Photography and Social Media, An Honest Talk
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.พ. 2023
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Mate, I do love your stuff but I had a couple of things to say on this one. Which may seem harsh but come from the hope that they'll maybe ease the confusion in the cold light of day. First lets not forget how The NY Times found you in the first place? Social, right?
However, in all deepest respect, you're a youtube/social media photographer. That's how you built your career so far. By freely putting work out on those channels for all to see. That means that you've sidestepped the traditional "gatekeepers", the high emperors of what is and what is not "good work", and instead gained comment and review by either well meaning other social media photoigraphers (all playing by the same algorithmic formulas) or by well meaning amatuers ('Sick pic bro'). Perhaps this deep feeling is coming from that fact that now you're knocking out actually good work, the responses are still those same feedback loops. Maybe it's time to step the work outside of social media, put a true portfolio together, create a dummy book for "articles of virture" take it to some gallerists, take it to some agencies, take it to a book/portfolio review (Chico Hot Springs etc.). Get some truly useful feedback. Plug into that level of soundingboard, rather than the social media creatives who maybe only play to the social media level. Get reviews from people you care not how many followers you have.
It isn't social media's fault, I think you've hit a point where you want to put your work up against those who play in the bigger leagues. Critique is good, be ready for honesty, be ready for hard thinking, know "why you make the work", not the stuff made for likes.
Also (jeez this is long now). The beginning bit about landscape work. SPoken like a true portrait photographer sir. I was the same, never considered myself as a landscape guy, thought it was all just drive up to some place, have a bit of a walk, set up the camera, bish bash bosh, amazing photographs....... N'ah, it's spend weeks planning the right place, drive for hours, spend another few hours looking for the composition whilst lugging a huge bag of stuff with you, see the light isn't good, sit and wait, wait some more, think it isn't coming, then it comes but now your not sure about the composition as you've been sat looking at it for an hour. Pack and repeat. I hate it, bring me people any day of the week :)
So, yeah. I think you've hit that "Is my work good, like, good, good." Where do i stand in the photographic world as a whole, am I just a youtube photographer?. How can I be seen as more than that? How can I translate my standing on socials into a similar standing in the "real" photographic world?
I'd say the same way you did it on here, just get out there, go see people, go to portfolio reviews, book reviews, exhibitions, talks, network events. Put the effort you put in here into that world. It's the same formula, you've got proof you can do it.
As I say, this comes from respect and love. I want you to keep progressing and growing as a photographer, to me that's the way to go about it.
PEace and love. Mark
I mean you pretty much hit the nail on the head and that’s exactly what I need to hear from someone.
All of what you said is exactly how I feel and you have to understand how HARD it is to transition from wanting likes, attention, etc to something like true recognition from peers and people you respect. Add on the fact that I have had opportunities from social and it’s a big conundrum because I obviously don’t want to ditch it outright and go towards the other direction.
All in all I appreciate your comment and I agree with you. I’ve started the process to get some reviews and critiques as well and I did actually get accepted to Chico but had to decline because of the insane cost. So even though it’s in the beginning stages just know that I am making progress towards those things.
Thanks again and cheers.
Edit : also I spoke a little too freely about the landscape photos. I know it takes time and work. Haha just totally different ballgames in terms of how you go about it.
@@BryanBirks go for HIPA ... 🙂
@@BryanBirks Yeah, I suck at landscape, I don't have that kind of patience.
With regards Chico etc. not sure how things work in the US but maybe there are arts organisations that have grants / support funds for artists looking to do the things you're looking to try out? Or to be fair, lean on your social community numbers and appraoch some of the organisers / sponsors of such events and maybe come to some arrangement where you do some kind of piece documenting the whole "artist gets reviewed" process?? Or look to more local arts / photography organisations (again, not sure of if these things exist in the US). We have some great organisations over here, that allow photographers to do little showcases of work and to get peer reviews. Feel free to hit me up with a message if ever you want to chat further on this. I'm kinda from the other side, I was fully commercial and wanted to create more "meaningful" work (so that ends up having the "art" tag). I found it super hard to see worth in the work I made for others when I put it up against those who shot purely project / exhibition based stuff.
You'll find the path that works for you, sure they'll be some wrong turns and failures but those are the things that help you refine your what and why.
Y'all, GET OFF SOCIAL MEDIA IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL BAD. It's honestly not even something that taking a break will fix; you're just putting a band-aid on a hemorrhaging problem. Social media is a SOUL KILLER. Likes aren't worth more than the momentary adrenaline bump they give you, and next thing you know, you're chasing that little high again. There's nothing to win in that game. Leave it behind.
