Your portraits are incredible. Don't say goodbye to 35mm. This video moved me. We all have similar doubts and I'm grateful for your honesty. 😊

Two things. One, you are doing a good job on KZfaq, I am jealous. Two, it takes many years of shooting bad photos to find your style and what you like. It is NEVER the gear. Take it from a photographer that has been shooting for 40 years. It took me years to be able to take photos that I like regardless of gear, iPhone, 35mm, LF, whatever. I can now see the photo before it happens and I know what I will get when I hit the button and if it will be good or not. I dont say this to be pretentious, I only say this to offer you some hope and encouragement, that you will find your photo self and it will take time. Gear does not matter. Keep shooting, and after some time, you will start to understand this.

Definitely hard on yourself. You're traveling, those are travel photos and they are good. Enjoy yourself traveling first and foremost.

People in Chicago are nice. Those portrait photos were amazing

This is my favorite photography channel !

Hey Sam, first of all - thank you very much for showing us your work even if you are not 100% satisfied! This is refreshingly honest and makes me a little bit less sad, when I see some of my photos I don’t like. It is so great to see your passion in the portrait part of your video. When I think about it, I think this is the most important thing in photography - passion! Thank you and keep up the great work 👍!

I LOVEEEEE your portraits sam - and your thoughts and feelings regarding shooting, I’m the same. But you know it’s all part of the photography journey 😅 keep up the great work! I wish I had the confidence to approach ppl like you do. 🎉

Take heart . The photo at 5:58 really shines! Look again. All the thinking refines you to end up in your sweet spot.

Long live film. Never ever give it up.

I love the transparency in the video, it is very raw and engaging. I love the series of portraits. I too struggle with the same idea, sometimes when I feel like this I take a short break from photographing and mute all the photo pages on instagram. Give it time and refuel.

I really appreciate how honest you are with your thoughts and in expressing your concerns when shooting. I definitely feel this laziness sometimes and the "should I or shouldn't I" before pressing the shutter. I know there wasn't a lot of closure to the questions but I think it helps us better reflect when we have the same worries. All those portraits at the end were so inspiring!

I feel travel photography is very difficult. We don’t get the best of the light and conditions and we are short of time and are in strange places. But it can be rewarding as even photos we think ok can be interesting as they document our unique experience. I think we have very high expectations and want to capture it all which leads to confusion sometimes. Deciding to focus on only one thing like just portraits like you did clears mind and helps take better pictures.

Hi Sam, a great thought-provoking video again! I do think it’s really hard to be ‘intentional’ as you put it, on a casual trip away somewhere. I think in these situations, as photographers, we have to make a choice between just enjoying the moment, or trying to make a great image from it. Whichever option you choose, it’s easy to miss the other one later. My favourite trips were ones where I seemed to have a definite purpose, but it’s hard to travel with someone else unless they share that! Years ago I visited New York (from the UK)…I always loved Horst Hamann’s NY images. He used 6x17 format…I had an XPan. I was so inspired by that unique panoramic format that my images had a unified look from that whole trip. I was just starting to learn then, but even just trying to copy someone else’s style taught me a lot. You have already developed a definite style - the portraits here are wonderful. But, on another trip, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with just trying a new camera or format and seeing where it takes you…

Personally, if i can't do it on 35mm, I don't want to and I'm not ever going to. My favorite video of yours is the recent one about the last parade in your hometown in China. They are the most inteesting photos I've seen on any channel yet, and I loved the video so much as a piece of documentary cinema. Its interesting, in my brief foray into youtube film photography channels, it seems women gravitate toward portraits (people), and Men shoot...things.

Sam, I think it is not a matter of full format but of the genre. The portraits are great! ❤

Sometimes photos should tell a story. We can't always search for perfection or we will be in each place for 20-30 minutes and annoy everyone.

This vid was such a breath of fresh air. Please keep doing what you doing. Feels honest.

Sam, each camera has its own persona which influences your photographic experience. The camera is the connecting link between you and your subjects. It, the camera, also influences your attitude toward that experience. Sometimes format or aspect ratio of different cameras will affect your creative "vision." Sometimes viewfinders will make a difference--i.e. slr versus rangefinder. And sometimes film size matters. I suggest that you try different types of cameras to find your preferred machine. But, keep in mind that nothing takes the place of long term practice and experience regardless of the camera. Eventually, you will be able to produce incredible images regardless of your gear. And if you set aside your 35mm gear, eventually you may rediscover its value to your vision and embrace it once again. An afterthought--you might use your blad and your 35mm to take the same portrait and then compare the results. And ask these questions: which image do you feel better about and why? How did changing cameras affect the photographic experience--i.e. decisions about composition, etc. you made? When shooting, which camera felt better? Hope this helps.

