Photographing the Midwest ep. 2 | Harsh Light, Sternfeld, and Grain Bins
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- čas přidán 26. 06. 2024
- This video is sponsored by no one and brought to you by my wonderful Patreon members. Without them, I would make literally zero profit with my CZcams videos. In today's video, I go out to Paris and Mexico, Missouri to shoot some photos with my buddy, Karl. Then I'm off to Monticello, Illinois, to meet up with Vince Glielmi to photograph some grain bins.
Karl: karlramberg.com/
Vince: www.vincentglielmi.com/
Sternfeld: www.joelsternfeld.net/america...
Wylie: williamwwylie.com/Work
Website : www.bryanbirks.com
Instagram : / bryanbirks
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Patreon : / bryanbirks - Krátké a kreslené filmy
Episode 2: Bryan goes international, Photography in Paris and Mexico
That's so true about the aesthetic quality of black and white film. I call it dense sheen, simply because it's similar to the texture of melted metal in water, which looks otherworldly.
Agreed!
Honestly, I think for this kind of subject matter harsh light works really well.
Good to hear!
The photo with the crashed car by the pole is fantastic.
Personally, I like photos that are taken during harsher light (if the subject is somewhat interesting of course), because for me, they tend to look more „realistic“. Golden or blue hour is great, but it sometimes tends to look too artsy. For documentary work like this, I think harsh light, or cloudy days, are best, because that is how we also see the world most of the time. We don‘t wait for the sun to set to see the crashed car. We see it as it is, during the day, that moment when we passed by.
Idk if that makes any sense, but anyway, I really like this series of yours. Keep it up!
Yeah, I think I enjoy cloudy days the best. It matches my internal mood 😂
It seems that whenever you air new content the subject matter is exactly where I am at as far as my photography is concerned, and your words of wisdom are such inspiration. I hope is to publish a book of my project and I originally set out to shoot strictly in 5x4 and with a 6x6 back. But I don’t see why I shouldn’t be using my 6x4.5 camera, 35mm and digital if needs be. Your words on shooting in harsh lighting was also very helpful.
Thank you yet again for the inspiration please keep up the content this is the best photography channel on CZcams by far. A fan from Northern Spain
Good to hear. Thanks for watching!
I just found your channel and can't help but watch whenever I see a video of yours pop up on my recommended. I'm a 20 y/o photographer who has been shooting for a while but I'm just now starting to work for some humanitarian organizations. Your channel is refreshing compared to the other photography channels that seem to focus on gear and hysterics more than story, composition, or lighting. I really appreciate you and your channel as I look to become a better photographer.
Amazing to hear, Mason. Thanks for watching!
Great stuff! I am impressed that a random stranger asked for a portrait. I love it! Also, great "wrestling" with the harsh light!
I was just as surprised as you were probably. Almost never happens.
I like the black and white work here even more than I do the colour, especially the grain bins, which could indeed be an entire project. Thanks, Bryan
Nice to hear that. There’s just a good tonality when it comes to old steel and metal.
Could be a project worth considering since I’m drawn to them so much. Might have to dig deeper and also revisit some of the Hilla and Bernd Becher work.
Your videos are always worth watching. This one hit home because we can't always have perfect lighting & sometimes we have to shoot midday.
Thank you, Ted!
You should get paid by the mid western tourist board as I so want to visit that area now
Haha they probably don’t have room in their budget…or a budget at all. But if you’re ever in the area…Hayes, Illinois N 1450 East Rd. Great spot. Maybe you can improve upon my composition.
@@BryanBirksany area that has a topless guy mowing his lawn who sees two strangers and asks them to take his portrait gets a thumbs up from me 🧐
In 23 years of landscape photography I can definitely say that morning and late afternoon late are the best times to making photographs.
When shooting in the day time you have to chose subjects that are in keeping with the light available. In this respect there is no such thing as bad light.
Photography after all is about painting with light, we have to choose wisely when and what we photograph.
I agree. It can be found anywhere. Definitely makes you think a little bit more about placement and subject as opposed to just setting up shop right away with a beautiful sunset.
