Despite how much I love film, I appreciate that you never emphasized that as the medium used in this video. I think film is great for those who have a fine synergy with it's process, but ultimately we are all just capturing light at a specific moment of time. Photography itself should be the highest priority and you demonstrated that knowledge with this vid, great stuff Willem, keep it up!
always wanted to put out a book, but felt like I was rushing it. glad to say that my project i've started will take at the least, 1.5 years. i'm glad it'll take that long, cause I know i'm breaking the surface and digging deeper into what i want to exemplify
I know this video won’t do stupid numbers but just know you’re killing it and your progression as a photographer has been very cool to watch. Excited to see where this project goes. Curious if you’re going to be taking or including portraits of people as well. I think that would tie it together nicely.
Really appreciate how real you are. It might only be a 10 minute video for RUclips, but I know I get a hell of a lot out of it. Don't stop killing it Willem 🙏
Totally agree with you Willem, I think influence from others photographers is a healthy process but only sparingly. Instagram is giving us way too much images to process and it can break our internal creative process. It's alway a pleasure to watch your videos Willem, keep it up !
this touches on topics i've quite recently been pondering and learning about, things i've just learnt from myself when working with photography. having a subject in mind can be so much more valuable to yourself, because it makes you constantly look for a specific thing. whether you're focusing on a feeling or something else specifically, it more so comes from inside of you than from an external source. i find it almost transcends your subconsciousness to your consciousness, which in turn makes you understand yourself better.
Your timing on this could not be better. I'm just finishing a one month break from certain social media networks (basically my Twitter replacements) after realizing how they were influencing my photography in ways I wasn't comfortable with. Thanks for sharing this.
Monet did a series where he painted the Rouen Cathedral from pretty much the same angle over the course of a year or so. At first it's just the cathedral over and over again but you begin to realise it's not the cathedral he's painting, but light as a phenomenon itself. The Rock, like the cathedral, I guess is the constant in which the transience of light is captured. Really love it! Edit: realised someone else mentioned the Monet series too!
When I get back my film photos, I absolutely love many of them. When I share them in groups, they get a lukewarm reception while photos I find mediocre get so much attention. But I refuse to change my methods. It's less of an issue for me than it is for someone who's trying to build an online presence. Additionally, there are photography styles I admire and enjoy looking at, but would never want to do that type of photography myself.
Your approach to Morro Bay feels very journalistic, and I quite like that. There's something to be said about really getting to know a place in the way you have been, and especially knowing the people there and what they have to share.
I think you really touch on the divide between media as content and media as art. You mentioned that in the past you started to tailor your photos for an Instagram audience but now with your long term projects your tailoring them to your own tastes and attempting to show the subject in a complete and varied way that demonstrates immense understanding. That, to me, is the definition of art. All creatives should strive to fully understand their subjects and strive to create works that they love, because that's the most fulfilling work you can do. Your artistic expression will undoubtedly shine through in the finished collection of Morrow Bay and the Outer Banks and I'm looking forward to the day we get to see your perspectives all together in print.
I grew up in a strange little part of East Tennessee called Pigeon Forge. Now when I visit, I can't believe how many things I missed all my life. Gotta return again and again, great video and advice!
Kudos to you for staying the course on your journey! Slowing down and being deliberate in our choices nearly always leads to better results for ourselves. You are wise to realize this in your younger years. I enjoyed this very much!
Many interesting thoughts! I like your project so much. You did not talk about the different light in your series. It varies so beautifully! Light is what photography is all about. Your videos inspired me to do a long term project on water. I always shoot at the same spot. A place where a famous German writer committed suicide. And this will result in a book for an exhibition. Thank you for sharing your ideas and your process. I will be happy to see how you keep progressing and it will be fantastic to see the final result one day. BTW: I can relate so much to what you say about IG. It really kills my inspiration. Your videos are inspiring. Keep up the good work. Regards from Berlin, Germany.
I have to say living in Nashville I decided to start a long term photo project of photographing the Batman building. It’s an iconic building in Nashville that you can see from many different vantage points. Even if you don’t live in Nashville or never visited most people know about it. I was inspired by your previous video about doing a self assignment. This may end up being a project I will do for the rest of my life or at least as long as I still live in Nashville.
Really enjoyed hearing your insights. I have been feeling the same about Instagram as well & currently sorting through my own images to somewhat make a zine of some sorts.
