Being Free of Photography Dogmas -- Walkie Talkie with Reuben Radding

[@daveyineluctable5525]

Because millions of people got their photography education from gear-shilling, affiliate-marketing, pay-per-filter hucksters, here on youtube (you know what I'm talking about), an interview with an ACTUAL photographer is such a breath of fresh air.

[@GoOnExcite]

Spot on

[@bngr_bngr]

I got my photography education in high school.

[@joseph-the-seventh]

I went to Peter McCrackens Bangers University

[@josephsy]

EXACTLY.

[@Obscure462]

In this photography tip all you will need is this $1000 lens and a smoke machine don't forget your $100 dollar soft box and $350 dollar flash. 🙄 I remember when I started and it was hard to find good tutorials that weren't just ads for overpriced gear.

[@ka_sh_iif]

4 min in and hasn’t taken a photo and this is already my favorite Walkie Talkie.

[@hay_bail1]

ikr!!

[@13earz]

Bro didn’t even take a step until min 6 Straight gold

[@SUPERCLUBVIDEO]

he's an artist god damn it I love it already at 4 mins too

[@streetphotography]

20:47 - “ I am poisoned by self. By self consciousness, by self criticism, by some inner grandiosities, all this ego related stuff that I need an escape valve from. You can do it all kinds of ways, but this is the greatest way I’ve ever found.”

[@bqfilms]

Yes, winogrand talked about it, cartier bresson, wouldnt surprise me if many others said or thought the same. If lucky We connect back to our truest being, although im not sure if photography is the BEST way to achieve it, but it’s definitely very worthwhile considering you can get a nice picture out of it

[@mrnieblas1]

Very zen

[@tonywright8342]

Very Zen indeed. Explains me so well.

[@highestvirtue1892]

Sounds like you need Jesus, which he has a picture of in 20min34sec

[@NolisYT]

First 5 minutes he was speaking all facts. Might be my favorite walkie yet.

[@dustinroderick]

I think a lot of people could really benefit from listening to what Reuben was saying in this, especially the casual “street” photographers.

[@bi11ie]

Agreed!

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

Why?

[@thecsciworker291]

Yea "street" photographers #leadinglineseverything #redorangeyelloweverything #tramseverything #rainpuddleseverything

[@fruitjuicedude8899]

@@thecsciworker291 💀

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

@@dustinroderick i want to know why YOU think people could really benefit. It was YOUR claim!

[@salvadorjimenez2115]

“I dont wana get on my knees all the time, its hard to get up!” So real

[@k1nslayer]

I've been watching photography videos for the last 5 or 6 years, dodging stupid videos of dumbass taking pictures of literally nothing with the latest sony and the ultimate orange and teal preset. Finding your channel today was the best thing that happened to me all day. Keep making content of this type, please, it is so necessary.

[@1Guy1SonyVegas]

And on the other end of the spectrum you have people worshipping film, literally just because it's film. God forbid you dare to question and ask what's exactly so good about Todd Hido's "Interiors", which is literally photos of nothing. No one would get famous for a series of photos of empty rooms, but since it's done by a photography superstar AND it's done on film - you must consider it a masterpiece, otherwise you "just don't get it".

[@abritandhisbikeinpoland6802]

And now they all buy a Sony, photograph anything, colour it all in a "new" shade of blue in post, and try to convince the world through instagram that they are a talented photographer!

[@Rastegarian]

Amen Brother.

[@gwillsthewizard]

@@1Guy1SonyVegas does a photo have to be "of something"? What about abstract, or minimalist photography? No different from street photography or fashion photography other than none is the be all end all or the best photography.

[@1Guy1SonyVegas]

@@gwillsthewizard @gwillsthewizard the photo doesn't have to be any certain way in my opinion. But as you can see the original comment bashing Sony boys, who shoot "nothing" is quite popular here. And I just wanted to make a point about how film photography also often captures "nothing" but is still praised because it's film! Somehow simply using outdated technology makes the work be appreciated more, even if it's objectively not impressive in any way. Also, all of the photos shown in this video were black and white. So again there's a double standard - using an orange and teal preset is considered bad, but shooting anything and everything in black and white film is totally fine and respected. Such point of view is just gatekeeping, and there's absolutely no reason to do that.

[@NilesHeckman]

Reuben is Rad for being as much a philosopher as a photographer. We know our own when we hear it and/or see it.

