Shifter: Q&A Episode 008

Let us not forget the reality that having the time to discuss photography and bookmaking is a complete luxury. A lot of folks on this planet of ours are simply trying to survive. Food, water, shelter. What f-stop never plays into the life plan. Another important reminder, I am one person with one opinion. Nothing more.
Question One: 48 seconds, Use one lens or three?
Question Two: 2:41, Are you going to do more interviews?
Question Three: 4:21, How do I feel about film simulations?
Question Four: 8:08, How do you find yourself as a photographer?
Question Five: 11:29, Formula for not burning out?
Question Six: 14:59, Do I feel I am actually impacting people or just entertaining?
Question Seven: 16:39, Is a formal photography education required?
Question Eight: 21:20, What is my single favorite photograph?
Question Nine: 23:56, Do I try to carry a film look over to digital?
Question Ten: 25:36, What does marketing look like for a modern, unknown project?

[@carrieannkouri2151]

I burnt out doing commercial photography. I’ve gone back to shooting projects for myself. The fulfillment is priceless.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I know precisely how you feel. Like on the outside, for me, is far more enjoyable.

[@wallywo7392]

Sound advice as always, the world has gone mad! The constant diet of social media is diluting creativity, all phones should come with a label saying Warning:Social Media Can Seriously Damage Your Creative Health! Keep up the good work Daniel and I'm looking forward to your channel in 2021.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I've never seen anything like it. Imagine five years from now.

[@MichaelAngeloMacias]

Thanks Dan, I will take your advice head on! ¡Muchísimas gracias!

[@twistedfirsphotography8444]

People like U ~ Got us Through ~ Happy New Year ! SUBSCRIBED !!!!

[@julianray]

Fab advice Dan. Just FAB.

[@lucaslammott1811]

The podcast is a thing of legend. It needs to be preserved somehow for future surviving generations after the world ends. Seriously though, it’s such a great podcast. It’s a rare talent to be entertaining AND knowledgeable.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Very kind of you. I have my list ready for #48...

[@joshmcclary8300]

Dan, thanks for keeping it real. I've been stuck in a social media vortex for several years and have evaluated my own work based on the opinions of casual passers-by. I've decided to take a social media hiatus to focus on becoming a better photographer, and to continue building my website and interacting more with people who have genuine interest in my work. All this started after I began watching your videos. Also, if you're ever in Nashville and want to go for a bike ride hit me up!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

My guess is you will not only learn to be a better photographer you will probably learn to be a better human.

[@mike747436]

Great content Dan. You and Sean Tucker are keeping it real in photography on YT.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I keep hearing about that guy. Will have to have a look and a listen.

[@mike747436]

I think you’d probably like his style. No nonsense and good delivery.

[@ChristianPigan]

That's one of the rare channels where you can really learn something. Thanks for taking the time.

[@carlanderson9873]

Maybe this is a question for the next q&a, but I was wondering about your two Lightroom presets. You mentioned you only use 2, a color and a black and white. Honestly that sounds like heaven to me. I could spend all day playing with sliders and adjusting curves in LR, only to have a few completed images at the end of the day. However, that is not how I want to spend my time. I’d rather polish off the photo with a quick preset, then get on with writing the accompanying blog post copy or read a book or maintain my bikes or hang with my family. I am a one camera/one lens guy myself, and I’d like to be able to bring that minimal mindset to photo processing. So, I’d love to hear any details you’d be willing to share about your “one and done” LR presets. Thanks!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Sure. I use a Kodacolor Gold for the color and I'm not sure about the Black and White but I"ll check. I don't have time to work in LR really. Also, during my time working as photographer, if I spent more than about 20 minutes turning a job I was losing money and spending too much screen time.

[@carlanderson9873]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 thanks! Kodak Gold is basically the film of my childhood. My parents were always shooting that film with little compact 35mm cameras and sending it off to York photo labs. We have albums and albums of prints. All my earliest memories, preservrd for all time in that warm golden glow! I would definitely be interested to know your take on a black and white LR preset. I feel the same about time spend in front of a screen. Spending more than 20 mins on processing is precious time away from my family or chores.

