To draw a similar analogy with photography is that anyone can claim to be a philosopher. We all can have philosophical thoughts about the nature of reality, the nature of personal identity, what really is time, ethical theory, what is the good. However philosopher's in the academic take this to a level of depth and breadth which I suspect also applies to photographer's like for example birders who construct hides and sit for hours to get the shot.

Definitely a lot of truth with ppl fishing for "likes", funnily enough - to help them feel they are relevant. I always enjoy your informative vids and will continue to do so. Do you need to change, keep up with the world? I don't believe so - your work is be valued by your clients. If your clien't needs change, then you may want to look at different options to retain those clients for your income. Thanks for all you put out on KZfaq - appreciate it!

Excellent points mentioned in this video ! Totally agree, the quest for "likes" is limiting a few photographers I know. Sticking to the "formula" to get more likes is more important than the creativity they once had.

This is your best video to date, an honest look at your work and what you enjoy the most, what motivates you, thank you.

Recently I found 2 hidden gems in the m/43 system from Voigtlander: their 60mm, and 29mm. While I bought the first one (60mm) just because I wanted a bright telefoto, the feeling of the lens, the colours you get out-of-the-camera are just wonderful. I am planning to add a wide angle lens (their 10,5mm looks super cool). It’s a pity OMDS doesn’t give us any bright telefoto nor wide-angle. Regarding the 12-100f4 I am with you in what you say: it’s so smart as a lens that it’s the only lens I take while travelling.

The more people who stop worrying about likes and simply do things because they enjoy it, the better off we'll all be. Carry on!

Being relevant is an odd question. Relevant from who's point of view? I think these days too many people are introspective. Looking for some reason or formula. Take photos and don't mind whether someone sees a story in it or not. Take photos and enjoy.

Jimmy, thanks for another of your thoughtful insights. I am not a photographer. I am a bloke with a camera who likes to take the odd picture, and, yes, share it. But there is always the "why," and I agree that the why is important. My images reflect what I want to capture. If others like it, that's nice. If they don't, that's fine, too. Anyway, you are relevant. You are a craftsman who stands out from the crowd. Please keep doing what you do, saying what you say, and being an inspiration to us to all be better with our passion. Oh, and stay sharp, like Grandpa's knife!

When people receive anything for free, they place no value in it. With the advent of smartphones and computational photography, people can take a beautiful picture with no work or creativity, without any effort. Essentially, for free. As such, true artists and professionals in photography are no longer valued, particularly with the growth of AI. It's the end of days (for photography) in many ways. A sad time.

The reason I started watching your videos is because you were having fun, you were you, the jokes were natural, and the models enjoyed doing the shoot with you. They were comfortable with the clothing they wore, not wearing "likes" clothing. Being you was the main draw for me, please try to get back to you, don't worry about some people that complain. Get the people that like you for you. As they say, you can't please them all. Do your thing, and do it well.

Jimmy, I always enjoy hearing your thoughts on topics like this. I just came off several weeks break from KZfaq content creation. I was getting lost in the worry of views and likes and overwhelmed by the need to address all comments. And I somehow lost my joy of the creative process along the way. I needed to get back to shooting just for fun without ulterior motives or the need to share everything I do. I had a good cleanse. Also, I just love all your b-roll in this piece. I know that this type of production takes a lot of time to do, and most people would take the easy way out and skip that part and just do the talking head.

Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, saying or making man :) You just keep doing your thing :)

It's all about reviews and fancy studios these days. But they do it for the travels. The brands know it and that's why they send invites. Free marketing.

Great discussion. When I exclusively used Nikon DSLRs I invested in good glass. Now that I'm big into Olympus/OMDS I've invested heavily in glass. All used, like my bodies. I'm always amazed how good our gear is from the last 5-10 years.

“I took them, because I want to remember them…” 🙏

Alot of KZfaqrs posting these introspective videos lately seemingly feeling sorry for themselves. I think it's just the state of the industry and people holding on to the last bit of what it used to be. Photography is changing but you can still do what makes you happy. Seems like there is just too much concern from the old guard about what current photographers do.

