Rambling through Eggleston's Democratic Forest

Alec Soth talks about William Eggleston's books, with special emphasis on The Democratic Forest.

[@etiennepell694]

This is like ASMR for photographers

[@AlecSothYouTube]

haha yes

[@jarmalmartis4050]

Yo I was just about to say this

[@johnbarben]

I had to look that up - you’re right!!

[@ryan_conover]

I only wish I’d found this 11months ago. The world is shitty with Covid again though, so

[@mattdayphoto]

Thank you for sharing this. It’s truly appreciated.

[@CoanBread751]

Really enjoyed this, Alec. The KZbin photography community is in dire need of this type of meaningful analysis. More please.

[@SteveMillerhuntingforfood]

Check out THopper

[@joshtaylor9141]

This was perfect. Though I think I missed the bit where you said "Thank you to Squarespace" and "please click like and subscribe". More please.

[@AlecSothYouTube]

haha

[@marleymcmillan9155]

I brought up this book in my photo class and now my photography teacher loves me. Ty Mr. Soth 😌

[@davidcibis2645]

everytime you said "don't worry, I won't show all of it" I was hoping you would show all of it. Thank you for this!

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Haha, I should do the extended version

[@HuyNguyen-lu3zj]

​@@AlecSothKZbin Worry not, perusers of Eggleston. Just head over to The Photobook Guy, where I believe the whole Democratic Forest box set is shown. Grab a six pack or your beverage of choice, settle in to a comfy seat and enjoy: kzbin.info/door/zjx1mZr9gR_wjIQF4HvYygvideos.

[@jeffboxill1278]

It would be great if you could do an analysis on Lee Friedlander.

[@Apprendre-Photo]

I think this might be the best photography video I've ever seen on KZbin. And I'm not exaggerating. Your insights are so on point. Not surprised considering the quality of your online masterclass, but can you do it for your whole library ? Pretty please ? :D

[@HatefYaminiOnline]

Totally agree

[@justininfrance]

Love that you use the words 'challenging' and 'difficult' where many others would simply saying boring. Photographers like Eggleston show us that nothing is boring, it's only a question of how, and what, one perceives.

[@AlecSothYouTube]

“If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all.” - John Cage

[@marcoandres7475]

Zen: John Cage « 4:33 » [1952 - in 3 movements of silence with instruments at rest.lasting 4 minutes and 33 seconds]. Looking vs seeing: just one look

[@kerrymatthew]

Agree, it's such an artistically mature and open minded way of viewing images. A good reminder for myself.

[@dyathink]

William Eggleston's Guide was so life changing for me. Indescribably so. Like a karate chop to my imagination. Thanks for this discussion. It was hugely interesting and smart.

[@dersu9003]

It seems like I never fail to enjoy hearing you speak, Alec. Pls go on with this initiative of yours! Thx

[@FranzSchuier]

Letting you know: Yes please do more of this.

[@Mickey-bo6cv]

This is gem! I feel like I’m taking an amazing class with an amazing teacher in my own home. Absolutely love learning your insights. I love the casual pacing and vibe. Thank you so much!

[@CarmineGroe]

Thank you Alec. I was comfortably enjoying a morning coffee in my pjs with the sun on my back and found this. Yes, it was great. Led to another cup of coffee and a new inspiration for what can be photographed. John Szarkowski was such a master editor and poetic communicator of everything photography. Poetry. Sequencing. Less, not more. We are surrounded with more. 2020 has taught us that less is better than more. Unless we’re talking about good conversation and talks like this. Please keep them coming Alec, we need more.

[@juliend4260]

Probably the best format I have seen on KZbin ever. Could listing to you talking about photo books for ages. Thank you very much Alec!

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Thanks so much Julien

[@PascaleSigura]

Thank you for your time and for sharing your knowledge, analyse and thoughts. This was extremely interesting. Good food for thought!

[@AndrewMillerStudio]

Thank you for this, Alec! As someone who doesn't have a formal education in art or photography, videos like this are an invaluable resource to learn about the importance of editing and sequencing. Thoroughly enjoyed this and I hope you'll do more this year!

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Thanks Andrew

[@murkom]

Dear Alec, just two days ago I have found out you have a youtube channel. I have binged instantly all your videos. I can ´t even described how I feel. Thank you, thank you. Please continue talking about the books from your collection. My best regards, Miroslav

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Will do, thanks Miroslav

[@zbigniewmalak_tenor]

Wow, thank you for all your videos! Please keep doing it. You are a huge inspiration!

[@guntercaus4155]

If this is called 'rambling', then ramble on! I enjoyed every minute of this Mr. Soth. It's a nice opportunity and insight to hear (and see) one master talking about another master.

[@ErwinSerle]

One of the first photo books I bought, second hand, before buying the other 450+ or so ;-) Highly enjoyed many of your talks so far!

