Large Format Portraits, Oscar Wilde and Progression
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2024
- Today's video is all about progression in large format portraits. Some tips and some quotes from Oscar Wilde's book "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Leave a comment down below telling me what you're doing to improve to be entered in the giveaway. Winner will be picked May 1st, 2021!
Update : Winner is William Sheepskin. Also has a channel give him a follow!
0:00 - Intro
0:43 - What Makes a Good Portrait?
1:28 - Using Depth of Field Correctly
2:54 - Experience and Mistakes
4:42 - Price vs. Value
6:56 - What Do You Want to Say?
8:32 - Bob's Portrait
9:06 - "Boys" Book Giveaway
10:38 - Final Bob Portrait
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view more of my work at : / bryanbirks
prints at : www.bryanbirks.com/prints 
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Honest to God Brian I think you are the best film photographer on RUclips. You take pictures for you, and that makes them more genuine. You're more concerned about the journey than the gear or the social media likes. Thanks for being so authentic!
I let social media likes and numbers influence me for far too long. It was only until I didn't care that I was free to do what I wanted. Still a challenge but gets easier over time. Thank you for the kind words!
@@BryanBirks very inspiring! So many folks fall into the trap of loving film because it disconnects you from the fast-paced advancing technology of today, but then worrying like crazy about whether reddit or instagram loves their photo. It's ironic, but it's an easy trap to fall into
I agree.
@@BryanBirks my secret is to not get many likes at all. I've been doing a good job so far.
As pretentious as it sounds, I’ve recently spent a lot of time thinking about which photographs actually stick with me. I would practice street photography, but I came to realise that photographs I take of my friends and the actual life that surrounds me are the ones I end up looking back on. This realisation made me look for those moments more often, and when I do street photography now (or any photography for that matter) I aim to capture more of such emotion, rather than shooting someone because they dress weird or look interesting. And even though I shoot almost every day, I try to space out my rolls, and only develop one 2-3 weeks after I finish it. It disconnects me from shooting something for Instagram, and I genuinely started shooting what really catches my eye in the moment. It’s made me love photography so much more, and it’s definitely improved the work I do.
I’ve never been so motivated to make mistakes!
One of the finest channels about photography on RUclips.
This was so beautiful man, don't think I've ever watched a video where someone is saying profound things on YT that I actually found profound before, but this whole visual experience rocked my socks. Shows so much depth and strength that you were able to reflect on the characters you photograph and the interest possibly stemming from the loss of your father. Also the portrait interaction weaved throughout shows massive growth in your interactions with photographic subjects. So so so rad.
I've just been trying to make as many photographs as I can on the improvement front, I've found that if I can keep the energy going things tend to fall in place more often. If I spend extended time not making work I kind of have to get back in the swing of it which feels like a setback, whereas if I can make an image at least every second day or so the energy keeps flowing and stuff tends to line up haha! Thanks so much for making this man, again, so stunning.
Very kind words William. Hope to find myself in South Africa at some point to photograph together 🤘🏻
Lately I've been picking out random little towns around the city I live in and driving out to them to explore. Usually the drive isn't more than an hour or two and I make sure to avoid highways. I have found that being on the road and getting "lost" really helps me open up to my surroundings and I usually end up discovering things that I never would have seen if I had stayed at home. I've been watching your videos for awhile and really appreciate the time and effort you put into making them; the messaging is encouraging and has helped me find satisfaction in the process rather than just the output. Thank you
I started selling all my cameras, focusing on just one of them and that's it. A long time ago I took a trip and had so much camera using at the same time (films in 4 or 5 cameras) that I just couldn't focus on what I was going to do. As you said, people end it up being moved by this type of content (gears) and do not realize how harmful it is to the analog photography movement in general. The last trip was just one gear and it was liberating. Thank you.
your videos are the best thing youtube has to offer
what I've been doing to improve, is taking more portraits which is something I don't do enough.
