One of the things that has struck me recently is that as technology has progressed and my gear has become better, my photography has suffered. Photos are so realistic and sharp that they remove the sense of other wordly. And as I get more detached from that dream world, the less inspired I feel I become.
I definitely know what you mean. There are plugins/apps for that, but of course that might not feel quite as magical as using film for instance, but... I am not into film. I'm ok with the filters. :)
This is an excellent topic, Mitchell. I love your story about the Pinkhassov images!! What a clear story about the emotional direction and subjectivity of art! I've been a street photographer for 20 years and this is something that gets brought up frequently. I agree that focusing on just beauty and not looking deeper is an issue but to me, there's a deeper issue. My belief is that the intention of the photographer will always come out in the image. If a photograph seems boring, it's probably because we're picking up on the photographer's overwhelm, lack of specific direction or inspiration. A pretty photo could just be made because someone didn't know how to approach the scene. Thank you again for the thought-provoking video and killer photos!
@@mitchellkphotos that is true. I still am challenged to communicate what I see, so the intention is lost but there's another factor too, which is time. Once the moment passes, you're out of luck!
Thanks for this thought provoking video, Mitchell. I have often wondered why photos of beautiful places can seem so bland. Our social media is filled by the photos of those who have been to the same places as so many others, who have stood in their shoes and taken the same shots. As a macro photographer, I feel priveleged to work in a world that most don't see, filled with wierd and wonderful creatures. For each photo I have a title and a reflection on life. That helps me see connect with the creature, and feel the shots as I take them. Thanks again for sharing your great work and your thoughts.
I had a similar reaction to an Alex Webb photo in Mexico that had a pole or something in it. I couldn't understand why he left it in, it was distracting. But I also had to admire his genius, in that the pole balanced the photo, made it have more depth and gave more context to the photo. He's still one of my favorite photographers, and I try to imitate his style, but it's still hard. I tend to like to simplify and make things look organized and "pretty". That's why I'm watching this video. I will say, I tend to take photos of buildings, and right now I'm really into lines and shadows.
for the algorithm! there's a larger discussion about photos and their place/use these days that needs to be talked about with the rise of not just social media but how AI pictures impact everyone. impactful photos mean a lot more now than ever, now that its a language of the masses in a world where "industrial" bot driven content is starting to flood online social spaces. its always good to see new content on this channel. it deserves more subs
Yes BUT, ... I have over 20 years of my best pictures on a continuous display on a monitor in my dining room. Every time I pass by, they still amaze me. I know what the mood was, the atmosphere, etc when the picture was made. and that is all I want since I rarely if ever share my images. I have no control what other people bring to the image and what they take from it. It could be a meh, nice or it could be wow, amazing. Their call. As a movie director was once alleged to have said, "if you have a message, send it by Western Union." (that was a telegram company.) When looking at a picture, the viewer has to guess what happened before and after the shutter was pressed as well as what was going on outside the frame. Perhaps a really good photographer can somehow embed hints in the image to convey some of that information. I'm not that good.
@@mitchellkphotos Because my take-away from the video is that a picture needs more than just being beautiful. To put it bluntly, I don't really care what other people see or feel when they look an my pictures. Well actually I do, (I like praise as much as the next person) when they give an honest opinion about the image but whether it touches them deeply, while it might be interesting is very subjective and not something I strive to create. The same picture might make one person cry, another laugh and cause shudders of fear in a third and yet leave others indifferent. Is it the picture or what the people bring to the picture and their background? I'd rather make beautiful, well composed and exposed pictures for my enjoyment. If others like them too, that's a bonus.
I would say that even if we make images for ourselves, it's much more challenging in an interesting way to strive for something MORE than beautiful. Remember, I am not saying that the photos should NOT be beautiful, they certainly can be, but it can be a fun pursuit that might give you even more pleasure in your photography to go for MORE, to dig deeper. Now, I don't know your photography, but it may be that you're already doing this and you're not conscious of it.
