Every single day the YT recommendations are showing you a new video with this title "This (insert the name of a camera/lens here) changes everything", and two weeks later the same channel comes up with a new video "Why I sold my (insert the name of a camera/lens here)", with a clickbait picture making the same facial expressions of being super excited or super dissapointed, then a week later another new video shows up "This (insert the name of a camera/lens here) changes everything again" and this cycle is repeated over and over again. We are ending up with YT channels that instead of making you feel inspired, are just trying to sell you something all the time, something like "this is faster, this is newer, this is sharper". It is so annoying.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

It is mind numbing. But I would do that too if I didn’t have a moral compass or talent.

@Nitidus

15 күн бұрын

I don't get these recommendations anymore. I disabled personalization wherever possible, I use tracking blockers for browsers, and if something like this comes up in my feed, I click "not interested" or whatever the English translation for that button is. That's all I need to manually influence the algorithm - everything else KZread pulls off of my watch history, and probably my Google search history. But I don't search for any new gear, either. If anything, it's used and irrelevant to KZread. Works great. The gear spam has completely vanished from my feed.

Re: “Don’t be an A-hole”. I work with graphic designers, it’s a small community and word gets round, especially bad words about bad people. I remember once being told by a designer that if two photographers pitch for the same job, and one of them is a very talented artist but is really hard to deal with, and the other is not quite so talented but fun to be around, the fun guy will always get the job. It was an important lesson. Humble wins the day.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

You can always teach someone a skill but not everyone knows how to be a good person.

That shitty ikea desk is iconic. I had the same one for years, pretty sure I have permanent nerve damage from how bad my posture was at that thing. Also, glad someone else has had a recent obsession with Tornados.

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

Dude, Reed Timmer’s live stream videos are epic. I could sit for hours just waiting to see a funnel cloud. Plus, listening to him talk about rear inflow jets and rear flank downdraft winds…Christ.

@theconnorbacon

15 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks must be a psychological profile... photographers and tornadoes haha I watch Reed or Ryan Hall whenever things are getting wild out there

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Ryan Hall is when the storms are around me and I want to be calm. Reed is when they are away from me and I want a crazy man with a doctorate driving into a tornado.

Gotta admit window shopping on youtube is fun tho. I would never buy 90% of the cameras I look at in all those annoying videos 😂

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Definitely! But it’s because you’re smart and not an impressionable young person pining for “the thing” that will push them to the next level. That thing ain’t a camera.

I see a Bryan Birks video uploaded, I press play

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

He doesn’t miss!

i do agree so much about the youtube photography talk, everyone's concentrating on the wrong stuff, the easy stuff. Then people spend huge money on pro cameras and complain about the camera...composition, exposure, mood,storytelling, colour grading, feelings, separation, focused/unfocused areas etc..don't really hear much about that, not referring to you just in general

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

It’s a big problem and it’s only gotten worse with more cameras, more lenses, and all the money that’s being thrown around. Big companies would rather gift a camera to some run of the mill KZreadr instead of paying real advertising money on anything. It’s sad that people feel like they need to accept the gear in order to feel accomplished these days.

Bryan speaking his mind. Nice. Old habits die hard. You might be one of my contemporary fav photographer

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

I got shy for a couple of years. 🙈

thanks Bryan ! I am glad i saw this so i can stay up to date with your videos !

@BryanBirks

9 күн бұрын

You’re welcome, sir. Keep making beautiful work!

Bad day to be the dropped sponsor - they missing out! Now that the poetry is in your head I can’t wait to see it come through in your upcoming work

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

Catch me with my 4x5 looking for a tornado next storm 😂 Also, sponsor will be FINE. Like I said they’re a billion dollar company.

I'm part of the 1% that needs the latest and greatest. I do sports and wildlife (mainly ducks). I can either curse my luck for having to spend so much on gear, or I can just smile and enjoy the essence and peacefulness that being in the duck marsh brings. It is truly special. I could sit there all day long.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

I could never so I applaud you.

Love your channel Bryan. You have a great attitude and this one especially made me laugh. Keep it up!

