Photography

I'm not totally sure what this post is even trying to convey, other than the same sentiment that it feels like new photographers that are trying to be considered the "real deal" try to convey: I'm a photographer and I know what I'm talking about so I say to watch YouTube. Which is just odd.

There are a ton of content creators on YouTube that will provide solid knowledge in their videos even when their videos tend to be a bit ridiculous. Then there are others that provide great tips in most. Some are just great conversations (looking at b&h and adorama, for instance). There's nothing wrong with watching YouTube photo stuff, at all.

And, despite what so many people on this sub say there's nothing wrong with McKinnon's stuff. Some of his work is a bit generic looking (but it's generic now as so many people have tried to emulate it), but the guy is living his dream - and a life many of us would be very happy to have - and inspires a shit ton of people to go out and shoot. It's just like it's the hip and cool thing to hate on the guy, and it's pretty ridiculous at this point.

In closing, this post is odd and I don't quite understand what the point of it is or was, but yeah, go shoot your shit and enjoy it.

I don’t go to youtube for photography info, but Im sure one can find what they’re looking for there. I took a class in high school which was awesome. We had a dark room and developed our own film. Not sire if they still do that but I just go based off of that and learn from other photos I like.

I agree, especially when the info is coming from the same people. The angry photographer use to say Nikon makes the best damn cameras on the planet, now his brand loyalty is to Fuji. Both are excellent systems bit the one thing the more popular photographers on youtube all have that commercialization thing in common. There are some great videos out there for actual education that is great but you almost have to know which ones are good or bad already. The ones that tell you that you need a filter or a particular lens for XYZ are just trying to sell something for the most part.

I completely disagree.

I'm old enough that when I went to school for photography we were still on film. 35mm, medium format, and 4x5. Yes, I learned a lot. Yes, there was a lot of hands on. But that doesn't mean that there wouldn't be when learning from YouTube. The biggest drawback I see from YouTube is that the presenter isn't vetted and could be a stark raving lunatic who posts absolute garbage. I'm not saying all are, but there definitely some that are questionable. There's no shortage of quality content out there though.

You can still absolutely learn and do hands on, there's just no "grade" to be the stick. You have to be self driven. You have to be able to plan out a schedule. You have to seek out feedback. It's all on you, and you're only beholden to yourself.

Barely any of them are I would hang their prints on my wall. Most of them like Tom Heaton etc I just find a relaxing escape when I’m tired after work. I’ve seen a handful of absolute gems though. Alan Schaller now has a channel and he takes a good photo. I seen a B&H video with Jonathan Jasper that was outstanding too.

You're self contradiction somewhat here. Going out and just doing won't inherently lead to you finding settings you didn't know about and using them. I find reviews, videos, technique breakdowns FAR more valuable because they can cover every feature or use settings I'd never try or even figure out.

BnH’s youtube page has content to last you a lifetime! Can’t sit tight for an hour? Listen to 15 minute segments while you edit. Youtube really elevated my photography.

I agree with a lot of what you said - for kinesthetic learners. The thing is, there are different types of learners: visual, auditory, kinesthetic (hands-on). Some people get a lot of value out of watching someone show them their gear. Some get no value out of it. We should be encouraging people to figure out what kind of learner they are, and finding resources to help with that as a basis.

I think what works for you isn't universal and vice versa.

You say that there are settings pros don't know about, but how would someone know about it unless they hear it from someone? I've learned about new settings from various youtubers and people on this sub. Similiarly, when I go out and photograph, I'll come back and think "How could I have done better", then go to youtube or fellow photographers for improvements on what I want to work on.

It's weird that you say that YouTubers are ruining photography and then specifically mention Peter McKinnon, a youtuber that's practically a joke in this and the videography sub for creating a unique but generic style that a lot of beginners try to copy before finding their own style.

There are some amazing photographers on YouTube that do very well in their business. Many of them are also gear reviewers and sometimes the line is blurred.

It’s a matter of picking who works best for you. I think we all get a little annoyed at the fascination with gear but that’s how they make their money.

I'm not sure what we're supposed to talk about. The several thoughts in this post seem disconnected and contradictory.

YouTube just exploits my weakness, but I'm the one with weakness

Don't watch, read. Go and buy a book. Books are not free and are rare. It takes money, time and effort to write and publish a book so (mostly) they are a good source of real information.

You Tube? Not so much. Any ignorant Redditor can have a channel up and running spouting all kinds of information sending you down rabbit holes but mostly trying to get you to Buy More Stuff.

You take what you want from YouTube, to say that youtube is ruining photographer is a kinda hilarious take though

As a professional photographer I can’t waste time till I stumble upon something someday, I’d rather learn it how to do it when I want it. I can’t spend s money on a lens and shoot it to find out if I like it, I’d rather go on yt and see if I like the photos from this lens before I drop major dough on it. There are lot of things that you will learn by yourself though Experience but there is no harm in learning things from someone else.

YouTube photographers aren’t usually professional photographers who are out getting gigs

Full time photographers usually don’t have time to make YouTube videos

What a stupid advice. You don't know what you don't know. Of course there is no shortcut, you have to practice and shoot BUT you need to know what you want and what is possible and yourube is a great source. Sure people like Peter who are doing 95% entertainment and 5% teaching is not a useful source.