I’ve been working with family. I recently became interested in portraits as a form of story telling so capturing the “everyday” of a few of my family members or family friends has been wonderful “experience” lol
Stopped sending everything off for people to develop and scan my work and started doing it from home and started connecting with people in my community. For a LONG time, I would be taking pictures of buildings and that sort if thing because I didn’t really know what or who to take pictures of. Used to not appreciate where I was and the different people around me and so lately, I’ve just been using my job (work at a newspaper) to meet loads of interesting people and shooting them on film which they’ve allowed me to run in the paper here. Just got a 4x5 and super excited to meet this guy who is 75 years old and still umpires for high school games. Gonna get some good shots and have them run in the paper for people here to see.
That’s awesome about the paper. Definitely an amazing place to meet characters.
Basically the way I am learning is: I started talking to all different kind of artists. I wanted to take portraits of them. With every artist i meet, they give me the information of others. So with every projects, i get more projects. So basically i learn on the go, youtube and of course my great photography professor at Uni, who sees whats wrong with your negative or print in matter of seconds.
But tbh almost all of the technical and motivational aspects i learned form either you, Brae Hunziker or T. Hopper. I cant stress enough how much i apreciate the love, work and passion you guys put into this.
Keep on doing what you! :)
gear doesn't matter and go out of your comfort-zone: the best advice there is for social photographers. great post!
avoiding instagram has helped me take better photos, you helped me with realizing instagram is not the healthiest form of inspiration for photography. finding inspiration from books has helped me elevate as a photographer. Not just looking through the books but taking notes on each picture that speaks to me. but most importantly having confidence in my vision. If im with a friend and I see an interesting subject or scene I wont ask for his or her opinion i will just take the shot.
I usually listen to a couple of artist (Bon Iver, Gem Club) more mellow stuff, and then I’ll find a poem or quote that I like and then I draw or sketch something and then go out and shoot.
For inspiration I really like to get out of my comfort zone. Most of the time I am shooting man-made stuff like houses, cars etc on color film. Now I am doing kind of a tree study, where I concentrate on the organic shapes and textures of trees. And I am shooting it in black and white.
I found myself taking a step back from photography a bit when I started asking myself why I was doing it, or for what goal in the future. I took pandemic time to connect with some people again, focus on other hobbies and read. In the end I still had this overwhelming desire to shoot photos. Taking a step away though and focusing my attention elsewhere proved my original intent. It was for me, Is for me. I’m making photos that stay true to what I want and not the taillights. Reading was a big push. Novels. Exploring worlds that weren’t mine really sparked the creative ideas to make something.
I read 50 books in 2019 and then almost none in 2020. Absolutely horrendous. Need to get back to that.
Discovery and realization that we all go through especially as photographers... wonderful to watch through your eyes your journey.
I've really been trying to experiment and make the most out of the situation I am in, whether I am forced to shot in bad conditions, or gear that is malfunctioning, just pushing through and trying to work things out as I shoot.
20 minute photo walks every day, no excuses
Taking pictures for myself and not others.
I've recently started to believe in (my) photography again - I've totally rejected it, as if I had said everything I could in a few years. And then I've silenced my creative side these 5 last years. Now I'm starting to see things again, to resume what I started to experiment. I shoot again, yet differently. I don't know if it's the results of the third lockdown in France but 2021, for the first time in almost ten years of photography - including 9,5 with film - calls for a new chapter. I really find your honesty inspiring and that, on your last portrait, how your "model" seems happy to be here.
In the Age of Covid-19, when many jobs have dried up, personal projects that mean something take on added impotence. I started a long-term project using a 4x5 - and am making tons of errors. But I’m learning and making course corrections in process in the field and thinking through the outcome. Oh, and not worrying about gear.