@@BryanBirks yeah definitely. I was always a vista kind of guy years ago but have found much better work and enjoyment through narrative and a set of works than just simple one off images. Frees you to make more variety of images in all different light
I love the shot of the car and pole, if anything it’s the light that makes it, and thankfully there are more than enough clouds in the sky not to make it washed out at all. Great shot
Really loving this series, thank you Bryan.
Glad you enjoy it! Thank you.
Love these videos. I appreciate you sharing your thought process behind your images.
Glad you like them!
Harsh light is a tool which, when used properly, can produce wonderful images.
So many good points here Bryan. Love the work. Harsh light is the light I most often end up in because of the life I'm living at the moment. I often think about going to the US to make work but I always think I would end up as a victim in the Netflix true doc ;) These places have sort of becoming a stereotype of dangerous parts of rural America, where everyone has a gun and ain't afraid to use it!
I’ve never had a single problem but I know what areas I am welcomed in I guess. There’s plenty of places where I would not be welcomed without a lot of explaining.
I talk of getting kidnapped but that’s more an insecurity on my part and not an opinion based on reality.
Come on over and knock on some doors!
@@BryanBirks I get it👍🏻Was mostly kidding😅I have been a few times but not since getting in to photography. So I’ll be back
This is the best photography channel out there by far. Being an artist is a struggle for sure. I believe film prices are manageable. Photography as an art form has never been cheap through history, it was always either pursued by rich people or people sponsored by wealthy patrons, regardless it was pursued. I forecast a great future for you as an artist. I am here for the ride. Keep going.
@@larrainlsd6546 seconded
Thank you for the very kind words!
These towns you go to are just so damn cool. At first when you had critiques about adding more of a story around the mid-west, I was like hm... i don't know if I agree. But after seeing more and more of what you're doing now with this.... I am fully on board and now really enjoy the idea of adding these empty, old town landscape photos. That mixed with the cars/car portraits they are gonna be badass mixed in the gallery or book. If a gallery opportunity, I think nice BIG framed prints would be so impressive.
Anyways. Love the work, love the process and hearing your thoughts and creative problem solving.
Thanks, man.
Exhibition is the dream and a book is the ultimate goal. I think it still has a lot to go but the base is there and the Midwest is begging to be captured. Just gotta get out and do it. 🍻
I grew up 10 minutes outside of Monticello. It’s so cool to see places where I grew up on the silver screen of CZcams. Great video! I just gotta say it though it’s pronounced Monti-SELLo 😊😊😊
Damn I should have looked that up. Monti-cello sounds cooler though!
@@BryanBirks it definitely sounds cooler. Maybe I’ll start calling that. Maybe it’ll catch on
Awesome images brother
Thank you kindly 🖤
Great video and images. I love getting lost with my camera. I recently had some spare time near the River Mersey by Liverpool and used Google Maps to just check shoreline access and places that looked different from the generic river edge footpath, but made sure not to use street view and find it as I found it. Ended up discovering a derelict pier and historic slipway with views of Liverpool. Next spot I did the same at the river entrance (mainly looking for parking) and found...a lighthouse. The hunt sometimes feels better than the end result photos.
Yeah, maps can be great for general overview. As soon as I hit the street view it’s like I’ve already been there. Could be good in some situations but I’d rather leave it up to discovery.
Really great video, Bryan. I've been challenging myself to shoot in harsher lighting conditions as well. I feel inspired to do so when I'm out working on my new project next week.
Sick, Casey.
I’ve been digging your work a lot lately. I still think about that Fraser river photo with the fog every now and then.
About once a week I remember William Wylie's quarry pictures exist. Should really buy that book...
It’s so good.
I appreciate your videos reliving your experiences shooting in the Midwest. I am based in Southern Minnesota photographer and besides my other work, I’m in the middle of a personal project about corn in the two neighboring agricultural based counties where I live. Thanks for some inspiration and giving me a few ideas for other images to incorporate into my project. I’ve been working on this for about two years now. I need to knock on a few more doors. Thanks! Much of my other work is on Facebook and Instagram, not on my CZcams channel.
Like button smashed.
I really enjoy your videos, taking time to explain your process and thinking… top tier sir. Top tier.
Trying to get to everyone’s S-Tier.
