Honest to God Brian I think you are the best film photographer on KZread. You take pictures for you, and that makes them more genuine. You're more concerned about the journey than the gear or the social media likes. Thanks for being so authentic!

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

I let social media likes and numbers influence me for far too long. It was only until I didn't care that I was free to do what I wanted. Still a challenge but gets easier over time. Thank you for the kind words!

@imrannuri

3 жыл бұрын

@@BryanBirks very inspiring! So many folks fall into the trap of loving film because it disconnects you from the fast-paced advancing technology of today, but then worrying like crazy about whether reddit or instagram loves their photo. It's ironic, but it's an easy trap to fall into

@potkop12345

3 жыл бұрын

I agree.

@benshew

3 жыл бұрын

@@BryanBirks my secret is to not get many likes at all. I've been doing a good job so far.

As pretentious as it sounds, I’ve recently spent a lot of time thinking about which photographs actually stick with me. I would practice street photography, but I came to realise that photographs I take of my friends and the actual life that surrounds me are the ones I end up looking back on. This realisation made me look for those moments more often, and when I do street photography now (or any photography for that matter) I aim to capture more of such emotion, rather than shooting someone because they dress weird or look interesting. And even though I shoot almost every day, I try to space out my rolls, and only develop one 2-3 weeks after I finish it. It disconnects me from shooting something for Instagram, and I genuinely started shooting what really catches my eye in the moment. It’s made me love photography so much more, and it’s definitely improved the work I do.

This was so beautiful man, don't think I've ever watched a video where someone is saying profound things on YT that I actually found profound before, but this whole visual experience rocked my socks. Shows so much depth and strength that you were able to reflect on the characters you photograph and the interest possibly stemming from the loss of your father. Also the portrait interaction weaved throughout shows massive growth in your interactions with photographic subjects. So so so rad. I've just been trying to make as many photographs as I can on the improvement front, I've found that if I can keep the energy going things tend to fall in place more often. If I spend extended time not making work I kind of have to get back in the swing of it which feels like a setback, whereas if I can make an image at least every second day or so the energy keeps flowing and stuff tends to line up haha! Thanks so much for making this man, again, so stunning.

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Very kind words William. Hope to find myself in South Africa at some point to photograph together 🤘🏻

I’ve never been so motivated to make mistakes!

I started selling all my cameras, focusing on just one of them and that's it. A long time ago I took a trip and had so much camera using at the same time (films in 4 or 5 cameras) that I just couldn't focus on what I was going to do. As you said, people end it up being moved by this type of content (gears) and do not realize how harmful it is to the analog photography movement in general. The last trip was just one gear and it was liberating. Thank you.

Dude, I'll run out of videos of yours to watch. I feel like they put me in a place of inspiration without the anxiety I usually have about creating images.

@BryanBirks

Күн бұрын

That’s nice to hear. If you run out I apologize! 😂

Lately I've been picking out random little towns around the city I live in and driving out to them to explore. Usually the drive isn't more than an hour or two and I make sure to avoid highways. I have found that being on the road and getting "lost" really helps me open up to my surroundings and I usually end up discovering things that I never would have seen if I had stayed at home. I've been watching your videos for awhile and really appreciate the time and effort you put into making them; the messaging is encouraging and has helped me find satisfaction in the process rather than just the output. Thank you

Stopped sending everything off for people to develop and scan my work and started doing it from home and started connecting with people in my community. For a LONG time, I would be taking pictures of buildings and that sort if thing because I didn’t really know what or who to take pictures of. Used to not appreciate where I was and the different people around me and so lately, I’ve just been using my job (work at a newspaper) to meet loads of interesting people and shooting them on film which they’ve allowed me to run in the paper here. Just got a 4x5 and super excited to meet this guy who is 75 years old and still umpires for high school games. Gonna get some good shots and have them run in the paper for people here to see.

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

That’s awesome about the paper. Definitely an amazing place to meet characters.

Basically the way I am learning is: I started talking to all different kind of artists. I wanted to take portraits of them. With every artist i meet, they give me the information of others. So with every projects, i get more projects. So basically i learn on the go, youtube and of course my great photography professor at Uni, who sees whats wrong with your negative or print in matter of seconds. But tbh almost all of the technical and motivational aspects i learned form either you, Brae Hunziker or T. Hopper. I cant stress enough how much i apreciate the love, work and passion you guys put into this. Keep on doing what you! :)

I found myself taking a step back from photography a bit when I started asking myself why I was doing it, or for what goal in the future. I took pandemic time to connect with some people again, focus on other hobbies and read. In the end I still had this overwhelming desire to shoot photos. Taking a step away though and focusing my attention elsewhere proved my original intent. It was for me, Is for me. I’m making photos that stay true to what I want and not the taillights. Reading was a big push. Novels. Exploring worlds that weren’t mine really sparked the creative ideas to make something.

