Finding Your Photography Niche | B&H Event Space
Вставка
- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- Gain insight on how to use your visual voice to define your niche in photography with UK-based photographer Alan Schaller. From the streets of London to the alleyways of New York, Schaller will share his monochromatic journey to help you find your path in the photographic world.
More from Allan Schaller
- www.alanschall...
- / alan_schaller
Shop @ B&H:
www.bhphotovid...
Subscribe to the B&H Photo UA-cam Channel
- bit.ly/Subscrib...
Follow us on Social Media
- / bhphoto
- / bhphoto
- / bhphotovideo
#BHEventSpace #StreetPhotography
For new photographers: what kind of photography do you gravitate towards? For experienced photographers: what is your photography niche?
As a new photographer, I gravitate towards candid shots. Although I don't mind portraits, there is something about catching people in their natural element as opposed to telling someone to look a certain way.
As a new-ish photographer I like black and white. It never goes out of style.
B&H Photo Video I am an equine senior portrait photographer, I want to make it my specialty so people think of me when they want a session with their horse
experienced photographer. i like to strattle the line between fine art and journalism. taking hyper realistic scenes with a touch of fantasy surrealism. basically just exxagerating the tones and colors.
B&H Photo Video Street and documentary photography
This guy is very smart and thoughtful. He also sounds well educated, well travelled, knowledgable and perceptive as well. It helps to be able to have the time to be creative and think deeply about what you do. Unfortunately, too many of us have too many distractions in life to allow us the time(or money) to do this to his level. You literally have to live it!
This was such a good 1h30minutes of insight into Alan Schaller’s process. Lately I‘ve watched quite a lot of videos about and with Alan, that I came to really admire his work and vision. I even found myself reaching more often for my 35mm or even 24mm lens instead of my longer lenses for street sessions. And I don‘t do it to copy him, but to get a different vision and approach in my photography.
I laughed a bit when he was asked what metering and focusing he uses and he just answered spotmetering and zone focusing. It‘s all that is to it. We all want to know the magical formula that will give us amazing photos like his but we can all do it because it‘s our vision and how and when we capture the photos that matter. Only hard work and practice will get us on that track.
This is probably the most practical and adaptable talk about street photography I’ve seen. Big thanks, guys!
This is encouraging to insist on my own vision and all of those `weird` things that inspire me.
From the photographer to the questions, I loved this one.
When it comes to street photography here's the only bit of advise you will ever need and that all artists of any note follow: Take pictures of what YOU find interesting. When you get home delete the stuff that didn't quite work. If you post, post only the best that you think are exceptional. If you come up with 1 out of 100 you're doing quite well. Whether anyone else ever gets it, that doesn't matter. We all have a perspective and if you don't express yours then you're a phony with nothing to contribute. That's it.
Word.
Boris Meshcheryakov “Word.” Okay. Care to expand on that?
Thomas Geist it’s another way of saying “well said” or “agreed”
Fleurko learn something every dau. Thnx.
NEVER delete photos that didn't quite work*.
You're welcome Thomas.
I discovered many things and a great photographer thanks to B&H.
A great photographer with a clear vision and a feeling about his idea about art
Alan Schaller is a wonderful photographer, very perceptive and sensitive (to the environment around him). I've been trying to develop my own style of street photographer, but in no way is it anywhere near where he is now. Wonderful tips and messages for me to ponder, and as soon as the lockdown is over in the UK, I'll be out there again. Thank you Alan for re-igniting my passion for street photography!
Love the work and the personality behind it. This guy enjoys his work.
newbie - I find myself gearing towards macro photography. I'm fascinated with small details which we tend to ignore or simply just too small to see with naked eyes.
It's like shooting an entirely different world, a peep thru another dimension...
Your perspective on that makes me want to pull out my 50mm macro and see things differently. A different dimension. I like that!
I shoot everything so that i can use it in my art..... this is how you find something special plus you get more skilled!
Isn't style more about what and why than technique. And yes you're correct that no one cares about "your work more than you" (my work than me). Very profound statement.
The talk was interesting and insightful. However, I would like to point out that Alan's approach to "thoughtful/planned" photography is not the only way to create great images; it's just HIS way, despite his very confidently voiced opinion. There are many photographers that prefer the spontaneity and get results that are no worse than Alan's (e.g. Garry Winogrand). Find the method(s) that work for you and keep honing those skills. Happy shooting!
Gary Winogrand was a niche photographer, he took almost a million prints or more, there was nothing spontaneous about it, he worked his ass off. I once asked a virtuoso Indian sarod player what his training was: 10 years of 14 hours a day 6 days a week that was his answer.
Thanks for your input. You should start a youtube channel. There are not many photographers willing to admit that their own style is not the only style. You could show your style. Then again, maybe you would get one of those tedious comments by one of those obvious people that feel the need to explain something that is SOOoooo redundant, obnoxious people like me feel a compulsion to reply with a sarcastic comment. Maybe you could say something like this, "This isn't the only way to shoot". I don't know.
