John Free Shows 86 of His Own Photographs!

Follow John Free's assistant @deeno_andfree and John @john_free_photography on Instagram
To learn more about John Free: / john free and
Johnfreephotography.com
John Free is a social documentary photographer - John has taught at USC, UCLA, PCC, LACMA and has worked professionally at this craft for more than 45 years. For his personal work, he does street photography

[@patio87]

The photograph of the boy crawling to the ocean with the crutch in the corner is phenomenal.

[@JohnFreePhtography]

Yes, thank you. The crawling boy showed me power and greatness and the camera seemed to take the picture by itself.

[@Jason-Scott]

patio87 amazing 😉

[@danfloresmusic]

I’d love to buy a print of it

[@PaulMarshall]

Yes, incredible!

[@AnthonyRecenello]

Best photography teacher ever lived.

[@JohnFreePhtography]

Your fine comment means a great deal to me and keeps me on track to reach out to you and to all who would like to know this special place that has drawn me in with a great pleasure.

[@AnthonyRecenello]

Our emails earlier this year along with your videos have made me more strict as a photographer about what I believe to be of quality. --Anthony

[@ainalzone]

i would love to come to your class if you happen to go to Indonesia. i've watch most of your video and i also think that you are a very good photography teacher even when i just only could see you in a video. thanks for all the effort Sir

[@jesuisravi]

I learn more from this guy than from most of the KZbin photogs. Too many people on KZbin (not all of them) are more about peddling gear than making images.

[@JohnFreePhtography]

See Johnny run with his camera.See how happy Johnny is when he has his camera. See what Johnny has seen and saved for everyone.

[@JohnFreePhtography]

The prints are made on 10x14 Ilford fiber based paper. Developed in Kodak Dektol developer mixed 1-3 with water.

[@daud7385]

4:58 "The train carries the freight, but the tramp carries the weight. Nobody rides free."

[@adinassarou]

came to the comment section for this.

[@jimmylee7422]

you have inspired me so much after being laid off and picking up a camera in 18 months i have turned my life around due to taking up photography and volunteering your work and videos have been a big help Now at 47 i am turning photography into a profession,people have looked at my work and have now given me space to exhibit Cant thank you enough take care thank you John Jimmy Lee/London

[@fergusfitzgerald977]

I LOVE these images -consider myself lucky that I happened on this video. The image of the boy crawling towards the sea and the crutch in the sand will be forever with me.

[@longrider9551]

John I close my eyes and just listen to you describe your approach,,,,,,, your magic,,,,,,,,,,,,,thank you. We need to hear more from you, like your photograhy this gift you have was given to you to share. Godspeed.

[@JohnFreePhtography]

Hey Longrider, thank you. Yes a gift to spread around. I would be ashamed of myself if I did not reach out to you an all will my advice and love and brotherhood to make our lives better for looking at lifes special moments through a camera and then giving the images of these wonderful instants of real lovely life to others who might be inspired to do the same. Thanks for being there and then taking a moment to reach out to me as friend.

[@takisp5412]

That's why i love internet. Free lessons to all from the best. Such great photos and critique, so inspiring. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@stephanerone]

one of the best street photography inspiration videos I've come across

[@ozymet]

I can listen to Mr. Free for days.

[@gpdoyon]

The examples shown with Mr. Free's explanation on his composition requirements was invaluable. Thank you!

[@JohnFreePhtography]

Thanks Gerry. Framing is very important to me. How much and what to include in the frame is just as important as what is eliminated from the frame.

[@theampedlife]

Always special to watch you talk and show your work with so much enthusiasm. You've inspired me for years, thanks John.

[@slimgraz]

Very inspiring piece John I'm so glad to see new content, please keep us updated!

[@DanDanBlvd]

Thank you for this video; good stuff. John Free has always been a source of inspiration for me ever since I started doing street photography.

[@JeffWalshPhotography]

I'm so thankful that your channel was brought to my attention. Your work is fantastic and just inspires me to push my photography deeper and to pull more story and emotion into my photos. Thank you for your videos

[@d.hufford2355]

Thanks for another video, John. I've watched yours for a few year, but this is the first time I have seen so many of your photos. Enjoyed them very much.