I definitely agree with you to a certain extent. But I think there is a good balance you can have. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
My problem is that I’ve had too many opportunities come from social media. Without it I have no clue where I would be in my photo career. My potential dream job found me through IG. So it’s not very viable to give it up completely. Like I said I think there is a balance that I’m trying to find. It’s there.
This is like telling people who are addicted to drugs to "just quit". Social media is designed to create chemical dependence to expose you to more ads when you spend more time scrolling to feel "normal". It is important to be empathetic to those among us who can't just kick it to the curb.
@@TasteTheSwine There's some truth to that. But quitting cold turkey is possible for some people---I did it. Bryan is in a conundrum since his professional work is linked (mine wasn't), but if folks aren't in that situation, they should absolutely get off of the platforms or AT LEAST stop posting, liking, and commenting (disengagement from the social aspects). (My comment was mainly in response to the video commenters, most of whom I assume are not professional photographers.) Disconnection is absolutely possible for most people.
I feel that without social media , some artists wouldn't be where they want to be or meant to be.
So much of what you wrote in your notes resonated that it would be too much to try and sum up in a single comment. We'll save it for next month when we can do it in person.
Thanks for watching, friend. I’ll bring the whiskey.
Whatever you are doing, if it's no longer enjoyable, take a break, come back refreshed and with a new perspective, then decide how best to move forward so it is enjoyable. I look forward to see what you present next.
I think the main thing I’m doing that isn’t enjoyable is how I’m interacting with social media. It’s the pressure I put on myself to make work not the actual action of making the work. If that makes sense.
I definitely need a better relationship when it comes to how I interact and take in certain platforms. So a break in that regard is probably much needed.
@@BryanBirks Thanks for the response and I do think that if interacting feel like a chore, rather than a genuine response, don't feel obliged to do it.
I look at your channel as "beer talk" in that it's almost like we're sitting at a bar together over a beer and you're telling me a story about a car owner you'd met, or a place you'd been, but you have photos to back it up. Each of these images means something to you, you're not just checking a box and throwing out content regularly. I really appreciate how you have made your channel unique from many others because of this personal, meaningful, yet casual presentation. Keep it up!
I think I’m one of the few people with a healthy detachment from “normal” social media (tiktok, Instagram, FB, etc.) but I definitely spend a lot of time watching TH-cam, probably more than most people.
Bryan you nailed it. Without exception - life is a never ending carnival ride called serendipity. Getting off the ride is not easy, and as you stated Bryan one needs to retract from the outside stimuli that pulls at us and our creative time. Is there a place for social media - perhaps, although I personally avoid all social media - no FB, no twitter, no myspace, no linkedin, no nothing full stop, but I do watch TH-cam and channels like yours - this for me is educational, there is no social inference beyond the associated recognition of repetition, coming back to the same trusted channels and the same trusted people like yourself, in order to further my own educational experience. This is where I believe TH-cam shines, where channels like yours are watched and followed by those who have a common interest.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I believe TH-cam is great for this purpose as well. Where words typed out in quick 140 character replies nuance is lost and I think TH-cam is the complete opposite of this. Ideas are easily digested with someone saying them to you and the community it has brought me has been great.
Most of my feelings are just unwarranted pressure that I put on myself which could easily be fixed with just “taking a chill pill.” TH-cam isn’t that serious and social media in general isn’t. My next video is already planning to be super chill and relaxed without an agenda. Hope to see you there.
@@BryanBirks Its odd for me, maybe because I'm almost 60, and I really dislike social media mostly because it seems so fake to me, providing a false narrative. Heck my cell phone is not even a smart phone, its one of the few dumb phones out there, all I use it for is making and receiving calls, heck I only learned to text with it 2 years ago, and I still stumble with that, and those blasted emojis which I don't understand at all, just freak me out. I don't even bank on my phone, no watching videos or movies on my phone either, but I did download one app its the only app I have - its 'solitaire'...lol, to help me pass the time in doctors waiting rooms and such. And TH-cam is reserved for my desktop.
Man, this is exactly what is going through my mind lately about everything regarding photography. I feel like IG is like an echo chamber of the same ideas, and I feel like I'm losing my identity in making work. You are not alone in your feelings, thank you for sharing this and for wearing your heart on your sleeve ♥️
Let the NY Times take that L 🤣
It is such a hard thing to grapple with especially in today's age of photography. You can certainly choose to ignore it and not participate but then are you potentially throwing away good opportunities to connect and expand your work? I think it is the definition of a tool and a tool that can easily be misused. It really is about using it wisely (which I think can be done with some diligence). Also, the NYT will be calling back soon hopefully! Haha thanks for the kind words and comment.