[@cynthiaroderick7864]

Wow...wonderful discussion...truly valuable...please keep doing these videos...I have learned so much...and you've given me so much more to think about....

[@loading12342000]

Please don't stop doing this kind of videos

[@macivorod]

As a retired UPI photographer and an Alec Soth fan, I enjoyed this talk greatly! as the books were sometimes tough to understand, a lot was sorted out for me by Alec's words. Rambling and Democratic with the best photos acknowledged!...

[@dankspangle]

It's so easy to get lost in the technologies and practices of photography. Thank you for reminding me to look at photographs. More, please.

[@TheBsPresident]

Thanx for letting us peaking into your mind :) ... More please !

[@lukekerrphoto]

Please never stop these. It’s like educating me while in a meditative state. Thank you Alec

[@cesargato8324]

What a great video! Very educational! Please keep doing this! Thanks

[@davidsaylors]

Now I understand what kind of photographer I am a little more. I also like to photograph all sorts of what seems to be mundane items of the world around me and hate editing... 😬👍📸 Thank you for the talks I really enjoy them.

[@panagiwtiskalkavouras9708]

That was great!!! Thank you very much for this video!!!

[@EastmanView]

Thank you Alec, great talk!

[@ammartaibi2623]

we all needed this channel, thank you

[@stephenfowler7583]

This video has to be what the internet is for. Sharing images is fine but exploring the way images work and how they work collectively is so important. Superb video .... more please. The Democratic education.

[@AlecSothYouTube]

"Democratic education" !

[@rosem7606]

Thank you for the inspiring suggestions for my rambling thoughts!!

[@bassmarion]

I could listen to more of that “rambling talk”... Thank you for the much appreciated time and lesson !

[@KAMALKamal-pq1vh]

Hi Alec, Thank you so much for your time. I think this is wonderful, to you thinking about young people as well.

Alec, listening to you talk about your photography and other photographers is a pleasure. You always speaks with openness and sincerity. I want to hear you talk more about book editing, but also about photography in general. It is very important what you are doing, for everyone who is interested in photography.

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Thank you

[@SavouryWhale]

This is my first video I've ever watched like this, and my first time experiencing Eggleston. I am blown away. The end of your video had me drawn in. Eggleston's guide is a seriously beautiful and equally ugly. Gosh. The emotions I had no idea I would find in a photo book.

[@susanneh2207]

This is like a Masterclass on William Eggleston! Thank you so much for this incredible video.

[@olympus2OM]

It's all food for thought. Damn it is. The photos of Eggleston makes an impact in seeing our world, our surroundings. This books will leave no one indifferent. I like the series to be continued.

[@hulotpower]

Hello Mr Soth, i come from belgium, and i appreciate your presentation. It was a dream, now it'a real. Merci beaucoup!

[@1901iasonas]

Keep going! We love that! Greetings from Greece

[@bcomhaire]

Love it! Thank you Alec

[@tedbear2441]

So good. I very much appreciate how you say what you think but are kind about how you do it. That's a hugely undervalued skill these days. Ramble on!

[@maedehmirzaei6437]

I watched this video last night while having a night shift at work and i really enjoyed it .apart from my fondness to Eggleston,by watching your video i felt i am a guest at your house drinking a cup of tea and you just show us things that u have recently saw and read. Thanks for the invitation :))

[@alexxanderdimitrov]

Those are amazing! Thank you so much!

[@altovich]

This video is on the same level of blessing as David Lynch's weather forecasts. Best content on KZbin.

[@MikeLennonProduction]

Absolutely loved this!

[@krthanasis]

It was GREAT ! please continue ! Thank you !

[@davidharlan2460]

Alec, I really enjoy your discussions on these works. It is such a great learning tool.

[@tomastapia8078]

Hi Alec! Thank you so much for sharing this video and your thoughts on Eggleston work. Im sure we all would appreciate more videos and discussions like this one.... Greetings from Chile!

[@dianakorniichenko]

Dear Alec, thank you. Your voice is soothing. Thoughts after watching: what tells apart a challenging photograph from an unsuccessful one. What makes a photograph worth looking at.If pictures are random , what holds them together. And what is modern art without an idea to support it. Warmest greetings from Berlin

[@tugbacarvalho8046]

I have been taking your Magnum education series extremely slow simply not to consume them so fast and continue listening to you. This video has just made my day! Looking forward to seeing more of these "ramblings".

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Thank you Tugba

[@fado605]

You have my immense gratitude. Please continue doing more videos like this.

[@cyrilchapelle5455]

William Eggleston is my favorite photographer and this is by far the most comprehensive video I have seen on his work and a very good introduction. It is also a democratic way to have access to these very expansive books.

[@ZZ.91]

i feel better after this video. Thank you a lot !

