Shifter:Let's Talk Field Guides

[@Gonzster1]

Gosh darn Sir! You have got the hipsters crying! I love you man.

[@stephencharlton2024]

one of the best yet! you dont even need to be a photographer to avoid the "trends"

[@Spuny4]

You got me hooked in first 10 seconds, i hate tourism too 🤣 totally agree with the list anyone hands over with places you should visit 🤣

[@CaptainJimHammond]

I agree. I call tourists "pretenders." They go places, led around by the nose, doing the same things everyone else does, never leaving the comfort of a plan given to them by a tour guide or guidebook. They never go out, making random turns, where they might actually have an encounter with a native. They never experience the culture, food, or excitement of communicating in a language they don't know. Then, they go home and proclaim what great adventurers they are. Seems like a waste of life to me. I really like the advice of having a give-a-way as an introduction, explanation, validation of what you are doing. Thank you.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I think it goes both ways. I love seeing older folks out and about. They will often never go unless certain things are taken care of, so I get that. For younger folks, should be mandatory to go get lost.

[@andek_foto]

Haha..love it. I worked in protected areas management with a strong emphasis on tourism. And I would on occasion ( until I was reminded by a senior executive of our mandate!!! aaaagh)say the same thing about tourism. Now retired my wife and I search out non tourism when we travel and one of our favorite events is finding the true 'local' bar or restaurant and watch lost tourists walk by with fear in their eyes that they were off the beaten path. 😂

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I sometimes mind tourist places and other times not so much. It depends on what I'm after. Most of the time I like being away from tourists, as much as humanly possible, but in certain places they make great pictures.

[@pablotenkara3057]

You got the guts to make it all explicit. My best fieldwork lessons I have learned them here. Working with indigenous communities in the chilean Andes is not an easy thing, and it can be tough at times, especially in the borders where no law governs. No bullshit: to survive, one needs to build trust. Thanks for so many good ideas, Milner.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Trust is key. But you have to want to go down that road. It takes time which is why so many online photographers shoot "street" or static objects. Can produce BTS films quickly and easily. Humans are where degree of difficulty goes sky high.

[@CRJines]

I'm from the midwest, and I moved to New Mexico 6 years ago, and it's everything I wanted. This is the outlaw state. I'm an outlaw, and I'm home!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I haven't even scratched the surface of NM yet. But I aim to.

[@rgssaurus930]

Extremely well put. Just watched the video mesmerised by the coincidence. I'm off tomorrow for a 4 day trip to Azores, and my wife already has 5 of those lists of spots to visit. And I was wishing that it would be a relaxing trip, no running around. Well that's gone now, I just hope that there are a million people on the first couple spots so we can go on our own.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I just cant' handle it anymore. We just hit Niagara and got lucky. Mid week, uber hot and humid, COVID raging across America. And it was still challenging.

[@jackmatthews9390]

Dan! This is so helpful and inspiring. Funny the answers are right in front of us but it takes someone from another planet to show us. ;-) consider me a friend from Colorado.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Hey Colorado. Love your state. And welcome.

[@davidarlincooper]

Great food for thought. Another excellent video.

[@MTimWeaver]

Although I was late to the party coming to Arizona (1988 when I came to school here), there was a time I'd have argued that Arizona was the last of the "frontier" (we were admitted to the Union 5 weeks after New Mexico...Jan 6 v. Feb 14). However, given the massive population growth of people who don't understand the concept of Live and Let Live or "just leave me alone", there is much less frontier mentality here than there used to me, esp in the 3 major population centers (Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff). The concept of a field guide is awesome...I'd never heard of one before (but I don't do documentary work at all, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised...LOL). Thank for these videos. In the past year, I've come across three photographers (incl you) from whom I've learned more in 14 months of NOT talking about gear than I have in all the "gear" and "technique" related videos I've watched since getting back into photography in 2012.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

AZ has a little wild left too. One difference is that I still run into people who don't know New Mexico is part of the US. It happens more than you would imagine. I didn't find this when I lived in AZ. Not entirely sure why. Glad you are finding something of note.