I truly appreciate the candidness of this video, and it’s a feeling I relate to as a full time photographer. There really are ups and downs in this job, but I hope you ride the waves knowing that the ups will come eventually. I’ve watched so many of your vlogs and it’s always pulled me out of a creative funk.
Glad it was helpful, Pat. Cheers.
Thank you for sharing this! You perfectly said what i was thinking a for a long time. It really helps to see that we are all people. Wish you luck with your projects!
You are welcome. Thanks for your support!
Lovely landscapes Bryan just keep working and making sure you enjoy what you do x
Absolutely 🍻
Bryan I'm going through EXACTLY how you feel right now. Your words were crazy because it feels like what I wanted to say too. Personally I have been off social media effectively for about a week now. I decided to remove apps off my phone and limit my screen time as a whole to about an hour a day tops. The most difficult thing is not receiving messages from friends but the ones that know me know they can contact me directly with a text or call. We shouldn't keep the expectation with everyone that if they send us a DM we will always respond. That's actually a really unhealthy way to go about life I think. Social Media apps are designed to control our behavior and we need to break the cycle. Our creativity depends on it. Thank you so much for this video.
Limiting is the big thing. If I took the time I was actually being productive on social media it wouldn’t be that much but I get caught in the cycle. Breaking that is what’s important. Easier said than done but at least there’s a way to do it. Thanks for the comment!
Happy to be here and following your channel. You can't always be up or down. You can't appreciate the good times if it doesn't suck from time to time. I'm 52 and realise now that success is built on consistently applying yourself over a long period of time. It will even itself out. Take pride in your work, accept differing views on your work for what they are - just someone's opinion. Don't make them right or wrong. I'm loving this channel as it seems are many others. Take time for yourself, your missus and keep creating.
Thanks, Dave. Taking everyone’s opinions, good and bad, is one thing I have improved on. I used to be so quick to reply when someone would say something remotely negative. Now I just take it in and really try to see where they are coming from.
Appreciate the support 🍻
Some very important points you come up with, like becoming "jealous" when we see others achieving their goals, bragging about it on social media, while we may struggle the down wave. Life is about phases and you may talk from a lot of people's hearts with this statement, may the influence come from social media or some other stuff meant to depress us. The discrepancy is all the bigger while we see you playing clown with your bad flash buddy ... Sometimes I believe what a soldier once scratched into the metal of his lighter: There is no gravity, the world sucks! Now, get out and look for those cars!!! 🙂
Very true words, Jos. Always trying to figure it out.
Bryan .. you are a good honest bloke .. excellent photographer and your TH-cam posts really speak to me . I watch so much varied stuff that I can take or leave to be honest but everything you post really makes me think .. keep it up ... thank you
Very happy to hear that, Tim. Thank you.
Hey Bryan ! Just wanted to let you know that your instagram has helped me discover photographers, and types of photography, that I wasn't aware of. Your youtube channel has helped me in accepting that the one who needs to be happy with my photos is myself, and as a result made me a better photographer (not a figure of speech : my keepers/loosers ratio has gone up since I go out remembering that) ; plus it's a refreshing breather in an ocean of lofi hip hop intro photography videos.
Thank you for what you do. Have a good one too !
Happy to hear that! I’ve watched a lot of videos where people are being “honest” or any other word like that and it still comes across as rehearsed. I filmed this talking head part two different times essentially reading off a script before I just did it with no cuts and no stops saying exactly what I felt.
I think the lofi channels are still great. I need them every once in a while and I think it all comes down to intention with the work and the video.
Glad my Instagram could inspire you and help you find others though. Rad to hear.
Bryan, thank you for your video, your vulnerability and honest sharing with us. In many ways I can relate to a lot of what you have shared here. While I acknowledge the difficulties of the struggles that accompany photography work I deeply appreciate and find value in your honest sharing that even those with a larger following are not immune to this up and down and all that goes along with it. Your sharing helps me to feel a little less alone in this-thank you.
Thank you kindly, Amanda. That means a lot to hear that. Cheers!
Hey Bryan.
It’s a real interesting one isn’t it. One of the reasons we are starting FRONT is to help photographers get back to the love of collecting and supporting photographers in a ‘non social media’ way.
However, we have to do social media to promote this.
A backwards way of working.
We all have waves of motivation and slumps I guess.
We love your work, and we hope we can continue to follow and support your journey however that may look 💪
Your channel looks interesting, I signed up for your channel.
Indeed photographers need to support each other by buying books, prints, visiting galleries etc...
I buy a few photo books every month and I recently subscribed to "Frames Magazine" a monthly magazine.
