There are many RU-vid photography channels. Most of them talk endlessly about the gear - cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, even the latest bags and straps. Many of them talk about techniques of photography. But very few talk about the ART. The hard, baffling process of trying to create art. What is the difference between a snap and a photograph? What is worth recording and why? I have zero interest in commercial photography, no desire to provide a service. I am interested in why some images are art but most are not. How and why is this? Let's try and find out...
5 years later I come back and even don´t remember, that I saw all this, your film, before. Indeed, it looks new and some of the dead I couldn´t bear to see, moving my eyes away, so terrible! Although it´s my central theme in filming and photographing and writing too! Not so directly may be. So time went bye, and I am still here. Death has an oppositiion: Being still here and looking back and be here now, that´s why I do filming my everydays life and show these film messages also here on youtube, have a look! Thank you for your work.
I just discovered this body of work for the first time, and I'm absolutely blown away. I must disagree with you on one point. If you evaluate the work through the lens of Kantian and Bell's formalist aesthetics critique, I believe the creator's identity is irrelevant-it would be regarded as sublime.
I like to see and take photographs that don't merely frame a scene but frame the emptiness harbouring the scene. And the emptiness has to be primary. Heaton's technically excellent photographs are primarily about the subject and the emptiness is absent or secondary in most photos I've seen, which is true for almost every other popular photographer. But who wants emptiness? Few.
I come here from time to time to watch what I consider as one of the most interesting channels about art in photography. Maybe it's easier from me because they match my sensibility, even certain of your specific opinions. I felt less lonely about Michael Keena and I noticed that your critic was both balanced and honest. So, when I feel a bit lost in my work, I find here a safe place to rest and start again. I wish you came back but I respect your silence and maybe you consider that you delivered your message.
I’ve just come across your channel and I’m gonna say that you’ve just single handedly articulated everything I have ever wanted to say. As a photographer myself, who is about to do a personal project and then use it to inspire workshops for beginners in self expression through a non-technical form of photography (point and Shoot/attention keeping/cash converter avoiding/more instantly gratifying/one roll at a time restrictive fun) I wholeheartedly enjoyed this videos and very much share the same sentiment so thank you very much and if you wouldn’t mind, I would love to refer people to your page for this very reason. Thank you
Aaaalso I always think about a story. Someone once told me about it photography class in Blackpool which apparently was a revered place to study photography at one point (brought up in Southport nearby so this interest me a little) Anyway Apparently on the first day of this photography degree course, the class tutor gave everyone a camera and three rolls of film and told everyone to “ go out , shoot the beach the sunset, the pier and the seagulls et cetera, then bring the films back And let’s put them in the bin and then let’s get started” I feel that this person may also have shared the same sentiment !
It’s a question I ask myself every day particularly when I pick up my camera. I agree with much of what you said. In the end I believe a good photo is one that moves the viewer, even if it’s only one- even if it’s only the photographer. Well done!
Great video, congratulations. But I believe the photographic language is not only that of artistic/author's photography. Photography has other languages: commercial, informative, documentary, experience, communication, narration, research, decorative ... The hyper-saturated color photography you are talking about has a commercial value: it promotes places of tourism, photographic workshops and travels, and photographic equipment. You can find it in trade magazines, books, and tourist guides, or decorative calendars and prints. Those who only love their favorite photographic genre and despise others, do not truly love photography. To do commercial photography you need a strong immediate impact and this genre has it. If, however, a photographer thinks he is making art with hypersaturated landscape photographs then he is wrong. Photographs, of any kind, all have one thing in common: they connect humans and all have the right to exist and their usefulness.
Thank you for helping us to understand and explore these important photographers in such a profound way. Raymond Moore and Fay Godwin resonate strongly with my sensitivity to nature and the beauty that surrounds us. Thank you, the work you have done for this channel is almost unique, I agree with every word of your analysis and visual approach. We are immersed in a world of clones and visual poverty. Your work should be shown in all schools!
Lovely video, lovely book and your summary of the value of this work was very nicely summed up. There is not enough derisive criticism directed toward the amount of lacklustre photography being pedalled in the realms of social media nowadays - it should be discussed more openly. I have subscribed and hope you come back with more videos in the future!
I like these photos. Makes you feel calm and relaxed. Also feels like you’re standing right there in the middle. Colour photos don’t do that. Great video
While I agree with many of your points, perhaps you should show us your photographs and be open to harsh critiques and caustic comments if we're that way inclined. Only fair don't you think?
While I agree that outrageously commercial and overly-worked photos are not an interesting expression, just decoration, I am not convinced by the examples of non-commercial photos presented here. Few of them create palpable emotion. In my humble opinion they are only a counter to photos with a marketing purpose.
Please come back. Your videos are needed on YT. After spending hours and hours watching landscape photography and getting more and more dissatisfied and angry, your channel is where I come to cleanse my soul. Plus you don’t stick your talking head over everything
Thank you for this thoughtful, affirming video. I've just switched from 55 years of abstract painting to minimally processed landscape photography...so this really hits the spot!
Never seen those, amazing, thank you. Somehow in all this large-medium format, shallow depth of field, Alex Soth wannabe kind of craze these are even more appealing. Wonderful work, great channel, thank you.
Thank you Justin for your channel and the analyses you've made over the years on the art of photography. It's truly refreshing to find your videos among the ocean of disney you-tubers out there.
Sad thing is that, unless he changed his modus operandi in recent years, Thomas Heaton is one of the "good guys". One might discuss hist style but not his ethics, he travels around, he takes the shot, thats it. His photography isn't based on Photoshop abuse, compositing, extreme manipulations etc. It's just honest landscape, contrary to many others whose photographs look like sci-fi worlds at this point. Look at any contest who doens't have strict rules about retouching, eveything looks (cuz it is) fake.
this work is painfully too blurred and personal amateurish too watch...i see your point but it is too staged to be authentic for me. thanks for your input.
