“I think it’s terribly dangerous for an artist to fulfill other people’s expectations. They generally produce their worst work when they do that.” ------- David Bowie

@kenmonahan9924

Жыл бұрын

Ha ha ha he he he I’m the laughing gnome and you won’t catch me. David Bowie.

@Severin_Cant_Communicate

Жыл бұрын

[You always have to] "be human before you do some art," [not a marionette of others] --- RM of BTS a bit simpler quote but still as powerful :D

When I was in my final year at photo school, a brilliant teacher brought home the idea you are expressing during critiques: take pictures that are meaningful to you; don't take pictures of pictures. That struck home with me and I still try to live by that maxim these 50 years later. Cheers!

Been trying to shoot manual more often. It’s been fun. Had to leave photography groups on social media because I was trying too hard to emulate what others were doing. It just made me want to toss my gear in the bin 😂 I appreciate your channel Alex. The history and your philosophy of photography is wonderful

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching

My sister used to tell me the photos I taken were too tired but I was too proud to listen. Now that I have grown a little as a photographer, I learn to appreciate her comments because although she is not a photographer herself, she shares what she feels and sometimes, emotion trumps technical perfection.

I’ve been setting up my portfolio website and it was really a difficult thing to do, I kept on having to try shut down the strong feelings that my images are not worth seeing. Comparison was a constant unwanted companion telling me “that my photographs are not as good as other photographers.” Well anyway I pushed through and my portfolio is now live, my voice and perspective is unique and will resonate with someone, if not, it resonates within me.

I could have used this advice 45 years ago. Back then I let people convince me to not pursue photography. Last week I bought a cannon EOS R5. And I will not let anyone get in my way

I totally agree that creativity comes from joy and that taking joy in your work is a potent catalyst for becoming a more creative photographer

I can't recall ever shooting (or editing/printing) in order to please anyone but myself. However, I have developed certain internal "standards" which often dictate how I handle a particular image, based on experience-derived "aesthetic judgement" (anathema to creativity). My takeaway from this video is to try to embrace a "shoot from the hip" attitude a bit more. I thought I was doing that, but now that I think about it, even though I rarely pause much to carefully consider "how" to make the image, I realize that I do tend to do that subconsciously--it just happens very quickly (sometimes a necessity as you often don't have time to think). Although advice from others can indeed be useful, the problem for many is finding "valid" opinions. It's easy to point out technical issues, but much harder to define why an image moves you (or fails to do so)...

You're entirely on point with this video. My experience in photography classes in college were exactly like this, taking away the joy of experimentation by only rewarding arbitrary ideals of what makes a "perfect" photograph. A lot of my photography strays away from those ideals now, perhaps in part as a sort of rebellion, and perhaps also because I didn't get to experiment earlier in my career. So now a lot of my work is abstract and, in some ways, deliberately trying "incorrect" things like out of focus subjects, camera shake motion blur, or shooting portraits on a wide angle lens for instance. On the other hand, I do still believe in the old adage, you must first learn the rules before you can break them. In photography school it was taught as though learning how to create a "proper" photograph was a rite of passage before you could discover your own artistic voice. So maybe, in a way, I'm grateful for how my education was structured haha.

Comparison is the thief of joy, I fell down that rabbit hole but once you take images for yourself you will find the audience that thinks and sees like you. Constructive feedback is a gift of other people’s thoughts and should be seen as such. Every time I take a photo I feel I learn something new. Great video thank you.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

I was at a lecture given by Carrie Mae Weems last night and one of the things she said is that we must really look hard at our work, and when we do that our work will tell us what we are interested in. I realised a long time ago through my photographs that fundamentally what interests me is my relationship with the environment I’m in (wherever I find myself). Not really being interested in validation, not chasing what anyone else wants to see is why I’ve never used my photography to earn a living (I make my living as a film editor, using my technical skills in collaboration with others).

Once again, Alex, I cannot thank you enough for bringing me back the joy of photography. You're a gem and a hero. Your mantra "comparison is a thief of joy" helped me let go chasing the virtual applause and rediscover the connection with my most important viewer - myself.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Awesome. Thank you