It is always up and down. I think that's somewhat of a beautiful thing. It would be boring if it were just up, up, up the whole time. Thanks for the following along. I've always appreciated your guys' support!
Thanks for being so vulnerable, open and honest. Your channel inspires me the so much because I know your being real and always showing the hard parts of life and photography. Sometimes I don’t even check Instagram because it’s the same photos over and over and sometimes I feel like I’m just a copy. Nonetheless as long as I’m shooting im happy. Anyway, Thanks for sharing !
Appreciate that! I enjoy when others are vulnerable and real so I feel like I have to do it myself. As much as I enjoy the popcorn type TH-cam videos they can get old very fast.
I appreciated this video and the issues you raise. I hope you continue to make your You Tube videos. It takes courage to put your work out there in the arena and share so much of your personal process. I learn a lot from your well made videos and have been introduced to photographers I wouldn't otherwise have heard of. I love your car portraits and the insight into American life they offer.
Thank you, Paul. I will definitely continue as I think making videos like this is extremely helpful for myself and growing as a photographer. These are conversations I would have with closed loved ones or other photographers so the fact that I can have them open and honestly with myself and my "audience" can only help both parties.
Thank you Bryan for making this video! The message feels really relevant and needed at this time.
I myself go though so many awful phases on social media comparing my work to others, being distracted, feeling like I can’t figure out what steps to take next to “succeed” or expand my photography career. Social media can make me think everyone else is “making it” except for me hahaha.
I think it’s important to quiet the outside noise sometimes and just focus on the work itself rather than the results. Very much easier said than done though.
Again, thank you for your honesty and vulnerability.
Yeah social media is great for certain things but when you follow so many people it certainly looks like everyone is doing things while you’re just sitting there.
Truth is it’s just that you’re following 1,000 different people and of course one or two of them will be doing something great everyday. I don’t think it’s natural for a person to be following or interacting with that many people. It’s good to connect and build relationships but in my mind quality over quantity.
Thanks for this...and all your creative work.
Thanks for listening, Gerard.
Thank you for sharing, I agree completely with what you say about the social media, I left everything a long time ago because of what you think. All the best
Thanks for watching, Fernando. Cheers.
Thanks for still making these videos. Always interesting and always share great images. Thank you.
Thanks for watching, Andy. Really appreciate it!
Beautifully spoken. Its always been this way. You can walk your walk. No-one else will do it for you but you can do it. At the same time no person is an island. Both statements are true and the dance between these seeming opposites is our struggle. Its a good dance to learn, but you know, one step at a time.
Very true, Tony. Like I said in the video this is a sort of therapy for me. It’s very nice to have so many people listen and care about what I’m doing and that’s what I need to remember when I’m doubting myself.
Wonderful video. I can 100% agree with this. The cycle of trying to take photos good enough to share and hit the social media algorithm is tough. I’ve ended up posting or trying to take images to match that, rather than things I’d personally like more. It’s a difficult cycle and hard to keep up. But it’s also the only way to get exposure that’ll lead to being able to sell some prints or a photo book. Stand alone having a website is isn’t enough.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I always look forward to seeing more of your work!
Happy to hear that, Steve. Thanks for your support!
Always such a real talk from you, Bryan. It means a lot for you to put out a video talking about the process in this sort of light. “Trust the process,” I’ve been thinking abt that saying a lot lately. I recently started my first semester of art school at 20 years old. Before attending art school I would go out to photograph every day for the better half of 2 years. Now that I have classes taking up the majority of my time I rarely ever have time to go out, and that really fucks with me. You think you’re going to art school to hone your craft, turns out it’s been the biggest distraction from making actual work that I could have possibly imagined. So what do I do abt this? Well the only logical thing… berate myself. I thought I was the only one who gets so worked up when I’m not satisfied with what I’m doing with my work, thank you for showing me I’m not alone in that. And for every time I’ve ever been in a rut, I’ve crawled my way back out. You will too Bryan. You’ve only been at this for 3-4 years, and trust me I understand the amount of work you’ve put into it in those 3-4 years, but keep your nose down, keep grinding, keep photographing, take breaks when you need them, and trust the process.
Thanks, Nick. I’m always trying to remind myself of the time aspect. Every photographer I look up to was patient and took years building what they ultimately got to. It’s definitely a marathon.
Well said, we all go through it. For me I am constantly evolving and reinventing myself and or my direction.
I think it’ll be a life long thing for sure. Just gotta roll with the punches.
I very rarely comment on videos here. But I must say you just nailed the thought that I've been trying to comprehend myself as a professional photographer who also loves the hobby of taking photos. Social media most definitely have killed the creative happiness and rhythm of that process.