@BryanBirks

7 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Yet again awe inspiring, I just took my Fuji GA 645W to England but ran out of film and it’s Sunday no shops are open today so I’m watching videos about photography after watching this I can’t keep still I’ve got inspiration running through my veins. Northern Spain in the house.

@BryanBirks

13 күн бұрын

Glad I could be of service!

"You just need something that takes an image" 👌

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Yessir.

Great video and discussion, Bryan. The past several years, I've been shooting with older film cameras both B&W and color. I still keep a few older digital cameras for backup work. Been re-focussing on composition. Good serviced film cameras last a life time. I'm seeing more younger, experienced photographers , as yourself, working on creating and less gear crap. Keep the work coming. KB

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

It’s fun to try stuff out. The problem is when you’re trying stuff and convincing others to purchase it or gaining compensation off of it. Always appreciate the comments!

Thanks for introducing me to Reed! When you first started mentioning your getting into all of that, I assumed you were talking about Pecos Hank. The dude has a massive following on here and he just knocks it out of the park. Also, I kept thinking about the Tornado work you did a while ago (has it already been a year?) with the recent events in Nebraska and Oklahoma and was wondering if you were ever going to do anything like that again.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

I’ve watched Pecos Hank as well. Much more chill than Reed. Very different styles but both good! I am planning on going back to the town that was hit by the tornado and doing a follow up with some portraits. And hopefully will have a video about it as well because they seem to still be rebuilding at this time.

Automatic thumbs up on the video for the Tool shirt

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

Tool reference in every video until I die. That’s my new thing.

@Nathanvphotos

15 күн бұрын

Well, I look forward to seeing you try and subtly work in Stinkfist 😂

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Last video. First 30 seconds. I tried to work in “Hooker with a Penis” during the monkey ad part but it kept getting flagged.

Hey Bryan, was happily surprised to see your work in NY on the walls of the Lensculture exhibition last weekend. Good to see your work in person. I bet it looks even more amazing when printed poster size.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Awesome. Bummed I wasn't able to make it!

Really enjoyable watch, thanks! I've been telling anyone who asks me "what camera should I get to start?" to get the cheapest hunk of metal with a working shutter. The speeds don't even have to be right, just make sure it opens and closes when you hit the button. It's wild that everyone wants an AE1 just... because.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Pentax K1000 is where it's at.

Your talent as a photographer is amazinng, you have something very special in the look and feel you achieve, it is great to get inspired by others, but you are young and your work is fantastic. Trust yourself completely, follow your gut, I am sure you will achieve great things. Your mind and eye behind the lens is, in my opinion, one of the very best there is around. Keep it up, enjoy, be happy! You are also amazingly elegant in your style of photography. Congratulations.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Thank you for the kind words!

Bryan, As always...a terrific video. Your last point fits everyone.

@BryanBirks

14 күн бұрын

Thank you, Gary!

Tool bands music inspire me so much. I remember getting to know them from some WOW video in 2008 and listening to them since than.

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

2008 was like five years ago right? RIGHT?

@simotamas

16 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks sure thing Bryan, at least it feels like it. :D

I’ve been watching a lot of the stuff you put out and seeing what you’ve accomplished speaks volumes compared to all the gear heads who claim to be professionals and truly haven’t done shit. I truly appreciate the fact that your work is inspiring and unique and I also appreciate the effort and passion you have put into your work. A lot of these gear heads don’t put in the work you do which makes what you do more valuable. And I think that’s where it counts. You’re awesome bro. Keep up the good work.

@BryanBirks

13 күн бұрын

The only thing the salespeople of KZread accomplish is making money. Not a bad thing but they just need to be more transparent with their business.

I’ve had an obsession with tornados and Mitch Debrowners STORMS work for years. The scale he is able to capture is inspirational. If anyone else knows of any tornado photographers I would love to know more!

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

It’s pretty incredible. The tornado ones are splendid.

Thank you very much for your lengthy discussion regarding whether Leica is overrated. I have to say that’s by and large the most valuable discourse on the subject I have heard to date, and I appreciate it.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Happy to be of service. I was going to say more but thought that I was already beating a dead horse.

@chriscorey5164

15 күн бұрын

Nope. No need to add anything. I appreciate your honesty and brevity.