[@winslow_j]

Being a 26 year old who's obsessed with photography but also gets bogged down with indecision and the pressure of social media, this video is exactly the reminder that I needed (and others need) to do what feels good, and what feels right to you. Reuben is a perfect example of that, and an example who is doing it so incredibly well. I hadn't heard of him until coming across this video, thanks to Paulie for this series 🙏

[@ConnectFork]

Delete IG for a while bro. I did and my creativity has never felt more alive.

[@bobbullethalf]

I love street photographers they are a needed part of our society. You get to see people at their best and worst and it is all in public, just a wonderful art form.

[@wylie_photo]

Nice comment.👍

[@zoe-arts-and-all]

triggering town is such an amazing book... great interview and Radding has such beautiful work!

[@GoodLifeInSpain]

I was an Editor in Hollywood for close to 30 years. I continually found myself 'locked' into certain conventions and, in many ways, bought into the dogma that "it has to be x". Then, as editing became more accessible to the masses via computer, I started noticing that some 'kids' were breaking almost every rule that I grew up with and it opened my eyes. The same is true for photography. When I started to drop some standard photography conventions and stopped caring what other people thought, my work improved a great deal. That said...to be fair and brutally honest, the vast majority of creative rule breakers actually suck. Reuben's work is inspiring.

[@lgude]

I'm 80, was a B&W photographer in NYC mid late 60s. Lived at 4th and B. Really like your work but particularly how you have death on your mind a lot and what you call 'being poisoned by self'. Your particular time in NY is just perfect despite what people might say about the 60s. It's what you make of it. Now I know what I am going to do with that EPl-7 with the missing screen. Save me buying a point and shoot! i.e. - I learned a lot from this video all the way here in Perth Western Australia. We got us streets too as well as lots of roos and parrots!🦘

[@danielcorry4136]

I lived near 3rd and B around 2015 and love shooting B&W. It’s cool reading your comment and feeling connected to your story 50 yrs later.

[@dannyjuarez1969]

I wanna see your photos from 60s NYC

[@tdoran616]

Please share your favourite street photography photos on your KZbin channel, I want to see them

[@magicgordo4878]

Don't give up; pop for a Gilly suit a 1000mm lens and a ticket to Hollywood.

[@landocycle]

I could listen to Reuben for hours. Solid human.

[@borderlands6606]

Zone as a photographic term took off when people used point and shoot cameras that had symbols of head and shoulders, half body, group and mountains for different points of focus. The New York school tended to use wide angle lenses and hyperfocal distances, which combined with pushed film permitted high shutter speeds and small apertures. This was very different from HCB who exclusively shot 50mm in the early days and 50 to 100 ASA film. Those old Cartier-Bresson prints exhibit plenty of subject movement, some camera-shake and relatively narrow depth of field. It's all good.

[@shakeau]

I love how casual and un-intrusive Ruebens vibe is. I hate it when street photographers get all up in someones business. Paint the picture without disturbing the flow.

[@CianMcsweeney]

agree, while the photos are often good, I don't feel like they're good enough to warrant the complete lack of empathy the process of obtaining them takes, love Reubens style far more, still super close and personal photo's but without disrespecting the subject

[@ArtaAfshar-q7b]

@@CianMcsweeney ah! thats my whole dogma, youre documenting the flow of life, without disturbing it!

[@creatingwithjon]

This is one of, if not THE, best photography videos on KZbin. Reuben speaks like an actual photographer and describes the same thoughts I have about my hobby… less about the gear, more about the art. Thank you! 🎉❤

[@robertcook2680]

I knew Reuben on a VERY casual manner years ago (late 80s-early 90s?) as a clerk at the great and lamented zine store See Hear in the East Village. We would chat about music when I would stop in, in one instance particularly about our shared love of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Some years later I saw him playing (stand-up) bass with Elliot Sharpe at the Cooler in the Meat Packing district before it became gentrified. I'm so happy to see him still living a creative life! His photos are terrific!

[@slimdylan]

Reuben spoke briefly on W. Eugene Smith and I loved the picture of him so much at 17:35 I had to look him up. I noticed a movie called Minamata and decided to watch it as it was based on true events of Gene. I haven't been so emotionally broken in my life, I cried for the first time in years. Everything was so devastating and incredible at the same time, I can't say I have ever taken so fondly of someone and their work before but he is a first. That was inspiration like no other. A true voice in the world and in photojournalism. Thank you for mentioning him, I feel a complete shift on everything I ever felt about photography and how I want to approach it.