[@MTimWeaver]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 I think the closer you get to our state's borders (doesn't matter which), the more "wild" it gets. I'm sure there's a correlation between the wild attitude and proximity to major metropolitan areas, though there are some small local pockets within towns. As for New Mexico, I believe it's because of the word "Mexico". People suddenly assume that a state with that name couldn't possibly be in America, and yet New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire don't even get a sideways glance. I love the Southwest and even though I wasn't originally born here, I kept coming back, so I stayed. Never regretted it. My wife had relations down Hobbs way, but they all died or moved except for a cousin's kid or two.

[@vproven]

You’ve outdone yourself, my friend. Spot on.

[@samhartfieldlewis5247]

Nice one, on holiday think in 2017 were in Naples and our place to stay to double booked was well late and ended up finding a place to stay in a town a bit away called caserta the next day what to have a look about. There was a brilliant old palace with mega huge grand olden day landscaped designed, was a bit run down. We well liked it thought see what others thought other comments in various places were like was crap, wastes of time, boring. Was brilliant anyway Don’t listen too others or me. Go steady

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Happy accidents. I've met some great people when things went wrong.

[@richardpenhardt6100]

ah! informative and ... And funny!

[@chrispatmore8944]

I’m 100% with you on tourism and being a tourist.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

It's traumatic.

[@alimkassim]

Thanks…getting me thinking what I can do for my self my and art here in this suburbian coviad bubble I am in. Really like print and holding onto something vs swipe this way. Field guide is a nice way to share without being a novel. Gotta go watch your project video again…thanks señor

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Projects and guides. The good life.

[@badgerag]

Thank you Dan, got me thinking about my next field guide, and I'll certainly be sharing with anyone who is interested, gotta open those doors! And sharing photos on a phone, LAME!!! So going old school is happening. By the way, AG23 has arrived in Birmingham UK and will be collecting tomorrow, so that's pretty damn exciting!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Yes, we land in the UK! Keep it simple when it comes to the guide.

[@jsphotopixels]

This is great. Thanks for sharing this thought. The idea about tourism, definitely agree with you. I usually don't do it either. Maybe because of my family (it's for some reason expected to come with pictures of Eiffel tower if you're visiting Paris... ) but if i can do it on my own it's way better. I would also like some tips about the cover and paper and putting the field guide together. I love the idea. Thanks again

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

It can be traumatic...

[@profHankin]

Well, now I have to make a field guide for Omaha. Great idea and project.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Include Payton Manning. "Omaha....OMAHA."

[@CRJines]

Not exactly a field guide, but I have always been sure to keep prints of my work on my person. I've always referred to these prints as, "keys to the kingdom!"

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Prints work well too. Books give the opportunity for copy which can be helpful depending on the person.

[@CRJines]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 for my next project I'll bring my magazines.

[@pacoedw]

I made a small 8x8 book in blurb, and have it all the time in my backpack. Next time I'll go for a bigger format and more copies for sure.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Smart!

[@timothybindner9861]

I am inspired to make one. Tons of questions

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Send them in.

[@rgarciamainou]

This one was brilliant. Now..we’re left with no excuses 😬

[@fairwayfrank]

I carry a couple of my small books (I don't care for the term 'zine' as it seems too trendy) in my camera bag & have used them for this exact purpose - answering the whattya doin' question. It works well.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Hey, whatever works. But also, remember that Zines arrived in force in the 1930s and there are 30,000 print each year in the US alone.

[@stuarttowler192]

Hi Dan, greetings from England. Really enjoyed this film it is motivating me to produce my own guide for a project I am starting to working on. You said that a lot of your viewers "Want to learn how to do documentry work", and many will agree. I would like to make two suggestions: The first is, could you reproduce some or all of the field guide on your you showed on the film on your website, not to be copied, but as an example of the content, copy etc. Secondaly on previous films you have often spoken about using one camera and one lens, particularly the 50mm lens and how you had to learn to understand it and use it, I feel the 50mm lens is worthy of a film as it would be another building block for those of us who want to become better photographers. All the best Stuart.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

sure, will try to figure out how to add these in.