Monochrome is awesome. The manikin story cracked me up ...
black, white, shadow , light, great pictures, congratulations
this guy needs a hug....
my mind is completly blown
16:40 - funny, I just purchased the same Monochrome today. I'm sure my photography quality will change the world now.... LOL. Love the work Alan and how you speak
Three quotes from Picasso on style:
"Style is beside the point. Nobody would pay attention if one always said the same thing, in the same words and the same tone of voice."
"Style is often something which locks the painter into the same vision, the same technique, the same formula during years and years, sometimes during one's whole lifetime."
"The different styles I have been using in my art must not be seen as an evolution, or as steps towards an unknown ideal of painting. Everything I have ever made was made for the present and with the hope that it would always remain in the present."
Magnífico trabajo ALAN. Muchas gracias por la conferencia y por hacerla "en abierto" -y, por supuesto, a BH-. Cordiales saludos desde España. NANO.
Enjoyed this most creative style & the stories behind the images. Most of all I believe Alan has the most wonderful sense of humor. He strikes me as a mischief maker, who would be great fun to drink a beer with at a pub.😊
FANTASTIC info. Thank you, Alan.
Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) and 24mm is an outstanding combo.
What do you think about people who say they only take pictures in black and white or only in natural light. Why would an artist limit his or her self to only a specific crayon or a specific color or a specific brush or pen? Kind of like what you said about Hawaii because of all the color. Sometimes the photo requires color, don't you think?
I adore limits in photography. As a hobbyists I started with zooms. Got great images. But eventually found primes and went prime only. Then 35mm only. Then black and white only. At each limitation I’ve found that it makes me think much more about the photo and less about the equipment.
Great presentation, very motivating.
Best compliment you're ever going to get as a photographer is - why did you take that picture?
There's a catch here.
This is not about photography.
It's about life in general.
Great talk. I especially loved the idea to stay and shoot reflections in the rain puddle.
I've followed Alan on Instagram for a while now. It's nice to get to know the man, who always makes the effort to respond to comments on his work, a little better.
Hi Alan, I'm a street Photographer and you are a guide for me. i like your style a lot!
I'm a huge fan of your work, and I got a lot out of this video. Thank you for sharing your philosophy and techniques with us.
I went looking for my niche (after shooting everything, for many years) back in 2012. That was when I committed to street photography, then to shooting only in B&W (or processing for it. Some of us can't afford a Leica Monocrom). The next commitment I made (2014-2015) was to abstract B&W street photography, which is what I do now. One more recent thing was switching from using a Sony 55-210mm lens to Sony's 18-55mm, and I think I'll stick with it. I have several cameras, though, mostly digital compacts, just in case my Sony NEX-5N fails on me (again. I bought the first one new in 2011, the one I use now was used and has outlived the new one!)
Absolutely impactful and inspiring lecture! Thank you so much for the information and introducing me to a now favorite photographer to follow!
This Dude has some nice pics......and He is quite comical as well.
How come most don't want to be labeled as street photographer ... From HCB to Garry W . And I am sure Robert Frank and even Saul Leiter. And nice work great images
This is the best one of these that I've seen. Awesome. So inspiring!
The quality of his personality can be seen in how respectfully the audience asks questions. It's common for at least one person (usually a woman) to question everything as if the professional on stage doesn't know what he's doing
Brilliant! I learned so much even though my passion is not street photography. Thx!
Thanks Allen this was terrific! You are one helluva photographer. I’m a fan already and this is one of the best B&H videos I have seen and I could tell from your photos that you had a good sense of humour. Some people here just don’t get it. I have a question for you. There were a couple of portrait photos with distinctive profiles. Was the guy with the baseball hat on Lance Armstrong?
Explanation of the pigeon photo was great. Being a fisherman I can relate to the being there and waiting. But I have to ask, did you really anticipate the pigeon would fly into the pre-visualized scene?
Helpful. Thank you Alan & B&H. 🙏
Your comment comparing the camera to the race car is a bit misleading. I don't think you're talking camera brand but more about the camera or lens capabilities. It's kind of like choosing a motorbike made for rode trips versus made for short trips and built for racing.
Fabulous video time well spent , although I dont agree with not taking your time to edit , it's like sculptures it takes time for the image to form under your edit, sometimes it doesn't take much and sometimes it does.
Great informative talk. Would love to see what his raws are like and to watch him adjust in PS.
Thank you for this video. It was very inspiring!
Awesome video and advice!
Great video...!!!
Great. Thanks for sharing!
Amazing Art
Amazing
If you don't live near a big city then it's really hard to do good street photpgraphy. I have some original outstanding bubble pictures that can never be reproduced with a camera.
Small towns afford equal opportunities for good street photography.
I close my eyes and I hear Christopher Hitchens.
great episodes but with all of b&h videos i have to max my volume every where so i can hear
👊👊💥
Que excelente Charla con tanta sinceridad y claridad. y por supuesto un trabajo exquisito. un trabajo único. Un saludo desde México. Gracias B&H !
Alan, if you miss shots when shooting primes only (I never shot with zooms) then you need a second body.
I mostly shot with a zoom and sometimes with a prime 50 .. Saul Leiter used a zoom also .