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

I read 50 books in 2019 and then almost none in 2020. Absolutely horrendous. Need to get back to that.

One of the finest channels about photography on KZread.

gear doesn't matter and go out of your comfort-zone: the best advice there is for social photographers. great post!

avoiding instagram has helped me take better photos, you helped me with realizing instagram is not the healthiest form of inspiration for photography. finding inspiration from books has helped me elevate as a photographer. Not just looking through the books but taking notes on each picture that speaks to me. but most importantly having confidence in my vision. If im with a friend and I see an interesting subject or scene I wont ask for his or her opinion i will just take the shot.

Discovery and realization that we all go through especially as photographers... wonderful to watch through your eyes your journey.

your videos are the best thing youtube has to offer

I've recently started to believe in (my) photography again - I've totally rejected it, as if I had said everything I could in a few years. And then I've silenced my creative side these 5 last years. Now I'm starting to see things again, to resume what I started to experiment. I shoot again, yet differently. I don't know if it's the results of the third lockdown in France but 2021, for the first time in almost ten years of photography - including 9,5 with film - calls for a new chapter. I really find your honesty inspiring and that, on your last portrait, how your "model" seems happy to be here.

thank you for not shouting at us to like and subscribe. i love your videos, i've watched lots of them today, one of them whilst I was making pizza dough for 6 meals! what can I say? firstly, as a European, the way you film your encounters with people is beautiful, how it's filmed from a certain distance but you preserve the sound, and how there's a feeling of American romanticism, that Paris Texas thing that pulls us into its ambience. I also love that you photograph older people because I am sick to my eyeballs of trendy millennials photographing trending millennials in a tedious echo chamber of trendy cameras. lastly, am i too late for the book? keep up the good work but please don't ever fall for the trap of perching on a high moral ground, it's (for me) what kills the good ones the end.

I’ve been working with family. I recently became interested in portraits as a form of story telling so capturing the “everyday” of a few of my family members or family friends has been wonderful “experience” lol

Hey, I’m 50 years old and been photographing for 30 years.Your photography and the content here is brilliant. You definitely have something to say, you definitely make outstanding portraits and your observations definitely make me smile. You have masses of talent. I hope I said enough? In the words of McCarthy… keep the fire.

@BryanBirks

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Alfred. Truly. 🖤

For inspiration I really like to get out of my comfort zone. Most of the time I am shooting man-made stuff like houses, cars etc on color film. Now I am doing kind of a tree study, where I concentrate on the organic shapes and textures of trees. And I am shooting it in black and white.

This is great stuff thanks!

Love this video ❤ Thank you 🙏

portraits are everything. still working building the courage to ask. it's hard to overcome the introversion.

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

I still get anxious. I drove by Bob’s house twice before I could get out and ask. You just gotta do it. There’s no other way around it. If you fail, you fail. It’s going to happen but you’re going to be better off the next time around and won’t fear the rejection as hard.

@WesleyVerhoevePhotography

3 жыл бұрын

it gets easier the more you do it! coming from an introvert who was able to get into a groove where it became a natural thing to do

I love you interactions with your subjects... I think its awesome that you film and get sound bites of your conversation. Goes so far beyond just shooting. Reminds me what I miss most about shooting portraits...the people. I'm super late to the party, but glad I watched this one... it was great!

So true dude. Thank you for this

I've been allowing myself to be more vulnerable and to fail more. Within my photographic practice, I am an angry perfectionist and I feel like it is very limiting for me in a lot of ways because unless I feel like I will get the shot that I want I sometimes don't even try. So recently, I've been a little bit more lenient with the idea of "getting the shot," and instead I've tried to put myself in positions I am not fully comfortable in, in an attempt to spark something new. Love your videos and your work this latest portrait with the '78 is phenomenal.

In the Age of Covid-19, when many jobs have dried up, personal projects that mean something take on added impotence. I started a long-term project using a 4x5 - and am making tons of errors. But I’m learning and making course corrections in process in the field and thinking through the outcome. Oh, and not worrying about gear.

Things I’ve been doing to improve my photography: picking up a photo book each day to study it while I eat breakfast, watching your videos and other videos on photography, shoot whenever I can find time.