@@mitchellkphotos Fair enough. Better than I think I am? Hmmm, perhaps that is why so many complements. LOL I do know that I usually don't spend an inordinate amount of time finding the perfect composition, etc. I arrive, look around and make my picture. I'm not always consciously aware of the why this and not that, it just seems right at the time. Later when I review the images on a large screen, some of those are keepers. Or perhaps it's because I do it for fun and myself so there is no pressure to produce a winner every time.
I feel like I got to this place in my photography at the beginning of December, and it was a result from taking a break to reflect on me and the last year and realising, shockingly, that I’d completely lost the ability to focus on my own interests and needs. Both in life and in photography. The result of becoming a dad. I worked very hard on becoming a selfish asshole (that’s how it felt at the time), and around Boxing Day or so I noticed that my photography had changed dramatically. I’d even taken hundreds of pretty cheeky street photos with people in them. Something I hadn’t dared do before
This video will stick with me and hope my photography will improve, although I do chase beautiful things I'm not wasting my time getting them perfect with bracketing and postcard look alike processing, I hate this for a long time.
You just never know how other people will connect. I posted an "architectural style" image of the old post office in Bodmin, Cornwall making it look "beautiful" not expecting many likes or comments. In the comments one man remembered his grandfather who had died outside while posting a birthday card to his son, the man's father. Another man remembered his mother going there to join a pen-pal club. His mother started to write to a girl in Canada which she did until she died & the son continued writing to the lady in Canada until she died. Sometimes I think you can over think it all.
That is VERY true that we do not have complete control over how people react. I am, of course, not talking about the exceptions or specific viewers of photos. I'm talking about the more common situations. You're not making a photo for one man to react emotionally to it because of a personal connection (I assume). So really that is what this video is about. It's about maximizing the impact of your photos in general. You'll always have exceptions. There will always be out of the ordinary individuals who will like something or hate something 'just because". Thank you for the comment though. It does remind us that the nature of photography is that it's ultimately very subjective.
Idk if it's something I ripped off of somebody or where it came from, but I've been saying for a long time that "not every great view makes for a great photo".
I liked all of the images shown in the video. The one photograph that stood out for me was the picture of the young Japanese woman on the train. Her closed eyes and expressionless face, the blurred head in the foreground, and the out of focus skyline in the background expressed the numbing anonymity of life that many of us feel living in a large city. For now, because I'm only a hobbyist, I would be satisfied making pretty pictures. If the opportunity presents itself, I will remember what you have suggested here and try to make more impactful images.
Had a dear friend who is sadly gone now she lived in Esquel a small dusty town with so much beauty in the surrounding area. Check out Piedra Parada and Los Alerces National Parc if you have not been though looks like you might be there. A place good for the soul to breathe and feel wonder. Shot/wrote an article on a guy who built a lodge for fisherman who came from all over the world to fish the amazing rivers. No gritty pix but a special place. All the best with your work.
I have been to parque de los Alerces, had things stolen from a car while my parents were visiting and we had a picnic. 🤣😭 Not great memories. This was shot closer to San Martin De Los Andes. Much of that area all the qay down to Esquel is just so special.
OK, but you're describing editorial and documentary / photojournalistic photography. If I'm taking a landscape photo in Patagonia, it would be out of place to have people in the foreground doing things. So yeah, good advice for a specific genre of photography, not for everything.
You're missing the point. What do people have to do with this? It's like this... If you're making a photo of a landscape in Patagonia - you don't need to only focus on how beautiful it is, you don't need to ONLY shoot it during the golden hour etc. You can shoot it when it's rainy, when the clouds are heavy, you can look for a tree which is being bent by the heavy wind. You can look to frame the whole scene with a thorned bush to highlight the rough environment. Suddenly it's not just a pretty picture, there are layers of depth, a sense of story, yes even in landscapes. So not specific genre. It's photography in general. ;
Interesting, WHO IS your mentor? You never told us! Good food for thought. for me I'm showing creativity not really a story but thank you for making me think.