Also it's frightening what Instagram does to the photography in general, but that's a different discussion.
For a moment I totally lost the creative happiness which felt weird because I've always had it for 20 years. Then I realised it's because of the (passive) competition caused by social media and how it works. I don't want to be competitive with photography.
I decided to quit Instagram and make a book just for myself and that was the best decision ever.
Thanks for the video, take care!
Love that you approach photography deeper than just making cool photos that will end up on your feed.
Cool photos have a purpose as well. Just like popcorn movies or reality tv. I just suck at making things like that. Haha
Could not have put it better. Excellent work. Thank you for this.
Glad you enjoyed it, David 🍻
Beautiful message and beautiful video. So many trues in one take. Thank you for this.
Thank you so much for watching.
Poignant as ever, thank god you haven't gone down the road of reviewing over hyped, overpriced cameras.thanks for sharing.
There is still time for me to mess it up. Haha
Writing every day is such good therapy! Even if it’s just a paragraph. Put your thoughts down on paper (or notes app) I’m 56 and have been a photographer (clearing my throat to say “artist”) and the rebounds from the low points are so much easier. Also I took IG off my phone. Even though it DOESNT matter…beautiful photos and great video today Bryan!
Thank you. Definitely need to do it on paper. Anything to get away from the phone. Paper seems more definite. Appreciate the comment.
Thanks for all the amazing videos.
Thanks so much, Clarhett. Means a lot. I’ll put that towards a sheet of film on you 🍻
I see a Bryan birks video uploaded, I press play
Goat. 🐐
I appreciated listening to this Bryan, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it, sir 🍻
Excellent video! I have probably said that before but your videos are always so honest, personal & insightful. I like them very much. You hit the important point though. It doesn't matter if I like them or not. You have to do what photography works for you & if people want to follow along great if not go some place else. I did like the landscapes.
Thanks, Ted. It’s pretty much exactly what you have to do but everyone knows how hard that can be sometimes. Just figuring it out as I go.
Another excellent and thoughtful video Bryan, I think making You Tube videos is like being a musician, you have the choice of making commercial songs (which you probably dislike) or making what you truly believe in….and hoping others like it too. So my advice is just do what you love (which I think you are doing anyway) and try to shut out the negative thoughts….just concentrate on the positives. How about you doing a companion Podcast, I think you’d be excellent at that and it would give more scope to express the feelings side of photography….and life…..and focus more of the You Tube channel on pure photography. Just record your thoughts and feelings (unedited) as you target and approach a subject…..and immediately afterwards, as you drive away, I for one would definitely tune it to that type of content. All the best and keep up the great work :- ) Peter.
I have thought about a podcast but I always say to myself "everyone has a podcast." I know it would be decent and have an audience but I'm not sure. Maybe I will do one and put it out there as a test of sorts. Thanks for the comment, Peter.
Thank you Bryan for sharing these thoughts, they resonated with me very much. I recognize the feeling of being on a rollercoaster of 'creative happiness' and its ups and downs. Somehow, I feel like it is a part of any fruitful creative process and that it could mean that you are on to something worthwhile and meaningful in the end. The trick is to not mistake your creativity/productivity or lack thereof for your own self worth, I guess. Anyway, thank you!
Yeah it’s hard to break that connection with work and self worth. It’s a learning process and hopefully videos like this help push me and others in the right direction. 🖤
@@BryanBirks Absolutely, such important work! Keep it up :)
People tell me that I am good photographer. I share my photographs only with my family and a few friends. No one knows about me, and I don't care. I enjoy what I do, and I do it my way when I have the time and the urge to do it. BTW, I loved those photographs of the pylons and nondescript landscapes. It reminded me of the work of Robert Adams and Raymond Moore, and at times myself. Keep going. You are a talented photographer.
Happy to hear you enjoy your process. That’s really what it’s all about.
Appreciate the kind words. Robert Adams is a big inspiration. Not only his photography but how he speaks on his work and craft.
Welcome to my world! haha Keep doing what ever that makes you happy! and thank you for share..! Love your work!
Thank you! Will do. Cheers 🍻
I’ve recently got my dream job as a photographer in a marketing agency. It allows me to shoot on the daily and live a comfortable life, but i already feel the loss of creativity and excitement creeping in. Guess what im trying to say is that its good to know its not just me having these feelings. Thanks Bryan.
It’s a very tough balance and I think it can be done with some patience and practice. Let me know if you figure out something that works for you as I’m still going through the same process 🍻
@@BryanBirks thank you for taking the time to reply, means a lot. When (more like If but lets be positive) I figure something out, i'll drop you a line 🤝
Thanks for that. I genuinely appreciate you, man.
