Ted was very good at catching little important details which occurred during our time together. Me running my mouth and tripping along trying not to fall. We photographers are dealing with life as it happens filtered through our minds before it gets to the camera. Our minds have been trained, and in many cases hardened, by a life or irrational and false beliefs regarding ones place in polite society. One problem is the beliefs and ingrained habits that have the power to hold us back, and even twist our reasoning and personal vision, to the point where we cannot act as an effective documentary photographer, where the main thought and objective is to get the the picture that best depicts the situation as we believe it to be. No lame excuses and ridiculous stories of privacy and fear. I cannot be an effective photographer if I am hobbled by knotted muscles in my mind. I must massage away the knotted muscle with logical reasoning. Talk to your brain and tell it, No more easy shots. Ted was able to catch that piece of advice, which I hold so importantly.
A bit like life itself sometimes. So many people don't know what they're actually doing. All they know is that it isn't going to fulfill any goals or ambitions.
Such an important lesson when shooting on the streets - positioning and a degree of planning is integral but so is shooting without inhibition when the unexpected presents itself; allowing your trained senses to build the story in that brief moment when you can feel a shot coming before you see it, and the timer in your mind is running down fast before the opportunity passes! - As Bruce Lee, whose philosophies transcended martial arts, once said: don't think, feel!!! I love your work and your ethos, John.
This is priceless content. John Free is an extraordinary gentleman and between him and Ted Forbes there is so much to be learned. Superbly edited video. Just superb!
+Eric Rossi That's the big deal Eric. Easy shots are for suckers. Make easy shots difficult. Boost yourself up that high ladder that leads upward to personal excellence.
Watching you with John Free has been my primary motivation in buying a Nikon F3 and it has been an absolute pleasure to use. Tactile, compact, precise and stunningly designed. It feels timeless.
he is just so brilliant Ted. In just a couple of minutes he can tell you things about street photography that make light bulbs go off in your head as if you say to yourself "why wasn't I thinking like that before?"
Wow. I've been interested in art and design for almost 10 years now. I was fortunate enough to learn about composition and other principles at a young age. I've only recently taken up photography, and in my research on inspirational figures in the field I've found this man. John Free. He's the real deal for me. The passion, the honestly, the empathy, the skill, the confidence. Truly an inspiration that will shape my future artwork. Thank you Ted for these snippets you masterfully capture as well.
Ted, I am doing some major "binge" watching of Art of Photography to catch up. What a fabulous thing you are doing. Thank you! I love the broad perspective you are providing for Photographers. I love this video in particular is very cool. Real and authentic. Keep it up!
I agree completely. I have just finished my first photography class and I am so inspired by those who are already capturing the life around them. I can't wait to start shooting. The Art of Photography has been such a resource for me! I have learned so much. Thank you
What an amazing character he is. One photo walk with him and you'll see the world with different eyes, it seems. Thank you very much for the great video. Looking forward to some more footage.
Again, we receive valuable information from Mr. Free. ‘Know what you are aiming for’ (when you take a picture). Don’t overshoot, don’t shoot without thinking, i.e. without building your story or waiting for the right setup. I like the intro, the build up and the natural feel, where you are at ease and invite the viewer to attend the conversation when you bring forth a drink towards the camera. I'm surely wrong about the last part but I did manage to take a sip which the drink was at my lips reach. Here again we have a lesson, use what you have at hand to 'better' the shooting. Overall a good video but a misleading title. As always, I love the choice of music that accompanies your subject matters. They are imaginative and emphasizes the creative atmosphere you wish to establish. Thanks for all the time you take to communicate prized information about our common passion. And thanks to Mr. Free to share his insights with us.
+Rejean Nantel Truth be known - I didn't have my gorilla pod and I stacked that tea under the camera to get it up higher. But I'm happy to offer it to the audience ;-)
Fantastic Ted. I've recently completed my first book after being reinspired to pick up a camera again thanks you and a few others making these videos. I'd love to send you a copy as a way of saying thanks. I can't seem to sign up to Twitter to message you but is there an email I can contact you at? Thanks so much again for all the work you do. -Ryan
I'm enjoying your vids with John so much, Ted. It appears you have a respect for him not only from his photography but also him as a person. This is great work
As a video it is beautifully shot and I loved the classical piece of music overlay at the beginning and end. It’s very entertaining as well and has a great feel to it. It’s something to be proud of Ted.
Ted, rewatching this again before my lesson with John on 4-27, 4-28, 2019. I’m excited to meet John and learn from such a master. And hey, the music you used on this was perfect.
Great! Love the video before talking about your gear. The color in this is awesome. But please please please get a wireless lav mic and put it on your subject. They forget it's there in a few minutes of walking around. I understand and love your idea of taking advantage of the moment. But old folks need louder dialogue. Happy trails!