Very honest video. I believe that it is very difficult to make “keeper” images while being a tourist. The new stimulus is overwhelming and turns most of us into snap photographers.

Those portraits are amazing!

Such great pictures at the end of the video! Thank you for sharing.

This video is so joyful to watch. I absolutely get your point, it's very strange, because the "chicago feeling" is definitely there in your video but not from the photos. I feel like the spatial rendering of the buildings don't pop as good as you supposed to. I also recently got a hasselblad 501CM and the most amazing thing about it is how all the pictures render space so well. A lot of the shots almost look "3D". Maybe that's the "medium format look"?

One thing I noticed, Sam: you don't use filters with your analog cameras. The picture taken indoors got greenish because of that. And you should also try filters for cloudy days too. The only filter I saw on your camera lens is useless, it is only a peace of glass to cause more glare since it does not have he same quality of the camera lens itself, that is why I do not use it. I like taking portrait photos too, but I am too shy to ask people to pose. I have a portrait I took from a humble man who was dressed up, sitting at the door of a shop that was closed as if waiting for someone to take him. He had a travel suitcase with him. I had to ask him to pose... and he said yes! I was with an Olympus Pen EES 2, cut out for portraits and this is one of my favorite pictures. Next time I take my Rolleiflex 2.8c with me, I will try and make portraits, but first I have to win my shyness. Plus, people here in southern Brasil usually do not like to be photographed. From what I have seen, it is noticieable that the 6X6 format is the one you feel more comfortable with. You could take into account that may it is because tlr cameras make us shoot from the hip. I tried doing it with mirrorless camera making use of their flip displays and the result was very good. I found that some photos became more dramatic, more expressive. So before you say goodbye to 35mm, try to shoot from the hip with your beautiful Minolta X-700.

I love your photos, both street photos and portraits. Your technique is so good, and not feeling satisfied is the quality of an ever searching excellent photographer. Congratulations! 🍾

We all been there. Have high hopes for a certain travel with certain camera gears and then to come back home disappointed with regrets that we should had brought different gears I believe we went with expectations and didn’t perform like our vision that creates the disappointment

Overthinking? Yes. City shoot was more like you went in as a tourist. You took tourist shots. At the convention, you went in with a plan. "I'm going to shoot portraits." Results are gained from the effort you put into it. The digital world of photography has taken the artistry out of the game. If I don't like it, delete it or fix it in post process. Shooting film is more of an art and takes a degree of skill but even more of an eye.

It's a question I think all of us have to ask ourselves on when we take photos. I don't think format matters, but we know that 35mm film it's easier to just shoot off some photos vs then really planning them, when it comes to Medium format. It's how do you bring more of that planning into any photo you take, from medium format, 35mm or even digital. But keep doing what you are doing Sam! You're doing amazing stuff as always!

I found your videos while looking up the Minolta X-700 and I'm glad I did. I love what you're doing and I think you're an amazing photographer. I'm just learning how to take photographs with a reuseable film camera but watching you work this camera is making me want to 'graduate' to it. 加油！！！

I understand you. I upgraded my 35mm cameras by getting APO lenses for them. Zeiss Otus 55 and 100. Then I also got apo lenses for my Leica. After that, I gave up medium format cuz those lenses are just so great. I sold all my medium format cameras 3 years ago. I only shoot film, no digital.

Film photography is suppose to limit you in but in a great way. I say film reflects life because as much control you think you have you don’t know until the end results. Everything isn’t suppose to be perfect and lean into that to help you grow and develop your style so don’t be discouraged. I’ve messed up so many times but I keep learning and every photo gets better and better with time. Please keep shooting film and I hope you grow to love film in your journey.

I appreciate your openness and honesty with your videos. I think you are being too tough on yourself! In my opinion, travel photography is more about having something to inspire memories of a time and place. In years time you can look back at these photos and enjoy the memories, without worrying too much about the technical aspects of composition, lenses, format, etc.