[@davidabarak]

The Salton Sea area is worth a visit - very trippy - but isn't what it used to be since much of the sea has dried up. Salvation Mountain is good for a visit once (be sure to try to find a place to eat lunch in Niland), and the "sands" at Bombay Beach is interesting. There's a plot of land at the southeast of the Salton Sea with "mud volcanoes" but with the receding of the sea the volcanoes are almost dead. The "agency" at the border - I've never had a problem with them, oddly enough. It's possible because I look like a harmless geezer. Little do they know that I'm actually a harmless geezer. A few agents have asked briefly why I'm there but none have ever actually hassled me - they seemed more curious than anything. But despite all that there are plenty of reasons to not put them high on my list of favorite people. Project for tonight: Begin working on field guides for the stories I'm working on, but smaller than the magazine size - I need to fit it in my bag so I can bring along extras to hand out if needed. I've been using MagCloud for various things but when the right thing comes along that fits in the formats Blurb has I'll try them out. MagCloud, and I assume Blurb, has very accurate color reproduction and so far what I've ordered has been flawless. I can't say that about other POD companies I've tried.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Yep. It was so good prior in Instagram. Now I would avoid it at all costs. Al of those spots I mention are loaded with nitwits.

[@marshallsokoloff]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 Yeah, I started documenting Salton Sea in 2003, and have been back 4 times, always at sunrise. The story I made about it was published, but I'm not the first. The thing about the place is that it's such a progressing disaster, that it's different each time -- and equally creepy. I'm proud of what I shot there, but all of it is prior to IG which has really spoiled many things -- but all the trendy IG selfies don't have what I have. I agree with you about Salvation Mountain -- I went when the creator of it was still alive and would give personal tours, naked. But I never shot much there -- his story had been captured plenty, and I just had nothing to add. Slab City....two words...stay away. If I want to be threatened by methed out fringe-life people, I can do this in my backyard in Hamilton, ON. There are some OK hotels to stay in around Indio or Palm Springs with nice pools and low prices. But skip all the hipster places like the ACE. Joshua Tree and Pioneertown have been discovered by the hipsters and are nothing but overpriced AirBnB's now. The Hipster Trail is broken up into many trails worldwide now. If you are on Instagram (I'm not) you can find them pretty easily, or else just google "Digital Nomad" - often the trendsetters. SE Asia has become plagued with this lately, especially.

[@vicvelval1984]

Hi Daniel, the more of your videos I see about documentary photography, carrying a single camera and a single lens, the more they resonate with what I would love to become. I never had instagram but I do have an Olympus Om2n with a Zuiko 50mm and another 28mm from my uncle. That's all I need. Photography is hard as I've heard you say sometime and that's why I love it. Because I want to be good at it. It is a challenge, I want to be good because of me, not for anyone. Now yes, a question I wanted to ask you: why do you think it's so hard for some of us to go digital? Why did you chose film over digital? I'm 38 years old and I've been shooting film for more than 20 years. Thank you! :)

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Good question. Will add this to my list. Thank you!

[@leokhiwi]

Thanks a lot for sharing! Do come over though ;). I would be very much interested in even more insights into documentary work.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Will do.

[@americalatinastory6022]

I am glad to hear that the old west has not gone.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Small bits still clinging to life.

[@sprucemoose3000]

Have just deleted my fb and Instagram. Your right, focus on your own work, do what you want to, don’t follow trends, be original, make print! Be awesome for yourself.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

You just added ten years to your life, raised your IQ by fifty points and gave yourself abundant free time.

[@_smsb_]

a speaker implies. a listener infers. (and is usually wrong) another great video.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Haiku?

[@_smsb_]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 damn. unintentionally close. should pay more attention.

[@lynnemaclean7201]

Thanks for this episode. I’m about to start on my first field guide and I’m absolutely terrified??? Totally illogical thinking

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

If you haven't done this before then just relax and have realistic goals. Give yourself boundaries. Twenty-pages, one paper, one trim size. That's it.

[@Tinaleann_]

I’ve always thought outside of the box honestly. I do my own thing. Creativity comes from ones own self and mind. I don’t like to follow trends.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

welcome to the minority.