Really enjoyed this format with quick hits on a number of subjects. “Curt email” made me think of the scene with Harvey Keitel as The Wolf in Pulp Fiction, “If I’m curt with you it’s because time is a factor…” 🐺 “If I’m curt with you, , it’s because you should be paying be based on the value I create.” 🖕

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Is that around the same scene where Quentin talks about coffee a lot?

@somephotovideos

15 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks Yes! After Samuel L. and Travolta arrive at his house to clean up the back seat of the car after… an unfortunate incident.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

@somephotovideos rip Marvin

Was a professional trumpeter for a couple of decades... rule #1 (after "be good at what you do"): don't be a dick. Glad to hear someone else reminding us all to be good. Loved the vid!

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

For that to be the number-two rule, there must have been a lot of dicks in the trumpet crowd.

@earlymusicmaker

15 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks Sadly, yes. Check out the current news coming out of the NY Philharmonic right now 😬... that said, there are some really great people too!

Even billboards don’t require high megapixel count due to viewing distance. The only thing that does is a huge gallery print where you want a viewer to be able to walk up inches from the print and pick out minuet and meaningless details. But I’d argue that even 35 looks great blown up because it’s not about this. And sports photography has been adequately equipped with autofocus since the early 2000’s. Great video

@BryanBirks

13 күн бұрын

But you get my point. There is a need for every photographer. It just so happens that my needs are met with any digital camera that shoots raw with over 20mp.

@osborn.creative

11 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks 100% get your point. And I’ll add to it further, In the mid 2000s digital camera companies would compare an image from new cameras to images from old ones because the improvements were clearly visible to any customer with a moderately critical eye. But once digital peaked (2016 IMO) they no longer could do this since an image from a 5dii and an image from a 5div are so similar, any mortal would not pass the Pepsi challenge. So they turned to the only thing they could successfully market… numeric measures. More mega pixels, higher speed this, lighter weight that, larger sensor this, etc. etc. Leica even took it step further by making cameras akin to a Prada handbag. Look at any national geographic issue from 2018 and tell me what’s missing? Digital images now look like what we see with our eyes, so with no comparison to use in marketing, they will continue to see how far they can push marketing with the “numbers” improvement year by year. I do wonder if people will ever see through the bullshit.

Great content Bryan, really good!!!!!! Keep em' comin'!!

@BryanBirks

13 күн бұрын

Thanks! Will do!

Hi Bryan! please tell me, do you use the tape to secure the film to the led and mask all the light to, i supose the film has to be very flat and griped to the light...thanks!!

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

I just used tape because it was black and I could mask out the perfect size. I don't tape down the film but slide it in, and it stays pretty flat. If I have trouble, I will use quarters on the four corners to flatten it. I am currently waiting on a 3D printed piece called the "Lobster 4x5 Holder" to hold the film as well as lift it up off the light.

Relatively new to your channel, but I find the videos really inspiring. Thanks!

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching. I hope I don't let you down in future videos.

Ai isn’t auto focus or content fill aware, I understand what you mean but there is a difference. Especially in generative ai and algorithmic I think ai isn’t disappearing, I think the same thing is going to happen when photography came around and painters were losing their minds. Realism as a style and painting portraits were instantly taken over by photography basically, but painters adapted and went into a new era and photography also found its place.

@BryanBirks

14 күн бұрын

I just know I’m not going to be hunched over a keyboard typing to make a photo. I’ll go into a different profession if it comes to that.

I sort of despise autofocus, I won't touch any of the film cameras with it, the ones I use are all manual focus only, and the lenses for those were all designed before 1982. I own a mirrorless camera, but since I had no intension of using that aspect of it I only looked at other aspects, leading to my one and only association with Leica, the L mount on Panasonic cameras. I like the S5 for digitising my negatives and recording video. I cannot for the life of me understand why people are ditching what is to me a perfectly good system for a 'pretty much the same, but we added a few tiny differences to impress you' camera. Will it alter or improve their images? Not in the slightest, and next year they'll be suckered into buying a new one. I just bought a new camera, a 6x17 field, or salon camera made of walnut and steel. I don't expect it to improve my photography, I expect it to provide more options and take a long time to master. I don't intend to replace it *ever*.