Alex, thanks for another great video. Your recent videos on Vivian Maier and Ernst Haas were amazing, even humbling. Don't get me started on what Haas has done for my photographic journey over the past 50+ years. I still feel privileged to have seen him lecture in person in the early 80's. I too went through a rigorous photographic "boot camp" (pardon the metaphor), a two year photography program in Canada in the mid 1970's. On day one your were told to put away your 35mm gear and were given a 4X5 system to use for the first year, all B&W. Second year was mostly medium format and color. Yes, talk about feeling inadequate after all the pressure from instructors and fellow students. The primary mantra of the program, "If it can't be sold, it's not worth anything." After leaving there I ended up going into television production until four years ago when I retired. Still, photography has remained my "magnificent obsession" over the years. And believe me, the experiences and knowledge I gained from that photo program are still with me. Today, I focus almost entirely on wildlife, bird, nature, and landscape photography. I always enjoy learning from or mentoring other photographers. I would also recommend that people read critical writings on photography. Susan Sontag's, "On Photography" would be a good place to start. I completely agree with you, constant comparison of your work to others is a waste of time. Life is short and the world is still full of photographic opportunities. Go forth, discover, learn, and gain knowledge of yourself and the world.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching

Thank you, Alex, for your candid sharing. We would all be the poorer for it if you hadn't found your way again. Many thanks for the encouragements!!!

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Thank you for this. I’ve been taking photos for decades and getting frustrated that my work hasn’t been greatly received. This, and a video by Kim Grant (Scottish photographer) has reminded me that external validation isn’t the primary objective, especially these days when EVERYONE seems to be a photographer, and photos taken with more and more expensive toys seems to gain praise rather than a good image (anyone else sick of drone shots?). I’ve recently started taking my 35mm film camera out with a prime lens because it makes me think more about what I’m photographing. The limited range of the lens coupled with the limited number of pictures I can take (every frames costs me money, after all). I’m just about to scan the negs to see how they came out, but I enjoyed the exercise

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching.

i just started to photograph planes. One of the things that helped me the most was to talk to other plane spotters and ask for their settings. But not just copy them, try them out and use them as a baseline

Your like a photographers therapist, love it!

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

☺️thank you

Great Channel. This describes exactly what I went through after photography school. I have only recently just picked up a camera again and am enjoying taking photos for myself. Keep up the great content.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

It’s a common thing to go through. Many loose the joy to take pictures, including me. My way back is art studies, study old B/W masters and today slowly defrost my technical skills. PS is a problem after year of not doing it often.

Alex, I too spent 1095 days at photography school. It has been 14,235 days since I graduated from the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. I really enjoy watching your channel and could not agree more with you. Some years ago, I made the decision that I would not make photos to impress anyone but myself. It wasat that point when people started to say, "I feel like I'm there when I look at your photos." The thing about photography is no matter how long we are at it, we can learn something new every day. I have forgotten who said "shoot what you love and you'll love what you shoot" but it could not be more true, that is the best way I know how to being our passion to the surface. Keep up the great work

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Awesome thank you.

Thanks a lot for this episode! Photographer Harold Feinstein once said in a documentary: "The key is: doing it! To do it. Not to study it, but to do it. To begin doing it. You learn to be a photographer by being a photographer. To move right into it. The word yes to anything, any invitation that you have or any inclination you have: go with it! It doesn't mean that each image you go with is going to be great art but you're doing it because you love the process. You love the process of getting there."

First time I held a camera during my first month at art school, studying photography? I remember it well; the best years of my life. Striving for perfect shots from images from photographers like 1970s and 80s advertising fashion and glamour photographers like Chris Thomson, Stak, and Helmut Newton, was good for me during art school. I realized later that West Yorkshire didn't have the infrastructure that London offered. So, what did I do after my studies? I went to London and worked for Masters as an assistant for the likes of John Timbers, Angus Forbes, Snowdon, Stak, Carrie Branovan, and the like.

I'm in a unique position with my photography, my buddies mom is now an art dean at a local college and I occasionally ask for her opinion on a picture I took to which she gladly critiques my idea and suggests ways to improve if change is necessary

Once again, 15 minutes straight of invaluable advice.

I just wanted to say, THANK YOU !

Another thought provoking essay on the substance of image making. And Alex you made my day when you said you hated the word "capture" that is in vogue today…me too! "Capture" is ultimately a term of arrogance implying total control over the virtually uncontrollable world within which we attempt to live. When I make an image of someone or something I am attempting to "record" a particular person, place, thing, or moment from my own unique perspective. If I have "captured" anything it is myself.

@ThePhotographicEye

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching

I am back...been out of internet range for a while...love that the standard hasn't dropped at all, in reality better. Thank you.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Welcome back!