[@GarenMeguerian]

You’re one of the best storytellers of our generation. Also, I do not believe you ever got a D in English or in any other subject.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I did. In math. Consistently. I never made sense to me until I found the right tutor and even then it was survival mode.

[@BradleyJokerst]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 I took College Algebra 3x and finally got my math credit with “Basic Math” (which i still got a C in) only to find out later I didn’t even need a math credit.

[@CRJines]

Tourists have lots of money, but little time. Travelers have lots of time, but little money!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Very true.

[@Vincent171090]

Haha, the places at 03:30 sure rang a bell xD

[@erikdendress]

I couldn't agree more. I do not like visiting the "tourist" spots when traveling. I went to Egypt and told my guide I didn't want to see the pyramids or any other popular tourist spots. I wanted to see where and how people live.

[@johnburrow4124]

Random question, but do you think you could go further in depth about how the “how” In photography really doesn’t matter in producing projects? Raw vs jpeg, fujifilm vs Sony, blah blah. It would be a breath of fresh air to hear why none of it matters.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Sure. And it doesn't matter. Anyone of relevance who would look at the work is never going to ask about any of that. They simply don't care. It's either good or it's not.

[@rajmaharjan9828]

I clicked as soon as I saw your notification! I would love to watch a video of you explaining on how to approach people professionally to look at your work, to maybe get ones work out there. Much love from sf, ca.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

That's a good topic actually. I'll add it to the list.

[@rajmaharjan9828]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 damn! Really appreciate it you brother! Please hmu if you're ever in sf! I'd love to be of help to you in whatever way I can!

[@brandonluk3286]

I truly love this idea. Does it matter what size it is? Meaning does it need to be 8 1/2 x 11? Can it be a smaller physical format and still be effective? (Like A5 or A9). I use a smaller bag to carry my kit around.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Nope. Any size works just fine. Small is great.

[@travis1687]

17:05 killed me thanks for that

[@kmattlong]

This is a fantastic concept...now I just need to remind myself I have to go to bed at some point and not staying up all night playing with my field guide. Curious what you use for copy in your field guide?

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Ah, good question. Some is personal history. Some is story history. Some is journalism and some is overheard conversation or dialogue.

[@kmattlong]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 gotcha I appreciate that. Love your channel by the way. Really enjoy the raw approach you have to the photography world. I would love to see you do a video on setting up a field guide and your thought process. I started last night after watching your video and had to tell myself it was time for bed.

[@carlanderson9873]

I was just thinking about this topic the other day! I’m wanting to start a project on some of the “urban” agribusiness near my home, and was thinking I’d need a field guide or some sort of printed work to open some doors. Just minutes from my suburban home there is a rancher with several pastures surrounded by housing developments. I also ride to my mountain bike trails past a vineyard in the hills outside of town.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

This will work nicely. Prints will too if you can take them safely by hand. It makes a huge difference.

[@photom3]

I have a project called missed opportunities. I’m not sure if I will finish it. Some people I am associated with are consummate tourists and they don’t even do it for the trends. I would prefer to go to one place for a month and soak it up. Chances are not looking good. I can make a field guide though, which they can read when I’m gone.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I don't countries. I have friends who will take overnight bus rides to get the next border just to get a stamp then take the same bus right back. Then they like to say "I've been to a hundred countries." really?

[@photom3]

Yes that doesn’t quite work. I drove through the corner of Montana but that’s not really being in Montana. I tag along and hope that I can find a little piece of something.

[@phillipP8848]

I think I should do that, it is not behond my capabilities. Thanks you.

[@parey555]

Never thought of this, my question would be how many pictures would you make if you made one for street photography? Currently i have business cards i give the people i take photos of with my email and name. But def think if i made one of these it would make things less suspicious. I’m a south Bronx shooter soooo street photography here is very suspicious.but show a magazine would ease doubts I’m sure.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

I don't shoot street but the key with any publication is tight, tight, tight. No fat. Only enough to say what you need to say. Might be an 8-page MC Digest.

[@parey555]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 appreciate that

[@chrisalmerini3284]

Is there a "Hipster Trail" t-shirt?? You know with all the locations you must go or avoid??