John is always inspiring. I saw some of his photos where he walks with 2 F3. Is that for different focal lengths? How practically does he work with it considering the thought and action processes on the street?
Some how I came across your video Thursday . I watched it as I am also a fan of Johns work. And whenever I need some guidance and inspiration I'll play his vids. Friday afternoon I happen to see a meet up posted on instagram to meet John Free Saturday morning at coffee shop in the arts district. And I remember reading you saying one of the greatest photographers of our generation with that in mind im thinking I have to go. So I go, I get there early just as he arrived at the same time. I introduce myself and we chat it up. Moments later his son arrives . Call it ironic, a coincidence, what a small world moment, it turns out I know his son as we are old friends from high school so odd. Just thought I'd share.
Lets see more of John. Henri, Smith, Penn, free, Gilden, Just the first 5 that came to my head but frees always there, always there in the morning to give me inspiration before i hit the Gritty NYC streets.
John Free, what is he, like sixty years old, yet his mind is fast as a teenagers yet focused like a laser beam. Impressive to watch him talk every time.
you probably won’t believe me, but this is the reincarnation of james doug morrison-in case anyone cares-i remerged in paris a few years back-i am a writer now, and on occasion i do a little documentary cinematography. it’s my revenge on la... only mention it, well-john certainly understands. no, i’m not happy the doors sold the catalog. i digress... for the sake of the next generation i implore you-please make more of these micro-documentaries. few else could do it so well. perhaps i will do one with you one day soon, past life semi-consciousness on the d/l... this year is busy, but i swear on my pentax that one day i will materialize in your email. this is the best video you have ever made, i cannot believe i missed it until now; that’s the lovely little thing about this dopamine fueled encyclopedic time machine of shiny things. with all my forever mad heart, i express the sincerest gratitude for your tireless work building this channel ted-it changed my life.
Ted was very good at catching little important details which occurred during our time together. Me running my mouth and tripping along trying not to fall.
We photographers are dealing with life as it happens filtered through our minds before it gets to the camera. Our minds have been trained, and in many cases hardened, by a life or irrational and false beliefs regarding ones place in polite society. One problem is the beliefs and ingrained habits that have the power to hold us back, and even twist our reasoning and personal vision, to the point where we cannot act as an effective documentary photographer, where the main thought and objective is to get the the picture that best depicts the situation as we believe it to be. No lame excuses and ridiculous stories of privacy and fear. I cannot be an effective photographer if I am hobbled by knotted muscles in my mind. I must massage away the knotted muscle with logical reasoning.
Talk to your brain and tell it, No more easy shots. Ted was able to catch that piece of advice, which I hold so importantly.
Love your work John I get inspiration when I see your videos.
A bit like life itself sometimes. So many people don't know what they're actually doing. All they know is that it isn't going to fulfill any goals or ambitions.
Such an important lesson when shooting on the streets - positioning and a degree of planning is integral but so is shooting without inhibition when the unexpected presents itself; allowing your trained senses to build the story in that brief moment when you can feel a shot coming before you see it, and the timer in your mind is running down fast before the opportunity passes! - As Bruce Lee, whose philosophies transcended martial arts, once said: don't think, feel!!! I love your work and your ethos, John.
Thanks John and Ted for more great lessons and entertainment.
Thank you !
Everyone should have a John Free in their lives.
Great clip
***** yes and a Pete
This is priceless content. John Free is an extraordinary gentleman and between him and Ted Forbes there is so much to be learned. Superbly edited video. Just superb!
"Keep your attention on your work!"
This guy's awesome. :)
These are getting so good, well shot and told man! "Don't take anymore easy shots."
+Eric Rossi That's the big deal Eric. Easy shots are for suckers. Make easy shots difficult. Boost yourself up that high ladder that leads upward to personal excellence.
+John Free thanks so much for the response, you've become an inspiration since I first found your work.
Watching you with John Free has been my primary motivation in buying a Nikon F3 and it has been an absolute pleasure to use. Tactile, compact, precise and stunningly designed. It feels timeless.
he is just so brilliant Ted. In just a couple of minutes he can tell you things about street photography that make light bulbs go off in your head as if you say to yourself "why wasn't I thinking like that before?"
+Brian Anderson thanks Brian - John is one of my favorites. Such an inspiring guy. Its been nice to become friends with him over the last year.
Wow. I've been interested in art and design for almost 10 years now. I was fortunate enough to learn about composition and other principles at a young age. I've only recently taken up photography, and in my research on inspirational figures in the field I've found this man. John Free. He's the real deal for me. The passion, the honestly, the empathy, the skill, the confidence. Truly an inspiration that will shape my future artwork. Thank you Ted for these snippets you masterfully capture as well.