Your William Christenberry, Vivian Maier,William Eggleston videos did it for me.I realised the photographer I am and more importantly, been trying to find the path my work is naturally guiding me. Boy am I focused and having fun, which for me is what photography should be. I wish you well and thank you.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

That’s awesome, thank you for watching

Wonderful reminders. Thank you, Alex! 🙏

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching

Thank you for this. I do not know who created the photographs you are showing here but I love them. Another trap is to try and photograph something different to impress and therefore throwing away the possibility of many opportunities to create when the search for your own way of doing things is better.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. They are my own images

There are so many photographers in the world, taking so many pictures that it is really impossible for your work to have any meaning to anybody besides yourself ;) One only thinks some are important because they appear in the media, but those have a huge support from involved people - making them “appear”. Enjoy your work everybody. It is for you.

Very interesting ! It is like many other things of life. No ego but happy to create.

This inspired me, I’ve gone through so many ups and downs with comparison, it really does zap all the fun and drowns out your voice in photography.

This week I started learning to use a flash and make a slideshow with music.

Surfers all over the world have chased the mantra of the saying “The Search” the search for the perfect wave ! In itself, as photographers, aren’t we also looking for the perfect wave ? another fantastic and fascinating video Alex !!! I thoroughly enjoy ever video you put up. It constantly challenges the norm. Thank you 😊

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching

Thank you so much for this! Exactly what I needed. BTW, your black borders are on point!

thank you once more!

Thank you for sharing your experience, Alex! Much useful and appreciated :)

@ThePhotographicEye

11 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

You are a great photographer indeed! And an excelllent teacher too!

@ThePhotographicEye

10 ай бұрын

Wow, thank you!

I only took a couple of community college photo courses so I could get experience in the darkroom developing film and doing prints. Other than that it was all OJT (on the job training) and shooting images for my self. Much later in life (I was 50) I was able to leave my engineering position, move to the beach and got a job as a newspaper shooter for a small weekly. Shooting for myself made me more aware of what was going on around me and that was great for newspaper imagery.

Excellent video as always, thank you very much.

@ThePhotographicEye

10 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

Thank you, I needed to hear this! I enjoyed seeing staircase in monochrome

Just perfect and well said.. ❤❤❤

As an amature who has not been to photographic school: I think that emulating good photographers is a discipline which teaches one the tools which are at one's disposal. But not to get stuck there. Regarding photographic clubs, there is a temptation to play it safe and submit compliant photographs to advance quickly through the ranks. This is ok- a lot can be learned from criticism of one's own and other's photographs. But don't take the criticism too seriously. And make sure that somewhere you are experimenting and learning outside of the "safe" box. And-as Alex has said,- do it out of joy, and find an avenue to share that joy with others.

Another excellent video Alex! As someone who studied photography way back in the mid-80's I find a lot of similarities in my own journey as you've recounted in yours. I wish I could hark back to those halcyon days when I used to just take photos just for the enjoyment of it. Now, as someone who relies on photography for a living, that's not so easy as I have to consider marketability with a lot of what I produce. I know what sells, so I always have that at the forefront of my mind with everything that I photograph. I keep meaning to take a step back and just photograph for me. Perhaps when I retire 😅

So grateful for your videos and insights. Thank you much appreciated.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

I think this is one of the finest photo channels on YT And I love your portraits

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Wow, thank you

I once heard that perfection is the journey not the destination. I always enjoy the things you share.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

Thank you. All the best. 👍📷😎

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, you too!

“Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Make photography a job you love, whether you produce a bad photo or a great one. I have learned over the years that there really are no standards when it comes to photographs. Fine Art is very subjective just as someone saying your photo is not good. It's all opinion. I was very impressed with the "masters" of oil paintings because of the wonderful details they made. Then I learned how the details were made with underlying charcoal sketches. Much like today's use of photo software programs. If they can do it then I can do it and call it Fine Art !

Your work really helps me improve and your photos are amazing!

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

Mr. Kilbee, the work you've shared throughout this video is beyond outstanding. I wish I had your eye and craft.

@Daniel_Ilyich

Жыл бұрын

The edit comment function isn't working at the moment, so I'll continue in this reply...I also want to mention that you are really able to capture moments in your portraits. Inspiring stuff...I must say.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

Experiment leads to perfect concepts.

I guess it's a tough job to play and experiment when the stress of making a living is hanging above your head. That requires a relaxed confidence which I doubt could be teached at school. Thanks again for a valuable lesson.

Wonderful 👍 Off to watch your recommendation now.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

I don't know but that chap in the first part of your video shot some very compelling photos.

Thank you again for another thoughtful exposition. Always inspiring!

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Thank you! 🙏

I really like the way you think and the advice you give!

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you.