[@isaiahfloyd5063]

Every single walkie talkie I have watched has impacted me to a degree but this of two others just really is sitting with me.I hope to meet Ruben one day

[@ared18t]

Not even ten minutes in and the words that come out of this guys mouth felt so real in comparison to nearly any conversasion I have to go through.

[@kacysmith4060]

So much of what he said resonated with me, most specifically, the decision fatigue and inner turmoil. It’s so nice to be able to get caught up in the moment, even if it is for just a brief moment.

[@jhenning87]

Reuben is amazing. Vulnerable, honest and an incredible photographer. This was so refreshing.

[@kevin.itruth6880]

I like this guy. He sounds very similar to myself and has a chill approach to things. I like his take on the definition of street photography. Great episode

[@diegohernandez9088]

So far one of my favorite episodes. The way Reuben Radding explains himself is so easy to digest and understand.

[@jztouch]

Lots of wisdom in here. At the top of his game. Great to see how he got that shot at 13:56 too. Would never know he took a photograph and once again the camera sees what the eye cannot.

[@Mejino.cc9]

Dude... Literally, for me, the best one of this serie. Those words, those advices and that way talking from a deep knowledge. Thanks Paulie

[@dordly]

man, this is better than every other video on photography and by extension videography/film I've ever seen.

[@NeuralNarratives2023]

Yes, that is what I love about photography, the release from bondage of self. Leaving my own mind for a moment and being completely immersed in something else. Very well put.

[@willstith1]

Man it is wild seeing Reuben on KZbin. I've taken two workshops with him and I consider him one of my main mentors he's really great at finding what's good in your photography and helping you nurture and grow it. I highly recommend his workshops. I'm currently taking classes with another teacher and I was thinking to myself dang I wish I was still working with Reuben. He's awesome.

[@perry.normal]

glad to hear that -- I just signed up for his workshop in March. Came back to watch this to remind myself what Im getting into.

[@meyers323]

This must be like the tenth time I've rewatched this, I like how zen and straight to the heart of why to photograph he gets

[@pmcbMadeInIreland]

Lots to think about here, and that’s always a good sign of an experience where you haven’t wasted 30mins of your life learning nothing. Thank you guys, Mr Radding is worth listening to.

[@13earz]

So far I think this is the most insightful and introspective Walkie Talkies I’ve seen yet. Keep growing and thriving Paulie!!

[@philipgardiner2003]

Thank you! Awesome walk-n-talk-n-shoot!! Bearing witness; a true love letter to NYC from one of its finest. It brought me back… It was summer 1977, that infamous year, I took three photos of a couple sitting on the lawn at Tanglewood overlooking Stockbridge Bowl, engaged in what appeared to be a very emotional dialog. The sun was setting over the lake. Instinctively I wanted to take 3- close, closer, closest. I had a point and shoot camera with a fixed lens so I needed to physically move closer without disturbing or interfering with their moment. Once I was done, I couldn’t wait to get the film developed because I felt a connection with them without ever meeting them and was really excited to see what moments were frozen in time.

[@peteracain]

One of the best insider conversations about street photography. It's nice to see the struggles you have on the streets are already lived by others who have being shooting for years 👍👍

[@surfthechaos]

Reuben seems like a real genuine dude. Cant wait for more Walkie Talkie. Thanks for making these Paulie!

[@OpenHouseis]

netflix/hulu sleeping on Paulie B ya heard this man is literally a show walking. cant wait for you to document with more NY, westcoast, miami, texas photographers keep growing the project Paulie good luck my boy!

[@ToothpasteJuiceBox]

I didn’t know I needed this interview so badly. Thank you for this. For filming him. Thank you for being you Reuben.

[@SourPlanet]

"being in those questions.. the worst distraction about it.. is it keeps us from finding the better ones." This is such an important sidenote. I teach painting and really make it a point to derail those types of discussions with the discussion lurking just below them.. and then the ones another level down... and so forth and so on. Before long you're talking about life not art and then the conversation finds true purpose.

[@newpageone]

Reuben is legit one of my all time favorites and this was one of the most illuminating interviews with a photographer that I’ve ever seen!

[@vorteco7692]

Reuben is awesome! He has so much wisdom. He seems like the kind of guy I could talk to for hours and be a much better person afterwards. Thanks for sharing!

