Arguably, the best video of yours (or anyone). In best, I mean has the most value. I've seen most of the photographers and image that you presented dozens of times, but now you have provided another layer of appreciation. Do more like this. 👍🏻
I spend a lot of time on the road working on various photography projects and I've concluded the best way to "see America" is to go far off the beaten track, so to speak. Ypu have to get in close for lack of a better way of putting it. There's nothing like Rollin in to a small town and photographing it and the people who live there. It will show you that no matter where you go, every person and every place is absolutely unique and tgat every single person literally has their own "world" unique to their time and place.
Allow me to recommend a travel diary called “Blue Highways” written by William Least Heat Moon. Set in the Seventies, it recounts a road trip by the author in which he circumnavigated the continental United States, limiting his travels exclusively to back roads where he could photograph and interact with the locals and their culture. It’s a great read.
I have enjoyed many road trips across the US throughout my life, so this episode really resonates with me. Ryan McGinley's excellent image of the girl in the pickup truck brought back memories of similar times I shared with friends. It's also an amazingly composed image, thanks for making me aware of it.
We come to terms with ourselves and sort out a way forward. The photographer is looking for something, but the artist in them only find themselves. We got together so we could become decided. Now, we are ready to fight. Everyone is a provocateur. Everyone is a personality. The definition of love and acceptance has shifted to who you love and what you aren't willing to accept. In my opinion. I love this channel. Your channel inspires me.
It's so true, I was also born in '74 in South Africa and I often feel I am looking at the landscapes of my childhood when I see images like that one by Sternfeld.
This video, Alex, got me to see with new eyes the area where I grew up. All around me are what many would call iconic locations and landmarks. But I tended to take them for granted having been around them most of my life. To be sure, a number of them have been photographed to death, but that does not detract from their appeal. Thank you for helping me see with new eyes and awareness my own backyard. Also, I am really liking the submissions which have been uploaded by viewers for this challenge. Cheers.
I feel I need to clarify that though this video is not about iconic locations or landmarks one might travel to see, it did get me to thinking about this topic for some reason.
There is a journalist that writes for one of the UK newspapers that spends time in America that writes articles about it when those trips occur, but despite having significant time on the ground in the USA still gets things in the articles slightly out of phase. Not being American, there are certain cultural things that just aren't picked up on. I made comments along these lines, and someone who worked with this writer said I was unduly criticizing this writer. Here's the thing: This other writer defending had not been to the USA at all.
Your soliloquy at around 18:29 make me immediately think of these lines. "Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping/I'm empty and aching and I don't know why/Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike/They've all come to look for America/All come to look for America/All come to look for America" America by Paul Simon
i am so happy to be following your channel. though i am not a photographer, in this digital age I've developed an obsession with photography, somehow. i think of your videos as lectures i might have taken in my college days (i'm in my mid-60s now); i appreciate your intellectual approach to photography, with less of the technical approach that i find in so many other channels. who knows, had i stumbled upon your lectures while i was in college, maybe i'd have actually become a photographer? thanks for your wonderful videos.
I just read your comment, and would encourage you to get a camera (any camera) and embrace the world of photography. It is very rewarding, and I believe photography to be an excellent creative outlet and form of self expression. I shoot film because it is what I started out out with, but you could just use the camera on your phone to make terrific photos. Give it a shot.
Always love hearing you talk about photos - not sure about the pic drop promo stuff!!! Although I liked it more when you were just pure art, I do understand that you need to pay bills!!! God bless you xx
Loved this! I put that book on my Amazon wish-list some years ago and forgot about it :( grrr! I've recently done some road-tripping in New Zealand (not enough) and was never happier (photographically) than when long distance driving in South Africa through all the small dorps (like bakkie,, the words stay with you). When you can hit the breaks and jump out and take anything that catches your eye for whatever reason. Wonderful! (I've got a very tolerant wife :) ). I'm in my mid sixties now, but I's still love to do the great American road trip - take a few months off and drive Highway 61, maybe (Bob Dylan fan here) - but all the way from the Canadian border to New Orleans! I'd be up for it if my bank account was! Great vid! Thanks.