We need people like you now more than ever! The camera space has gotten pretty toxic as of late. Your channel is like a breath of fresh air away from all that noise.

You are very relevant to me, while we don't know each other when I see your videos come up on here I see you as a friend and mentor. I have learned a lot from you and I love your way of presenting things. You resonated with me from the start and you are a one of the main reasons I bought into the Olympus system. Thank you for all you give on here. I am only a part-time pro and like you, much of my client work is not shared. I shoot for me, I love that many come to me because my style is not the typical copy cat/follow the crowd work. I take inspiration from others but always do my best to make it my own. If you are aiming to be "relevant" then you are aiming too low. You are much better than that and I am happy you know better than to follow the "influencers" and make your images your own way.

None of us are relevant. Never have been.

I don't really have any problem with it. If people want to chase likes, that's fine. That's not what I do, but I have nothing against it.

I think there is a difference between "Content Creator" and "Photographer". You are talking about content creators. A photographer maintains the art of photography, as an art form, not for the sake of creating clickable content.

Just enjoy photography! 😉

There are other photographers who are concerned with the elements of art, e.g. line, tone, colour, shape, composition. Their approach is the effect of combining all or part of the elements together in an excellent way. They are not trying to tell a story or it is secondary to what they are doing. I am a painter as well and my aim is to create beautiful photographs and paintings. If someone sees them and it gives them a respite and moment of enjoyment that is what I am aiming for. I not after relevance. If someone likes my photography or painting it is a bonus. In the end it is what I think of my photography or paintings matters. There are different types of photographers and we need to accept them all. In the meantime keep doing what you do and you are educating and enjoyable. Also people do not see a lot of what photographers see. They may not see a pattern of shadows on a wall for example. I know when I look at an exhibition of a large amount of paintings I get sensory overload and the same happens if I look at a large amount of paintings or photographs on social media. So I try to limit how much I see.

I find myself spending much of my time avoiding the clickbait formulations and "one-size-fits-all" online "pasteurization" that seems to be what is in our faces on a daily basis. I am older and old school, even if my photography is nothing earth shattering (my dad's pro work, on the other hand, is a different matter). Relevance? That depends on what YOU (or any of us) desires out of your work, obviously. Some of us get it... I hate "like"-buttons and the algorithm-driven platforms. KZfaq, Flickr, 500px... I've dealt with and been irritated for years but they seem the least of all "evils", so to speak... I prefer honest feedback from people and value those that follow me. I'm 57, so I knoooow I miss things and ways that will never return. lol I am occasionally amused because my dad embraced the changes better than me in many ways! Long story cut short, you're still relevant to any number of folks and we always appreciate what you share. Thanks!

I think you care too much about what other people do or don’t do. Photography is about loving what you like to do, not about doing what others do or don’t do.

I really enjoyed your review, one of the best without being too technical. I've been shooting Nikon since 1967 and could not resist the old school design of the Zfc. Except for the "plastic" feel I am in love with this camera. No more expense of the labs or home chemicals. You have my favorite review, in spite of how fast you talk.

Love your stuff. Keep at it. You inspired me to get into MFT and my photography interest and skills have increased a lot. More importantly, you are a POSITIVE force. So much is negative and nitpicky online. You are always positive. Keep at it!

With the recent lumix s9 drama, I have unfollowed a lot of the well known camera KZfaqrs because of their clear bias. I think on YT as long as you are having fun, staying true and honest to yourself and your audience you will never be irrelevant.

Thanks for the discussion. You are in a bit of a bind. A working professional photographer as well as someone who likes taking photographs for themself. For those with the luxury of existing in the latter world everything else is irrelevant. Personal work equals the search for authenticity, meaning, feelings and well seen images. OTOH we live in a world totally saturated with overly dramatic images as well as a lot of visual crap that is designed to elicit knee jerk 'likes'. Stick to YOUR passions. Best wishes!