@BryanBirks

13 күн бұрын

I’ve never used a film camera with autofocus aside from a point and shoot. It scares me to trust an old system like that! Lmao

At this point I'm not sure if I'm here for the photography or the tool Easter eggs in each video lately! 🤙🏼😎Keep rockin mate!

@BryanBirks

12 күн бұрын

I would want nothing more than that.

I stopped looking at new cameras after the original Fuji X100.

@thebendu33

10 күн бұрын

I always took photos, but I didn't realize how much I liked it till recently, I'm 48. My step mom passed and while going through her stuff we found an old praktica film camera. And it clicked in my head. I bought a few film cameras, and now I've decided to keep only one mount system on analog photo. Recently, I bought my first digital camera. Took a used Nikon d750, and bought a Tamron 70-200mm lens. So far I do everything with it. Got a few paid contracts. I freaking love it. Anyway this to say that I was a gear slutt in music for years, and seem like I'm not like this in photography. I take my time, and try to improve always

Love it, subscribed at 1:46. ❤

@BryanBirks

13 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Great video Bryan. You nailed it

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Bryan hi, what camera do u use for filming your vlog? Thanks

@BryanBirks

13 күн бұрын

Lumix S1!

I’m a guitar player also and the GAS over there is probably worse. The KZread pimps are definitely worse over there 😂.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Oh I can’t imagine.

Rivers Dream may just be the best photobook I've ever purchased!

@BryanBirks

13 күн бұрын

It’s a beauty. Inside and out.

I would highly recommend, if you can, to attend a tool concert. Saw them recently and it was simply incredible.

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

Saw them in Nashville in March! Amazing to say the least.

great info and truth bombs, subbed!

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Love it when your videos drop 🙏

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Appreciate it!

Good words all round, it is not easy to find bullshit free non-self inflating KZread work these days. Keep up the good work, hit the plains and chase those storms (I want to also) 🌪️

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

A lot of photographers on KZread simply don’t have the work to show in order to inform people so they have to hype themselves up. I would probably be more ahead on this platform if I did that but I just can’t do it. 😂

@HeathHolden

15 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks I agree, just lots of chatter. You have the photographic substance to outshine the YouTubin’ 🙏🏼

AI won't take your job, it will simply eliminate us all. Not joking - in another window at the moment I have a view into a 160 petabyte storage environment and several hundred thousand CPU cores. It's only a matter of time. We won't even see it either - it will have spread beyond the point of stopping it before we realize full consciousness has been achieved. Perhaps in the end AI will keep some of us as "biological analog" photo generators? :D

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

I am just going to choose not to believe you. Easy as that!

You come across, to me at least, as being super inspired AND inspiring in this video. You made me wanna go shoot! Also, glad to see your channel becoming a TOOL fanboy channel 😉 Maybe they will sponsor you

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

That’s good to hear! If Tool sponsors me I would freak.

@jasonclark5290

15 күн бұрын

I live in a small town in Western Michigan. Maynard, though not born there, grew up and graduated from the neighboring small town about 8 miles east of mine. That’s my claim to fame. 😂

Love TOOL 🤘🏾

@BryanBirks

14 күн бұрын

Heck yeah.

loved the vibe of this video, mainly the leica answer

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

In another life I definitely tout a Leica and a flash.

Dude that Orangutan transition had me HOWLING ahahahah, also I’m catastrophically jealous of your Joel Sternfeld book, one of the images from it has been my desktop background for three years now, an excellent one to have among the remaining few! Congrats on the desk by the way, looks super rad!

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Orangutan? That was me, bro. Sternfeld is goated. Which image is it? I’ll guess: blind man in flower garden.

@willysheepskin

15 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks Ok ok well you're very deft with a saw matey - also no although that one is also insane, its "Manville Corporation World Headquarters, Littleton, Colorado, October" ahah, not actually sure if it is even in that book now that I think about it, but I've looked at it like every day for 3 years and am still obsessed with it

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Oh yes. I remember that one.

You should ask #BraeHunziker to be your sponsor!, that guy is loaded!!! not just Portra 400 either!. 🤔

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Yeah, he’s loaded alright…full of crap mostly. 💩

Another video from Bryan? Oh my...