[@IanKnight40]

Pure Gold. This is the only photography channel I need. I am an early riser, taking my coffee hit and double buttered toast ( it is an English thing) with these quick fire Q&A's is the perfect jump start. Cheers Ian. Leicester. UK.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Okay Ian, you have some explaining to do. Why do the English butter every type of sandwich? Please explain.

[@IanKnight40]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 Hi Daniel, I wish I knew!. For me personally, it is an integral part of making a sandwich. It is in my muscle memory. Without thinking I just reach for the butter before knowing what I am about to put on my sandwich. This is clearly a psychological problem now. I have just tried to make a sandwich and go straight for the filling, this led to an image in my minds eye of "dry bread" after which I had to ring for my butler to bring me a cup of Earl Grey tea in my finest bone china tea cup....... Tea is always served in bone china...isn't it?.

[@chrispickett6069]

Love your honesty Dan - keep it real as it is - Brilliant

[@dmlewey]

Fine Art photography and the saturation slider. This channel cuts through the bullshit haze. Subscribed.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

got your email, will answer soon. Fine art means different things to different people.

[@dmlewey]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 Indeed, more usually attached to work which is not FA in an attempt to raise its claim. An affliction that grips the landscape community in particular.

[@ynkkruse]

Film-simulation-question guy here. I was trying to say that I dont feel the need to post process my images, I just have to get it right in camera and use the jpgs. English is not my first language, sorry for the confusion :) and thanks for taking the time to answer our questions!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

That works. I like RAW but that's me. I've been shooting RAW since the beginning so the workflow is routine. Whatever works. If you are happy with the pegs then go for it!

[@ellenstoune8937]

Ok, go down to your local shop and hopefully it's not a Dollar General because fuck Dollar General, but anyway, pick up a bottle of red nail polish. Put a dot of this stuff on the rim of your lens and you'll never look at that flip screen again while you're filming. Otherwise, I loved Q #6... I think you're both entertaining and impactful and real. You almost always make me laugh. You always make me think. I am quite positive you don't give a flip whether anybody likes you or what you have to say. But you do have something to say and that you share it in such an unvarnished manner... pure gold! And I'll tell you, I think my photography and my enjoyment of photography has increased a thousand fold since I discovered you here on the interwebs. I shoot what I like, how I like, sometimes I share it, sometimes I don't. Over and over again, you have reminded all of us to live our truth, so to speak, and that is a good thing. I hope real goes viral because real people are a helluva lot more fun!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Not a bad bit of advice there. I have a secondary screen I'm going to try. And It has no limit for recording time outside of storage, which I should get nowhere near. If you are a happier photographer based on this channel then I'm doing something right.

[@robmcd]

I like the Fuji simulations because it’s not about emulating film, it’s about not getting bogged down with post processing. I like to shoot images and not tamper with them endlessly.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Same for me. Select, apply preset, export, go shoot.

[@Gitsh]

Not bad Aussie accent Mate! Love your honesty, I'm an ex professional photographer from the 80's early 90's , enjoying my later years now doing my own art photography only in both film and digital. I relate to what you say as I've experienced the same journey, keeping it real, love it! from an Aussie fan! cheers

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

First stop after C19...Australia. Going feral out in the bush.

[@Gitsh]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 keep in touch when you come down to Oz, you can contact me on Instagram.👍👍

[@Gitsh]

Forgot my name, John Gitsham, cheers👍

[@scottgibbs5903]

As always, your thoughts and opinions resonate. I’m 65 years young and have just purchased my first camera, a used Fuji X100S. I’m ready to go out and shoot, and develop my own style. And yes, I’ll try to stay away from social media. I don’t deal well with rejection anyways.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Scott, rejections are never easy. I was built with the lack of caring gene. I'm not sociopathic, well, maybe I am but only toward my own work. Photography takes time and luck.

[@owainshaw]

Interesting relating what you said about Film Simulations with another episode in the history of Photography, namely its early Pictorialist phase when Photography was still trying to establish itself as an art from and some photographers tried to make their work with this powerful new medium *checks notes* ... look like paintings. The more things change, the more they stay the same. On that note, wishing you a safe and enjoyable 2021.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

You too., Let's hope 2021 is a step up...