[@garyweiss6358]

Awww you are so precious, so honest, I could listen all day to you.

[@scottfineshriber5051]

This is a great video about photography, about art and photographing on the street. Watching Radding reminds me a bit of Gary Winogrand walking and snapping stealthily. 👏👏👏

[@DigitalRetro]

"You don't owe the subject matter anything" - this is what set me free with my street photography. I was torn apart between color and b&w, but always leaned towards b&w. This sentence lifted that weight and I finally don't need to argue with myself about that. I just learned that I am a black & white photographer. Thank you, both of you, Reuben and Paulie for this material.

[@CiderGuy]

Best walkie talkie yet there Paulie. This guy is great, just keeping it real and talkin absolute sense with sincerity and honesty. Especially respected him saying about how often he just feels like going home. How he felt when meeting Robert Frank too, I remember what stupid things I said meeting Bruce Gilden. Just gibberish. We ended up speaking about 50’s & 60’s crooners in the end. 🤣🤣👍

[@ianvldz]

Agreed. One of the more insightful his walkie talkie vids. Aside from looking at their photos, just listening about their philosphy and experiece is such a treat.

[@lephotographinc]

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE WALKIE TALKIE. His honesty is refreshing. THANK YOU.

[@wadewalenskii5799]

Reuben Radding is so eloquently understated and right on target, I loved every minute of this. Thank you.

[@BangPhoto]

What an amazing human being. I could listen to him all night long.

[@naslime_snaps]

Maaan this guy can preach! First 5 mins and it already moved me and brought me teary eyes when he said Rebecca and Alex told him to shoot B&W.

[@calahad]

These walks and videos about them are quintessential to many aspiring photographers, general folk, and photographers looking for inspiration. Keep up the great work, Paulie, and thank you.

[@MJAdams-js7np]

Best street photography series on YT right now, Paulie.

[@mack1media]

What an incredible human being Reuben is. Fate meant me to watch this.

[@TimothymakeupsDitzler]

Note to self: do not watch an episode of walkie talkie before having to go to work…you’re gonna want to call off and go shoot. Thank you Paulie for these vids! 😏

[@DanScott1]

Really great insights towards the end. Great photos start long before the walk. All about your connection to self, presence and allowing. Never be slogging it 8 hrs (you can't concentrate), get high naturally by raising your frequency on any happy and lasting thoughts and or materials, meditation, train your focus to stay in that flow, stay present and go out for an adventure in the early or late light, the rest of the time is late breakfast, rest through the day doing the above and out again at 4pm for a few hours. The photos always come to you this way.

[@chris_devlog]

This was one of the nicest conversations about photography, wow! So relatable and cool to see him in his natural habitat taking photos and talking

[@tyallgaier]

He's so real. Love the attitude towards his work!

[@spektrograf]

Easily the freshest point of view on photography on YT and so freeing to just take in. Thanks for making this and thanks to Reuben for being on the channel!

[@schmitzoide]

Just simply the greatest advices ever in a nutshell. Literally makes me grab the camera right now and go out and shoot.

[@bill3117]

Total amateur here, and I'm glad I am. I have no one to please, but myself. Reuben's philosophy really is liberating!

[@haeskenhoff]

Wow, what a great guy. Best episode so far. Deep and engaging stuff. Love this episode!

[@nicolasguillenc]

man what a good interview, it’s so nice to listen to this guy talk. not just about his art, but about the way he approaches life and thought processes and honesty. he seems like a real open book!

[@1franklyrichard]

Reuben’s musings deliver so much oxygen to the cognitive dissonance underpinning the art space. Shit was both profound and refreshingly egalitarian. Hope this Walkie Talkie boosts both of your signals. 🍻

[@SkyAcre]

So much in here, I’m amazed, I’m inspired to get busy with music again from this. 3rd time watching btw. New Sub. Very new to photography, first real camera this month. This guy is putting his world and mind into action. Thanks for making this.

[@GSchmitable]

This is so inspiring to hear him speak, well articulated about the process of creating. I like what he has to say about being in the moment and to get away from self conciousness is such a good place to be creatively.

[@lukeboucher100]

This was so great to watch. A really interesting interview and great to hear Reuben talk about his take on photography and life in general!! Seems like a really down to earth guy who moves with the right energy. A ton of life experience too. I feel like a day wandering around anywhere with Reuben taking photos and talking about anything would be time very well spent! Thanks for making this video, super cool 🙌

[@waregreg]

The greatest interviewers let people talk. Thanks PB.