I think I prefer the second car shot with the leaning telephone poles, that's quite a cool look, kinda like an omen to the poles 'you're next' from the car, ahahah 😁
Ha interesting. I’ll have to sit on them a while before I pick a favorite. Who knows, they could both suck when I look at them again in a couple of weeks. 🤷🏻♂️
WONDERFUL!!!
WONDERFUL COMMENT
those two car photos look great! love your work dude. i personally love shooting mid day and it’s neat to watch you dabble. you did right 🤝
You had me at Sternfeld
Sternfeld doesn’t miss. Well, if he ever did, we would never know anyway. Haha
Just subscribed to your Patreon channel Bryan, really want to support your work. Going to save up to buy one of your prints too :)
Thank you for the support. It’s folks like you that help me make what I want. And not what the algorithm wants.
@@BryanBirks although I thank the algorithm for bringing me here in the first place, quite frankly it can do one
Nice episode like you use to present them. What I like is that you are truthful about your feelings while digging for your projects. After all, we are also experimenting challenges and small victories in our photographic journey. Keep on going, keep your channel alive!
Well said!
i've been doing similar little trips just a bit more north of ya in iowa, trying to embrace the harsh light and i've grown to really like it. this stuff is so inspiring for me. keep it up!
I never hit the like, button. But I smashed it this time! 😂👌
Comin in clutch for me.
Thank you for your work
So you’re right, I was looking at the gfx b&w shots thinking these are cool and then towards the end the 4x5 just elevates it. It’s got me excited to use mine, I just got some grant money for film and even treated myself to some portra 400 in 4x5 so I’m excited to use that.
It definitely didn’t help that digital was harsh light and film was soft evening light but I feel like it’s always film regardless. It just sings.
Smashed
Hell yes.
Can already tell this is gunna be a top series for me as a consumer in the months to come
Hoping to keep it going as I have some free time from other work. Glad you enjoy!
Your pictures show that there's no such thing as bad light. Nice work.
Thank you!
Happily smashing that like, keep it up!
Obliterate that button. Thank you!
Very good video (series)! I'm doing something similar here in the north of Sweden this summer and your videos are very inspirational! Only problem is, i'm longing to head over to the US more and more to do some photogprahy 😆
Come on over. I’ll probably never be in Sweden unfortunately. Maybe one day. Probably not. Going to Spain next year tho!
Absolutely love these Brian! I always look forward to your work and this was a great way to spend my Friday night. I loved the sentiment about just taking the shot too!
Too many times I didn’t take it and the place was gone or the person was nowhere to be found. Lessons learned!
Bryan, it looks like you kept that GFX (4:32). I own GFX50R and every time I shoot with this camera and review the photos I am blown away. Especially when it's bw images. You are right about that - bw look almost like film. Great views. I just re-watched part 1, and I enjoyed the part 2!!! Awesome videos!!!
The GFX is very nice. Still debating about buying it or not! Can’t make up my damn mind. Glad you enjoy the videos. 🖤
Birksy getting swoll.
I finally decided to not fuck around in the gym and would you look at that? It actually works.
Love the vids. Keep it up. Great work.
Thanks, will do! Maybe not always two in one week tho 🤣
Nice photos !👍👍
I love your approach to your work and your encouragement to shoot. You mentioned wanting the earlier shot of the car and Paris water tower in focus,which you seemed to have done quite well. Are you familiar with the Scheimpflug effect, or principle? J use a thought. Keep up the good work.
Yeah, using tilt to isolate focus? I know the process but I’m not too familiar with the particular name.
I tried to use some tilt to get both but I was worried about having weird tilted focus even while closing down to f32 so I ended up just shooting straight up at f32 and that’s why there’s some blur on the Paris name.
I thought I tilted on the video but looking back and changed it to straight up focus.
I believe if you position the camera. Then focus on infinity. Then tilt the lens so it intersects with the bottom of the film plane. Everything should be in focus
Очень рад что когда то нашел тебя. Всего тебе самого доброго друг.
Smash!
Hell yes.
Man so good!
Appreciate you, Kenny!
I prefer the second car photo mainly because the angle and perspective
Here I thought you were going to get through a video without saying "assignment" 😂 yep that didn't last long
You obviously don’t know me or you’d know that I gotta brag about that shit.