[@AndySnap]

Comment repetition... I say this every time...top quality words and advice from DM, I watch and learn, and nod my head, and agree, and say hurray! during each video. Highlight of the week every time. Btw, that table of books behind is growing...!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Good eye. No idea how that keeps growing! My wife is evil.

[@back2lay]

I love the advice you give, but please remember when you record these Q&A, we are in the lens, not in the flip screen to the side of your camera 😉

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

OH ya. That screen is a drug. I fixed it. Kinda.

[@markbradshaw7753]

Blurb should wrap you in cotton mate to ensure you don't get damaged. I've done 8 books with blurb and all have been well received and all have been quality and the new trade book is such amazing value. Forget Blurb. You just inspire to go out with a camera slung and ready.Focus set looking around and being ready. 174% ready to see it when it appears. It will appear....it always will.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I think it's too late. I'm damaged, flawed, all the above. But I'll take getting you out there with your camera.

[@bzkdnb]

Dan, hope one day you will be in UK and I will be able to meet you, shake your hand and say "Thank you". Nothing else.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Typically, I'm in the UK several times a year. Looking forward to getting back.

[@robertray1284]

Danial-another great Q&A. Never miss your videos. I see you have posted and I yell Wee-Gee. That comes from your early story about sitting under an overpass and listening to the radio.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Oh, my scanner days. Photographing the mayhem of the modern city. My life was so simple then. Hunting, always hunting.

[@abraxamovic]

Thank you for the answer. Greatly helpful as always. Appreciate it. Mine was Q#7

[@--Mano--]

1. Dan, your videos are pure gold, please keep posting. I can not decide if I feel sad cause you’re not getting as much recognition on youtube as you should or I feel elevated for being member of exclusive club of viewers of this eye-opening knowledge ;) 2. About looking at the flipy screen, I understand that you need some feedback from the camera on exposure and is „the damn thing still recording!” I know it’s probably a bit of a hustle, but maybe consider pluging camera to some external monitor, small spare tv screen or something standing behind the camera, alligned with the axis of the lens. On the other hand I feel like shouting that you’ve forgot to look into the lens is becoming kind of a inside joke at this point :D 3. Regarding three lenses question of one of the viewers, after using 85mm equivalent 90% of the 2020 mostly on the street, I can tell that for shooting casually, long focal lenght is also great, especially during the covid time, when you don’t want to get too close to people :) Cheers from Poland

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

The screen is like heroin. Today's film was first where I actually looked at lens. Mostly. I was never an 85 guy outside of portraits. Still a 50 for me.

[@karlkrebs4386]

I just hope you manage to keep this up and I don't mean how often you post. Every time I watch one your videos, I'm learning something. So, thanks again for taking your time. A video about reading a photo would be very interesting! Btw, I find you and you humour very entertaining :)

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

That's something I am working on.

[@paulbalaresque899]

Thanks GuruDan!

[@jonberlin6131]

Thank you for this Dan. I appreciate the insight and your point of view.

[@reginaldgooden2445]

Thanks for your honesty!

[@sergiocasado2978]

Thanks for the answer Dan, always honest, always straight to core of the matter man. We need to save real photography 🙏

[@frederic_viennot]

thank you always for the great inspirations ;)

[@mikeyjhn]

Dorothea Lange once told a young Ralph Gibson he needed to have 'a point of departure'. I have always struggled with that to some degree and latterly when I do get to shoot feel am doing so aimlessly. To just go out and shoot often I create frames of steaming brown. To be open to interesting images you need a camera in hand and pursuing a project a wonderful nearly all consuming thing though impractical in current times with covid and work yet going out trying to shoot is just somewhat aimless and decreases motivation. Receiving positive feedback is nice but don't need it and know when an image is good to me although not always why. A penny for your thoughts? ( Am 61, did photo college, used to be pro snapper, visited 67 countries but last 10 years look after people with developmental difficulties, still in love with photography). Stay safe and always enjoy watching your videos.

