I was having a conversation just yesterday actually with a photography friend about learning photography from YouTube v. Workshops with actual photographers. As I happen to be in a lot of Facebook groups for photographers and a lot of beginner’s groups I see the question posed a lot about learning photography.
It is usually started by someone who is asking if they should go to school for photography or take workshops; and the answer almost always is “Just watch Insert YouTuber’s Names Here.“
Incidentally this is often the response from photographers who don’t produce the best work. I was telling my mentioned friend that while YouTube is a great resource for learning and gaining information we need more.
Much more than what YouTube or books and self practice alone can teach us. After all we look both ways before crossing the street because someone experienced with crossing the street told us to look both ways.
But I digress. Back to Tyler Shields.
Renown photographer Tyler Shields has some enlightening words for those who feel that you can learn all you need about the art of photography on YouTube.
The esteemed Los Angeles-based photographer and filmmaker Tyler Shields cautions us about the information we’re taking in, and who creates it. In a short video, he explains why we need to be able to differentiate between a YouTuber and a Photographer, and how it can make the learning experience more meaningful.
We’re living in a strange time for creative industries like photography. Almost anyone with a camera or a smartphone can call themselves a photographer. Everyone can make YouTube videos of their “behind the scenes” and “photography tutorials.”
Add to that the pressure to garner a significant following on social media and you have a really complicated (and toxic, even) environment to practice photography. This reality is perhaps what led Tyler to categorize people tinkering with cameras into two: YouTubers and Photographers. He talks about this succinctly in the short video above.
Check it out and let me know what your thoughts are on this.