I've been allowing myself to be more vulnerable and to fail more. Within my photographic practice, I am an angry perfectionist and I feel like it is very limiting for me in a lot of ways because unless I feel like I will get the shot that I want I sometimes don't even try. So recently, I've been a little bit more lenient with the idea of "getting the shot," and instead I've tried to put myself in positions I am not fully comfortable in, in an attempt to spark something new. Love your videos and your work this latest portrait with the '78 is phenomenal.
I've set my self the task of creating a photo book of photos I've taken throughout the various lockdowns. By create I mean not just organise the photos into a certain order and send it off to be printed, but I'm also making pieces of paper by blending up old sheets I've been holding on to, and will be binding the book myself. I'm doing this because I think that, even though film photography is analogue, it's more important than ever to have a physical connection to the work you create, and I fear that otherwise my photos will just be lost to time in the digital world, stored away online without anyone stumbling across them. The process also gives me something to do with my spare time, and learn the skills of papermaking and bookbinding. I won't even be producing any for others, partly because it takes about 25 hours to make each book but mainly because it's such an intimate project that I'd feel uncomfortable with others flicking through that I don't know personally.
Hopefully it will be something to look back on in the future and cherish, and make me think more intentionally about the purpose behind my photos when taking them in the future.
Lovely video Bryan, I'm glad that I found your channel, and I wish you all the best in your photography.
For the first time I started organizing my film. I purchased binders, negative holders, labels etc. I feel this was an overlooked process in my approach to film photography and should help me to be more efficient and therefore more productive.
Things I’ve been doing to improve my photography: picking up a photo book each day to study it while I eat breakfast, watching your videos and other videos on photography, shoot whenever I can find time.
Hey, I’m 50 years old and been photographing for 30 years.Your photography and the content here is brilliant. You definitely have something to say, you definitely make outstanding portraits and your observations definitely make me smile. You have masses of talent. I hope I said enough? In the words of McCarthy… keep the fire.
Thank you, Alfred. Truly. 🖤
I would have pressed the like button at the end of the video anyway, but had to click it at the 5:48 mark.
I love how chill your videos are. With museums closed I started to invest a lot in books to find inspiration and I really feel like it makes my pictures much better. My bank account is screaming ofc coz I started shooting slide film - really enjoyable and a great challenge but sooooo expensive
100% agree with the gear. It took a lot of buying and selling cameras to find that honestly through all the buying and selling, I stuck with the same few cameras: a cheap seagull TLR (you don't need a Rolleiflex at all), a cheap Soviet 35mm rangefinder, a Ricoh, and a canon DSLR (and even then I only use the DSLR rarely).
Especially true with film photography, your gear doesn't really matter. The film is your sensor, so as long as you have a half decent lens, your pictures will be virtually the same regardless of the camera.
I have just been getting out with a camera taking as many photos as I can, taking a variety of shots to work out what I like and want to take more photos of.
I went back to school, doing a bachelor in fine arts focusing on photography (continued education).
But I think, like you said, there’s no replacement for trial and error. Being in school is forcing me to practice and be active. It’s also allowing me to be surrounded by like minded people (virtually for now)
@John ok I’m the type of person who does better on a deadline, so having someone else forcing me to create and practice is my driver. True, you can be great without formal education, but it gives me what I need.
what i did to improve recently was actually taking a break from Instagram because I felt like it was hindering my productivity and creativity
I've been exploring photo collages. Doing them I realize it makes me think differently about the elements with photographs... And be a bit more purposeful about elements. Find myself paying way more attention to more details in every frame now. Have been working on a huge collage for a couple weeks.
Ive just been forcing my self to bring like an EDC camera at all times to train my eye and bring some spontaneity into my work!
I recently got a Yashica Mat 6x6 by one of my dads old friends. Before trying it out I just thought that square format was the peak of boring formats. but when I shot with it I felt some kind of nostalgia, and I have no damn clue how that camera gave me such a feeling. The camera draws me into shooting things that remind me of my childhood, only in black and white. And it has probably been the most refreshing and fun way of making photographs in a long time. Thank you for the inspiration Bryan.