[@danielemilazzo432]

Thank you Alec!!!!!!

[@2filmshooters]

Thank you very much for this video Mr.Soth♥️, beautiful photobook and wonderful commentary, I hope there will be many more🙏🏻Greetings from Italy 👋🏻

[@mbfotograf]

Thank you Alex, I love your work and your personality of how you talk, think and bring us your view in our homes.

[@seanhemmerle3279]

What a gift. Thank you for your voracious insights.

[@katyaspiegel3081]

Thank you so much! For each and every word. You can't even image how much this means for us, people from such countries like Belarus, which don't have art photography education. And what's a happiness to have this democratic medium.

[@boarini2003]

This was a incredible video. Thank you for sharing your views and passion on Eggleston. It really made appreciate his work even more, especially the Guide.

[@kinkonetys]

Love your videos!!! I'm learning a lot with them. Thanks so much

[@hamlettdobbins6386]

Thank you Alec.

[@mimesis.]

Hi, Alec. I am your fan who lives in Korea. I like your books so much. I felt your images as much as I could at the photo library today. I love that I can see you often on KZbin. Instagram feels so hectic and crowded. I'll look forward to your move.

[@markyork5839]

Nice talk Alex. Much appreciated - and enjoyed. Meditative even..!

[@laimaarlauskaite]

Thank you, Alec. This is truly special.

[@richardmettler1512]

Great analyse...yes, more videos!

[@kekmountain2882]

Please keep doing this, I could listen to ramblings on photography all day.

[@deanpeterson_]

I would watch a million of these videos.

[@herbertacciaio]

Fantastic!!!!! You're so amazing in presenting Egglestone and using his vision as a troyan horse to explain what it'a all about when you take a picture. Thanks!

[@ninjal7893]

Really love this video.Please do more!

[@pifranc]

Thank you very much for this video. One of the things I like, is that you're sharing questions, and elaborating on these questions, rather than answers. Very fine food for thought, thank you.

[@alexandretestezlaf6701]

Thank you Alec. This is just brilliant, I could stay hours and hours watching. Can’t wait for the next ones!

[@Camerasnaps]

Thank you Alec. When you open a photobook it screams words at you. Now someone else who is talking through books like myself on CAMERA. Keep it up and look forward to more.

[@antoinedbf4307]

Thanks for sharing these ! Love your videos !

[@helenrosemier]

Fabulous - more please, Alec.

[@eliudcarrizales7815]

Brilliant. Enjoying every single video you've posted lately ¡Cheers! (Keep them coming)

[@MrYerbaMate1]

Loved this. I could listen to you talk about photo books all day. Thanks making this video.

[@kubal7247]

Thank you Alec! More please.

[@rcvchr5146]

Thank you. And yes, definitely more of this content please, much appreciated!

[@TheCampbellseth]

Thank you so much for this. So hopeful there will be more!

[@CoreyCWaters]

wonderul, thank you so much for doing this, Alec!

[@macintyre1111]

Much appreciated. I have been using this to speak to students about the importance of editing. I will watch as many as you make!

[@AlecSothYouTube]

I love to hear that these videos are being shared with students. Thank you.

[@JacobBland]

Please do more. Wonderful.

[@GreggObst]

This was great to watch. I had never really thought about John Szarkowski's edit of Eglleston's Guide in quite those terms but your summation is dead spot on. Yes, more of these ramblings as time allows please.

[@crabbyhermit1757]

This is great. More of this please.

[@BandariVahab]

I didn't know you had a KZbin channel and glad to be watching this video. Love your vision about the images. Thank you for sharing!

[@antoniorussell9893]

I really appreciate you doing this. Please do more.

[@lewiskoch4382]

An excellent ramble, and like all rambles it exposes tangential paths and byways. And brilliant to add current context with Tillmans who is one of the best of the recent exponents of the 'everything is possible' current in photography. Thanks for this, Alec. I look forward to more.

[@outsider_outsider]

This is great, thanks for sharing.

[@j.t.crijns1398]

Thanks for this wonderful ramble with a very democratic setup, love to see & hear more!

[@alfyhot]

Thank you so much for these!

[@aaronrferguson]

So great Alec! I immediately ordered some Eggleston books to check out. Please keep making more videos!!!

[@silkylight]

Thank you for sharing this. It’s awesome!

[@HatefYaminiOnline]

Enthusiastic +1 to more of these, especially books that include narrative and discussion of photography or that are instructive. This talk is so good. Love it.

[@MrrZogs]

Thanks Alec. More book-rambling please!

[@maxmiechowski2388]

That was great! Please do more :)

[@ebatchelder1660]

Superb ramblings. Thank you for this immensely intriguing, thought provoking talk. I hope you do more of these. Much more :)

[@cesarleon7690]

Thank you for this! More please