[@joey-karate]

Amazing memories John, I could listen to you all day.

[@grumpyken9151]

brilliant work, thanks for sharing it. i've watched this vid a dozen times

[@leledarius]

So happy that I've found this channel.Thank you John!

[@MAXLAWLESSIBIZA]

I love your passion, attitude and generosity. Thanks John. x

[@reginaldgooden2445]

Thanks, John! You just made my day with this incredible info!😎

[@amhtxc2960]

This video was amazing, thank you.

[@checkpointlab]

Very inspiring video! and the photos were just amazing!

[@GreigStott]

Great stuff John, thank you very much for sharing all your insight, your talent, passion and wisdom. Appreciate you very much. All the best from Dundee, Scotland, take care x

[@Halfpint71]

So glad you have uploaded more videos. I could listen to you all day. I wealth of experience and wisdom.

[@dave1234u]

Man, I'm taking photos every day and I just loved hearing John talking freely about his beautiful work. Really love the passion. Thanks John. Ill be looking for 3 things in everything

[@pixiedixie3682]

Every video of yours is a master class . The kid crawling on the beach is amazing , story teller , and the soldier on the cemetery another one, awesome!

[@charliehenbury3959]

Glad to see you upload new videos John. I've missed you! your such an inspiring photographer thank you.

[@jagatic]

the presence of your photography is felt, inspiring me on a Sunday afternoon.

[@literallyshane4306]

This was amazing, insightful and inspiring. Thank you

[@HyoomanBean]

Thank you so much for sharing. I never tire of your words of wisdom and your wonderful images.

[@slemtones]

Wow! Humbling, yet exciting, to get a glimpse of things I didn't know, and SO inspiring. Thanks so much for this.

[@seigas]

WOW! That's priceless information from a Master!! I'm very grateful you took the time to share it, and I'm sure everyone here is too. Very touching life story.. and stories! Just blew me away!

[@Choadifer]

This video is a game changer on how I now think and approach my photographs and view the relationships of the subjects I'm shooting. Your work and images are absolutely phenomenal. Thank you sir.

[@robari2410]

Boom! boom! boom! there!... its all you need. Love it! Thanks John.

[@paulpiasecki]

Nice John!! Always nice to see more video!! Very inspiring!

[@JohnFreePhtography]

Deeno and I were driving in L.A. looking for a good spot to produce a new video of me showing and explaining some of my prints. We decided that place was not too important and pulled over by the curb and parked just anywhere. I got out of the car with a box of 10x14 prints and my camera and slipped off the curb and fell backwards and landing on my back in the gutter banging my elbow and head and destroying my camera and lens. Blood all over my arm, but I was O.K. and happy to sit on the curb to recover and then start showing my prints and feeling very happy at not being hurt too bad. To photograph is to love constantly. How Ironic the man who came along to watch, said he was from the area where I made some of the photos I was showing. Photography has produced many magic moments in my time.

[@alanpods______8260]

It's incredible and so inspirational to see you talk through your process. The essence of photography as you describe here it is actually so simple, yet takes a talented artist, with a lifetime of seeing and constant practice such as you show here to get right. Very sorry to hear about your camera - I hope you've managed to get it fixed.

[@DanDrummer18]

Thank you for another great video John, I hope to bump into you one day in or around LA. Regards

[@boris.dupont]

Fascinating! Thank you!

[@marbucag2060]

Priceless. Thanks, John!

[@mdlutfullahilmazid7668]

This is first time someone's photography really inspired me. Amazing! All are masterpieces!

[@codyallen3729]

Best 25 min I have ever spent on youtube. THANK YOU JOHN FREE!

Amazing. You are so inspirational. Fond memories from the Paris workshop where we met. Still think about how fast you were when you saw situations building up. Your voice saying: "Booom... subject's gone." to explain the importance of sometimes being quick. That has helped me a lot, especially when just killing off hesitation to bring up the camera and shoot. Thanks for helping me make more better photos.

[@arryharry]

John, your photography and passion for capturing everything and anything - yet making every shot meaningful and purposeful, is incredibly inspiring and brilliant in equal measure. I shoot with a Nikon FE2 and try to approach every day photography with your perspective in mind. These shots were incredible, thank you for sharing and being so vivid in your descriptions.