Absolutely agree with you!!thanks for sharing ✨

This was very meaningful. Thank you :)

I love how chill your videos are. With museums closed I started to invest a lot in books to find inspiration and I really feel like it makes my pictures much better. My bank account is screaming ofc coz I started shooting slide film - really enjoyable and a great challenge but sooooo expensive

Those scans look amazing. You really can't beat the beauty of a large format negative. I definitely notice that you are getting really quick at the large format process. That proficiency has freed you up to really be present during the process and enjoy the conversations with your subjects vs. worrying about the technical aspects. One thing that I've forced myself to do to get away from gear and work the creativity muscle is give myself one prime lens to work with. That honestly is the most freeing experience to pick up the camera and one lens and not have to think about which lens will be right for the situation and which ones do I need to pack. It has freed me up to focus on enjoying the experience and situation at hand. A really creative photographer friend of mine Adonye Jaja uses music for inspiration. Take a track and listen to it ahead of time and see what emotions it brings out in you and try and convey those in the image.

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Christian. Definitely has gotten easier the more I do it. And can focus on the subject and the scene and not worry about the process as much.

100% agree with the gear. It took a lot of buying and selling cameras to find that honestly through all the buying and selling, I stuck with the same few cameras: a cheap seagull TLR (you don't need a Rolleiflex at all), a cheap Soviet 35mm rangefinder, a Ricoh, and a canon DSLR (and even then I only use the DSLR rarely). Especially true with film photography, your gear doesn't really matter. The film is your sensor, so as long as you have a half decent lens, your pictures will be virtually the same regardless of the camera.

I usually listen to a couple of artist (Bon Iver, Gem Club) more mellow stuff, and then I’ll find a poem or quote that I like and then I draw or sketch something and then go out and shoot.

Great video, 100% agree 👍

Solid video great as always.

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

🖤

Wow! Love it. ❤ Honest, pure, heartwarming…

Really enjoy seeing your interactions with people and the stunning images you get as a result!

These images are ridiculously awesome dude! I love the one of the guy sitting on the purple tailgate!! I'm glad you decided to take on large format photography because I don't think that something that I have the balls to tackle on my channel haha

I’m currently trying to take more photos of the random people I get paired with when I go play golf. Each person I meet is unique and I am trying to get better at taking the portraits.

I've really been trying to experiment and make the most out of the situation I am in, whether I am forced to shot in bad conditions, or gear that is malfunctioning, just pushing through and trying to work things out as I shoot.

great video. as usual. thanks a lot

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Serge 🙌🏻

Awesome Video. Thank you Bryan!

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching 🖤

Great video. I love the last picture, the old guy and the build up

Good man, you nail it every time!! Loved it!! Couldn't agree more with your comments and perspective.

Great Video!!

Some great images and keep up the good work :-)

Great Video Bryant, well said. Recently been working on several ideas I’ve had for the last years and prepaid towards my gallery exhibit. Thanks for the video

For the first time I started organizing my film. I purchased binders, negative holders, labels etc. I feel this was an overlooked process in my approach to film photography and should help me to be more efficient and therefore more productive.

I've just found all your videos and I really enjoy them. Reminds me of when I used to go out and meet strangers and try to get their story and their portrait. I gave up on photography years ago because of back problems, but seeing the human element of your videos and what photography can do to connect people in a meaningful way is really moving me. Thank you for sharing and for making me want to connect with others again through my camera.

@BryanBirks

2 жыл бұрын

Glad the work could do that for you! Hope your back cooperates in the future so you can do it.

Before shooting, I put on headphones, close my eyes and listen to music from my playlist, it inspires me and tunes me to the vibe, images and stories appear in my head.

Hey Bryan, thanks for all these insides of your creative process - I really appreciate how much you share, not only the good shots but also small failures, mistakes, accidents... what you often show is much closer to reality than what most of other youtubers share. Your work taking portraits of old cars' owners sort of pushed me a bit to try something similar, documenting suburban neighbourhoods outside Berlin and trying at the same time to make portraits of people living there. Too soon to see where this project is going, but I have a good feeling. So, I guess your late videos inspired me quite a lot. Thanks again!

I just love everything about this.

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Appreciate it Jack!

I took a portrait of a stranger last week, for a project i'm working on. I was really shy at first but i forced myself to do it. It's such an amazing feeling when you force yourself to do something outside of your comfort zone. I always look forward to seeing your work, as it always motivates me. 💪🏾

Oh my gosh, that was an amazing video! Well done.the pacing, soundtrack, and story leading up to the final image was very well done.