I’m currently trying to take more photos of the random people I get paired with when I go play golf. Each person I meet is unique and I am trying to get better at taking the portraits.
This is such a great video and great reminder that gear is not everything. I’ve recently been trying to connect more with the reason I started photography and that is connecting with people. I normally do street photography but recently I’ve been stopping and asking for street portraits. So through the act of connecting more deeply with my subject I notice I’ve been getting better and feeling more satisfied about my work.
portraits are everything. still working building the courage to ask. it's hard to overcome the introversion.
I still get anxious. I drove by Bob’s house twice before I could get out and ask. You just gotta do it. There’s no other way around it. If you fail, you fail. It’s going to happen but you’re going to be better off the next time around and won’t fear the rejection as hard.
it gets easier the more you do it! coming from an introvert who was able to get into a groove where it became a natural thing to do
After entering medium format with my Mamiya645 I've been shooting the toll road near where I live as a way of practicing composition with it's line and movement.
I drive a different way home from work everyday looking for interesting compositions and I've been reading more about Stephen Shore
It really is hard not to get hooked on gears, some people enjoy collecting and/or using their cameras for snap shots. Then there are people who choose their gear for the purpose of the stuff their going to do. I have been shooting with one camera and one lens for 2 years before adding a fixed lens film rangefinder for a different purpose. Both use a 40mm lens as my eyes are so accustomed to that focal length. My advice, choose one camera and one lens then shoot it for a year, know its strengths and limitations.
I've been really busy with work so unfortunately I haven't been able to take photos much which has me really disappointed. I carry my camera with me on the way to and from work and snap photos while cycling. Sometimes I'm happy with shots but not always. Instead I've started talking to strangers more and not avoiding situations even if conflict is a potential outcome of someone coming up to me. I feel a lot more comfortable speaking to people and strangers and even taking photos of people in "street photography" style. I do miss doing landscape photography but I've been having fun in the meantime and hopefully can take some more soon. Summer is coming up so want to do more nightscapes.
Before shooting, I put on headphones, close my eyes and listen to music from my playlist, it inspires me and tunes me to the vibe, images and stories appear in my head.
Man, one of the best photography videos I've seen in the last few months. 🙌👏👏
Those scans look amazing. You really can't beat the beauty of a large format negative. I definitely notice that you are getting really quick at the large format process. That proficiency has freed you up to really be present during the process and enjoy the conversations with your subjects vs. worrying about the technical aspects. One thing that I've forced myself to do to get away from gear and work the creativity muscle is give myself one prime lens to work with. That honestly is the most freeing experience to pick up the camera and one lens and not have to think about which lens will be right for the situation and which ones do I need to pack. It has freed me up to focus on enjoying the experience and situation at hand. A really creative photographer friend of mine Adonye Jaja uses music for inspiration. Take a track and listen to it ahead of time and see what emotions it brings out in you and try and convey those in the image.
Thanks Christian. Definitely has gotten easier the more I do it. And can focus on the subject and the scene and not worry about the process as much.
I love you interactions with your subjects... I think its awesome that you film and get sound bites of your conversation. Goes so far beyond just shooting. Reminds me what I miss most about shooting portraits...the people. I'm super late to the party, but glad I watched this one... it was great!
I took a portrait of a stranger last week, for a project i'm working on. I was really shy at first but i forced myself to do it. It's such an amazing feeling when you force yourself to do something outside of your comfort zone. I always look forward to seeing your work, as it always motivates me. 💪🏾
That first approach was so confident and slick 👍
I've found the one thing that really helps improve my photography is more and more expensive gear. I hope to one day be able to afford to take really great images.
Not sure if this is sarcasm.
I've just found all your videos and I really enjoy them. Reminds me of when I used to go out and meet strangers and try to get their story and their portrait. I gave up on photography years ago because of back problems, but seeing the human element of your videos and what photography can do to connect people in a meaningful way is really moving me. Thank you for sharing and for making me want to connect with others again through my camera.