@@robertbutts9835 - thanks, and, zoom? On a Leica monochrome? (because that was the context.) What zoom lens? Do yo adapt? Or use a something like a Visoflex? Does that Leica"mono" have live view?
😍😍😍😍
Caption for the Oculus photo "Coming and Going".
Do you use flash?
Wow. Just. Ducking. Wow.
Nice & Thanks :)
Did remarkably well to make a subject as amazing as photography sound so dull.
Great video, but why on earth didn’t you use noise reduction on the audio?
I'm still looking for a niche I want to stick with.
Try to move from "looking" to "seeing"
@@jpdj2715 Word smithing.
Profesor snape ???
Random is good.
Is 24mm lens for aps-c or full frame camera? Does alan use Full-frame Leica camera with 24mm lens? That's is my always confused.. please correct me. Thanks
The presenter would use a full frame Leica camera with a 24mm lens. The M mount lenses from Leica were originally used on 35mm film bodies, which have the same format as their current line up of full frame digital rangefinder cameras.
Great talk and love Alan's work but this point he made me laugh out loud.....carry some business cards that have your name on it and the word photographer...... as this replaces the word pervert in their mind!
Do you use filters?
🙏🙏🙏
You know?
Totally disagree. shooting and sticking to one style has lead to a stagnant and cliché style if you don't notice that. I look upto Koudelka and Meyerowitz who are prolific and have maintained quality over decades without becoming cliche and dull to the eye.
Totally agree with you.
Interesting. Where can we see your work?
Y to
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Before this event, I thought he's rigid square person.
After this event, I think he's rigid square person.
He is. Your first impression was correct.
Permission to shoot (portray) people in most countries or legal systems is not required at all in public space. Minors may be an exception. You have to be careful with objects of military importance like railway stations or airports. This includes publication, in general (mind minors). So you do not need permission to shoot nor do you need a model release. People may get annoyed - and should be advised to read the law. In my own country their is a safety clause that prohibits publication when the photographer "can assume that a reasonable interest of portrayed person is damaged by publication." With cameras tracking citizens everywhere, face recognition, etc., we have no privacy in public space anymore. It's a free country and you have the right to gather news, etc. Trying to limit that is called censorship and (Western) countries have a long history now to prevent censorship.
Worst thing you can do as an artist, or as a person that tries to develop himself, really, is to not allow yourself to explore what you find interesting. Never say "maybe shooting this would be cool, but I won't do it cause it is not my usual style". Don't listen to bullshit advice like this that you need to contain yourself in one style, especially in the beginning. If you are particularly interested in one style, then this will manifest organically, through years of photographing, and if that happens then that's cool.
Well said. I have found this naturally in my own photos. I never really thought about it before but after seeing a collection of my work I’ve noticed that I gravitate to seen details of red or orange that stand out in an image. I really never thought about it until after seeing A LOT of my photos and that’s a pattern I just naturally gravitate towards.
Did you ask permission for photos you took of people if they were unrecognizable, recognizable?
Great photographer, hopefully he soon learn how to be a humble person. The more you know the more you realize you
don’t know enough.
What makes you think he's not humble?
Great commentator! The war behind the keyboard begets heroes of magnificent braggadocio!
Two minutes in and I'm done already. DO NOT LET ANYBODY TELL YOU TO ONLY FOCUS ON ONE TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY, EVER! You can shoot all kinds of photography and become good at all of them. End of.
Who are you? Let’s see your work.
@@aquilifergroup Maybe you’re American and don’t understand “End Of”. I’ll translate for you; “PERIOD!”. You’re welcome.
@@aquilifergroup Plus you’re about six months late cocker, 😂.
I really loved this! I am also a musician and can totally relate to his story. Nice guy also. Chatted with him on instagram for a bit. Thank you for making this video B&H!
He is very good in using the right light. But the composition is meh, and the subjects are too weak or casual, no pathos.
He's very generic but makes great points.
I wonder why UA-camrs think it's cute to mispronounce niche, short i, as neech. Check your dictionary.
It's the french pronunciation of niche.
@@pomeloco1554 These UA-camrs don't live in France. Most of them are in the US or Brittan, which pronounces it wit a short i also, so there's no reason to be cute, except it's a UA-cam click thing.
Maybe it’s a Europe / America thing like the pronunciation of tomato. As a European English speaker, I have always used the French pronunciation because that’s the one I heard most often. Best not to ascribe motives like snobbery when simpler explanations exist. The word did come from French, after all.
Rambling on & On Taught Nothing !If U REALLY want to learn check out Judy Holland OR Eileen Rafferty
I disagree. Most of us don’t need techniques, we have those. We need the mindset
Nice talk, some good advice, but the photos are cliche , commonplace street photos. Black and white high contrast, instagram friendly but lacking any personal style. The fact that he even admitted he could “take that picture all day long” shows he needs to edit more.
James Thomson I have to disagree about the photos being “cliche” and “commonplace”. Maybe you could steer me towards some street photographers who have more of the personal style you mention. Just curious.
Where’s your work? I’d like to see
Do you use flash?