I guess I'm still years away from having the understanding to appreciate the photo of that girl on the train. It looks like a snapshot that my sister would take, and honestly, I think all her photos are dog shit. lol But maybe it's my Dunning Krueger effect where I think I know what a nice photo is but actually still don't know anything. lol Anyway, as always, appreciate your insights. Do you think one needs to have a giant portfolio of "beautiful" photos before one gets so tired of taking them?
You know, that's an interesting thought. Sometimes I think one needs to go through all that stuff to understand and THEN move on to the deeper work. Other times I think - WHY even bother? Go right to the deeper work. :)
Just a question from me. If a photographer, or artist, or poet, or musician, has to verbally explain the depth and layers in their work to others so that they can see them, has the artist fallen short in how they have presented those layers in their works?
Maybe, but on the other hand, taking the time to share "hidden" light to encourage, enlighten or enrich others is always preferable to leaving them living in "darkness".
That is a really good question! I don't know if there's a single answer to it. I think that if a photographer HAS to explain then yes, they have fallen short. But of course it depends on what context and to whom. Like, if I am teaching about a photo, I feel it's ok to explain, if I am just showing it and I get no reaction then a few questions come up. Is it that the image has no impact at all? OR that a few people don't like it. OR only a few people like it, but they are the people whose opinions I really respect. Very nuanced. BUT in short. If no one (or almost no one) gets the photo and the photographer has to explain it then I DO think the photographer failed.
I can relate so much! The interesting thing is that these pictures that I now consider boring get many more likes on social media. I just came back from India and a simple picture of the Taj Mahal gets more likes than any of my street photos.
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One of the things that has struck me recently is that as technology has progressed and my gear has become better, my photography has suffered. Photos are so realistic and sharp that they remove the sense of other wordly. And as I get more detached from that dream world, the less inspired I feel I become.
I definitely know what you mean. There are plugins/apps for that, but of course that might not feel quite as magical as using film for instance, but... I am not into film. I'm ok with the filters. :)
@@mitchellkphotos I'm doing the same. Although like having been told the secret of the trick, things don't feel as magical as before :)
This is an excellent topic, Mitchell. I love your story about the Pinkhassov images!! What a clear story about the emotional direction and subjectivity of art! I've been a street photographer for 20 years and this is something that gets brought up frequently. I agree that focusing on just beauty and not looking deeper is an issue but to me, there's a deeper issue. My belief is that the intention of the photographer will always come out in the image. If a photograph seems boring, it's probably because we're picking up on the photographer's overwhelm, lack of specific direction or inspiration. A pretty photo could just be made because someone didn't know how to approach the scene. Thank you again for the thought-provoking video and killer photos!
I think maybe lack of intention or direction will be obvious, the intention is often lost because it's not that easy to communicate it.
@@mitchellkphotos that is true. I still am challenged to communicate what I see, so the intention is lost but there's another factor too, which is time. Once the moment passes, you're out of luck!
@ oh yes :)
Thanks for this thought provoking video, Mitchell. I have often wondered why photos of beautiful places can seem so bland. Our social media is filled by the photos of those who have been to the same places as so many others, who have stood in their shoes and taken the same shots. As a macro photographer, I feel priveleged to work in a world that most don't see, filled with wierd and wonderful creatures. For each photo I have a title and a reflection on life. That helps me see connect with the creature, and feel the shots as I take them. Thanks again for sharing your great work and your thoughts.
Excellent video, thank you Mitchell.
I had a similar reaction to an Alex Webb photo in Mexico that had a pole or something in it. I couldn't understand why he left it in, it was distracting. But I also had to admire his genius, in that the pole balanced the photo, made it have more depth and gave more context to the photo. He's still one of my favorite photographers, and I try to imitate his style, but it's still hard. I tend to like to simplify and make things look organized and "pretty". That's why I'm watching this video.
I will say, I tend to take photos of buildings, and right now I'm really into lines and shadows.
This video perfectly represents your core niche and why I subscribed to you in the first place. Well done 👏
for the algorithm!
there's a larger discussion about photos and their place/use these days that needs to be talked about with the rise of not just social media but how AI pictures impact everyone. impactful photos mean a lot more now than ever, now that its a language of the masses in a world where "industrial" bot driven content is starting to flood online social spaces.
its always good to see new content on this channel. it deserves more subs
Brilliant. Spot on. The tips at the end are especially helpful
Thank you very much, Mitchell! Amazing guide and tips for great photos!