Great video, people finally get to see Chicago in good lite.

It looks like you travelled with someone else and I often find if I'm out shooting, whether it be with a friend of even another photographer, I tend to half-arse the shooting as well as I feel that I need to divide my focus and attention.

Sometime I do feel pressured to take the shot especially with all manual cameras. Nowadays we sync to fast-pace city life rhythm so taking time to create art doesn't feel comfortable in a city setting. It feels either I'm in someone's way or wasting someone's time.

the secret is to keep being inquisitive and keep shooting - everyone takes loads of dud pictures and sometimes great photos reveal themselves later. Your portraits were out the park awesome !

I tend to lean towards architecture, macro, and landscape photography because I am an introvert. I don't like dealing with people. You on the other hand is a social butterfly. You are drawn to human connection and that brings your creativity out. At least that's what I have observed in your channel. Don't get rid of the 35mm, try it out taking photos of people on the street.

Sam So appreciated the video because the questions you asked yourself are the ones I struggle with reviewing the scans of every roll I get back. The more I improve, the more I question the result. Like you, I’m trying to be honest with myself: a bad photo, okay, really good? The question of being lazy comes up too. What if I’d taken more time…etc. So, I appreciate the video. Going to watch it again as I think about my own photography more. All the best, Glenn

Great video and great pictures, Jim!

I think you’re overthinking it. Those photos were all great!

Trust yourself. Go where your energy takes you.

MIRANDA KILLED IT!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Great video Sam! I wish more of us could express our vulnerabilities so eloquently. And Miranda's portrait is fantastic!

love these, especially the Hassy portraits. Showing up somewhere and making good photos is hard, especially when you're moving around on a boat/bus/train. I did a Chicago riverwalk photo walk recently and it was nice to be able to stop for a minute to make sure I got the shot I wanted before moving on

Hey Sam love your portraits ! To me, we can see in your video that at Los Angeles, the light is much different from Chicago. I'm convinced that the mood helps too.

The portraits were so good! I also had a similar experience with 35mm I took my Minolta on vacation with a zoom lens. Bad choice! I hated the photos from the zoom lens. Primes are definitely better. 35MM is great, don’t give up on it! 😊

these photos are great. dont regret anything,

Great video. I get you, I get similar feelings with my photos lately. It sometimes just feels like i'm running through the motions, but I feel differently when i'm shooting something I have more interest in. Just based on this video, it could be that's what's going on with you. You just prefer portraiture, which isn't a bad thing, especially since your portraits are nicely done. BTW, I think the guy with the hat that wanted to take your photo is actor Richard Edson. Probably best known as the Valet from Ferris Beuller's Day Off..lol

But you are really good with portrait photography, approaching people to take them a picture is my biggest fear.

看了标题过来的，真的有过同样的想法，自从拍了120，135拍的是越来越少了。但是35mm可能还是有它存在的价值，我一直相信没有一台相机可以做好所有事，在一些特定的环境下，小巧的35mm也可以带来一些不错的收获。愿你拍摄愉快，等着看你分享67的照片～

I really like your videos and your work. These portraits are amazing!

Big honest questions. Take a little break and come back to it! Never feel pressured to shoot, do you ❤

From the video it seems really clear that you love portrait photography, and aren't too into travel photography. I think this has nothing to do with format, camera, lens etc. For your travel photography, my advice would be to let yourself just take the photos for memories, rather than trying to create art. Lower the pressure on yourself and enjoy being there since it's hard to take great photos on your first visit somewhere.

I would say that this feelings come and go (actualy I did the same lol and I only shoot 6x6 and 6x7 film) and now Im thinking on buying a 35mm camera. I love your portraits but also I loved the street photos u took. Its art, do what you feel best

I’m so impressed of those portraits. Got this feeling like there’s a whole different story behind every shot. Don’t know what’s the thing here but those people just exposed themselves to you and your hassy 😍 I really regret that this type of work is out of my comfort zone 😂

So relatable!

I shot and processed my own film for 30 years and when I went digital my 35mm film production went down drastically to the point that I don't even use my old 35mm cameras because my DSLRs will do everything I need and want, partly because my final results will take a fraction of time and effort with my DSLRs than with my SLRs. However there are some rare times when I want to shoot some film and that is when I would reach for my 6x6. MF is something special that I can not get with my FF DSLRs or mirrorless and I don't mind the processing when I shoot MF because I usually would keep that down to two rolls of 120 which would equal 24 shots. So don't feel bad about your 35mm shooting. It comes down to what you connect with more, and it will change from time to time.