I'm in the period of waiting for my large format to arrive so I've been watching a ton of videos about them. Thanks for the quality videos!

My favorite episode so far. Great job man!

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Chris 🖤

Thank you.

Exactly what I needed to hear at this point, Bryan. Thank you very much. You deserve a fire emoji 🔥 :)

Man, one of the best photography videos I've seen in the last few months. 🙌👏👏

I went back to school, doing a bachelor in fine arts focusing on photography (continued education). But I think, like you said, there’s no replacement for trial and error. Being in school is forcing me to practice and be active. It’s also allowing me to be surrounded by like minded people (virtually for now)

@copybaste2637

3 жыл бұрын

@John ok I’m the type of person who does better on a deadline, so having someone else forcing me to create and practice is my driver. True, you can be great without formal education, but it gives me what I need.

I've been carrying my camera everyday and shoot my family and friends in their every day life. I've been struggling with the plan of making a photo book or zine or something like that. So I start of from something I know, and I know my family and friends well. There is always this thought that it need to get a lot of attention and needs to be of an trendy subject. But I've learned that it don't matter what it is about. What matter is that it has an value to your self and your passion. Don't care if it's about your dog your best friend or the old neighbors with their beautiful cars. Some day I will finish my photo book and I will know more about my feelings about this topic and the feelings I create in the viewers head. Greetings from Germany love the videos!

This is such a great video and great reminder that gear is not everything. I’ve recently been trying to connect more with the reason I started photography and that is connecting with people. I normally do street photography but recently I’ve been stopping and asking for street portraits. So through the act of connecting more deeply with my subject I notice I’ve been getting better and feeling more satisfied about my work.

I am glad that I have found your channel. I love your work. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and pictures with us.

Really enjoying your content dude. keep making great pictures!

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Cameron 🖤

I also started making a book and thats my way to push myself to get better. Great video and great advice! Have a great day!

Hey man ! Great video! Like you I’ve been shooting 4x5 lately and processing the film. Just enjoying the process!!

Appreciate the vid Bryan. I've been trying to get out more and keeping my mind open for experiences/ opportunities to make photos.

Sincere and precise thoughts, beautiful video, beautiful photos, I really like your way of thinking and for this reason I always follow your every new release. Keep sharing!

keep growing bryan! have been going out to shoot more lately to try and use a portrait mentality on not just human subjects but scenes as well, slowly easing into it

I've set my self the task of creating a photo book of photos I've taken throughout the various lockdowns. By create I mean not just organise the photos into a certain order and send it off to be printed, but I'm also making pieces of paper by blending up old sheets I've been holding on to, and will be binding the book myself. I'm doing this because I think that, even though film photography is analogue, it's more important than ever to have a physical connection to the work you create, and I fear that otherwise my photos will just be lost to time in the digital world, stored away online without anyone stumbling across them. The process also gives me something to do with my spare time, and learn the skills of papermaking and bookbinding. I won't even be producing any for others, partly because it takes about 25 hours to make each book but mainly because it's such an intimate project that I'd feel uncomfortable with others flicking through that I don't know personally. Hopefully it will be something to look back on in the future and cherish, and make me think more intentionally about the purpose behind my photos when taking them in the future. Lovely video Bryan, I'm glad that I found your channel, and I wish you all the best in your photography.

Easily my favourite photog 'vlog' these days. Inspiring!

lovely video and message once again, and a wonderful book to quote.

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Rosie is amazing.

Your portraits keep getting better and better!!

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Love this video, love the philosophy, the images, and hate the dreaded "fire emoji" 😂 I'm a big believer in rest. Taking time to isolate from a passion to reflect on it, and prevent "burnout". So for me, I've taken the past few months off from shooting. Before this I was shooting nearly every day for almost two years straight. Both for work and personal projects. So I set this time aside to reflect on my growth, reflect on what direction I want to go in, and reflect on what photography means to me introspectively. On top of that I took this time to see a psychiatrist, get my mental health under control, get medicated, and come to terms with the fact that my mental health isn't what pushes my creativity, but instead it was a crutch I leaned on, an excuse I used and feared to not address my mental health for fear of ruining "my art". So, watching KZread videos of people creating, and personally resting. That's how I've been improving my craft on the sidelines.