Just submitted 2 photos under the name “Tex”. I believe you mentioned your 1st trip over was October 2001. Things were a lot different after 9/11 for awhile. Immediately after that moment, American Flags were everywhere, Patriotism was felt by everyone… we all just came together. Although what brought about the change was so horrific, it really was a surreal moment with everyone being nice and courteous to one another, at least in my part of the world. Sadly, that has faded once again…
Came to say just that...after 9/11, we were broken so there was a definite shift in mood and feeling that comes through in photographs from that time...
Agreed! The people looked forlorn, unsure of themselves, maybe even brokenhearted. I know I felt some of these emotions after 9/11. Before it seemed, despite our differing opinions, we Americans still had a sense of optimism. Not so much anymore.
As an historian, I’d have to say that this sort of evidence for a national mood change (individual photographers, pre-existing theory, etc.) is extremely weak. However, it does point to an interesting idea that could be worth further investigation. Perhaps by looking at a wide range of amateur photographs. In any event, you’ve picked some great shots that stimulate ideas for my own work.
Hi Alex, I made a set of 5 images called road trip but then I wanted to rename it 30 mile radius so could you please delete the set called road trip. Sorry for any confusion I did not know exactly how things work in picdrop. I also want to to say that I really love your channel.
As an American it's interesting to hear / see viewpoints of us from outside the US. But I always do so with mixed feelings of trepidation, gun-shyness (if that makes sense) and fear of impending "cringeworthiness" (if not outright embarrassment). I'm always afraid some kind of stupidity (which like *everyone* else, we have in abundance) is going to raise its head. I'm as patriotic as any other American and I love my country, but we're all humans and therefore no better nor worse than anyone else. I enjoyed your video ...and fortunately never cringed. 😀
One should always be careful about basing things off of TV, TV can expose certain truths about a country that produces it but also can lead one seriously astray. Similarly, within the USA there is a bit lost in translation between the small towns and big cities. City dwellers often base their idea of small town life off of TV, and small town people often base life in the big city on TV as well. To that point, I recently watched a video about a woman that was disillusioned about her move to New York City. She based her idea of what it'd be like in NYC on her viewing of the TV show Sex and the City. We'd all do well to remember that TV is play acting, it's easy to assume because we see people in TV shows and sometimes it is forgotten they are actually playing characters. I'd say that even more caution is needed with musicians. We see them on stage, but that is also an image being projected, in essence they, too, are playing a character and thus should not be confused with reality.
And, of course, one should also be careful about basing one's idea about America on photographs. Photography is a tool that can expose truth, but also to distort and hide truth. Just the MOOD about a photograph affects what one say about it, and that ultimately is an emotional reaction that can lead one away from reality.
You cannot generalize in any objective way about America through photographs. The title of Franks famous book( which I really like) was absurd and political propaganda. Having said that I enjoy these photographs and the point of view of the photographers and feel like the do capture a slice of life. Great podcast!
American Photographs (Walker Evans), TheAmericans (Robert Frank), American Prospects (Joel Sternfeld)… and others… a long tradition of SUBJECTIVE generalisation. Many American novelists have attempted The Great American Novel
Upload your challenge photos here: www.picdrop.com/tpe/f9BWcyLRfR
Thanks for a link. Great promotion for PicDrop. I signed up. I will have to compare it to Pixieset. Looks like fun.
Arguably, the best video of yours (or anyone). In best, I mean has the most value. I've seen most of the photographers and image that you presented dozens of times, but now you have provided another layer of appreciation. Do more like this. 👍🏻
I spend a lot of time on the road working on various photography projects and I've concluded the best way to "see America" is to go far off the beaten track, so to speak. Ypu have to get in close for lack of a better way of putting it. There's nothing like Rollin in to a small town and photographing it and the people who live there. It will show you that no matter where you go, every person and every place is absolutely unique and tgat every single person literally has their own "world" unique to their time and place.