Thanks for watching, Jose. Appreciate you!
+1! Strikes me there's some tension between the intrinsic values that a creative person holds (and needs to protect, in order to stay motivated and satisfied with creative and personal progress) vs the extrinsic demands from the platforms' insatiable appetite for regular content and clicks, likes and subs. This must erode anyone's creative mojo after a while. Sounds like you're already making some adjustments re your content output and this may bring some fresh perspectives and enjoyment. Fwiw as a relatively new follower I value you sharing your thinking, approach, inspiration and learning (etc.) as much (possibly more than!) as seeing the end-result images (even as excellent as they are!). Your willingness to be open about the trials and tribulations is what makes you authentic and I and 21000 other people are likely mainly here for it!
Ted talk: "How craving attention makes you less creative" | Joseph Gordon-Levitt; th-cam.com/video/3VTsIju1dLI/w-d-xo.html. Not that I think you're craving attention Bryan, just sharing to show how one side affect of social media can be the diminishing of one's attention, creativity and mojo.
Definitely some tension, Andrew! But in the end I need to make videos like this to help myself push through. Even though there is some tension on this platform I am always pushed towards making stuff like this to try and help others as well. I sometimes forget how many people watch and how often I have the chance to try and inspire or help in some way. Appreciate your comment, sir!
Thank you for sharing your experience, I hope you will find your way.
"Social media" is a horrible medium for sharing your art. "Social media" was designed with the intent to destroy creativity and isolate people from others and themselves.
"Screens" / "news feeds" especially phone screens are not suitable for immersing oneself in a photograph since you are looking at a "digital negative" instead of the finished creation.
Photographs take time and effort to create. The viewer should do the same, purchasing prints, books and visit galleries and libraries.
Yeah posting on Instagram has been interesting lately. Feels like I'm throwing photos into the void. Photos that I actually took time and put in effort. It's very strange. I agree with book buying and visiting galleries but unfortunately that is a very niche audience. Those things take a lot of resources on both ends, financially and relationally. Very tough to break into it. Thanks for your comment!
Keep things Simple 👍
You have a Great foundation, take a breath.
I plan on simplifying things in the next video. Just photography. Thanks for always watching, Stuart. Cheers.
Thank you Bryan. I hope to see more of your videos but social media and sharing in general has killed my passion for photography. I shoot since I am 13 and it was 29 years ago. I believe the key to restart is to stop sharing my work digitally.
It may have to come to that for me personally. Even making these videos has me thinking a lot. Do I need the thoughts and replies of others on everything I do in photography? Certainly not. I think it is a problem that only a certain amount of people can really related to, at least TH-cam, because every TH-camr I have talked to feels that exact same things. They feel tied to the machine.
I left social media on December 2020, closed everything and never looked back. Have never felt better, have never been more creative. Although i do have Instagram again i don't follow anyone and i use it very consciously, like posting but not to follow anyone. I study photography from the masters through photobooks, if you wanna learn timeless photography i suggest doing the same, not through social media. Focus on your website, share but don't care. Aim for the sky, shoot for yourself apply to grants, Magnum photo agency, etc.
Using it consciously is what I need to do. Instead of the mindless scrolling that I’ve been doing. There needs to be a goal when I open it up whether it’s to take in work or simply communicate with other photographers.
One suggestion: Daniel Milnor
You know, the funny thing is I have been wondering if I need to keep all the negatives I've been keeping. In this case, it obviously sucks that they got tossed. I dunno, maybe I'll go with a set amount of time before binning the negatives. As for the social stuff, I feel that man. I basically don't really do any social sharing of my photos. I will sometimes upload to Flicker, but not that often. It can be super nice to get feedback that's like "I Love this photo!" but the tradeoffs are difficult for me to justify. So I guess I just don't. In any case, taking time when you need it is absolutely the way to go.
I used to throw away everything but after a while I kept the 4x5 sheets, specifically of my ongoing project. Thank god, because I’ve had to rescan a couple of them because I did terribly the first time.
My main thing with social is that I started with it and it’s really all I know. I kind of wish I could go back and start on my own so I didn’t have the “pull” of social media influencing me.
The negative, the hard copy of analogue effort, is one of the primary reasons to shoot film. It's a hard source, it's physically sustainable, you can rescan and re-edit if the need arises in the future---even decades from now, and you can make darkroom prints if you ever feel the need. Digital files come and go, and the future of the internet is as squishy as ever. Save your work because you never know.