Yes BUT, ...
I have over 20 years of my best pictures on a continuous display on a monitor in my dining room. Every time I pass by, they still amaze me. I know what the mood was, the atmosphere, etc when the picture was made. and that is all I want since I rarely if ever share my images. I have no control what other people bring to the image and what they take from it. It could be a meh, nice or it could be wow, amazing. Their call.
As a movie director was once alleged to have said, "if you have a message, send it by Western Union." (that was a telegram company.)
When looking at a picture, the viewer has to guess what happened before and after the shutter was pressed as well as what was going on outside the frame. Perhaps a really good photographer can somehow embed hints in the image to convey some of that information. I'm not that good.
Why is it a BUT? :) It's very much in line with what I am saying. :)
@@mitchellkphotos Because my take-away from the video is that a picture needs more than just being beautiful.
To put it bluntly, I don't really care what other people see or feel when they look an my pictures. Well actually I do, (I like praise as much as the next person) when they give an honest opinion about the image but whether it touches them deeply, while it might be interesting is very subjective and not something I strive to create.
The same picture might make one person cry, another laugh and cause shudders of fear in a third and yet leave others indifferent. Is it the picture or what the people bring to the picture and their background?
I'd rather make beautiful, well composed and exposed pictures for my enjoyment. If others like them too, that's a bonus.
I would say that even if we make images for ourselves, it's much more challenging in an interesting way to strive for something MORE than beautiful. Remember, I am not saying that the photos should NOT be beautiful, they certainly can be, but it can be a fun pursuit that might give you even more pleasure in your photography to go for MORE, to dig deeper. Now, I don't know your photography, but it may be that you're already doing this and you're not conscious of it.
@@mitchellkphotos Fair enough. Better than I think I am? Hmmm, perhaps that is why so many complements. LOL I do know that I usually don't spend an inordinate amount of time finding the perfect composition, etc. I arrive, look around and make my picture. I'm not always consciously aware of the why this and not that, it just seems right at the time. Later when I review the images on a large screen, some of those are keepers. Or perhaps it's because I do it for fun and myself so there is no pressure to produce a winner every time.
I feel like I got to this place in my photography at the beginning of December, and it was a result from taking a break to reflect on me and the last year and realising, shockingly, that I’d completely lost the ability to focus on my own interests and needs. Both in life and in photography. The result of becoming a dad.
I worked very hard on becoming a selfish asshole (that’s how it felt at the time), and around Boxing Day or so I noticed that my photography had changed dramatically. I’d even taken hundreds of pretty cheeky street photos with people in them. Something I hadn’t dared do before
This video will stick with me and hope my photography will improve, although I do chase beautiful things I'm not wasting my time getting them perfect with bracketing and postcard look alike processing, I hate this for a long time.
You just never know how other people will connect. I posted an "architectural style" image of the old post office in Bodmin, Cornwall making it look "beautiful" not expecting many likes or comments. In the comments one man remembered his grandfather who had died outside while posting a birthday card to his son, the man's father. Another man remembered his mother going there to join a pen-pal club. His mother started to write to a girl in Canada which she did until she died & the son continued writing to the lady in Canada until she died. Sometimes I think you can over think it all.
That is VERY true that we do not have complete control over how people react. I am, of course, not talking about the exceptions or specific viewers of photos. I'm talking about the more common situations. You're not making a photo for one man to react emotionally to it because of a personal connection (I assume). So really that is what this video is about. It's about maximizing the impact of your photos in general. You'll always have exceptions. There will always be out of the ordinary individuals who will like something or hate something 'just because". Thank you for the comment though. It does remind us that the nature of photography is that it's ultimately very subjective.
Am I the only one going, all of these look great
Haha.
Very insightful. Thank you.
Idk if it's something I ripped off of somebody or where it came from, but I've been saying for a long time that "not every great view makes for a great photo".