Ted, I am doing some major "binge" watching of Art of Photography to catch up. What a fabulous thing you are doing. Thank you! I love the broad perspective you are providing for Photographers. I love this video in particular is very cool. Real and authentic. Keep it up!
thanks David!
I agree completely. I have just finished my first photography class and I am so inspired by those who are already capturing the life around them. I can't wait to start shooting. The Art of Photography has been such a resource for me! I have learned so much. Thank you
The color grading in this one looks great. What did you shoot with? Rx100 in slog2?
What an amazing character he is. One photo walk with him and you'll see the world with different eyes, it seems. Thank you very much for the great video. Looking forward to some more footage.
Again, we receive valuable information from Mr. Free. ‘Know what you are aiming for’ (when you take a picture). Don’t overshoot, don’t shoot without thinking, i.e. without building your story or waiting for the right setup.
I like the intro, the build up and the natural feel, where you are at ease and invite the viewer to attend the conversation when you bring forth a drink towards the camera. I'm surely wrong about the last part but I did manage to take a sip which the drink was at my lips reach. Here again we have a lesson, use what you have at hand to 'better' the shooting.
Overall a good video but a misleading title.
As always, I love the choice of music that accompanies your subject matters. They are imaginative and emphasizes the creative atmosphere you wish to establish.
Thanks for all the time you take to communicate prized information about our common passion. And thanks to Mr. Free to share his insights with us.
+Rejean Nantel Truth be known - I didn't have my gorilla pod and I stacked that tea under the camera to get it up higher. But I'm happy to offer it to the audience ;-)
I wish he still made videos, already gone through all of them a few months ago...
Thanks once again Ted. Looking forward to the next installment.
"Just an old man photographing the pigeons on his day off." I love this. Thanks for yet another remarkable video, Ted!
Awesome video Ted the quality of your productions seems to never stop increasing. John Free is so inspiring!
You did a great job here, you let John do the talking .... you are both class acts. Thank you.
very authentic and great documentary. love the edit and cuts. thank you and John
Anyone know the name of the piece being played?
Love this!!!
Oh man, John Free is an absolute legend!! Love this edit Ted, can't wait to see more.
Another great video Ted! What is the music you used at the beginning? It's beautiful
Hey great video! I just got my g5x yesterday and was wondering how to install color profiles. Thanks!
How did you grade this footage? It's very nice!
I love all the music you choose for your videos, any chance you could mention in the notes where it comes from?
These are great! Can't wait to see more! Awesome work!
Hey Ted! Which piece is that in the beginning of the Video! Thanks!
Admiring him for years now. His energy... Unbelievable..
Hi Ted - great work! Is this video shot on G5X?
Great lesson beautifully presented. Great use of music. Encore.
What's the name of the music? Thanks
any tips on the color grading you used for this video? thanks Ted!
Please someone tell me the name of the first song
Fantastic Ted.
I've recently completed my first book after being reinspired to pick up a camera again thanks you and a few others making these videos. I'd love to send you a copy as a way of saying thanks.
I can't seem to sign up to Twitter to message you but is there an email I can contact you at?
Thanks so much again for all the work you do.
-Ryan
Does anyone know what camera he used for this video?
No photos to accompany video?
Wo played/wrote the music?
I love this Ted, great video!
I'm enjoying your vids with John so much, Ted. It appears you have a respect for him not only from his photography but also him as a person. This is great work
Warm and human. Loved this!
As a video it is beautifully shot and I loved the classical piece of music overlay at the beginning and end. It’s very entertaining as well and has a great feel to it. It’s something to be proud of Ted.
Super Video Ted! Congratualtions!! Bravo
+sal dina thanks!
was all this shot with canon g5x?
Ted I'm not gonna lie, this video is phenomenal. I like your videos man but this one?...this one right here??? Oh man, you've out done yourself!
you went back to see John. so awesome :)
The edit on this video is great. The whole thing was beautiful and paced wonderfully. Thanks for the knowledge and keep up the good work.
the tone of this video! brilliant!
Ted, rewatching this again before my lesson with John on 4-27, 4-28, 2019. I’m excited to meet John and learn from such a master. And hey, the music you used on this was perfect.
Philip Shucet
Correct me if I'm wrong , the music is Beethoven quartets ?
I want to have it but not sure of this music work .
Thanks !
Amazing video. Ted, what music is this? It would be great if you could credit the musicians in the video description. The world needs more classical!!
"Just an old man photographing the pigeons on his day off..." Fantastic.
Great video Ted!!!! Love it when you and John get together... When are you going to be back in the New York area doing some work?