Social media is such a conflicting tool for photography and even wider than photography, but sticking to the topic. As you mentioned it’s a conflicting one because it brings about opportunities and exposure of your work to other people that might not have come across you work, but then the flip side is we, I think for the most part, develop an unhealthy relationship with it, and I believe because it’s still so relatively new and fast evolving it’s hard for us to develop a healthy relationship with it.
Personally I have notifications turned off for Instagram, as anyone that would need to contact me urgently probably has my number or will be able to contact me via email. I also tend to sit on my photos for quite a while before posting them. Very rarely will I post a photo within the same week I get the scans, but then I think have I left it too late to post a photo and sometimes don’t end up sharing it, which I don’t think is necessarily a bad thing, but it’s still a question that lingers in my mind.
I don’t believe in completely detaching, as with yourself I also had and have had opportunities I probably wouldn’t have got without social media so for me it’s up to me to manage my relationship with it and not chase a feeling of fulfilment and approval from it.
Yeah its all about finding a good relationship. I think it is an incredibly helpful tool when used right but I can slip into bad habits quickly. I definitely need to learn how to sit on work and let the initial wave of excitement run dry before showing work off to the world. Appreciate the reply, Nico.
100% feel the same, I deleted IG of my phone, deleted my twitter acc. In the next while I just want to focus on work and not on broadcasting it.
Twitter is like throwing thoughts into the Pacific Ocean. The only things that take off are “hot takes” or people whining. Absolutely despise that platform. Lol
@@BryanBirks Oh yea, but still so easy to get sucked into all the negativity!
What I learned is you don’t need social media to make work. You should make work because there’s an itch and challenge for yourself. I recently stopped using social media completely and it’s made me enjoy taking photos. But I also realized, who cares? What is your end goal with all of this? I found social media made me want to make books and be in galleries, but if I never had socials in the first place, maybe I wouldn’t have had those goals. Now I’m just enjoying taking photos as memories for myself, no longer looking at other people’s work as much either.
Of course, if photography is your job then it’s different. But client work is a whole other world anyways lol
Edit: once I stopped caring for those goals, I been enjoying the simple things like walks, bike rides, entertainment, hanging with friends, etc
I agree that you don’t need social media to make work. I always (well 99% of the time) have that itch regardless of where it is going. My problem is that I feel indebted to these platforms because of the opportunities they have given me.
My end goal is getting assigned work from respected publications to take portraits and help tell stories. I’ve taken steps towards that with help from these platforms (how much help I don’t really know).
So finding the balance is what I’m struggling with and it really just comes down to bucking up and doing what needs to be done.
Ciao Bryan. Thumbs up
Many thanks!
I do not follow you singularly for your photography output, which, like most of life, does not flow in a straight line. I follow your journey. I engage with your thinking, reasoning, success and disappointment as a mirror like unto my own. As a person, who is alone and lacks someone of equal interest and strivings in photography, your site provides an encounter or interaction, albeit remote, that seems unattainable locally at this stage. In effect, I get to live vicariously through your experiences, discoveries, and struggles. My interest is in observation rather than judgment. You will be okay. Just do it!
Thank you for your kind words, Alton!
nemmeno a me piacciono ma se non ci fossero stati i social media non avrei conosciuto il tuo lavoro di ricerca fotografica, e nemmeno Genitempo (che adoro), De Gasperi ecc.. comprendo benissimo ciò che dici, lavorare da soli, automotivarsi è sempre una grande fatica, tutto sembra enorme... coraggio! (scusa per mia traduzione) / I don't like them either but if there hadn't been social media I wouldn't have known your photographic research work, nor Genitempo (which I adore), De Gasperi etc. I understand very well what you are saying, working alone, self-motivation is always a great effort, everything seems enormous... courage! (sorry for my translation)
No need to apologize! Genitempo is the man. Love his work. Thank you for the comment, Stefano. / Non c'è bisogno di scusarsi! Genitempo è l'uomo. Ama il suo lavoro. Grazie per il commento, Stefano.
RE: social media, yeah it runs the risk of shifting our values and emotions if we’re not careful, but also, let be real, social media has got to be the worst way anyone has ever invented to look at images -full stop. TH-cam is only marginally better. Having started my own TH-cam channel just a few weeks ago I am stunned by what a ruthless beast the algorithm is, talk about gatekeeping! As someone who will never have 20k subscribers I think you’ve done a great job with your channel and appreciate your efforts to make meaningful content.
Thanks for the kind words. The algorithm is actually the least of my worries and something that I never really have taken seriously. There are so many that you can win or lose against it that it’s completely useless to even try to figure it out. I could easily talk about gear and have 2 or 3x as many subs but I would be dead inside.
