Reignite Your Passion: How to Save Your Photography Soul 

One of your best videos ever! Probably one of the best photography videos I've ever watched on RU-vid - seriously. In addition to checking out master photographers (you provide an awesome list in this video) I would also suggest checking out great painters for photography inspiration. Having a large RU-vid following (or any large social media following) simply means you know how to build a following - nothing more.

Amen brother. I am so sick of empty, pastel, Wes Anderson-like gas stations, random street shots with nothing underneath the actual blurry image of normal people on a street and yet another shot of some vista in Iceland. There ARE some terrific photographers that I have found via RU-vid-Alan Schaller and Paul Reid being a couple of examples.

I think the basic problem is too often people equate large likes/large following as meaning the person is good. What I try to do is photograph what interests me try to capture a solid photo of the scene. Some of my favorite channels actually discuss the work of other photographers.

I completely agree. My world opened up when I learned about Henri Cartier Bresson in college and magnum. He said if he has 1 or 2 images a year that are good he’s happy or lucky.. something like that. Anyways yes it’s about what’s going on the story. You can hyper focus or intensely be driven to create imapactful images. I just came home from Paris I was documenting the set- up. It was personal project stuff. I was there 2 weeks and I realized a week in , I had not seen the Eiffel Tower yet. I staying on the river in the 4 (an ile) so it’s not like it was far. I just forgot about it. I was in and around different neighborhoods capturing stuff. Yes with a a M 11. lol I forgot my Q2 in home in NY too so that all I had. I then go and buy a m6 film camera inspired by all the people shooting film in Paris and a 35. So I swapped the lens too. That the stuff you think about not getting posed shots. I actually thought I was Vivian Maier. Taking photos of my reflection in windows and mirrors lol

Ralph Gibson was a revelation to me when I began many, many years ago. I’d been taking photographs, trying out many different genres, until his work clicked with me.

This man is just spitting fact after fact.

All of this needed to be said.

This is what I was waiting for. Thank you so much I heard Vivian Maier a few days ago, a photographer who never shared the work with the world. I thought she's also inspiring.

Exactly! This video is actually the only video we need to see in 2024! Thank you 🤗

I have just recently found your channel. Your material and subject matter is truly inspiring and definitely makes me think. Thank you.

Well done for taking about this subject. As my own skills have improved I've noticed the same. There are some of my favourites who are great for learning techniques or reviewing gear but when they show their own work its not always that great. Present company excepted, of course! Now I just take out of it what I need and move on.

Heya Justin, I really appreciated this video. I can see how some might jump to calling it elitist, however I don't feel that at all. What seems clear to me is that you are really using this as a platform to (re)introduce us to "the greats"; not giving us something to emulate, or saying "how to be like them." It seems you're really asking us to derive our own inspiration from these great bodies of work, and then step forth into creating imagery in the best way we know how. So thank you for this. I now have a page full of tabs to dive into with some awesome looking photographers (some new to me, some not). Thanks for the great videos! I'm really enjoying your channel.

I think you made a good point when you said... Popular RU-vidrs are good at telling their own story, but not necessarily the stories of others.

Well said. Thanks!

I used to joke that all RU-vid channels eventually become microphone review channels, regardless of what they start out as (and that the RU-vid recommendation algorithm is just a Price is Right Plinko game where all the slots on the bottom are men's rights advocates and two people who live in their vans). Occasionally I'd be happy to discover a photographer I liked would create a RU-vid channel (I assume at the behest of their team who told them they need to be on the platform), and the predictable lifecycle would be: BTS video of a shoot they had already done, a couple short videos about lighting and gear, and then the release schedule starts to increase monotonically as they realize that managing a channel is basically a full-time job and they eventually abandon it). I think the secret to success on RU-vid is realizing that the audience is actually just people who want to have a successful RU-vid channel. This happens even in non-photographer contexts too. There's a channel I used to subscribe to where it was a Doctor who talked about studying and stuff, and within like two years of his channel he stopped being a doctor to do RU-vid full-time. Or there's an airline pilot who reviews backpacks on RU-vid and you can see him now transitioning to that full-time. Like it doesn't matter what you did before creating the channel, it eventually becomes tautological. I think there's a gravity to managing a channel that will eventually corrupt any content creator, especially once they start having success on the platform.

Eddy van Wessel- what a great photographer !