Allow me to recommend a travel diary called “Blue Highways” written by William Least Heat Moon. Set in the Seventies, it recounts a road trip by the author in which he circumnavigated the continental United States, limiting his travels exclusively to back roads where he could photograph and interact with the locals and their culture. It’s a great read.
I have enjoyed many road trips across the US throughout my life, so this episode really resonates with me.
Ryan McGinley's excellent image of the girl in the pickup truck brought back memories of similar times I shared with friends. It's also an amazingly composed image, thanks for making me aware of it.
We come to terms with ourselves and sort out a way forward. The photographer is looking for something, but the artist in them only find themselves. We got together so we could become decided. Now, we are ready to fight. Everyone is a provocateur. Everyone is a personality. The definition of love and acceptance has shifted to who you love and what you aren't willing to accept. In my opinion. I love this channel. Your channel inspires me.
Lived in Central Florida all my life and you've really brought back some special memories with that wet and wild photo
A photograph that is art makes me feel something. Happy, sad, lonely, comfort, fear, something like that.
It's so true, I was also born in '74 in South Africa and I often feel I am looking at the landscapes of my childhood when I see images like that one by Sternfeld.
This video, Alex, got me to see with new eyes the area where I grew up. All around me are what many would call iconic locations and landmarks. But I tended to take them for granted having been around them most of my life. To be sure, a number of them have been photographed to death, but that does not detract from their appeal. Thank you for helping me see with new eyes and awareness my own backyard. Also, I am really liking the submissions which have been uploaded by viewers for this challenge. Cheers.
I feel I need to clarify that though this video is not about iconic locations or landmarks one might travel to see, it did get me to thinking about this topic for some reason.
Hi Alex, I really enjoyed this video looking at old photos in America, and those great American Cars. Thanks 😊
There is a journalist that writes for one of the UK newspapers that spends time in America that writes articles about it when those trips occur, but despite having significant time on the ground in the USA still gets things in the articles slightly out of phase. Not being American, there are certain cultural things that just aren't picked up on. I made comments along these lines, and someone who worked with this writer said I was unduly criticizing this writer. Here's the thing: This other writer defending had not been to the USA at all.
Great idea about the Picdrop photo drop. I'll submit one.
Your soliloquy at around 18:29 make me immediately think of these lines.
"Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping/I'm empty and aching and I don't know why/Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike/They've all come to look for America/All come to look for America/All come to look for America" America by Paul Simon
i am so happy to be following your channel. though i am not a photographer, in this digital age I've developed an obsession with photography, somehow. i think of your videos as lectures i might have taken in my college days (i'm in my mid-60s now); i appreciate your intellectual approach to photography, with less of the technical approach that i find in so many other channels. who knows, had i stumbled upon your lectures while i was in college, maybe i'd have actually become a photographer? thanks for your wonderful videos.
I just read your comment, and would encourage you to get a camera (any camera) and embrace the world of photography. It is very rewarding, and I believe photography to be an excellent creative outlet and form of self expression. I shoot film because it is what I started out out with, but you could just use the camera on your phone to make terrific photos. Give it a shot.
Wow ..brilliant observations of the shift in America by photographer
What interesting images. Thanks for sharing. ❤
Always love hearing you talk about photos - not sure about the pic drop promo stuff!!! Although I liked it more when you were just pure art, I do understand that you need to pay bills!!! God bless you xx
Loved this! I put that book on my Amazon wish-list some years ago and forgot about it :( grrr! I've recently done some road-tripping in New Zealand (not enough) and was never happier (photographically) than when long distance driving in South Africa through all the small dorps (like bakkie,, the words stay with you). When you can hit the breaks and jump out and take anything that catches your eye for whatever reason. Wonderful! (I've got a very tolerant wife :) ). I'm in my mid sixties now, but I's still love to do the great American road trip - take a few months off and drive Highway 61, maybe (Bob Dylan fan here) - but all the way from the Canadian border to New Orleans! I'd be up for it if my bank account was! Great vid! Thanks.