Great video and definitely agree thinking long term helps show a subject, scene or idea more in depth. I shoot many of the same things on different film stocks and time of day to see how the mood and perspective changes. One tip I recommend is to add lots of keyword tags and/or notes to your photos so that you can easily find them again.
Love your perspective on photography and progressing as an artist in today's social media focused realm. I can really relate to the effects of sharing and consuming images on Instagram as this is something I have been thinking about a lot lately in my own process. Thanks for sharing your truth, great video Willem!
That part about how when you’re in an area longer and it makes the photos more meaningful cause you develop a relationship with the ppl…that is so real I look at a lot of my photos and some of them I def wish i created a deeper connection with the ppl I photographed. Especially those of kids cause I could have given the images to them/their parents and they could cherish those moments as they grow up It’s all good to. We live and we learn. Great video man.
LOVE the way you think - I have been exactly the same and it's something I struggled with too for so long. It's so freeing when you remove the "inspiration" of others.
this is where I am at right now. I've traveled the country shooting photos of landmarks, shot all kinds of concerts, all kinds of sports. However im currently doing a summer long project of my neighborhood, I have one square mile im allowed to photograph and I must walk from my house to any of the things I want to shoot. Hopefully ill have enough good photos come this fall to print a short book/zine.
Thank you for this! I was wondering if Morro Rock is climbable? It could also be an interesting perspective to have it in the foreground with the city/landscape as the main focal point. Greetings from Austria
Loved this message and the importance of being true to your work and vision while allowing projects to develop over extended time. You mentioned consistency in the Morrow Bay project with camera and film, are you using multiple focal lengths or sticking to one lens as well?
I have heard artists in many mediums express the same feeling that they do not want to look at other people work but create their own unique perspective..............................and the hope other people want to look at it.....hmm.
Nicely done “rant” with some excellent points. Many photographers of the past (Friedlander, Winogrand, Wessel, etc…) have worked on projects and made similar discoveries. Sometimes photographers will have a particular topic they work on (like your Morro Bay one), other times it’s a very broad topic (Friedlander’s Real Estate book recently published); sometimes it’s something like “one camera, one lens, one year;” sometimes it’s aesthetic (color work)… Some, like Friedlander, work on many projects simultaneously over many years, even decades. There’s no one way. I think the limitations of a project, whatever it may be, are the key to getting something out of it. Those restrictions are, in my mind, freeing and allow a photographer to discover qualities about their work that are hidden in the chaos of just random shooting. But, regardless of how the project is structured or discovered, intentionally focusing on one’s own work for an extended period of time, reflecting on it as the project progresses in a mindful way, and paying attention to the need for adjustments in the work over time will, I believe, always be productive and essential to growth. Excellent video, Willem!
In the end, the thing that is most pleasing to you will be the thing most pleasing to us. What comes across in a really good image is the passion of the photographer.
Despite how much I love film, I appreciate that you never emphasized that as the medium used in this video. I think film is great for those who have a fine synergy with it's process, but ultimately we are all just capturing light at a specific moment of time. Photography itself should be the highest priority and you demonstrated that knowledge with this vid, great stuff Willem, keep it up!
always wanted to put out a book, but felt like I was rushing it. glad to say that my project i've started will take at the least, 1.5 years. i'm glad it'll take that long, cause I know i'm breaking the surface and digging deeper into what i want to exemplify
hell yeah, do you have an ig or something so that we can know when it comes out
I know this video won’t do stupid numbers but just know you’re killing it and your progression as a photographer has been very cool to watch.
Excited to see where this project goes. Curious if you’re going to be taking or including portraits of people as well. I think that would tie it together nicely.
Really appreciate how real you are. It might only be a 10 minute video for RUclips, but I know I get a hell of a lot out of it. Don't stop killing it Willem 🙏
Really like what you said around 7:30
Totally agree with you Willem, I think influence from others photographers is a healthy process but only sparingly. Instagram is giving us way too much images to process and it can break our internal creative process.
It's alway a pleasure to watch your videos Willem, keep it up !
this is so beautiful ! and this project is reminiscent of Monets "Haystacks" and "Rouen Cathedral" !