Social beauty is about the beautiful and pleasing. I now photograpah the ugly. In my case abandoned mines and their cirle of death and pollution. The eerie other world dead zone can fascinate and inform. Social media is not a place for this. Magazines and enviromental phamplets and shows are. I just got to where I would see a photo and think another wow photo. And I did not want to take the photos I paid bills with for years. Beautiful photo overlaod got me. I think some ways I tell a better story with my photos now that I ever have. Perhaps because I have a story to tell I am passionate about.

You are truly relevant to me! You inspire me every time I listen to, and watch, you (and Rod of course!)! Regards

Yeah its the same shots thing. Ye olde splash of light on the street with someone walking through it...its been done before man, move on. Or the chef behind a sheet of plastic in a tiny Tokyo street eatery. Move on! But that's You Tube. It's not private people wanting their private events photographed. Completely different scenarios. I don't want a You Tuber photographing my wedding. I want a photographer who knows how to control their craft.

Its a question of relevant to who? Change your lens and you get a different frame, change your angle and you see a different world. Focus on those who you matter to. Keep up man.

Interesting topic because i have always maintained a keen eye on Olympus ever since i saw the 40-150mm 2.8.

"Everyone gets to be relevant for 15 minutes." - Anon

If you buy a camera, you are a photographer; if you buy a piano, are you a pianist?

👍💪

Good photography is always defined by the "Why", I completely agree. Well said!

I 1st drawn to your channel where I used to use m4t system, I switched however to Fuji X system. So from a gear point of view you are not relevant, however if a good used m4t system at a bargain price along who knows. What you say about the ego maniac influencers who produce the over edited shots with heaps of drama , they don't appear on my subscription list. Same as trends in photography, I groan at all the long exposure shots of water and the misty black and white shots of jetties. Basically wgaf about what the masses go for, just please yourself 😁 The other thing that pissed me off are the channels that are designed to promote their subscription, photo walks , workshops etc.

As long as you love what you do and are passionate about photography you will be relevant, as far as people with cell phone users being called photograpers pay them no mind.

TikTok changed the landscape. The new generation’s shopping dynamic is more than often based on what’s trending on TikTok and that’s including cameras, lenses and anything in between.

You are relevant … content is stuff. “Content creator” is a mental/economic/social trap. Enjoy the photography experience. You are relevant!

I embraced my online irrelevance several years ago. It was refreshing. I photograph for the enjoyment, the shutter therapy, the capturing of moments that mean something to me. Likes are overrated. And they have little to do with relevance or impact.

Agree with your thoughts. Started back in 1970s and never worried about my relevance. Makes me think of one of my favorite quotes. Ask yourself: “Does this subject move me to feel, think and dream?” - Ansel Adams. That’s is how I view my photography. Enjoy your content, keep up the great work

Every one who clicks pictures with a camera or smartphone are photographers , those who do the same thing without having the inner compulsion of showing them on social media are genuine photographers like you are.

Jimmy, you are more relevant now than ever. You have so much passion and a story to tell. You keep photography true!

The ultimate solution - shoot large format, any lens fits any camera! 😁 Just need to make sure the image circle isn't too small, but even then, you can use reducing backs etc if you want to.

You're relevant to me. And I'm very much looking forward to the video on that Super Nokton you bought on your last trip. As for photography going in a certain direction: mass produce has always meant a reduction in both quality and diversity, in particular for the wider audience. The good thing is that real quality always wins in the end - albeit for a smaller audience and at a 'premium' price (i.e. the real price of the actual thing). Just keep doing your thing, your way, and keep doing it well. Cheers!

Thank you for making this video, I've currently been struggling on this very topic of changing my photography to suit the algorithm because I do KNOW the formula but I've chosen not to use it and I feel like I've continuously paid for it with my middling views and likes. But this video helped me stay true to myself. Also I love the art of photography and talking about gear and I bet there are plenty more ppl like me out there which means you'll ALWAYS be relevant to us.

I always wondered why the English only make instant coffee.