Glad the work could do that for you! Hope your back cooperates in the future so you can do it.
I've been carrying my camera everyday and shoot my family and friends in their every day life. I've been struggling with the plan of making a photo book or zine or something like that. So I start of from something I know, and I know my family and friends well. There is always this thought that it need to get a lot of attention and needs to be of an trendy subject. But I've learned that it don't matter what it is about. What matter is that it has an value to your self and your passion. Don't care if it's about your dog your best friend or the old neighbors with their beautiful cars.
Some day I will finish my photo book and I will know more about my feelings about this topic and the feelings I create in the viewers head.
Greetings from Germany love the videos!
Shooting more on film point and shoots with basic films to appreciate the process v. gear & camera specs.
thank you for not shouting at us to like and subscribe. i love your videos, i've watched lots of them today, one of them whilst I was making pizza dough for 6 meals! what can I say? firstly, as a European, the way you film your encounters with people is beautiful, how it's filmed from a certain distance but you preserve the sound, and how there's a feeling of American romanticism, that Paris Texas thing that pulls us into its ambience. I also love that you photograph older people because I am sick to my eyeballs of trendy millennials photographing trending millennials in a tedious echo chamber of trendy cameras. lastly, am i too late for the book? keep up the good work but please don't ever fall for the trap of perching on a high moral ground, it's (for me) what kills the good ones the end.
Thank you.
I am trying to read as much as I can about photography history and shoot medium format !
This is great stuff thanks!
Excuse me but the portrait at 02:00 might be the best I have ever seen
Thanks for the kind words 🖤
Only recently found your channel and have watched a lot of your videos it’s so refreshing to find some one that admits to making mistakes, someone that actually tells it like it is for them and the processes you go through to make a picture
I love the fact is not “gear “ related and the off topic pieces are refreshing and through you I’ve discovered other photographers I’ve not heard
Plus your photos are true to you long may you continue to do the things you do in your own way and your own style
Glad you found it. I’ve made mistakes and I’ll continue to make mistakes. It’s just part of the process. Gear lost its luster a LONG time ago. I pity anyone that is years into their practice and still thinks about it.
Thank you for the kind words! 🖤
Love this video ❤ Thank you 🙏
Been forcing myself to direct the people I shoot more clearly. It’s all about confidence. Thanks for making your content. It’s so refreshing to see this slow paced, process oriented videos.
One of the things that help is to look at photobooks, I wish I had a larger community and people to talk to about 4x5. Lastly Alec Soth, he’s been quite good at helping with his latest videos. I am really good at fucking up. Thanks ADHD.
I mostly watch youtube videos and look at pictures online. I agree with your sentiment about all the crap videos which seem only focused on acquiring gear and comparing specs.
Great video, 100% agree 👍
Man do I love your documentaries. This is what photography, for me, is about. I am improving my photography by taking myself out from Instagram. Yes, it's a good way to share and get clients. Instagram is also a good way to see what my peers are doing. That said, I compare myself and I find myself not in focus. Without instagram, I am documenting myself more on my ongoing projects and I am loving it so much.
Your films are great and very instructive. I also like the fact that you share so many of your own images and how you critique them.
So true dude. Thank you for this
Started walking around trying to talk and meet people. Growing my vision and trying to get a picture that means the world.
This was very meaningful. Thank you :)
I improved especially my black and white photos by doing a lot of walks while the lockdown...
Absolutely agree with you!!thanks for sharing ✨
Great Video!!
I’ve been trying to find new scenes in my neighborhood. I’ve documented most of the obvious things, and now i’m trying to find new perspectives and angles.
Easily my favourite photog 'vlog' these days. Inspiring!
I’ve been getting so much inspiration from your videos. They helped me not long ago to get back out and shoot when I was dealing with depression.