Gorgeous

I KNOWWWWW what you feeel!!

Lovely work, imho. Allow yourself to grow! Photography is a journey, embrace the good and the less good 😊.

I really love your video and pictures. Some the composition is a little off and some are very good...at least to me 😊 I think we all have a...forte, when it comes to photography. Some of us...our forte is architecture, some it is flowers...sunsets...nature...landscape..."street photo"...and for some of us our forte is people/portraits...i think that's your "forte". You're great at it and you excel at it. I think...you...may be a little hard on yourself... I wouldn't say goodbye to the 35mm; especially your Minolta X700...you love that camera😅 I like shooting with my Pentax 6x7 more than my Nikon FE, but will continue using the 35mm for certain things. I...DON'T have the courage to interact with people like you do 😅...so I focus on flowers, geese, sunsets, nature...hehehe...I'm really jealous of your courage and interacting with people and really wish I can do that...but we all have our "forte" and I think you are awesome 🥰 I'm really sorry...I had to edit my comment

I think you should continue with impromptu portraits of strangers. but each time you go out, implement some new technique. review and evaluate for the the next outing. keep doing this until you feel the mojo/style. Simply going out there is is better than staying at home.

In my opinion , gear only matters in the sense that you need to stick with cameras that speak to you. You have to really know your camera. It has to be comfortable . You have to feel a connection with it and your subject matter. Perhaps you weren’t really comfortable with Chicago yet. Taking portraits with your Hassey… you seemed like you were in your element. Personally, I’m way more comfortable with medium format. I used my Pentax 6x7 almost exclusively for a year. I’m super comfortable with it now. Maybe that’s what you need too. Make a connection with one camera and format. See if that speaks to you. Love your journey so far. I think I’ll check out your IG too. Cheers.

I loved this

A slow zoom is can be a bit joyless for street and handheld architecture photography in my personal opinion. I know I would work far quicker with a 35mm f2 or a rangefinder camera and that can show in the results.

Yes, you are too hard on yourself...it's all about your own feelings and energy in the moment...it's not the camera (equipment)...Maybe you're setting the bar (too) high for yourself. ..maybe you were not in the right flow...you had created expectations for yourself instead of loading, guided by your feeling, intuition.... I agree with @TonyGillian

Great video. And I think sometimes it is really a good thing to get yourself thinking about these sorts of things when your photography is not working for you and working through where the stumbling block is. And the answer will be different for alot of people. SInce I started shooting medium format a few years back I have kind of just organically stopped shooting nearly as much on 35mm. Part of it for me was falling in love with the square format of 6x6 and shooting 6x7 for times when I want something with a similar aspect ratio to 35mm.

Hi Sam, love your journey. For me, I quit shooting 35mm a long time ago (unless I'm shooting sprocket panorama on medium format). It's a lot of work and expense to shoot film (time, gas, film, development etc) so if I'm going to go through the trouble, I rather it be on medium format. I know some people say gear doesn't matter but to me it does in the case of film photography. You can shoot two identical photos on 35 and mf, and the mf will look better. Even if the subject matter is lacking, for some reason, it just looks better. I also found that shooting a roll of 35mm is difficult. You end up having to finish the roll and hence will end up a little sloppy just like if you're shooting digital. MF on the other hand less than half so you are forced to be a little careful. Have a great one and looking forward to your next video. Also, I'm around San Gabriel area if you ever want to shoot a project together :)

why all the photos in youtube taken in usa or europe are similar. it seems like they are taken by the same photographer.

I really like your channel and content is very informative love your photography ❤❤

Not so sure Sam, I'd give that overthinking a second thought 🤔😋

idk man, i gues its really about the look you're going for. I LOVE my medium format, i've shot with mamiya and hasselblad, the quality i get impresses me everytime. But as i go thru my insta account and favorite shots, about 70% of them were taking by my nikon f3. I guess i just get the look i like the most using 35mm 🤷🏽‍♂

Gosh, definitely see a notable difference in your medium format portraits and really like them. I think anything that makes us be more present and shoot with intention-is what really matters. I shoot w Fuji (digital) and when doing street and portraits, using a good manual lens, most often results in better shots than w an autofocus lens for me. Have you ever considered a medium format Fuji (digital) camera?