Tere are so many things you can only figure out by unlikely accidents...

I think YouTube videos provide a good starting point in the learning journey. You shouldn't watch the videos and expect to do everything the exact way it's shown in the video, but many videos give tips and tricks you may not learn while experimenting on your own.

That said, in my area I know many photographers who can learn straight from the video and apply what they learn in its entirety. Being that photography is an art not everyone is, or should, apply every technique the exact same way.

I picked up photography a few years ago and started by watching a TON of YouTube. Started off with Peter McKinnon before moving on to people with less “rock star” vibes about them, and have found that if you stay away from the click bait videos, there’s a wealth of information out there and a lot of it is helpful.

Watching videos isn’t going to make you a better photographer but I found some people I liked and tried to mimic their style or do the tricks they recommended and it helped immensely.

I actually enrolled in SNHU last year for an AA in photography in an attempt at upping my game but found that I learned much more from the YouTubers than just doing the required reading and turning in an assignment. Not to say the school structure won’t be helpful to some but I think as someone who also most likely has ADHD (undiagnosed) it’s much easier for me to watch a 10-20 minute video then slog though textbooks of light theory then take 20 photos of some apples on a table.

Recipe for a YouTube camera tutorial: •Bearded white fuckboy wearing a black snap-back •Out of 15min of babbling, maybe 60 seconds of useful knowledge-sharing •coloured LED lights in background •exposed brick wall with a bunch of styled roomfill props •Lo-fi beats to study to •obnoxious motion graphic template-generated personal logo & branding

You won’t learn anything useful from these goofballs. Read the manual and practice using your gear.

Peter trashkinnon is ruining photography way more than the guys that post lens review tho.

I think social media in general has completely ruined photography and videography for me. I do watch YouTube for tutorials but I’ve really gone off all the photo/video influencers, they’re so fake.

I think some are helpful - but yes, it is important to use your camera. Whenever I get a new lens - for example - I take pics around the house and wherever I go. In turn, I learn the nuances of the lens and how it renders. If it’s a new camera then I learn the menu system, adjust to the shutter lag, etc.

Collectively I may even establish a fondness for a new genre if it’s a result of shooting something available to me.

We all shouldn't forget that most of the photographer content on Youtube is entertainment, not education. We can still enjoy it. I do anyway.

Totally disagree. I learned a lot from YouTube, then practiced what I learned and discovered even more. It's been an invaluable and cheap way of learning for me.

Everyone has their way of learning. Just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean it does work for other. When I talk to my kids about something they are working on, I asked them how did they learn that. YouTube is generally their answer.

I wish YouTube was around over 30 years ago when I was using film. Probably would have picked up a lot more tips and tricks when it was expensive to buy/process film and I couldn't afford a lot of it.

This is a bad take. Every medium has potential benefits and it’s up to you what you do with it. There seems to be this weird reddit phenomenon where things are all or nothing. It’s also really immature to just outright claim what you think is the best idea. With maturity comes wisdom that we really don’t know much at all and should learn in whatever way works for the individual.

I teach a lot of people photography and I've noticed that Youtube has changed the way people learn photography and it's not necessarily ideal. The main issue is that people don't learn in a linear way. They get a camera, then look up specific techniques they want to do. People show up to lessons with me and they know all these "tricks" and techniques, but they don't really understand why they work or what they're actually doing.

I had someone come to me that said they keep their DSLR at ISO 400 or lower at all times because that's when the files "look the best." They just misunderstood what someone said in a video and it led to them getting blurry photos. I had another person say they kept a circular polarizer on the lens at all times (even when shooting indoors) because they watched a video about the benefits of a circular polarizer.

I really do think there's a benefit to a very linear learning process like a book or a class because you're building a foundation that you can expand upon.

I've also noticed a whole genre of photography dudes who just parrot what they hear in tutorials, even to people with more skill than them. I once posted an editorial portrait in a photo group. It had appeared in a national magazine. Some guy asked what I shot it with. I told him it was a 50mm lens and he told me I should try an 85mm lens because Scott Kelby says you should never shoot a portrait with a 50mm lens. Brutal.

I'm pretty good at converting information I gather into actuality. Prior knowledge doesn't obsoletize experience, but it's valuable to guide you how that experience should be gathered, and it may just prevent you from internalizing bad form. In a sports context, unsupervised training can be quite damaging, especially in the beginning. It's easy to pick something up the wrong way, but it's very difficult to unlearn that in favor of propriety after the damage is done.

I get your point, though, of course. You want to prevent people from running into conformity, preventing themselves from experiencing and finding their own uniqueness, and I agree with that. But I do think that you can have both, and I actually think that learning from others will get you there faster, if you're careful not to outsource any thinking and creative work.

So, I agree with you calling for caution.

It's good to take advantage of any resources you have access to but I agree you don't actually learn until you "do". I wouldn't say youtube is ruining photography tho, there are always gonna be people who "know the book inside and out" but don't actually know how to apply that information into their work.