Photo books also help me a lot. The words and techniques stay with me from those books when I am out and trying to create.
The hair game in this ep >>>
And the message of course.
Its all gone. Sadly. Killed it. Chopped up.
@@BryanBirks Weeping as I type this
I'm in the period of waiting for my large format to arrive so I've been watching a ton of videos about them. Thanks for the quality videos!
Shooting my daughter (she’s 2) since she was in the womb every moment I can to document her life as we both grow.
When I was young I remember my dad photographing us with just a Kodak disposable camera and fun seeing those photos of my 5 sibling and how we grow up. Around middle school started.
But I want to document my daughters life so she has a story to see where/how/what she went through in her early life.
I enjoy shooting her but want to transfer that process to other people portraits.
Thank you for this video it help to see some people just tell you the hard look at your work and just focus on what you believe in rather then what “likes” or any other social comment and fake.
Thank you.
Awesome Video. Thank you Bryan!
Thank you for watching 🖤
Solid video great as always.
🖤
Such an open and heartfelt video. Love your pictures and compositions. There are people looking back at me. That is not easy to catch. Very inspirational. I just started to do film photography again. Found a bellow medium camera on a yard sale a few years ago. When I was in Antwerp a few weeks back and I wanted to shoot but had no gear with me I remembered that bellow camera lying in a drawer somewhere. And I just started. It is like learning to lace your shoe laces all over again. It is quite humbling. But I also found my old Olympus mju and that little guy is always in my bag nowadays. I am shooting street portraits with it, asking people to take their picture. Scary as hell, but to my surprise I rarely get a no. Especially if they see my tiny camera. Really curious how the pictures will turn out. Thank you again for this video. Looking forward to seeing more of you. And you are right, I should spend more time shooting and ( in my case) painting then looking around on social media. Thanks for the reminder. You need that sometimes.
Wow! Love it. ❤
Honest, pure, heartwarming…
Ive owned 50k in Leica gear.. I now shoot with a cheap canon m200 aps-c and vintage lenses.. My pictures are no worse than before, and I would argue have only gotten better..
been trying to shoot every day, or nearly every day. working on improving the technical side of things.. metering, etc.
good vibes whatching it, I take photos for memories, so what I do is not to leave the house without a camera
Actually just started shooting some 4x5 large format and im starting to develop my own film to go along with that. Never have done it before. It's been a more intimate experience that I've been really enjoying ( I've done 3 photos so far so very new to it). Also putting my face out there more. Making brief videos that talk about my photographs and why I took this and why I like it rather than just posting and being done with it. Helps me understand my own work as well as give others a more vulnerable experience when interacting with with my art.
Lovely. 🖤
Really enjoy seeing your interactions with people and the stunning images you get as a result!
man you're golden
Good man, you nail it every time!! Loved it!! Couldn't agree more with your comments and perspective.
I just love everything about this.
Appreciate it Jack!
Been taking afternoon-long walks with my camera and trying to get in the zone by just pushing through the initial anxiety
I don't think you're stupid. You made me think, and if that's what you do for people on here, it's a good way to be. Seeing a photographer interact with a 'real person' is a nice break from most things we see on YT. Cool portrait of a nice guy, I hope he loves it.
Great video. I love the last picture, the old guy and the build up
Love your candor.
Thank you!
Great Video Bryant, well said. Recently been working on several ideas I’ve had for the last years and prepaid towards my gallery exhibit. Thanks for the video
great video. as usual. thanks a lot
Thank you Serge 🙌🏻
My favorite episode so far. Great job man!
Thank you Chris 🖤
Photography noob here! As an introvert, photography is something that I really enjoy doing. I want my photographs to convey my emotions for me. Always wanted to try film photography and found you on Reddit. You create beautiful and portraits that speaks a lot of emotions and I want to learn that too.
Thank you Camille 🖤
I am glad that I have found your channel. I love your work. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and pictures with us.