It definitely isn’t the best way to share images but it is by far the easiest and cheapest. There are always going to be pros and cons. It’s just about figuring it out as you go. The trick is to not take it TOO seriously but for me that is hard since it’s given me so much throughout the past three years.
You've got tot take the bad with the good Brian, you're a great photographer but you've got to keep ahold of yourself. Use social media to advance your interests and not please others.
Definitely. It’s all learning for me and I’m not immune to influence. It’s all about using it to your advantage.
After all, feelings are just a sum calculation of all of your physical and mental calculations of the day. But tomorrow is a new day. I bet that tomorrow, for you and your followers, the sum will rise.
Tomorrow is a clean slate. I agree.
Thank you so much for this video ❤!!
Glad you enjoyed!
Very good video. 👍🏻 A couple of months ago, I felt the same. But I think, a TH-cam channel can (as long, as one is aware of this issue) be a tool to sharpen your insight on how you interact with the world and yourself (concerning art). … I’m not sure, if this made sense. 🙈 … I hope you know, what I mean. Cheers. ✌🏻
I know what you mean. The channel definitely makes me think more critically about my own work which is a good thing. Cheers!
it's the algorithm. They keep changing it because they set the goal posts and it's your problem to figure it out. You don't have control of these "free" platforms . My little chanel has 44subs and even my tiny view count went from 20 down to 4 😆....I stick to Vero now, no algorithm.
The algorithm definitely plays a roll but for some reason that is something that I never struggled with because making popular videos pretty much goes against everything I believe. There’s 1,000 people out there talking about cameras for every one person talking about work.
Just stick to making what you believe in and people will or won’t come. It’s out of your hands.
One bit of good news is that you don't need to be an influencer to be a successful photographer, or to be successful in any field in fact.
Very true, Stephen. Definitely striving for the successful photographer part.
You're a good photographer. Just take photos.
Appreciate that, Jason.
Bryan, I am writing from Russia. When I was born, my father was making money photographing people on the street. My mother developed the film at night. But he lost interest in photography because the family did not have enough money.
I grew up and became interested in photography, but my father did not like my choice. Many people liked my work, but my father taught me to value my work by the amount of money that this work brings.
My instincts were pushing me to keep taking pictures, but my mind was saying STOP! IT WILL NOT FEED YOU.
I want to say that in me, like in my father, there is a craving for photography, but when you start arguing with yourself ....
Why do I take pictures ? Who will appreciate it? Who needs it?
There is always a reason to deny YOURSELF.
Social networks, the reaction of subscribers, the phone distracting your mind - All this has a very strong effect on us.
I wish you could keep the real you. Regardless of anything outside.
You are right. There will always be something holding you back if you allow it. That is what I'm constantly battling. Don't worry about me keeping the real me. It's the only thing I know!
🖤🤍
I had no motivation at all to press the shutter even once in months 😅
But its ok
Definitely okay. Learning to live like that myself.
You threw away negatives?
I usually only keep 4x5 sheets and SOME 120. I didn’t have sleeves at the time so I threw them away. Wasn’t my proudest moment. Lesson learned.
@@BryanBirks Throw them in a shoebox for rainy-day sleeving if nothing else. Too much time, effort, money, and thought goes into a roll to toss them.
True. Much better idea.
My apologies for my recent comment made without proper judgement.
Social media is a huge net negative for society and it's not that difficult to get off it. Your life will improve without it.
Definitely more of a negative than a positive in the grand scheme of things. I’m actually not sure if it’s possible to have a career in photography today without it. Sure, you could do it but I think there are many things that would benefit your career if you took part in it a little bit. I can’t think of one photographer that isn’t on it in some way, shape, or form. It’s truly about finding that balance.
@@BryanBirks I'm a photographer that's not on it. Granted, I'm not a professional that makes a living from it so I don't have to deal with that side of things. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I think there's a larger discussion to have over it but I don't think a yt comment back and forth is the best forum for it. Probably best to be a person to person discussion. also I think I was crabby when initially writing my comment. Thanks for sharing your work with the world Bryan.
I love social media. The exposure that it gives to my work. I don’t see a downside with it. I use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tik-Tok. I might try creating a TH-cam channel in the future. Before it was about creating a website but a website is so easily outdated. I think Instagram is a better reflection of someone’s work.
There are definitely things to love about it. Connecting with others and community is a big one for me. You just have to be very careful with it as it can be misused terribly. Nice to see you have a good relationship with it.
@@BryanBirks like many things in life, it’s a two edged knife. Spam is the most annoying thing for me. I block it all the time.