[@okcmpter]

love your style and attitude john, very motivating.

[@Doogiereid]

Inspirational John. I just discovered your channel and love your style of work. Thanks

[@nlanca1]

Thank you John!

[@khardesign]

Loved watching this video!

[@johnvienna3422]

Great presentation, John! Lo-tech, one take, nothin' fancy. But so much inspiration and info and guidance and story. Three things, boom boom boom. Thanks!

[@WilliamLesourd]

I have just discovered your channel. Great. Got to watch it all...

[@jean-marcchenu5253]

Hi John ! Thank you very much for your passion and your generosity ! It is a pleasure to learn from you. Jean Marc from France

[@Sergiovalentimpht]

you have an inspiring work Sir!!!!! Thank you very much!!!

[@christianschroder2607]

I really admire your work and how you handle all these people in the Streets, how you can be a part of what you photograph. I am at the beginning of photography, I bought my second hand camera less than a year ago and I know, I have to learn so much about seeing and being aware of everything arround me...I just started to realize, that there is so much more to see and to see in different ways as I saw before. I also do not have much time (because of my Medicine studies) and if I have enough to go out, I sometimes coming home after that without any good shot and very discouraged, without feelings that I am not creativ enough take ever any good shots. But then I saw your videos. You and your work inspired me to go on trying and learning. I really wish I could spend just a day with you in the streets. Thank you very much!!

[@dksilas]

My street photography improved quite a bit from your teachings. Finding 2 elements is fairly easy. Finding that 3rd can take some time but that's the fun of the challenge. Nice job John!

[@jeresholtis]

Been digging through KZbin lately seeking videos on teachings to improve my photographic perspective and techniques. Absolutely love the insightful and engaging work of John. You're definitely one of the best! Thank you for sharing your wisdom, passion, and, of course, your wonderful pictures (the tramp walking down the tracks with bottle in hand and the boy crawling to the ocean...tops)!

[@Jeff-jg7jh]

Ahh, I was wondering about the arrangement of the lounge. Glad he clarified that. "I would never do that".

[@kidicaruz]

You sir, are truly an inspiration! Your photography is phenomenal and i love your attitude towards photography in general. All the best to you and thanks for all these stunning pictures and for sharing your knowledge :)

[@saintpete808]

your photo/darkroom print collection is A+! So many great prints!

[@crhill9015]

Simplicity of the shot. Thanks John.

[@Drobek6]

Just stumbled upon your channel John, happy I did. Your words and work are inspiring. Sincerely from a guy whom too, dislike photography schools :)

[@JohnCBurzynski]

John, I love your style and passion, you are a true artist.

[@JohnFreePhtography]

Thanks John. I do not consider myself as artist, but I enjoy hearing the term as it is applied to me. A very nice compliment to give anyone.

[@garyjovanovitch3863]

Love the video John, it's nice to see that your photographs have lots of variation, makes me feel better about taking pictures of junk sometimes!

[@_erensarigul]

incredible, cheers John

[@fra91_]

Every photographer should feel lucky to have someone like John on youtube. All the advices he gives in his video are priceless and very precious. So incredible. His work is just wonderful, unique compositional precision and vision, combined with a great sensitivity for the decisive moment. True master. It may be personal taste but if you don't recognize the beauty and the greatness in his work, you're either dishonest with yourself or you don't know anything about photography.

[@needtoknow8973]

You are a wonderful photographer and living legend

[@Szczych11]

That crutch photo is amazing.

[@nicklintner8383]

I know I have said it a lot, but I truly love your work. You are absolutely phenomenal my friend.

[@gama9980]

John Free is an inspiration beyond photography

[@atholchaffey4165]

Absolutely Inspiring , thankyou

[@michaelhanson5861]

Wonderful photos and very insightful analysis. You can definitely hear the decades of experience in his words. I love how he always has a Nikon F3 around his neck! It's a beautiful, no-nonsense workhorse of a camera and it matches his personality very well. However, I do wish this video was taken with a mounted / stabilized camera so that it was easier to see the entire frames of the photographs as he discussed them.