[@tadeusz11000]

M, have you been documenting the lives of those with developmental needs, as you are spending time with them and will have a unique perspective? Why not focus your lens on them and don’t ask yourself, ‘Is this aimless’? Perhaps you are looking too much and not seeing enough.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I think Lange was referring to a humanistic foundation. Who are you? What do you believe? How do those beliefs make you feel and act? Then you aim your camera at what matters to you. The online world will keep you from understanding this. Feedback is a tricky thing. If you have no dog in the hunt it can be rewarding. Gaming the system, being known, getting popular, etc. These are the slippery slope.

[@TedPartrick]

Why do people like me like to listen to you on KZbin? Your humanity comes through, and we like getting to know people who are enthusiastic about the same interests we have.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Ted, thanks for that. I learned the hard way. Spent nearly 30-years obsessed with imagery and myself.

[@rcraigbateman]

Thanks for the content. .. Where do I submit a groovy question? Here? Ok here it goes. ..Is there a photograph that you wished you took that was taken by a famous or influential photographer?

[@125f8]

Hi Dan, thank you for answering my question, I do appreciate the honesty. I completely get your explanation and thought that film is a language, I first shot film and am self taught, then digital but find myself going back to film.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Film is its own ecosystem. A lifestyle. I miss it.

[@cornelius_b]

a 30min q&a from daniel...is there a better way to end the day?

[@pasqualetassone3334]

Happy New Year Mr Milnor. May 2021 bring back “the dialogue with reality” (Gilles Peress)

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Agree. Looking forward to it.

[@davidm5790]

Curiously, from Wikipedia: “suddenly almost anyone could take a photograph, and within the span of a few years photography became one of the biggest fads in the world... the decline in the quality of professional work and the deluge of snapshots... resulted in a world of technically good but aesthetically indifferent photographs.” This is describing the introduction of Kodak consumer and brownie cameras, but could easily apply to the introduction of mobile phones and instagram.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Mobile and social made it exponentially worse. Not to mention with the Brownie there was little way of sharing compared to now, so with mobile and social came the "Great Fake," of photographers pretending to be someone they are not. Something they are not.

[@SzilviaVirag]

I bet I'm not the only one who Googled "where is VSCO based" while watching this - ha ha.

[@derekhayes147]

Great content as always, Dan. Thank you! I'm curious if you have any recommendations about how someone can get better at talking about their own photography? It seems like many photographer/artist statements and bios are so obscure that I have no idea what they are actually saying about their work (maybe it is just me). I'd like to avoid this with my own work, whether it is in creating a website or submitting work to a third party. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Most artist statements are so over-the-top nutzo. I just interviewed a VERY good photographer and she stressed this point again and again. You have to know how to talk. That's a great question that might need it's own film.

[@camilobmxtravel]

Hello. How do we submit our questions for next round? Mine is about the use of b/w in documentary photography, should i not do it to keep images more close to reality and not distort the information it carries? Thanks

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I'll add it.

[@robmcd]

I noticed Alex Webb’s wife is sharing bits and pieces of her work “Shimmering” which isn’t completed yet. I wonder if this is by design of the publishing house.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

It's what people do now. But it's a fine line. I really like both Webbs. Nice people and been making great work for decades. But everyone feels the need to play the following game. Nobody is immune. And brands often don't know any other way. I will wait until it's done to have my look.

[@divineoptiks6157]

I ate a pickle out a jar from a bodega in the Bronx... been downhill since 😂 w

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

That is worthy of medal and humanitarian award.

[@divineoptiks6157]

Haha

[@julienpasternak]

Daniel, only you can make me click on a 30 minute video on KZbin, thanks for the great content. I would love to see the 9/11 picture you are talking about, any chance you can find a link?

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Probably. I'll reach out to the owner of the print.

[@julienpasternak]

thanks, can’t wait to see it.

[@CristianGeelen]

In the Netherlands we always apologise to the sun when we say damnit sun by saying sorry zon. The sun is not there that much... I miss the sun... :(

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Dutch winter....rough. At least here we have sun. But, your country has common sense so I'll take it.

[@divineoptiks6157]

And think the photo of 9/11 your talking about Steve mcurry

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Don't think so. The photographer was a surprise for me.

[@AlfredGerke]

I wonder if God has a KZbin account

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Yes, he does camera reviews.