past and not accepting where it’s brought us in the present. On the flip side, we can less feel sad and depressed if we instead walk into the space of presence and opportunity. Trauma and pain can make migrating from the former space to the latter more challenging and less intuitive, and it may have been the very thing that threw us into the space of negativity, continuously trying to be understood, and trying to show others that they are understood in the process as well, but once we gain awareness of ourselves being this way, having presence as our compasses North Star instead may allow us to search for support and opportunities to at least take us to that destination, rather than having this “hero” identity being recognized and appreciated as our North Star because that way we will always be surrounding ourselves by sadness and negativity to spark our creative motivation and to use these sad and negative things as inspirations for the art we ultimately create ourselves.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

I’m not sure I understand your comment and how it’s related.

@savnac

Жыл бұрын

@@BryanBirks it was my response to your sayings on 4:38

Knowing is an illusion. Knowing is the enemy of exploration and humility. I think I've become more confident in myself by embracing the lack of knowing which motivates true exploration (photography).

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

True. In the beginning you want to know everything. Gear, techniques, history, etc but after a while it becomes too much. You just need to do.

Hi Brian I love watching your videos Question: How did you install the camera in the car so that it would be stable? Thank you And keep making movies

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Just a tripod set up in my back seat!

@sheket-production

Жыл бұрын

@@BryanBirks So how come it doesn't shake? Is it on a gimbal? Thank you

@sheket-production

Жыл бұрын

Can you please take a photo of it? Cause I’m trying to do it with my camera and too 🙏

I come here for the philosophy... One thing to think about: How do YOU define success? I always struggle with the question. Is money enough? The "golden handcuffs" is a blessing and a curse. If you unbox Disney toys and make millions at it, you're locked in doing that forever. Maybe that's good. Maybe that's bad.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Success to me is feeling fulfilled in whatever way that means to you. Fulfilled for me is creating things that inspire and connect with people. Money is a bonus and far from my main goal (pretty obvious with my choice of KZread content). I think money and financial success comes or it doesn’t so there’s no point in striving towards that.

After watching the Jonah Hill documentary I bought the book “the tools” by stutz and another guy. It’s great. Quick and easy read.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

I’m definitely looking into that.

Vise-Grip

I am Alec Soth and I have not wasted my time.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Alec Soth is AaronTheCameraGuy confirmed.

Your videos are inspirational for me. I can’t ask for much more than that. Thank you. Also, whether or not you know the difference between vice grips or a screwdriver has nothing to do with intelligence. I think you have plenty of that.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Really appreciate that, Alan. Also thank you for the tip that you left me in the last video. I really appreciate the support! I lack knowledge in tools for sure but luckily make up for it in other departments.

The idea of `love your enemy' is not new of course. And yes, in a sense we are in charge of love because love resides in the will. It's not an emotion and therefore does not depend on our emotions. So we can choose to love those we don't like without gaining anything in return. But you need to know why it's efficacious. Why the %^%$ not is no reason. As far as not costing you anything, nothing is further from the truth. When you say you love your spouse it will cost you the rest of your life because you sacrifice your own self centred desires (unlike the guy who needed applause) for the sake of your spouse. One guy became a husband and father one day and he realised to love he now needed to put himself last and others first. Like a lot of things there are good points in here but they're misguided

Definitely a video that is thought provoking but I disagree about you portrait of the owner of the truck. I felt it was important & captured a person in life. I personally don't think portraits have to be of individuals that are unique in our options. Peoples lives are always important to record.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

I agree with that sentiment. I’m not saying it was a bad experience or some people are more important but some encounters are going to be less ideal for a my specific project than others. I would love to take everyone’s portrait and here their stories but I only have so much time and money to spend on film.