Thanks for this video. You have reminded me that I need to plan some local road trips.
I like when you say: ‘…all that algorithm nonsense’ because that’s what an algorithm is: a huge nonsense.
Nice video by the way!👍🏻👍🏻
Again a masterpiece. Actually, it is such interesting to see those three completely different takes on a similar topic.
This video was so good!
Excellent job
Thanks for sharing.
Just submitted 2 photos under the name “Tex”.
I believe you mentioned your 1st trip over was October 2001. Things were a lot different after 9/11 for awhile.
Immediately after that moment, American Flags were everywhere, Patriotism was felt by everyone… we all just came together.
Although what brought about the change was so horrific, it really was a surreal moment with everyone being nice and courteous to one another, at least in my part of the world.
Sadly, that has faded once again…
Came to say just that...after 9/11, we were broken so there was a definite shift in mood and feeling that comes through in photographs from that time...
Agreed! The people looked forlorn, unsure of themselves, maybe even brokenhearted. I know I felt some of these emotions after 9/11. Before it seemed, despite our differing opinions, we Americans still had a sense of optimism. Not so much anymore.
informative content
As an historian, I’d have to say that this sort of evidence for a national mood change (individual photographers, pre-existing theory, etc.) is extremely weak. However, it does point to an interesting idea that could be worth further investigation. Perhaps by looking at a wide range of amateur photographs. In any event, you’ve picked some great shots that stimulate ideas for my own work.
On the PicDrop Road Trip, how do we delete a photo we uploaded?
Hi Alex, I made a set of 5 images called road trip but then I wanted to rename it 30 mile radius so could you please delete the set called road trip. Sorry for any confusion I did not know exactly how things work in picdrop. I also want to to say that I really love your channel.
As an American it's interesting to hear / see viewpoints of us from outside the US. But I always do so with mixed feelings of trepidation, gun-shyness (if that makes sense) and fear of impending "cringeworthiness" (if not outright embarrassment). I'm always afraid some kind of stupidity (which like *everyone* else, we have in abundance) is going to raise its head. I'm as patriotic as any other American and I love my country, but we're all humans and therefore no better nor worse than anyone else. I enjoyed your video ...and fortunately never cringed. 😀
One should always be careful about basing things off of TV, TV can expose certain truths about a country that produces it but also can lead one seriously astray. Similarly, within the USA there is a bit lost in translation between the small towns and big cities. City dwellers often base their idea of small town life off of TV, and small town people often base life in the big city on TV as well. To that point, I recently watched a video about a woman that was disillusioned about her move to New York City. She based her idea of what it'd be like in NYC on her viewing of the TV show Sex and the City. We'd all do well to remember that TV is play acting, it's easy to assume because we see people in TV shows and sometimes it is forgotten they are actually playing characters. I'd say that even more caution is needed with musicians. We see them on stage, but that is also an image being projected, in essence they, too, are playing a character and thus should not be confused with reality.
And, of course, one should also be careful about basing one's idea about America on photographs. Photography is a tool that can expose truth, but also to distort and hide truth. Just the MOOD about a photograph affects what one say about it, and that ultimately is an emotional reaction that can lead one away from reality.
You cannot generalize in any objective way about America through photographs. The title of Franks famous book( which I really like) was absurd and political propaganda. Having said that I enjoy these photographs and the point of view of the photographers and feel like the do capture a slice of life. Great podcast!
American Photographs (Walker Evans), TheAmericans (Robert Frank), American Prospects (Joel Sternfeld)… and others… a long tradition of SUBJECTIVE generalisation.
Many American novelists have attempted The Great American Novel
I put a zebra photo in with a comment Simon Payne.
Oops, I forgot the filename convention you requested, Alex. Please feel free to delete my picture that begins with "fujifilm". Great idea, by the way!
No worries!
You need to adjust your audio, it sounds like you and your microphone are in separate rooms.
Wtf