Your videos are so peaceful
this touches on topics i've quite recently been pondering and learning about, things i've just learnt from myself when working with photography. having a subject in mind can be so much more valuable to yourself, because it makes you constantly look for a specific thing. whether you're focusing on a feeling or something else specifically, it more so comes from inside of you than from an external source. i find it almost transcends your subconsciousness to your consciousness, which in turn makes you understand yourself better.
I have been shooting for a long time & I really felt this video was very helpful for my photography going forward. Thanks!
Your videos about Morrow Bay have been some of my favourites!
Long term projects "rock"🤞🏻
Your timing on this could not be better. I'm just finishing a one month break from certain social media networks (basically my Twitter replacements) after realizing how they were influencing my photography in ways I wasn't comfortable with. Thanks for sharing this.
Monet did a series where he painted the Rouen Cathedral from pretty much the same angle over the course of a year or so. At first it's just the cathedral over and over again but you begin to realise it's not the cathedral he's painting, but light as a phenomenon itself. The Rock, like the cathedral, I guess is the constant in which the transience of light is captured. Really love it!
Edit: realised someone else mentioned the Monet series too!
I'm finally getting close to wrapping up my first longer project. I've been working on it for about two years so hopefully I'll finish by August.
When I get back my film photos, I absolutely love many of them. When I share them in groups, they get a lukewarm reception while photos I find mediocre get so much attention. But I refuse to change my methods. It's less of an issue for me than it is for someone who's trying to build an online presence. Additionally, there are photography styles I admire and enjoy looking at, but would never want to do that type of photography myself.
Your approach to Morro Bay feels very journalistic, and I quite like that. There's something to be said about really getting to know a place in the way you have been, and especially knowing the people there and what they have to share.
I think you really touch on the divide between media as content and media as art. You mentioned that in the past you started to tailor your photos for an Instagram audience but now with your long term projects your tailoring them to your own tastes and attempting to show the subject in a complete and varied way that demonstrates immense understanding. That, to me, is the definition of art. All creatives should strive to fully understand their subjects and strive to create works that they love, because that's the most fulfilling work you can do.
Your artistic expression will undoubtedly shine through in the finished collection of Morrow Bay and the Outer Banks and I'm looking forward to the day we get to see your perspectives all together in print.
I grew up in a strange little part of East Tennessee called Pigeon Forge. Now when I visit, I can't believe how many things I missed all my life. Gotta return again and again, great video and advice!
Kudos to you for staying the course on your journey! Slowing down and being deliberate in our choices nearly always leads to better results for ourselves. You are wise to realize this in your younger years. I enjoyed this very much!
this mindset and approach reminds me of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji by Hokusai 👍
Many interesting thoughts! I like your project so much. You did not talk about the different light in your series. It varies so beautifully! Light is what photography is all about. Your videos inspired me to do a long term project on water. I always shoot at the same spot. A place where a famous German writer committed suicide. And this will result in a book for an exhibition. Thank you for sharing your ideas and your process. I will be happy to see how you keep progressing and it will be fantastic to see the final result one day. BTW: I can relate so much to what you say about IG. It really kills my inspiration. Your videos are inspiring. Keep up the good work. Regards from Berlin, Germany.
Sooo excited for the final book to come out one day!
I have to say living in Nashville I decided to start a long term photo project of photographing the Batman building. It’s an iconic building in Nashville that you can see from many different vantage points. Even if you don’t live in Nashville or never visited most people know about it. I was inspired by your previous video about doing a self assignment. This may end up being a project I will do for the rest of my life or at least as long as I still live in Nashville.
The guy's a born winner
Cayucos has some unique views of the rock. Bakersfield dr right by the yield sign is a cool view.
you've been one of my biggest inspirations oatmeal boi
Really enjoyed hearing your insights. I have been feeling the same about Instagram as well & currently sorting through my own images to somewhat make a zine of some sorts.
Great video and definitely agree thinking long term helps show a subject, scene or idea more in depth. I shoot many of the same things on different film stocks and time of day to see how the mood and perspective changes. One tip I recommend is to add lots of keyword tags and/or notes to your photos so that you can easily find them again.
Just seen your stash on Analogue Wonderland, here in the UK. Well done chap, great!
Love your perspective on photography and progressing as an artist in today's social media focused realm. I can really relate to the effects of sharing and consuming images on Instagram as this is something I have been thinking about a lot lately in my own process. Thanks for sharing your truth, great video Willem!