Nice job Sam. I just started to post videos, and I learned that this is not easy. I hope to do as well as you someday :)

Your photos are amazing Sam! Sometimes for me I don’t feel proud/happy with some photos because it’s a subject matter that doesn’t connect/move me. For me don’t like shooting nature photos. No matter what I don’t feel crazy about those photos. Keep up the good work and videos Sam! P. S. Will you be coming to Filmstock in ATL next month ?

I can’t help thinking that you like walls or glass behind and near your subjects. Something seemed a little flat in the Chicago images. The LA pictures have we more vibrancy. Maybe it’s the psychological difference in attitude of the two places. LA is a creative hub - Chicago is more of a commerce hub.

I've flirted with medium format, but you get so much more bang for the buck with 35mm. Only 12 shots on a 120 roll with my Bronica. Uuurgh. I'll stick with my faux MF hasselblad x1D for larger than 35mm stuff.

We are all our own worst critics. It’s not the camera or the format. I’ve taken many horrible images on my Hasselblad and RB67 and one of my best is on 35mm. Of course you like the portraits better because you seem to be something of a very accomplished portrait maker. The first time anywhere is always tough. My first trip to Yellowstone NP didn’t give me very many great pictures either. So just keep shooting. Learn the advantages and limitations of the gear your using and don’t try and make it do something that is outside of its range. When in doubt use digital instead of film. Mostly though, just sit back and have fun

This channel is SO cute!

It's not the format it's the genre. You are comparing travel city scapes with portraits (which you enjoy and put more soul into them) 🙂 I say next time you go in a travel to a new city, take your favorite medium format camera and just ask strangers for a portrait. You will be in your desired environment. Do what you love. And if you're changing genres and experimenting, don't have high expectations, just play and have fun.

the photos are good. it's probably because you shot medium format, and you aren't getting that same feeling... from 35mm...

It doesn't matter that so many have abandoned film photography, nor that so many film manufacturers have thrown in the towel because of sagging revenues, and poor market analysis. In the last year Kodak in Rochester New York has reopened their labs, and is slowly building their workforce to deal with the loss of film making firms. I'm certain the world of film photography wont miss any of the digital darlings that never bothered to learn the craft of image making that has fallen beneath the guise of graphic artists running to their laptops for answers to digitals shortcomings.

Hi from Ireland , you are really comparing apples to oranges - holiday photos and you went with a plan to the book fair was it . Anyway the camera can make a difference too even to people posing they see a big old medium format or a canon 1v they feel important , and take you seriously . You slow down with the larger format and it costs more so maybe more considered . I think going with a plan even if it its to have no plan is important , the latter is prescribed when you are taking your work too seriously . Holiday snaps are just memories just because you are a photographer you are expecting magic too .

I have a secret Instagram account where I only post terrible photos. They're all taken on the same camera, they're all numbered in roman numerals in lower case with periods between the letters, it's deliberately criptic and weird and I love it. It feels really freeing to post bad art out publically, knowing that only a small handful will ever see it?

It's mind set, not gear. Enjoy either format,35 , MF or digital.

It’s not your gear. Your approach was different. With your gassy you had control. In Chicago it was all about when to press that button to tell the story.

I think you are more passionate about portraits.

It’s not the format it’s is your mind set. Your trying to shoot “street” in a new location unknown to you. if you would have seen Chicago as a tourist the experience would have allowed you to shoot freely without high expectations. You would have enjoyed the process and probably the images. Also you made an effort to ask folks for portraits later in the video where you didn’t make that attempt in Chicago?

Get a Leica and you will love 35mm…

啥时候去中国大陆寻找灵感？

你的勇气可嘉啊，我都是偷拍

这语速超级适合学习英语啊

Hi! I also struggled with this. Shooting both travel and portraits, I honestly prefer it on medium format for both. I've went through so many rolls of 35mm when I traveled and honestly it did not really capture my love for the places that I've experienced. Sure there a few shots, but the way I feel about them is the same way I feel about the photos I've taken with my phone or even digital camera. And trust me, I've brought both formats to my travels and prefer my shots taken on 120 over 35mm. Maybe in due time, I'll start to like them or maybe not... but they definitely sit in the category of personal photographs shot on film that are easily forgettable.🥲