Photography as a salve for loneliness | Ryan Pfluger | TEDxPasadena

Photographer Ryan Pfluger shares how he came to use the medium of photography as a means for therapy and connection. During several solitary road trips within the United States, Ryan unexpectedly discovered that by the spontaneous meeting of strangers and the gentle expression of kindness showed by acknowledging someone else’s true self-worth, he was able to not only heal his own loneliness but that of many others. Ryan Pfluger is a New York-based photographer. His photographs often deal with the subtly of body posture, the gaze, and the role of self-portraiture, as an exploration of what portraiture means in our presently-saturated culture of images. For the past year, Ryan has been driving cross-country every few months making portraits based off of geo-location apps. Some of his clients include New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, and TIME. Born and raised in New York, Ryan received his MFA in Photo, Video and Related Media from the School of Visual Arts in 2007. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@thekafe1219]

A kind soul who is always trying to make everyone visible. Beautiful talk.

[@samueld24]

An amazing photographer. His images are filled with so much meaning.

[@dylanhuang3182]

I’ve always loved Ryan’s work and it’s great to hear his story and the reasoning behind his work. It helps to know the soul behind what makes his photos stand out. I especially loved his college teacher’s comment and it makes me think about my own life a lot. The humanity of his work is the best part and it’s nice to hear that was intentional. I’m so glad for this video to know the person behind the pictures more. Thank you.

[@yuseiry7097]

Your photographs say exactly what you feel. Beautiful story

[@madalynnewton2897]

So glad I heard him.

[@sadenb]

Same with musicians. When one is alone, one's perception increases.

[@atticusfinch6038]

I dont know some of my favorite music ive made arose spontaneously while jamming with others

[@rainerchristiankurzeder9721]

Ryan’s talk was way too short. His story is very exciting. Such an inspirational person.

[@wgsmcw2012]

I too do photography because I am / lonely/ depressed! But one thing I hate is people the take photos randomly, and think they are a photographer! Taking snap shots, doesn't make you a photographer!

[@emmazele7387]

Maybe you just don’t understand the meaning of those pictures

[@krazyboimaina]

he is not a photographer. he is an artist

[@monikakrupicka8207]

So thankful that this exists

[@shaymargulis5253]

Beautiful talk - thank you, Ryan

[@gabrielbarrios9421]

Thank you.

[@IainHC1]

Beautiful and Thank you :-)

[@anils.rkumar6551]

Great Artist

[@thothheartmaat2833]

I thought of modeling for myself..

[@ANANDKUMAR-zw3ds]

❤

[@damanmcdowell3320]

❤️❤️

[@fromatlantis]

terry richardson likes it..

[@linjicakonikon7666]

This poor soul is stuck on the Democratic Plantation, sentenced to liberal servitude trying to please his ideological masters.

[@bijofrancis1114]

He looks like tattooed Gandhi

[@luisguillen7005]

Bijo Francis millennial Gandhi.

[@beentheredonethat7572]

Well that sucked