@BryanBirks

13 күн бұрын

Almost as rare as a solar eclipse.

This video is not sponsored by S**********.... btw Jasper is such an incredible book.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

The photos are just one part. The printing is one of the best I've seen. The paper, texture, tones, woof.

Great honest post. I can't wait to see what the next 12 months bring for you while you're not being a prick😅

Ive watched and traveled more than I'd like to admin for tool shows in the late 90s early 2000s, and I don't even own a tool shirt......... :p Leica is overrated, but my daily camera is an M2. Go figure. Love the content.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

My first concert was in March and I needed a shirt. The in-laws came through.

@mrfidegf

15 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks ha! I drove from NYC to Indiana to watch them when aenima came out.. good times.

Wait, you're over 2 bills? what are you like 5 percent BF, Holmes? (Lot's of great stuff in this vid, like so often, man. But yah I kind of got stuck on that. lol.) And after so many years of bad GAS pains - so many cameras bought and sold - I'm now of the opinion....5D Classic with a nikkor 55mm macro, FTW.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

My grandmother used to say I was big boned but I do like to keep it trim.

Is it possible to support you on Patreon?

@BryanBirks

14 күн бұрын

It is but I have it paused at the moment because I wasn’t posting as much.

👍

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Thumbs up emoji.

Agreed, don't be an asshole, if you are a photographer and you actually have that kind of time to get out and take photos, make videos, make money, you Are beyond bless.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Amen.

IV I got a Leica M4 as a present to myself, It's the worst camera I have ever had, It's now for sale.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

M6 or bust.

@rorycowieson5924

15 күн бұрын

M4 and M6 are great cameras. Why is it the worst camera you’ve ever had?

@KevinRusso

15 күн бұрын

@@rorycowieson5924 Actually I'd like to know why you think the camera is so great? I guess I don't like the rangefinder experience. I've been using a SLR for over 30 years. I find the ranger finder experience slow, and non-intuitive. Don't get me wrong the camera is beautiful in looks and construction, however, I want to use it as a tool, and as a tool, it's not the right one for me.

Dood - how did you get Nick Offerman to pose for you?

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

I told him the same thing!

@PaulHilbink

15 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks Love how honest and genuine you come across in your videos. Thanks for what you do. And I’m now following Mitch Dobrowner. I thought for sure he was shooting on medium or large format - amazing!

Coolest guy on KZread.

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

I can’t help but feel an incredible sense of sarcasm in this comment. But maybe it’s because I have no self esteem.

@flatsixcyl

16 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks lol no sarcasm. You’ve helped me out earlier on a forum, and I love the laid back approach to videos and your portraits are an inspiration.

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

@flatsixcyl ah perfect. Good to hear!

The obsession with reed timmer is real.

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

IM NOT OBSESSED

lmaooo ikea shots fired.

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

I knew they were too cheap to be true.

IV. 😂😂😂

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Short and succinct.

@maltemalone5444

15 күн бұрын

Absolutely sufficient analysis

autofocus utilizes AI?

@BryanBirks

13 күн бұрын

For certain modes like faces and animals.

AI is not the same as computing. Autofocus is not AI.

@BryanBirks

6 күн бұрын

Okay!

sorry for fucking up your 666 likes by adding one more!

@BryanBirks

8 күн бұрын

Haha the Devil is mad but not me.

Haha. I think the last comment covers just about every photographer on KZread. All arse holes and narcissists... so yes dont be one 👍🏼

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

Not all. But most.

Workflow just stop saying workflow lol

@BryanBirks

16 күн бұрын

Did I say that?

@illegalmindset4122

15 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks no just everyone else lol,you mentioned the buzzwords and that's one of the worst offenders drives me nuts

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

@@illegalmindset4122 Ahhhhhhh, yes workflow is bad. Almost as bad as the titles saying "You NEED this" or "Improve your photography with THIS"

@illegalmindset4122

15 күн бұрын

@@BryanBirks or what thing made me a better photographer with the same lame William eggleston and Todd hido ripoff pictures

Amen!

@BryanBirks

15 күн бұрын

🙏🏻