That part about how when you’re in an area longer and it makes the photos more meaningful cause you develop a relationship with the ppl…that is so real
I look at a lot of my photos and some of them I def wish i created a deeper connection with the ppl I photographed. Especially those of kids cause I could have given the images to them/their parents and they could cherish those moments as they grow up
It’s all good to. We live and we learn. Great video man.
love it. more of these thoughtful or introspective videos would be great. cheers willem.
LOVE the way you think - I have been exactly the same and it's something I struggled with too for so long. It's so freeing when you remove the "inspiration" of others.
very inspiring as a way of thinking about a project ✨
Really well said
Good talk Willem! Appreciate your thoughts on your mindset and approach almost as much as the art you create. Best to you!
well said with perfect timing period all your videos are great and very inspiring and motivating thanks a lot.
such a wonderful video!! its so important to view your art as something that can be sustained, so excited to see more of your journey :)
Great video. Thought provoking
Great message here!!
Grats on the 400K subs!
wow thank you for another amazing video!! I never get tired seeing your work and hearing your view on things(:
Such a great video
Loved this
Such an incredible video❤ definitely resonate with this
this is where I am at right now. I've traveled the country shooting photos of landmarks, shot all kinds of concerts, all kinds of sports. However im currently doing a summer long project of my neighborhood, I have one square mile im allowed to photograph and I must walk from my house to any of the things I want to shoot. Hopefully ill have enough good photos come this fall to print a short book/zine.
Now I get why Joe said “you’re cheating on your rock!” 🤣
you inspire me so much all the way here in jamaica, wish you could come out here sometime and link
Speaking facts about Instagram. I’ve been feeling similar recently
Very good timing! Just realised that a project I am working on might take 2+ years to finish
Thank you for this! I was wondering if Morro Rock is climbable? It could also be an interesting perspective to have it in the foreground with the city/landscape as the main focal point.
Greetings from Austria
this was reassuring
Middle one. 😊
I don’t follow photographers on Instagram. I do look at photography in books.
Loved this message and the importance of being true to your work and vision while allowing projects to develop over extended time. You mentioned consistency in the Morrow Bay project with camera and film, are you using multiple focal lengths or sticking to one lens as well?
Great sound. I see the lavalier mike. Can you tell us your setup?
I have heard artists in many mediums express the same feeling that they do not want to look at other people work but create their own unique perspective..............................and the hope other people want to look at it.....hmm.
Alec Soth said that if Robert Frank was working on the Americans now and making decisions based on “likes” then the book would never have come out.
❤️❤️
I think I would like the c41 podcast to come back
wanneer komt er een studio shoot tips met analoge camera
have you shot it from the sea yet?
Bro none of the links to your gear in the description work!! I want your tripod!! But the links don't work!
damn cool
nice Lotus, is it yours?
Nice
Nicely done “rant” with some excellent points.
Many photographers of the past (Friedlander, Winogrand, Wessel, etc…) have worked on projects and made similar discoveries.
Sometimes photographers will have a particular topic they work on (like your Morro Bay one), other times it’s a very broad topic (Friedlander’s Real Estate book recently published); sometimes it’s something like “one camera, one lens, one year;” sometimes it’s aesthetic (color work)… Some, like Friedlander, work on many projects simultaneously over many years, even decades. There’s no one way.
I think the limitations of a project, whatever it may be, are the key to getting something out of it. Those restrictions are, in my mind, freeing and allow a photographer to discover qualities about their work that are hidden in the chaos of just random shooting.
But, regardless of how the project is structured or discovered, intentionally focusing on one’s own work for an extended period of time, reflecting on it as the project progresses in a mindful way, and paying attention to the need for adjustments in the work over time will, I believe, always be productive and essential to growth.
Excellent video, Willem!
real.
got to find my own rock
💎💎💎
I was thinking...have you ever tried getting on the rock?...or maybe that is simply not possible/not the angle you are looking for.
In the end, the thing that is most pleasing to you will be the thing most pleasing to us. What comes across in a really good image is the passion of the photographer.
The instagram trap
my project is to shoot only at 1 second: that's gonna be called a second in my lousy life
热乎的
are you just copying KingJvpes because he's also doing a medium format project with the morro bay rock formation.
you may walk the same street every other day but it won't be the same you
Too many words too few good photographs. Sorry bu I don’t get your style