Photographers Who Inspired Me in 2021

[@nelsonm.5044]

The leaving and waving project is probably one of the most beautiful and touching project I have ever seen, and the photos and also technically very nice

[@BryanBirks]

I was reading the synopsis of the project to my girlfriend and couldn’t even get through six words without starting to cry. 😂

[@wylie_photo]

@@BryanBirks I could feel your tears in this, almost made me cry too. Beautiful project, heart breaking too.

[@paullesliehutson5818]

I choked up too at the waving goodbye project

[@willysheepskin]

This was marvelous man, and I can say with absolute certainty that you are definitely equally informed if not more so than most people I know with a formal education in photography. Especially myself ahaha. Seriously though, knowing the photographers you've shared here and spending time observing their work is more than enough formal education in my opinion, and I look forward immensely to seeing where your projects take you in the coming year

[@BryanBirks]

Next year’s Bryan will make this video’s Bryan look like a big dumb idiot when it comes to talking about photography. Happy New Year Mr. Sheepskin 🎉

[@paulsharratt8748]

Who inspires the inspirer. Please keep doing what your doing. Best for the Holidays.

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you Paul! You as well 🖤

[@logos74]

Dude are you kidding me?! You inspire me!

[@andrel1962]

Good job letting your knowledge and heart speak...

[@natalyatarankova5371]

Thank you for honest stories! The part about the empty driveway made me cry. wow.. Looking forward to deepen my own work like that.

[@BryanBirks]

Really struck a chord with me as well. Glad you enjoyed!

[@anthonyfen-chong5557]

This was great, loving your selection, the vulnerability. I have to say about that, I just realized talking over pictures can be quite emotionnally potent. Thanks for the work you're putting out there, keep it up !

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you Anthony. I was doing my best to keep it together talking about Deanna's work! Lmao

[@WesleyVerhoevePhotography]

love this list bryan! yes yes yes to the bit about Alec showing mistakes too even at his level.

[@BryanBirks]

“There wasn’t film in the cameraaaaaa!” Gets me every time.

[@camerachica73]

I loved the Alec Soth course and actually emailed him to say how much his allowing his own mistakes to be seen made me feel so much better about my own work!

[@BryanBirks]

It’s truly a great piece. The value rises the more you learn about photography which is really fantastic.

[@camerachica73]

@@BryanBirks Yes exactly and the more serious you become about photography and even if you try and make an income from it, you still make mistakes. I still frequently forget to take the lens cap off or the dark slide out!

[@chopster01]

Thanks for this-we share some favorite photographers. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of Curran Hatleberg's new book in my mailbox. Wish I had discovered him sooner, before "Lost Coast" became so rare. I just found your channel and haven't watched your other videos yet, so you might have already mentioned Lucas Foglia and Doug DuBois, but if you don't know them, I bet you'd love them.

[@BryanBirks]

Oh, DuBois is great. Really enjoy his stuff. I purchased Curran’s new book as well. Can’t wait to dive into that.

[@chopster01]

@@BryanBirks definitely check out Foglia as well. Keep up your own good work!

[@brettwood737]

Leaving and waving hit me hard. A wonderful idea and very well executed

[@BryanBirks]

Like a ton of bricks.

[@Raeling]

So validating. Thank you

[@Ant1974-w1b]

Dude, you are awesome. I'm struggling with the same stuff as an artist and photographer. Keep on keeping on!

[@profHankin]

The process is real. I've been trying to remind myself of Ralph Gibson's "point of departure" talk that he got from Dorothea Lange. It works (usually). Thanks for the great content.

[@BryanBirks]

I will have to look that up. Thanks for watching Bob 🤘🏻

[@jacobogden2688]

Alec Soth is one of the real ones.. it's why i love Larry Sultan's images/process.

[@BryanBirks]

Need to dive into Sultan’s work soon.

[@ellie4123]

I think you speak very well on photography! thanks for sharing these, Bryan!

[@BryanBirks]

I appreciate that!

[@theedorbs]

hahaha, I'm so glad that stuff like having to fiddle extra with the lens and then realizing you don't have any film in the camera is something that happens to folks like Alec Soth, too.

[@theedorbs]

Pssst, P.S. She's a woman, not a "girl."

[@mp3remix171]

This was greatly inspiring!! Makin a list of ppl I need to check out

[@wcwendychapman]

Excellent video. You really captured the essence of why these photographers inspired you. Taking Soth's course is tempting after seeing the clips you shared. Happy holidays.

[@BryanBirks]

It’s really a wonderful course. It’s not even really a course…just a photographer talking about his craft for 5 hours.