You’re not stupid man, you’re very insightful + you’re touching upon some real deep truths here. Your interactions with your subjects feel sincere, and your photographs are excellent. Thanks for the great vid 🤟🏻

Only recently found your channel and have watched a lot of your videos it’s so refreshing to find some one that admits to making mistakes, someone that actually tells it like it is for them and the processes you go through to make a picture I love the fact is not “gear “ related and the off topic pieces are refreshing and through you I’ve discovered other photographers I’ve not heard Plus your photos are true to you long may you continue to do the things you do in your own way and your own style

@BryanBirks

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you found it. I’ve made mistakes and I’ll continue to make mistakes. It’s just part of the process. Gear lost its luster a LONG time ago. I pity anyone that is years into their practice and still thinks about it. Thank you for the kind words! 🖤

Hey man, I loved this video, it really inspires me to go photograph some of my hometown and the people in rural Kentucky. Been really distracted by shooting "cool" pictures lately that mean nothing to me, thanks for the change of mindset. Just found your work, definitely will watch each video you put out now.

Finally! I just discovered your channel. Thanks for carrying out great values. Even though I know your content is not what people are looking for, I believe it's what people need.

I’ve been studying fields outside photography and trying to connect it back to my work. I found it helps a lot to develop my style and workflow. It really does help me stop worrying about social media feedback, and focus on why I want to make my work.

That first approach was so confident and slick 👍

So wholesome! The guy was so nice. Definitely inspired to go make some photos now

I appreciate the bluntness you bring to the conversation, very much needed!

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Appreciate it John ✌🏻

Great video (first time here). I finally started displaying my photos online and getting some feedback from people. That's a huge step for me :)

I really appreciated this one Bryan, good value in here! What I do to improve my photography is to looking for different subjects when I go out shooting based on what film I loaded. So in this way I try to don't stay stick to one kind of subject but train my eye to experiment new stuff and compositions ✌🏻

Sure bob loved his photo, it really looked amazing. Nice video

Great video love the discussions and topic around photography you continue to cover with actual substance. Thankfully it's the polar opposite of the gear bag and nft space talk. I've started dropping only taking out my 6x6 on my daily walks it's really making me slow down and concentrate on single compositions

Bryan your sense of storytelling never fails to amaze me. Incredible as always brother!

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Nice to hear that 🙌🏻

Your films are great and very instructive. I also like the fact that you share so many of your own images and how you critique them.

Love the slow pace in your Videos! So chill to watch. Limiting myself to a 35mm lense and color negative film really helped my photography.

One of the best film photography channels on KZread for sure, really like the focus on the human connection combined with advice on how to take good photos, rather than the gear.

Such an open and heartfelt video. Love your pictures and compositions. There are people looking back at me. That is not easy to catch. Very inspirational. I just started to do film photography again. Found a bellow medium camera on a yard sale a few years ago. When I was in Antwerp a few weeks back and I wanted to shoot but had no gear with me I remembered that bellow camera lying in a drawer somewhere. And I just started. It is like learning to lace your shoe laces all over again. It is quite humbling. But I also found my old Olympus mju and that little guy is always in my bag nowadays. I am shooting street portraits with it, asking people to take their picture. Scary as hell, but to my surprise I rarely get a no. Especially if they see my tiny camera. Really curious how the pictures will turn out. Thank you again for this video. Looking forward to seeing more of you. And you are right, I should spend more time shooting and ( in my case) painting then looking around on social media. Thanks for the reminder. You need that sometimes.

once again a very inspiring video! The guy at the end looks so happy and thankful. to improve my photography is the motivation to meet such people like him.

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Everyone needs a Bob in their life.

I really like your honest approach. Thank you for these vids.

@BryanBirks

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

what I've been doing to improve, is taking more portraits which is something I don't do enough.

Bryan, your channel is by far the one that I enjoy most. Your approach is very honest and inspiring, always make me think on my own voice and go after something out of my comfort zone.

@BryanBirks

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks dude 🙌🏻

I’ve been getting so much inspiration from your videos. They helped me not long ago to get back out and shoot when I was dealing with depression. Photo books also help me a lot. The words and techniques stay with me from those books when I am out and trying to create.

Great video - seeking to improve by reviewing my photos over the years - looking for themes, compositions etc trying to identify the what and why that works and where I could stretch myself

I've been exploring photo collages. Doing them I realize it makes me think differently about the elements with photographs... And be a bit more purposeful about elements. Find myself paying way more attention to more details in every frame now. Have been working on a huge collage for a couple weeks.

Excellent video as always. I've been trying to stick with the Pentax 67, the 105mm and HP5 as much as possible, really hone in on what I can do with just that combo. Planning to shoot a personal project on it as soon as covid restrictions allow.