Know yourself as a photographer - amazing vid

specialman

specialman

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Don't know if this has been posted before, it's quite old, but relevant nonetheless...

When I've seen him in blogs and web videos, I've liked of how Zack Arias presents himself as a photographer and a teacher. But this video is one of the most truthful, dissecting videos I've seen about being a photographer and about letting who you are shine through via your work.

Enjoy...

[YOUTUBE]KZYlQ4Wv8lE[/YOUTUBE]
 
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Seen this a while back, posted it up on my FB page. Love it.
 
I think that guy is in the wrong line of work.
 
Who? Zack? He's spot on if you ask me. We all think we're terrible at times, and doubt ourselves. You could be a brick-layer and feel the same.

I think it was very poignant.
 
I don't get it
 
Cagey75 said:
Who? Zack? He's spot on if you ask me. We all think we're terrible at times,
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True... we all question ourselves and our work, but if I reached the depths of despair this guy reaches then I simply wouldn't do it any more.
 
But, he still makes a fortune, he's one of the most sought after photographers for the creative live tutorials, with the likes of Chase Jarvis kissing his ass at every turn. i really like Zack Arias. I'd know sweet F all about OCF without having watched his One light Dvds.

He was asked to do this short as part of a series they were running. A lot of the thoughts he expresses in it hail from his feelings about his Father's illness. Thought that was pretty obvious. The rest just follows through, it's a train of thought ... he's generally a very positive dude.
 
I'm confused...is this meant to be taken seriously or is it a parody?
 
Steve said:
I'm confused...is this meant to be taken seriously or is it a parody?
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I suppose the first segment where he's talking to camera is a parody of the endless blogs where it's 'Gee, I'm soandso and going to talk about whatever' when in reality, the things being talked about are often vacuous and banal.

essexash said:
well i lasted 41 seconds.
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Go on, watch the full 10 minutes.... I found it massively insightful that he's put into words things I think about on a daily basis as I go into creative cul-de-sacs.

Maybe it's aimed more at the full-timers and not the hobbyists, I don't know...



"Chances are you have your voice.
You can say whatever you want to say right now, so what are you saying?
What are you doing with the time you have right now?..."

I think those words could fit a million and one photographers who are chasing 'better' without thinking how they get to 'better' in their own way....
 
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Couldn't watch it. He comes across as one of those people that contemplate their navel too much. He may be a lot more than that but I'll never know. . .2 mins is all I could stand!
 
Pookeyhead said:
.. I reached the depths of despair this guy reaches then I simply wouldn't do it any more.
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srichards said:
.. He comes across as one of those people that contemplate their navel too much...
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I don't think he does/is. He's just pretty good at working the internets. He knows if he makes an over-the-top "deep and meaningful" video that some people will use to make themselves feel good. Then it will be shared, on blogs, forums, Twitter and Facebook - and he will make more money.

I struggled through it when it first appeared, good for a laugh I suppose.
 
One of the greatest OCF photographers and one who inspires me every time I watch his tutorials.
 
barrylau said:
One of the greatest OCF photographers and one who inspires me every time I watch his tutorials.
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He's great. I'm very surprised some on here seem to have never heard of him and don't 'get' this video. I think it's great. I wonder does anyone think it 'crap'? so we can scold them for it?
 
Jambonier said:
wow, that's the most patronising comment I've read in a while
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Why is that patronising? All I'm saying is that maybe what he's on about (the pressures of being creative etc etc) relate more to those of us who rely on our creativity to pay the bills, than those who pick up a camera on a less-than full time basis... again, 'I don't know' - it's open to interpretation by the individual.

Don't be so quick to jump down my throat...
 
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specialman said:
Why is that patronising? All I'm saying is that maybe what he's on about (the pressures of being creative etc etc) relate more to those of us who rely on our creativity to pay the bills, than those who pick up a camera on a less-than full time basis... again, 'I don't know' - it's open to interpretation by the individual.

Don't be so quick to jump down my throat...
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It's patronising because the implication is that creativity issues and doubts are the preserve of the full timers, and do not apply to 'hobbyists'
 
Jambonier said:
It's patronising because the implication is that creativity issues and doubts are the preserve of the full timers, and do not apply to 'hobbyists'
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The pressure is a bit different if having a creative block tomorrow morning means you don't pick up your camera for a day and go do something else. Versus, if you have a block tomorrow morning, it costs you ten grand. :)
 
Jambonier said:
It's patronising because the implication is that creativity issues and doubts are the preserve of the full timers, and do not apply to 'hobbyists'
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I'm not implying anything... I started with maybe (i.e there's a possibility) and ended with I don't know (i.e I'm not wholly sure)... not sure you're actually reading the words I typed?
 