[@aa.ronjax]

Hey Bryan, your channel is one my favorites on KZbin. Really enjoy the work.

[@michaelabariesheff3389]

I can't believe I only just found your channel! Your videos are incredibly inspiring to me. love you work.

[@secondbob7707]

Great video Bryan. Happy Holidays to everyone. “Take photos that matter”

[@BryanBirks]

Indeed! Happy holidays 🍻

[@tonoburguete4302]

You have inspired me this year, thank you for sharing your work and your journey.

[@BryanBirks]

You’re very welcome. Thank you for following along 🤘🏻

[@finn_odriscoll]

excellent vid. been recently really digging Schutmaat myself

[@BryanBirks]

One of the few photographers that I go back to a lot to get inspiration. Insane stuff.

[@SlavaVeres]

Thanks so much for sharing about photographers who inspired you! Your video inspired many of us who watched it.

[@BryanBirks]

Thanks for watching 🤘🏻

[@han4312]

great content I have seen on this platform. Thank you for the sharing.

[@patmccann1098]

Merry Christmas Bryan. Thank you for inspiring me this year.

[@BryanBirks]

🖤

[@ArnaudMontagard]

Thank you for all the great videos this year Bryan

[@BryanBirks]

Appreciate you Arnaud!

[@Normanskie]

I used to get about 38 frames out of a 36 frame roll of film and many years ago on a trip to Isle of Skye in Scotland I got the BEST photo's in my entire life, the scenery was beautiful, the light was perfect and then when I clicked over to 39, and then 40 and then 41 I realised that from my greed I hadn't wound the film on properly. Never needed that lesson again.

[@digitaljb]

You have been one of my biggest inspirations this year. Thank you man

[@BryanBirks]

Very kind words. Glad I could do that 🖤

[@ThePhotoDept]

dude your lighting is so good.

[@ThePhotoDept]

also, very inspiring, well done video. this was sick to watch first thing this morning.

[@BryanBirks]

Thanks sir. As Bryan Schutmaat once said “just a window and clouds beyond.”

[@DevonMiniFlicks]

This was a lovely video Bryan thank you 🙂

[@BryanBirks]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Fuzzbrause]

THANK YOU!!!! Great inspiration!!!

[@BryanBirks]

🖤

[@mali4971]

Man you just put me on and that last project really got me crying in the club🥲🥲🥲

[@BryanBirks]

I was in shambles reading it the first time. Definitely something I’m going to pick up.

[@mali4971]

@@BryanBirks same man. I have a book recommendation if you haven’t already heard of Dawoud Bey you should pick his book up called “street portraits”

[@ChristopherRusanowsky]

Love your channel! Merry Christmas and thanks for this video!

[@BryanBirks]

Merry Christmas!

[@BraeHunziker]

Merry Christmas sir! That waving goodbye project got me a little choked up ngl, what an incredible idea. Lovely video as always and looking forward to more work this new year! 🎄

[@BryanBirks]

Merry Christmas! Covid got you and Covid got Emma. Helluva last couple months. Here’s to a blessed new year full of tonez 🖤

[@BraeHunziker]

@@BryanBirks Goodness Emma has been getting wrecked!! I'm sorry to hear. Sending good vibes your way and hoping she feels better soon! Cheers brotha

[@SandpiperBookCafe]

Happy new year, Bryan!

[@louiskeller123]

Amazing work man!

[@samanshp]

Love your videos. Keep it up man

[@Sebonelo2]

this was awesome, thanks for the great work man.

[@BryanBirks]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jschoonj]

Loved this video. Thanks.

[@wallywo7392]

Great as always, here's wishing you a very merry Christmas, thanks for all your hard work.

[@BryanBirks]

Thanks for your support 🖤

[@stuartbaines2843]

Perfection does Not exist 👍 Make some Memories 👌 Happy Xmas and New year 🎄

[@BryanBirks]

Wise words. You as well Stuart ✌🏻

[@john_murch]

Those photographers are truly inspiring. Thank you for the videos. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Bryan...

[@BryanBirks]

Happy Holidays John! Thanks for all the support ✌🏻

[@xaviegarcia2657]

Bryan, you inspired me so much this year! You are definitely someone who’s words and opinions really mean something to me. It just resonates. Happy holidays and I hope you and yours have a wonderful new year.

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you very much. I’m glad my words and thoughts (or lack of thoughts) resonate with you because sometimes it feels like I’m talking gibberish about nothing. Happy holidays to you as well. 🖤

[@bigjames6666]

Great vid, dawg :)

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you my man 🖤

[@JeffreyFilman]

Merry Christmas and happy new year Bryan, I wish you and your family all the best. Thank you so much for sharing as always. ❤️

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you for watching as always. Merry Christmas to you!