Thanks!
I liked all of the images shown in the video. The one photograph that stood out for me was the picture of the young Japanese woman on the train. Her closed eyes and expressionless face, the blurred head in the foreground, and the out of focus skyline in the background expressed the numbing anonymity of life that many of us feel living in a large city. For now, because I'm only a hobbyist, I would be satisfied making pretty pictures. If the opportunity presents itself, I will remember what you have suggested here and try to make more impactful images.
Had a dear friend who is sadly gone now she lived in Esquel a small dusty town with so much beauty in the surrounding area. Check out Piedra Parada and Los Alerces National Parc if you have not been though looks like you might be there. A place good for the soul to breathe and feel wonder. Shot/wrote an article on a guy who built a lodge for fisherman who came from all over the world to fish the amazing rivers. No gritty pix but a special place. All the best with your work.
I have been to parque de los Alerces, had things stolen from a car while my parents were visiting and we had a picnic. 🤣😭
Not great memories. This was shot closer to San Martin De Los Andes. Much of that area all the qay down to Esquel is just so special.
This should be required viewing for new photographers!
That is very nice of you :)
Well said.
OK, but you're describing editorial and documentary / photojournalistic photography. If I'm taking a landscape photo in Patagonia, it would be out of place to have people in the foreground doing things. So yeah, good advice for a specific genre of photography, not for everything.
You're missing the point. What do people have to do with this? It's like this... If you're making a photo of a landscape in Patagonia - you don't need to only focus on how beautiful it is, you don't need to ONLY shoot it during the golden hour etc.
You can shoot it when it's rainy, when the clouds are heavy, you can look for a tree which is being bent by the heavy wind. You can look to frame the whole scene with a thorned bush to highlight the rough environment. Suddenly it's not just a pretty picture, there are layers of depth, a sense of story, yes even in landscapes.
So not specific genre. It's photography in general. ;
Interesting, WHO IS your mentor? You never told us! Good food for thought.
for me I'm showing creativity not really a story but thank you for making me think.
I did mention him, I think even a few times. Here's one time I can remember - th-cam.com/users/shortsTjWwuWAtqFk
I guess I'm still years away from having the understanding to appreciate the photo of that girl on the train. It looks like a snapshot that my sister would take, and honestly, I think all her photos are dog shit. lol But maybe it's my Dunning Krueger effect where I think I know what a nice photo is but actually still don't know anything. lol Anyway, as always, appreciate your insights. Do you think one needs to have a giant portfolio of "beautiful" photos before one gets so tired of taking them?
You know, that's an interesting thought. Sometimes I think one needs to go through all that stuff to understand and THEN move on to the deeper work. Other times I think - WHY even bother? Go right to the deeper work. :)
Photography, like art, is entirely subjective. The question has no meaning.
Just a question from me. If a photographer, or artist, or poet, or musician, has to verbally explain the depth and layers in their work to others so that they can see them, has the artist fallen short in how they have presented those layers in their works?
Maybe, but on the other hand, taking the time to share "hidden" light to encourage, enlighten or enrich others is always preferable to leaving them living in "darkness".
That is a really good question! I don't know if there's a single answer to it. I think that if a photographer HAS to explain then yes, they have fallen short. But of course it depends on what context and to whom. Like, if I am teaching about a photo, I feel it's ok to explain, if I am just showing it and I get no reaction then a few questions come up. Is it that the image has no impact at all? OR that a few people don't like it. OR only a few people like it, but they are the people whose opinions I really respect. Very nuanced. BUT in short. If no one (or almost no one) gets the photo and the photographer has to explain it then I DO think the photographer failed.
Не понимаю Пинхасова, картинки как картинки, чем они цепляют? Повезло ему запрыгнуть в вагон называемый Магнум во время железного занавеса, и что?
I can relate so much! The interesting thing is that these pictures that I now consider boring get many more likes on social media.
I just came back from India and a simple picture of the Taj Mahal gets more likes than any of my street photos.
Мгновенный реакция😂😅😊🎉