Thanks for your sharing your knowledge. Thanks

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Great learning, I've been listening for a long time, I've been watching your vlogs about photography ... thank you for them ... they help me a lot. Greetings from Poland Jarek

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching

Je découvre votre chaine ! Et la je dévore toutes vos vidéo ! Merci pour cet extraordinaire partage ! MERCI

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching

I enjoyed this Lecture! Thank you! just Subbed! =)

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

So sorry that you had those awful experiences of being forced into the structure and stifling of your creativity. Thank you so much for sharing these important messages about allowing yourself to be creative and not comparing yourself to anyone else. Awesome

@ThePhotographicEye

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching

@Anon54387

6 ай бұрын

@@ThePhotographicEye I don't play around the edges. I go right over them. To my mind, that is one great advantage of digital. It frees one up to experiment taking all kinds of shots at minimal cost whereas with film I'm always thinking every time I click that shutter it's another $1.50. I grew up in a family with very little money so that habit of frugality has stuck with me. I wonder how many shots from the 1950s and 1960s were missed simply because people have to be concerned with cost, there had to be a good likelihood that a shot would work out in order to click that button. While this isn't a knock against experimentation, but there are those who spend hours and hours setting up a shot. O. Winston Link is one and, to this day, I don't think he has quite the recognition he deserves. If you aren't aware of him, you should check him out, he's an American photographer who recorded the last days of steam rail in the USA on film, and he really was meticulous in his setting up the lighting with extensive lighting apparatus. It'd be difficult now, but all the more then since they didn't have all these white light LED's available at modest cost.

@Anon54387

6 ай бұрын

@@ThePhotographicEye Maybe the best way to approach it is to just teach the basics of technique, f stop, focus, aperture and just let the student figure the rest out on his or her own. I have a few instructional books on oil painting. One of the authors says the best exercise to find one's own style is to paint a small painting each night, set a time limit where it is difficult to totally complete a painting and stop when that time is up wherever one might be in the painting. Do that same size canvas each night, same time limit, but a different subject in the painting each and every night, and don't worry about results, just try to get the paint on quickly and get it to look as close to the scene as possible. The trick is to stick that painting in the closet after, don't look at it, but start a new painting each night and setting it in a closet. Only look at them after one has done 90 days worth of paintings, then pull them all out and line them up in order by date. One will see improvement even though one rushed and didn't really worry about results, and the advantage of doing it this way is that one's style really starts to develop, something personal rather than cookbook, paint by numbers, stilted looking paintings.

@Anon54387

6 ай бұрын

@@ThePhotographicEye I really don't have much in what would be called formal training in photography. I did have to take a couple fine arts classes in college to graduate, and I took an intro to guitar and a photography class. Oil painting isn't something that even occurred to me at the time, I developed that interest later. Some guitar people, BTW, show some of the same snobbishness that some photographers do as if they never were beginners at the guitar. They kind of sneered at having to go through the basics, and if that was their attitude they never should've taken the class. They grated on the teacher's nerves a bit, and IMO it doesn't hurt to revisit the basics anyway even if one is more advanced.

Great discussion Alex, Opened a lot eyes today.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thanks

So true on every point. It needs to be reinforced constantly because human gravity is so strong.

A perfect picture is interesting because I'll take one and be REALLY proud... And then 5 days later, i start to think "ok but what's my NEXT perfect photo going to be???" So perfection doesn't stop me, I'm motivated to take more shots in the hope that the next snap will be perfect. Only to feel that desire in another week or so....

yet another fab video Alex

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

Photography: a joyful journey which resonates with your thinking/emotions etc ( based on skills and going beyond)

Hi Alex, thanks for sharing your photography journey, some really great advice there. It's great to hear your positive thoughts, like when you said to focus on our inner vision. Great point when you said to maybe have a mentor, someone that can give us constructive advice. And to ease any doubts we have, and we all have doubts. We as photographers should give ourselves a pat on the back and say, at least we tried our best. And our best is good enough. Thanks for sharing this video, i really enjoyed this topic.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching

@seaeagles6025

Жыл бұрын

@@ThePhotographicEye Your welcome Alex 🙂

Jorge Luis Borges, an argentinian writer, one of the greatest, said that he wrote the things he wished to read.

Great episode. It’s easy to start shooting to please others. And Rhen you loose yourself. Thank’s for the wakeup call.

Alex, this was a wonderful video

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

I agree with everything that has been said

So true.