Taking notes as I watch these with John. Great stuff. Would love to watch the unedited stuff and hear what he's saying to all those people.
Great! Love the video before talking about your gear. The color in this is awesome. But please please please get a wireless lav mic and put it on your subject. They forget it's there in a few minutes of walking around. I understand and love your idea of taking advantage of the moment. But old folks need louder dialogue. Happy trails!
great stuff ted!
This video for itself is a piece of art.
I enjoyed it very well!
Wow, your edit is wonderful!! What did you use to shoot this? This is the natural colour of the footage or it is a filter?
Wonderful teaser Ted, I am looking forward to see the whole story.
what is the background music? thats so lovely
I'm looking forward to the next video, btw your image quality is looking great!
Ted thank u for this video John is truly legend. can you put a go pro on John's camera to give us an idea what is he looking for in the streets.
That's not a bad idea... Next time!
Amazing video of such inspiring man. "Don't take easy shots". Simple, but so hard.
Great grading on this one.
+Huy Nguyen I totally agree as it is rich with the perfect touch of color saturation.
John is always inspiring. I saw some of his photos where he walks with 2 F3. Is that for different focal lengths? How practically does he work with it considering the thought and action processes on the street?
love the camera quality on this video
please do another video with john free, his youtube is so quiet and he is a great teacher of photography
Thanks Ted!
I learned so much in five minutes. Thank you for sharing this. Also this was really well shot.
Perfect Music for this kind of video, I think! Really Good Job!
Some how I came across your video Thursday . I watched it as I am also a fan of Johns work. And whenever I need some guidance and inspiration I'll play his vids. Friday afternoon I happen to see a meet up posted on instagram to meet John Free Saturday morning at coffee shop in the arts district. And I remember reading you saying one of the greatest photographers of our generation with that in mind im thinking I have to go. So I go, I get there early just as he arrived at the same time. I introduce myself and we chat it up. Moments later his son arrives . Call it ironic, a coincidence, what a small world moment, it turns out I know his son as we are old friends from high school so odd. Just thought I'd share.
This was great!
Mr. John Free seems to be a great guy to hang out with.. and learn!
Lets see more of John. Henri, Smith, Penn, free, Gilden, Just the first 5 that came to my head but frees always there, always there in the morning to give me inspiration before i hit the Gritty NYC streets.
What is this music? I love it.
Love this man. Excited for the rest. Sony footage looks great! Grading is a bit blockbuster-y maybe?
Wow you shot this with the g5x. Looks really good.
i love the way he thinks!
John is so interesting to hear from... love to hear how he looks at a shot.
I always watch John Free's videos for motivation. And it always works ! He has that us army way of talking. I love that.
John Free, what is he, like sixty years old, yet his mind is fast as a teenagers yet focused like a laser beam. Impressive to watch him talk every time.
Welcome to LA. I dig this. John Free is the real deal. I also like the other video you did with him. Thanks for sharing.
"Don't aim at the black" is a strange thing to hear, but brilliant. Really liked this video and hope you'll do more with him.
This looked like a fun day. I love John Free, brilliant man.
Thanks Ted
I’m doing a three day event with him now. He’s pretty special.
great so inspire
love this man, his entire ideology is just amazing
Great choice of music.
History will chose the good stuff on YT, this will be amongst them.
The color looked great. Was it a different but rate on RUclips than normal? Paused often.
I see now what you mean about the "film look" and I really love it.
Can't wait to see what happens next. Something really great will come in the next video. I know it will.
you probably won’t believe me, but this is the reincarnation of james doug morrison-in case anyone cares-i remerged in paris a few years back-i am a writer now, and on occasion i do a little documentary cinematography. it’s my revenge on la... only mention it, well-john certainly understands.
no, i’m not happy the doors sold the catalog.
i digress...
for the sake of the next generation i implore you-please make more of these micro-documentaries. few else could do it so well.
perhaps i will do one with you one day soon, past life semi-consciousness on the d/l... this year is busy, but i swear on my pentax that one day i will materialize in your email.
this is the best video you have ever made, i cannot believe i missed it until now; that’s the lovely little thing about this dopamine fueled encyclopedic time machine of shiny things.
with all my forever mad heart, i express the sincerest gratitude for your tireless work building this channel ted-it changed my life.
amazing photographer. I met his very cool and nice son in DTLA
I love Mr. Free so much, great guy
awesome!
he is a cool dude with an awesome attitude on life
Semper Fi and god bless John
Thanks
should remind one of the movie "Being There"
It is a shame you don't put the transcription for foreigners like me. It will be very useful. Thanks four your superb job, Ted.
You mean an English transcription or do you expect him to speak the language you didn't mention?