rest in peace, dear friend

What John doesnt mention is that getting close to the wrong person having a bad day, and you get your head kicked in. Basically. " Reach peoples' hearts" - nice idea m8, but not worth a hospital stay.

This guy sure likes the sound of his own voice.

Thank you for this. A wonderful documentary, stunning images and easily one of the best things that I’ve seen on KZbin. Thank uou

John is so inspiring of a teacher. Sad he has passed. Thanks for these videos John

RIP John, I had to stop shooting film for a while but thought of you. Sad to hear passed. Condolences to your family. You are the reason I bought a Nikon 55mm 2.8 film lens many years ago. Thanks.

John, this video is fantastic. I cry at your photographs, the love, the human condition, the experiences, you tell the stories so beautifully. I am watching this for my History of Photography class, and I am so thankful to be introduced to you this way. Your work is worth the time, worth the effort, you impact the world in brilliant ways.

This was just amazing. Thank you for sharing. Can't get enough of his stories. 50 minutes passed like a second

It’s refreshing to see someone have crushed blacks in their images. Modern photographers are afraid of losing “data” in the shadows.

Can anyone identify the lens?

R.I.P. John. You were such a lovely guy and inspiring photographer. I often reflect on the Paris workshop of yours that I joined (and your wife organised so well for us all), what a memorable occasion. I loved your anecdotes.

We all miss John!

Garry Winogrand 101.😂😂

R.I.P John. You are an inspiration. Thank you 🙏

rest easy John. you really knew how to make your mark.

Rip .Monsieur Free. De France.📷

John is a great service to photography. So glad these videos were made. Such a treasure ❤

Although I love JF, I’m perplexed by his constant referral to “full frame.” He’s shooting with a film camera; the term isn’t applicable to film cameras.

Wow! We need another book 🫶🏻

Great video. Thank you

Whats the name of the ending song (classical music)?

R.I.P John. Thank you for your wisdom, love and humour 🙏

wow impressive

So much respect

*Rest in peace mister John... I just found out that you are no longer with us ... I am very sorry to hear this ... ...*

I would love to see some more videos on your process

The most genuine thing iv ever (will ever) seen...

I started in photography in 1968 when I bought a Nikonos II underwater camera to document my SCUBA diving adventures and I was soon hooked on photography selling my SCUBA gear to buy NikonFtn and Nikon F bodies with 35mm f/2.0 and 85mm f/1.8 lenses in college to do photo journalism with enough success to decide to drop-out in 1972, move to Washington, DC with my GF and try to find a job as a PJ there. Instead I wound up apprenticing with world famous wedding photographer/teacher Monte Zucker shooting wedding for his millionaire clients at the top hotels around DC. That led to meeting the asst. chief of the photo lab at Nation Geographic and a job there on the technical side and then a career in the US Foreign Service managing a printing center in Manila where I was once again able to to do underwater photography with my Nikonos II and a newer Nikonos V. Shooting with a 36 exposure roll of film forced one to become a “decisive moment” photographer. That term was used in photography books back in the film era often citing a classic 1936 photo taken by Robert Capa if the exact moment a Spanish soldier was shot. The Nikon F camera I used was notable as being the first which used motor-drive with a frame rate of about 3 frames per second. They were used by some sports photographers but they soon discovered that as John said the key decisive moments occurred between frames. The best lesson learned from my mentor Monte occurred during my first interview when he generously critiqued each of my twenty 16x20 matted 11x14 Zone System B&W prints with a pair of “L” shaped mat board cropping guides. Instead of starting on the edges and cropping inward he asked me what my intended focal point was in the photo. He then cropped in very tight on it and then slowly expanded the frame asking me to tell him when something entering the edged distracted my attention off the focal point. He was showing me I had “tunneled” in on the focal point that had interested me enough to take the photo but had ignored things which distracted and detracted from it. I was so blown away by that new way of looking at a scene that evening I took a razor knife and cut down all my portfolio prints to a collection of borderless 8x10, 5x7 and for one a pair of 4x5s hoping he would be impressed enough to give me the job, which he did. 😊 50 years later, now mostly shooting wildlife and passing boats from the back deck of my home on the ICW in North Carolina and sharing them on my channel here, I still compose my photos the same way, cropping it tight on the focal point then expanding the frame outward to add ‘just enough’ context to explain the environment but not so much it distracts from the focal point. I still only use single frame mode, still trying to capture the decisive moment, which happens more often than not if one practices.

We'll miss you John. Thank you for all your efforts.

I shoot everyday no matter what the weather says. Sometimes I only shoot from my car.

God Bless You,

RIP John

Thanks Pictureman x

Yes, the reasons why they are there, not always about drugs, most of the time it’s about a disruption in life, unavoidable and out of their control. Thank you for your words.

RIP Mr. Free. You're a legend in street photography.

Preach bro!! Love this...

Rest In Peace Maestro, you where an amazing teacher

An absolute legend and treasure.

What a wonderful guy.

I admire you a lot Mr Free, you are a great street photographer who inspired me a lot!! Thank you!!

Wise man, every word is a lesson. Thank you fro everything John. A Legend.

Please tell me if there is an extended version of this? RIP John, you'll be dearly missed

John was among the first photographers who ignited my passion for the craft, showcasing the artistic depth of photography and emphasizing the value of joining this amazing community. I'm grateful for the internet and its vast archives that enable us to revisit and learn from his genius behind the lens. I can't remember how many times I've watched this video, and I don't think I'll ever tire of it. What an incredible man. Rest in peace, colonel 🕊 you'll be dearly missed

Available light never a flash.... Never got those who insisted on using flash in street....

Rip sir

Brilliant ability to see, compose and capture.

John - these are moving videos for me. Enjoyable, grounded, Inspirational - the adjectives are too many to list. Thank you

Rest In Peace Chief

Rip legend John free I am sad since you passed away

RIP, John the humanist.