Hello from Spain.i'm not speak inglis.Is't very impresionat your análisis.Is very impactan. And maravilloso.its very very "emotivo" and lo mejor que he he visto en mi vida sobre la fotografía. Congratuleisions.Sorry my inglis❤

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Wow, that’s awesome. Thank you for watching

"Comparison is the thief of joy"

Learn the rules from the others so that you can beeak them to step up your work!

the thing: Recently I photographed the baptism of the son of close friends. They liked my gallery and then asked for all the photos I took. Luckily I had a backup. Containing all the baddies. They still liked a lot of those. My artistic soul was hurt. That was material to cut. Nonetheless, they liked some photos I took, even if they are not very good. I should feel flattered, not hurt.

Nice master 😊

Thanks for the honesty in this video. Don't you think that a part of this excitement lose comes from that your made your passion a job?

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Partly, but mostly because I wasn’t approaching photography from the right mindset

Truth!

informative video, informative content.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

The problem with various rules is they are somewhat arbitrary and not really based on what works in specific situations but often what has become the defacto standard for a "good image".

I feel this way for the most part. If I post an image that I like I feel like I am ignored. I ask specific questions for feedback back and nothing. But if I attempt an IG craze I get a couple of thumbs but no comments on how to improve. I don't get the whole of the social media. I feel that people didn't know how to answer my question so now I either don't ask a question or I'll make it very general I just want to know if I am on the right track. Is it interesting, would you stop and look? I get more responses that way but none of it is what I am looking for. I wish I could find a person or group. My local photo club is all about technical aspects. and blllluuuuuuuhhhh and leading lines and rule of thirds.

Eräs valokuvaaja sanoi minulle kerran:" Parhaita valokuvaajia ovat itse oppineet, muut on opetettuja"

The only thing that I can say is ‘Thank you’.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Your welcome

Comparison is a creativity killer. It invites only replication of what someone else has already done. Pay attention to what it is that excites you. Experiment. Make mistakes. Try things on, but don’t be afraid to discard them if they don’t work for you. Don’t expect perfection - ever. Just strive to make your vision a reality. Show us.

Inspiring. Thanks, Alex. I wonder what Da Vinci would have done with a camera? I'll bet he wouldn't have copied Ansel Adams. When I studied wood furniture design, I refused to study the "masters". I feared it would not allow me to create my own art. Now I have a camera and seek a place in unique "art" compositions. Thanks for the nudge. When I get there, I will publish me. But how? I am not plugged in. My pictures are either on the cards or PC and I haven't the slightest idea what to do with them. Nonetheless, I have joy.

"Did I capture an adequate number of photons in my Nikon box?" 😜

The photo is a reflection of yourself.

But it also extremely hard to not compare to others and seeking validation, we are after all social beings and nothing lives in a vacuum either. Does art or anything we do only exist in relationship to others and/or other art? I feel that it is a good point to try not to compare to others, but is it possible?

🙏

I also hate the word "capture" 😂

My teacher and mentor passed away 2020. I‘m stuck since then. No valuable critique there any more.

I am an architect and all the way through school and even to this day; other people's opinions are always pressuring me to adjust my designs to suit their opinion of what is good. This is obviously a challenge when you're working with a client as it's their home or space and inevitably it is their decision. However, when I give them a single option that is fully mine, I design everything, details they haven't even considered. They often come back to my design on the end. Taking photographs has always been a hobby that I didn't realise I had, using phones or cheap cameras for most of my life. Sometimes it's not about having a crisp image, it's about capturing a moment, or a vision. I personally really love fiction, making images look unreal or fairytale like is my fun.

i didn't go to photography school or someone taught me about it. i just hold my uncle's film camera for the first time when i was a kid and that change my life. now that i'm grown up i bought my first full frame mirrorless camera and self taught by watching videos on youtube. thanks for the advice and sharing your knowledge.

@ThePhotographicEye

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching

apart from your point about not photographing for other people, even though the rest of what you say might be the case for your own experience, I think it's misleading to represent this as some sort of universal advice as there is value to be had in trying to do things you wouldn't otherwise do, so perhaps it's the attitude you bring not what you do in photo school that can ruin your passion and interest otherwise i learn a lot from your channel

Your school was only three years RIT was four years and they don’t teach joy until the fourth year 😂

It might just be my history in the creative industry as a now retired ad agency art director who used to commission photographers but I find the advice from Camera Club judges totally useless. Most judges are retired pen pushers with no history of being in the creartive industry, most have taken up the hobby in retirement which stops me from taking their comments on board .most are just looking for "faults"and so called "distractions" as they see it.. I dont respect their opinion. . If it was from a pro I'd respect their tips and opinions.