[@HooryMadani]

Nice pictures,useful information, thank you for sharing.

[@BmcN72]

Love it. Could you do a video on your gear down through the years?

[@JenniferM13]

Beautiful photographs, John.

[@donjagoe]

Brilliant ability to see, compose and capture.

[@DasCartoonLand]

awesome video! wish i was living in a city like this

[@MiljenMaletin1212977]

Unbelieveable! Magnificent! I have no words left.

[@TheCampbellseth]

This is just incredible. Thank you. Thank you. Are these compiled in a book anywhere??

[@AC-jf4ef]

Thanks for sharing!

[@MichalJeck]

I really love to watch your videos. I learned so much from these videos and your photographs.

[@JohnFreePhtography]

I am happy to hear from you Michal. We all must help each other with advice and encouragement.

[@MichalJeck]

John Free absolutely. I agree.

[@copywriter9]

My goodness, John. These are the absolute best artistic photos I have EVER laid my eyes on! They moved me to tears some of them. The one with the figure on the beach, left the crutch behind, and the shadow of the lamp post on the bridge pointing to the figure! Just fabulous. Also, towards the end of the video, the letter to Mom from her children, as she was reading it, tells a story a million words could not tell. The Veteran at the cemetery says so much about his feelings of war and his friends who passed. All of your work transcends through time the glorious feelings of having lived. I thank you so very much for posting this video. I will contact you via FB.

[@JohnFreePhtography]

M y heart soars at your words, just like my heart soared when I made those photos of mine you mentioned. Friends for life cemented together in friendship by simple words from one person to another. Such fun. You honor me today. Thank you.

[@jankyginge]

this guy is such a natural. even his first rolls or film are spectacular

[@SanAntonioRosie]

Thank you Mr Free

[@bedevere007]

Awesome pics!

[@prs26]

these were the real days for photography

[@MrSmeXycano]

John this is truly inspiring. I'm 19 and just bought my first film camera. Really enjoy how much you put into your work and what great art you get in return. Thank you for this. You mentioned in another video that you watch Spongebob Squarepants with your granddaughter, I hope she is doing well. All the best to you and your family, Sir. Sending love from Belgium.

[@Scias]

Great photos, the beach one was always my favourite. Never realized you have been to northern Scotland. That's where I'm from.

[@Leoji67]

John, you are seriously impacting my photography. I saw your work from a tattoo convention so I went to one last weekend. I got some shots that are much better than my previous work. Thank you. oh, and I love how you are showing your street photography sitting on the street.

[@JohnFreePhtography]

WOW> I did not even think about that aspect of the video. Just before we made the video, My foot slipped off the curb and I fell over backwards and injured my elbo and destroyed my 55mm lens. Lucky I was not hurt very much and could still do the video. Thank you for the comment.

[@82temsamani]

Thank you.

[@yesthisisdonut]

i really like the geometry in your pictures. there are so many photos by other people that make me go "yeah ok cool motive but why did the photographer not take the time to make sure the lines match when all it would take is a twist of the wrist?" thank you for taking the time to talk about your craft and giving deep insights to your thoughts.

[@sgeorgiev]

Long time I haven't seen such good stuff...

[@canadianguy28]

5:00 'The train carries the freight, but the tramp carries the weight. No one rides free' - to come up with such a PERFECT caption for that photo on the spot... incredible!

[@Jason-Scott]

Stunning images

[@lancmac]

Genius in B&W.......... you are an inspiration

[@lyminhkhai]

thank you for inspiring me!

[@dproffessa]

John Free I want to thank you. You made me learn Photography all over again man. I see things differently now.

[@xavierguy10]

13:33 "I grew up with crabs" But seriously, these images are amazing! Thank you for letting us see them.

[@JohnFreePhtography]

I grew up with blue crabs, green crabs and fidler craps, and also horseshoe crabs.

[@LucaCRaimondo]

Hi Mr John, I really think you are a Master… master on the most genuine sense of original word. It’s a pity, for me, live in Italy and be impossible reach you. I hope to know you in presence, hand to hand, eyes to eyes. Thanks too much Luca

[@ayahtiiv]

superb and inspire always