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I didnt think i was going to like it,but some it did make sence to me,worth watching all the way thought :)
 
His wife is the real talent. Meghan Arias - lovely music
 
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Cagey75 said:
He's great. I'm very surprised some on here seem to have never heard of him and don't 'get' this video. I think it's great. I wonder does anyone think it 'crap'? so we can scold them for it?
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Jayst84 said:
I think it's horrible. But it's not crap - it's very good at doing what it was intended to do.
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Well that backfired on you didn't it? :)
 
Again David, no. Just like I wasnt "pwned" by mr huge ego last time :nono:. My post was in jest. How can It backfire when it doesn't bother me? If people hate this it's their loss. I wont lose sleep over it I assure you

I am beginning to wonder if you have some kind of self esteem issues though, that you feel such a need for back up or support almost. :D :(:'(:lol:

smilies make it all ok, right? :p
 
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Cagey75 said:
He's great. I'm very surprised some on here seem to have never heard of him and don't 'get' this video. I think it's great. I wonder does anyone think it 'crap'? so we can scold them for it?
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Why surprised?
 
Because he's one of the first photographers I came across when I started looking into off camera flash, he is one of the best teachers on it. He puts things across so simple, and he's a pretty cool guy in general. Maybe others just don't need to look this stuff up as much as I do? but on any US forum you'll visit everyone knows who he is.
 
Cagey75 said:
Because he's one of the first photographers I came across when I started looking into off camera flash, he is one of the best teachers on it. He puts things across so simple, and he's a pretty cool guy in general. Maybe others just don't need to look this stuff up as much as I do? but on any US forum you'll visit everyone knows who he is.
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Outside the ocf world though he is unknown hence I'd never heard of him and if this video was the first you'd ever heard from him I suspect you to would find it tedious and self indulgent? You know his story so inevitably cut him some slack.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Outside the ocf world though he is unknown hence I'd never heard of him and if this video was the first you'd ever heard from him I suspect you to would find it tedious and self indulgent? You know his story so inevitably cut him some slack.
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I know that he's not so "depressing" all the time, that's enough ;)

I just think it's a lovely piece, no matter who he is.

He's known for OCF because that's what he teaches, and most of the big names today admire his methods - you should look more into him.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Outside the ocf world though he is unknown hence I'd never heard of him and if this video was the first you'd ever heard from him I suspect you to would find it tedious and self indulgent? You know his story so inevitably cut him some slack.
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I wouldn't say unknown, just probably not a household name. I heard of him through the Strobist blog - he's definitely one of the 'go-to' names for learning about OCF - but reading his blog there's some great insight into just being a photographer.

Self indulgent? Without doubt, but that's blogging for you... Tedious? I don't find that personally, but point taken... however I feel that anyone who finds this tedious isn't looking at the bigger picture Arias is addressing and in some cases, may have yet to go through what he's describing in the film.
 
Cagey75 said:
Because he's one of the first photographers I came across when I started looking into off camera flash, he is one of the best teachers on it. He puts things across so simple, and he's a pretty cool guy in general. Maybe others just don't need to look this stuff up as much as I do? but on any US forum you'll visit everyone knows who he is.
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Ah ok. I do use OFC a lot, but learnt from a book rather than on-line.

I have an odd relationship with on line tutorials...I seem to have a knack of finding the duff ones
 
my first thoughts when i finished watching was " he does have a point "
if you forget the photography side of it it comes across as someone with a little regret of not doing or saying things that matter and i think we all could be a little guilty of that
 
Steve said:
Ah ok. I do use OFC a lot, but learnt from a book rather than on-line.

I have an odd relationship with on line tutorials...I seem to have a knack of finding the duff ones
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Look for his One light Dvd. I don't think anyone has ever been able to explain the basics better. And like it says, the main idea of that package is how to get the best from one flash. He does band shoots, model shoots etc ... all using one flash, indoors, outdoors etc ... it's a few years old at this stage, so may be a lot cheaper than it was back then. It was $200+ !!

Here he is doing a few simple portraits of Jared Polin, I know loads detest the fro, but see how obedient and quiet he is here while Zack works. He really does make it seem soooo simple, and explains everything as he goes along. He knows what the shot is going to look like before he takes it every time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc0vyC9Uy5c
 
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After reading some of these comments I am convinced the posters have:

- not watched the whole video
- are unable/unwilling to comprehend the message and/or
- have a chip on their shoulder.

He is only advising us to relax and saying that it takes time to grow artistically. He is encouraging us by saying the greatest photographers of our time started at the same place as us. He advises us to not constantly try and recreate exactly what everyone else is doing and then simply judge ourselves by comparing ourselves to them and judging we are good if we can do the same thing as well as them or better. Is really not that hard and I can't see what is to dislike about it... Unless you have your head stuck up your ass...
 
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