[@clarhettcoalfield3616]

Bryan I just want to say thank you for a wonderful year here on YT, you and your enthusiasm and work ethic when it comes to photography is inspiring to all of us watching. Merry Christmas, and best wishes for the coming new year.

[@BryanBirks]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad to have you here and happy that you get something out of the channel 🖤

[@JessicaHTLi]

Really love this video. The thoughts were genuine and candid. Thank you for sharing. The last part was very moving. I am definitely going to check out each of their work. I appreciate your work on these videos. Keep inspiring me to keep shooting despite the challenges.

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you very much Jessica!

[@petertaranscorsese2900]

Hi Bryan, you talk with such passion - very powerful, educational and inspirational. You deserve many more subscribers! - I hope you produce that Coffee Table book in 2022….when it comes, I’ll be proud to have it on my coffee table….and share with friends and family. All the best for the year ahead - Peter.

[@BryanBirks]

Maybe…possibly…might be ready next year. Who knows. Haha thank you for the support this year Peter 🖤

[@mikifrances-correia1328]

I think when that happens when you're driving around and you're burnt out and you haven't even taken a single photo, I think you should just find something, tiny, and shitty, and still take one, maybe, I don't know. But it sounds like this book, 'the artist way' by Julie Cameron could really help you be intentional and feel better with the process. Also yeah I love artificial light now, especially bare bulb, I just got the good ad400, which is a good option I think for being portable and powerful.

[@normancacho]

Great Video as always

[@BryanBirks]

Much appreciated Norman 🙏🏻

[@gougav]

Happy New Year Bryan, thank you for your videos, I really enjoy them, especially the fact at you really talk about other artists, why they inspire you. The amount of content you can find on the technical aspects of photography is great now, but there is not a lot of content like yours on KZbin in the end. I also can relate to the fact that when committing to a practice such as photography, with the amount of existing pictures out there and the price it costs, it can be hard to feel like "This is worth it". Hence the research of a topic that is yours, something that makes you want to go outside even when it rains etc... I feel like a lot of artists today know that this practice makes them happy, but feel like they still need to "find something to say". The fear not to be relevant I guess. This is a very personal thing and in my opinion cannot be the topic of a youtube video, but your struggle is the struggle of every real artist I guess and it's interesting to go along on that road with you.

[@zaankanteropavontuur1146]

Great work man. Keep it coming learning a lot from your vids. !!

[@BryanBirks]

Thanks so much Zaankanteropavontuur 🖤

[@mitymous1]

Love these episodes; I always come away excited to go check out your inspirations, and impressed with your thoughtfulness and dedication to the craft. Thank you!

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you for watching ✌🏻

[@RostykMakushak]

Bryan, thanks for sharing this!!! It’s much appreciated. After you :) I’m a big fan of Alec Soth. Have been watching him a lot. And I learned for the first time about other photographers. They are amazing! Will follow their work from now on. ❄️ Merry Christmas to you🎄 And wishing you all the best in the New Year 2022!

[@BryanBirks]

Merry Christmas to you as well 🖤

[@Brause_Market]

loved watching this dude.

[@BryanBirks]

Glad you enjoyed compadre ✌🏻

[@anthonyritchie696]

This was an interesting video and very educational Thanks Bryan

[@BryanBirks]

Thanks for watching and Merry Christmas!

[@TheAppleNow]

This was incredibly inspiring. Thank you, Bryan. Happy new year.

[@BryanBirks]

Happy New Year to you Eric ✌🏻

[@CretinousFiend]

Hey, can you mention the photography discord you talked about in the video? Thanks for the video, I learned a lot.

[@BryanBirks]

discord.gg/ggexUvBB

[@RiverMikaelWrinch]

Did you, by any chance, get Curran’s statements from Sasha Wolf’s podcast?

[@BryanBirks]

Indeed.

[@akaYu07]

Alec Soth's magnum course is discounted for the holidays! With holiday20 you'll save 20 bucks. Bryan maybe you want to pick up another class? Or did you preorder his new book?

[@BryanBirks]

That’s nice to know. None of the other classes really interest me at the moment. I’m definitely debating on Alec’s new book. I actually still need to pick up Sleeping by the Mississippi. Don’t tell anyone.

[@akaYu07]

@@BryanBirks in that case let me be the one to suggest two of your favorite photobooks and most inspiring photographers for 2022: Mark Steinmetz - South Central and Raymond Meeks - Ciprian Honey Cathedral.

[@shutterlag192]

This is photography.

[@butcherneck]

Make it an hour long :)

[@BryanBirks]

Maybe… 🤔