Great vid Bryan... watched ep1 on this, and i agree, gfx is great for B&W work, I find that I love using the in camera profiles a lot for this, but really dont like the colour ones. I always shoot raw for colour work (i tend to leave B&W on anyway as it helps with tonality etc when composing) Have you done in camera processing of raw as yet and spitting out the image rather than just use a profile?
I tend to use acros with yellow or red filter... and the tone curve, I have the blacks down to 1.5 and highlights at 1. I never use the grain though.. its too strong even the weak setting for me. Sharpening is always down at -4.
Ive actually gone back to large format.. dropped it for about 2 years.. but ive missed the process too much, and every now and again i love going out and just really slowing down, its a joy getting the camera out and slowly setting up, composing etc..
Hey Bryan, nice series. that water tower photo really speaks to me. What podcast were you playing around the middle of the video with william wylie?
It’s an interview he did with Inside UVA.
Please don't stop
NEVER
It sounds strange but harsh light hours are my favorite. Especially when it comes to B&W
Some people do indeed love it. I’m at least going to try to like it!
Consider the like button SMASHED
Smash it again. Keep going.
I shoot in bad light all the time. it's how things look most of the time. thats at least what I tell myself.
Haha *misses focus on a portrait* “It was just bad light.”
👍
should do wisconsin
A little too far out of my range.
When the image is more about the subject than the aesthetics the quality of light is less relevant. Just a thought. Plus we can't all be in the perfect spot at the perfect time.
Definitely. Ideally I would love for all those to come together all at one time. Doesn’t happen often.
Ay bro - I think you’re being a little too harsh on the Midwest. We are a more diverse region - culturally and geographically - than people give us credit for.
I’m up in Northern WI and my photography explores the maritime culture on Lake Michigan and the rocky outcrops of the Niagara escarpment. The scenery up here isn’t a world apart from where you are in Missouri and Illinois but it’s different enough that whenever I venture down to see family in St Louis or Quincy Illinois - the photos I’m taking are refreshingly similar to what I’m used to - but different and exciting at the same time - that it refreshes my eyes and helps me see the ‘same’ but better.
Anyways not saying this is the way you need to go artistically, but I do think the ‘Midwest’ is a complex and deep enough composite of many different things and not at all the monotonous location some make it out to be.
For sure. I’m not saying it’s not diverse at all. I think it offers a lot. And I think the work I have in my project showcases a lot of different regions of Missouri and Illinois along the Mississippi where I live. But I’m not looking to showcase every part of the Midwest.
I’m looking to show the towns along my travels and more often than not, they are small areas that look like this. A lot of cornfields, a lot of grain bins, and populations of less than 500.
If I branch out too much under the umbrella of the entire Midwest I think the location and the environment would get lost.
I say the Midwest but really I’m only trying to operate around two hours any direction of where I live.
@@BryanBirkssorry dude I wasn’t trying to critique your work. I love your work. And it inspires me. Cuz I live in a small town and have had similar questions about the artistic relevance of what I chose to shoot I thought I’d comment.
I was really responding to some reflections you made in part 1 about how documenting Midwest landscapes might be ‘received.’
I could’ve phrased my thoughts better as when I leave my little north woods abode and go to other areas, even places just a state away, I’m reminded of why ‘place’ is special in the first place. So if you love a place, that carries through in the work and to me that’s much more special, documenting a kind of intimacy with a specific place; however humble and lacking in grandeur.
@nickb863 no worries! I know you weren’t criticizing it at all. I was just trying to explain why the diversity in locations might have felt lacking.
I know what you were trying to get across. The Midwest is huge and I’m glad there are others who are choosing to document their place in it.
Worried about you bub
Some say the end is near, some say we'll see armageddon soon. I certainly hope we will, cause I sure could use a vacation from this bullshit.
@@BryanBirks yeah man we need to figure this out. I'm worried about you kiddo
TWO IN ONE WEEK! Pinch me.
I wondered Bryan, have you watched the film 'Ida' it's made using almost-entirely static camera. And B+W. The first film I recall seeing that was all static camera work - and really effective, plus a great fillum. Mentioning as you may enjoy :)
I’ll have to look it up. I enjoyed your Substack with black and white recommendations. I’ll have to revisit it soon to put some on my watchlist.