[@D6229]

You don't need to ask that guy any questions, as you do on most of your walkie talkies, he provides answers before you even think of a question. A very entertaining and genuine street photographer

[@SpiritBr34k3r]

wow, I could listen to this guy for hours! Never stop asking those questions Reuben.

[@ChrisDuesing]

The whole time I was thinking, "Yes! He's just like me". Except really eloquent and a great photographer.

[@hutonthehill]

A master photographer/philosopher - what an absolute gem of a video this is. Thank you Paulie B for crafting this film and giving Reuben the time to really share the depth of his wisdom and creative gifts. Magnificent photographs too.

[@kadafi904]

This video is so refreshing. Much Love from Russia man! 🇷🇺❤️📸

[@BenRipleyPhoto]

Oh MAN this is good. Paulie, Reuben; thank you. And thank you again. Only just found your channel and it’s pure gold. The insights in this are incredible.

[@babettesfeast6347]

He talks the talk. This guy is pure gold

[@mariamk3975]

The part about autumn rain was amazing

[@michaelcarnevale3250]

I could listen to him talk for hours. Great episode

[@memusetoo]

Wonderful lessons. "You don't have to shoot colour"! Yesss.

[@KaReEdCa]

"Good pictures aren't only available at sunset". I need to take this to heart.

[@kingpossie]

“You don’t own the subject matter anything” - love this ❤

[@camali_ch]

Amazing talk! Thank you for letting Reuben speak as much as he did.

[@RemlichtFilm]

This man really makes me happy, what a great video!

[@fpsekond]

This was someone who was worthy of an interview and actually gets it. Very good information here and great work all round.

[@WalkLikeAlice]

A fantastic photographer with a philosophy that comes from experience and talent. Thanks for making this video, it's one of the best street photography interviews out there at the moment.

[@gregsquared5865]

Heart and soul of a true artist.

[@cambrelenmedia-nyc1176]

Right by my school the New York film academy. Awesome, this interview was such a breath of fresh air

[@gregkornijow8256]

What a nice, honest, chilled dude.

[@stevendenman5027]

This is a breath of fresh air.

[@Keith.W]

2:25 Oh Reuben I love you already, you are like a breath of fresh air

[@v50running6]

That was an absolute belter of an episode , especially the last 10 minutes or so, very thought provoking. Well done in introducing street photographers of Reubens standard to us in the UK.

[@dylandutson1626]

"Being in those questions, the worst distraction about it is that it keeps us from finding better ones." This is so REMARKABLY important.

[@garethjackson750]

One of the best interviews I’ve seen in a long time of a genuine human in love with photography. I learnt and remembered a lot from this thank you Rueben !! Simplify, dump the dogma of what someone else says it should be about. Brilliant work!!

[@travislpatterson]

Woah. Mind blown. This guy gets it. I’m so glad that the algorithm recommended this video and your channel to me.

[@josephmontez879]

5 minutes in and I’m reevaluating my entire process

[@rggfishing5234]

Awesome interview, awesome photographer, awesome street scenes in this video. Thanks!

[@digitalsketchguy7844]

This was so educational & inspirational. I like that Reuben is talking about the art of photography and not obsessing about the gear.

[@dralalust]

Best thing I've seen on KZbin in a very long time. So refreshingly authentic. This is the real shit. Thank you so much!!!

[@UNIONFEATURES]

From an ACTUAL photographer, I really enjoyed this interview. Thank you so much for shooting and uploading it. I just wish I could talk as eloquently about my work as Reuben is able to.

[@FTTPRO]

This video was 25 minutes long and it felt like 5! I couldn't get enough! So excited to explore R.R's mindset. Thanks for sharing!

[@Guitarmfig]

Thank you for completely ruining my photography........! I am truly thankful, you have helped me breakout of the boring, mundane, predictable, flat, stark and stale viewfinder photography that I was doing and what you suggest in this video adds so much excitement and freshness and unpredictability my man, fantastic

[@TommyXie]

I was at the workshop with Reuben and remembered Rebecca saying the quoted statement to him. He is an amazing photographer.

[@dbakhtiar]

was there any more to why she said what she said? I’m curious to know more about her thoughts.

[@AnastasTarpanov]

I see this guy for the first time and I absolutely love it, such a nice and positive person that is talking very honestly about his work and love for photography.