Kudos, Justin. I developed my skills by reading magazines and books, paid for courses, and gradually developed my skills. In this age of social media, so much has been given over to the likes of RU-vid, FB and IG for instant gratification and 'success. It all lacks soul. Like dry January, I have decided to give up on SM for a few months and possibly hit the reset for some ideas I have. Best.

Totally agree. I’m also so tired of wedding photographers who have super high follower counts for their reels on IG, very quickly setting up “education” platforms for their “brand” while their actual photo quality is very beginner. I feel bad for everyone who gets sucked into that culture because it’s not helpful for one’s photography at all. Great for making money but useless as far as the art is concerned. All I really care about is the art, and the people I photograph.

Can I have your books and dogs?😁 I really like this video because it speaks a lot of truth about RU-vid photographers. I'd be watching some videos and I'm like 😴. They talk too much and not showing their work. Others do talk about their work and im not bored. Some, I follow for education about my gear. The legendary photographers you've mentioned are some of my faves. Thanks for this video, I enjoyed it.👍🏾

I do look at a lot of photo books but haven’t yet found the one that really resonated with me. I guess I’m more influenced by film noir. The work of Gregg Toland is amazing. On the more recent side, I could spend all day watching every frame of a Lav Diaz movie.

Agreed. I find that there are a lot of good photographers out there but not a lot of inspirational photographers. There are a few, but there are way more posting vids. You are right. So, yes, I try to follow my own muse. Most of what I shoot is not good but I do get a few good ones and that is what keeps me going. And the more I shoot the more I have and the better I will, hopefully, get.

Great video. It's interesting I have watched a lot of videos where RU-vidrs look to other RU-vidrs for their photography inspiration, not necessarily photographers creating bodies of work. I've always said if you want to get better as a photographer study some of the greats and what they have produced. BTW, you don't need fancy lights in the background when you have something to say! ;-)

Truth!

Great Video man… I’ve got a photography based channel, however I have made it clear on a few occasions to my audience, that photography is a side hustle for myself - My Career is in Graphic Design & Although I do, DO a stack of photography with-in design and for clients AND I am confident with my photography skills - I can’t actually call myself a “full time working photographer” that would be misleading my audience… Having that mindset has really freed up my approach on my channel and how I run it :)

Word!! Im glad that latelly, trend is changing a bit. Few of you guys that really lives from serious photography stood up and point out the difference. I consume gear reviews ofc. I came to your channel first time 3 years ago on Leica wildlife gear review haha. Thank you for quality content, keep going with video camera on location when you doing a project. It is great to see workflow and decission making on spot. Thank you!

Amen.

thank you for making this video

Hi Justin, I'm based in Thailand and went to BKK a month back to see an exhibition of James N's work. Amazing. Far from easy watching but brilliant stuff. Some of it reminded me of W Eugene Smith's work. Love your channel, it's really helping me be a better amateur!

Shots fired, totally true though

Add your inspiration here.

Some time ago professional photographer Scott Choucino posted a video on the same topic. The reality for RU-vid is that there are great RU-vid channels on the topic of photography and then there are working photographers who have great RU-vid channels. Both are fine in their own way. But, it the distinction is obvious for those that care.

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

Alan Schaller inspired me to my own style of photography. Not quite there yet but I agree with the RU-vidr point. Many of them move between photography and gear reviews. And for much of the time, the photos are to make a point not arts

A lot of the youtube photogs seem gravitate towards abstract street and boaring landscape photography which is ok but it seems lacking, however after seeing your work and the formentioned from your list you so kindly provided It's quite apparent what real photography should be, and that's story telling . After all a picture paints what? your video was like someone opened a window to let the cool air wash in. Thank You.

Hey Justin! Thanks for that! 😊So I don’t care about who you think aren’t good, that’s some negative vibes no one needs, but it would be great if you could give us your opinion on who you consider to be the really good ones….

I think it’s perfectly okay to look for inspiration from RU-vidrs including yourself, regardless of the quality of their work. For the very simple fact that if they inspire you to get off the couch and go shoot, then they did their job.

I want names! I want to see if I agree with you about their photography or if I even know who they are.

100%. You wouldn't aspire to drive like a shitty driver. Great to hear you say what others are scared of saying.

well said‼

YEP, everybody only listen to Justin Mott, Not..