Another interesting video Bryan. You always have great content. Your comments seem like you’re looking for more diversity amongst vintage car collectors/owners. I might suggest that maybe this project is revealing the truth which is that the people who are collecting, restoring and owning vintage cars are just about always ‘normal looking’ middle age white guys. Instead of lamenting the lack of diversity, maybe you should go out of your way to highlight it. Anyway you definitely have your own vision and you are making great work with this project. Love your channel, keep creating.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Jillian. Even though it is revealing some truths I think I’ll leave that for someone else to capture because I’m not very interested in that realm. That seems like a project to tackle if you’re looking at collectors and people who have pristine vehicles. I’m personally not interested in that route but I’m sure a project is in there for someone else. I’m after the gritty vehicles, the rusted garages, and the people around them.

I think that in regards to Tim the 'uninteresting' white guy with the pickup truck that perhaps you didn't make the the effort to understand his story. Why did he buy it? and do what he did to make it the way it was?

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

I made the effort. Lol I know the story of the truck and most of Tim’s. We talked for 45 minutes. That’s why I took the photo of the Navy sticker. That’s interesting to me. It’s okay to say someone doesn’t make for an interesting portrait. I’m not sure why everyone is stuck on that. Tim is a good guy. Just not right for my project.

@chromagraphphotoart

Жыл бұрын

@@BryanBirks And that's the explanation which should have been in your video. Otherwise, you come across as dismissive. Use of language. A carelessly placed word can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

There are a lot of things that I don’t mention in regards to interactions because the videos would end up being way too long. I understand your point though.

I don’t want to be negative Nancy here; but whilst Chris is an average looking white guy and isn’t initially interesting your 30 second relationship with the subject screams within the portrait. The book “authentic portraits” by Chris Orwig completely changed my trajectory for my own projects. I’ve met a number of subjects but have never taken a single frame for that project. A portrait of my own brother verses a stranger had incredibly different characteristics despite the same lens, camera and photographer.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Definitely not a negative Nancy. Glad that you think so. I did have more time with him than that though. Around 45 minutes. I’ll have to look into that project!

Some interesting insights here, great editing and awesome images. I was somewhat amused, both here and in an earlier video, your repeatedly alluding to a past sense of indignant anger at your photography not getting the recognition it deserved. An example of the frustration was that when you started out and had only something like 200 followers on Instagram! I've been posting good quality street and documentary film photography on IG for the over 5 years and I have finally amassed just over 130 followers in that time 🤣 If I'm lucky I might get 20 likes for a really good image. And the thing is, I really couldn't care less! The whole social media thing is a complete load of bullshit anyway, it's a totally meaningless game for people to play. It has minimal meaning for photography. As the therapist here quite rightly says, create for you, not seeking external praise... and always be comfortable with the full knowledge that what we go forward to create might end up actually being complete garbage anyway.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

I agree that it is mostly bullshit but it is a very fine line because without it where would I be? Would I even be making work? It’s a catalyst for action even though the things that we go off of (likes, shares, comments) are terrible indications of worth or quality of work. As someone who started photography right in the thick of the rise of social media and IG it is incredibly hard for me to separate my work and people online. Their opinions and such. It’s something that I’m definitely working on and it’s easy for someone to say that it doesn’t matter when they haven’t seen the benefits of it in regards to monetary gains and attention on their work. I literally got a job offer from a major news publication all because they saw my work on IG. It’s a tricky tricky thing and I appreciate your comment. I’m working myself through these thoughts all the time.

Your statements about cancelling negativity in your photographic journey seemed to grind against your statement about Tim and the red truck. How Tim did not fit your ideal of the perfect subject. When focusing on how generous Tim was to 'let' you photograph his truck would have been a more respectful approach to your work. I feel it is not solely about the outcome of the image, but the interaction with all involved.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

“Perfect” subject is going to be relative to myself and my project. I don’t think saying someone isn’t fit for a portrait is negative. I did end up photographing him because I respected him and his time and still wanted to capture him with his truck but I was more than certain that it wouldn’t be a photo that made the cut because of the tone that I have set before him. Like I said to someone else, my choice of film is not cheap so I try to be certain before taking the photo that I’m not wasting my time and money. In my opinion that is not a negative thing but just making choices based on circumstances. I certainly respect anyone that allows me to photograph them as well.

""open ended"! Kudos Bryan.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

🍻🍻🍻