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

You should make it. It would sell. I'm sure the locals are gritting their teeth. Happy for the revenue but frustrated by dealing with clueless IG people. Same for the merchants in Santa Fe.

[@lagazettedesfrancais8155]

Quite right, as usual/

[@tangyorange6509]

Nice ASMR Dan!

[@streets28mm]

I love this, many thanks to Ibarionex Perello to send me here, cheers!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

IP is a good guy. Thanks to him as well.

[@diforbes]

I'm ahead of the curve on this one. Never been trendy. BTW, what's the hottest adobe building to photograph in Santa Fe? :-)

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Hmm, I actually don't know. I try to avoid all tourist areas and don't really shoot any of the standard stuff. The church in Chimayo would be high on the list.

[@JamesClark1991]

Hey Dan! What sort of things would you write about in your 'copy' space? I'm also a 'D' English student and I really struggle to put words alongside my images. For context I enjoy shooting documentary/behind the scenes on film sets.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Ah, second person to ask this. A good question. Personal history, reason for doing the story, story history, journalism and overheard dialogue or conversation.

[@marshallsokoloff]

How do you get access to do BTS? I work in film production, and every show has very explicit documents forbidding it

[@JamesClark1991]

@@marshallsokoloff I work on a lot of low budget stuff where they want promotional material for next to nout. Also sometimes on continuous shoots e.g. TV they have a dedicated person employed who also does BTS + social media.

[@marshallsokoloff]

@@JamesClark1991 We have studio-hired BTS people on all productions, but those photographers are not allowed to use the stuff they shoot personally. I myself also take snapshots, but they're just for documenting placement for continuity purposes. I'd love to be able to do doc-style BTS on some of the things I work on, as people really have little idea about set-life. It'd be great to be Jeff Bridges and wander around and shoot/publish whatever I please, but not the case at all

[@CRJines]

Tourists have lots of money, but little time. Travelers have lots of time, but not much money!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Paul Bowles.....

[@dianeschuller]

Is it ever refreshing to have someone say it how it is about social media in relation to photography. Yes! I made one years ago (hardcover) but need something much more current. I've been thinking of it lately and this is the kick in the pants I needed to just DO IT. I'm going to quit typing, get off KZbin and go put one together and send it to Blurb. Thanks.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Enjoy it. A new book is like a new day. endless possibility.

[@do-not-reply461]

I gotta ask, don't field guides feed the tourism bug? Keep on keepin' on.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Not at all. Or, if you want them to. My stories are far from tourism.

[@NicholasNoeckerJr]

A one-man Salon. Unabashed defender of the stilted status quo. Flummoxed about social. Ridiculous doo... arrested development. Sweet though. And marvelous. Es verdad. About phones? Correctomundo muchachos. No phones. Nein, nein... nyet! (English, German, Russian... ha!) Best photography site with no photos. Bar none. I suspect. Tough love.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

That would be cool. A photo site with no images. Might be cool.

[@viktorpettersson7521]

I feel like the most hipstery thing nowdays is to actively opt out the "hot/trendy" things you mention - and instead consciously do the "unique, real and local stuff". Everything needs to be soo unique and genuine I think it has become way more hipstery than lets say take a selfie at the eiffel tower haha. Great video otherwise! :)

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Depends on your audience. Work for the online audience and do whatever you want. Work for clients, build a career, the only thing that works is "unique, real." Content creators get replaced on a regular basis. People who work to make a career often hang on for decades.

[@treharris1677]

I couldn't make it through this video...

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

That's a good sign.

[@jasongold6751]

I was banned at Instagram! Really. What a joy! I never wanted all that tech crap. the goofy folks.Thanks Instagram! Bravo Daniel.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Not sure how one gets banned but that's kinda impressive.

[@joeeley5354]

So you're telling me you didn't go to Red's Eats.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

The line was insane. Kept going.

[@joeeley5354]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 It always is. I've driven past at least 50 times. Lobster rolls have never been my thing.

[@peter2712]

You said it and it was great to hear, " I would love to do it but I had to work". These hipsters you reference all take the same tired pictures of abandoned hotels and junk cars in a washed out pastel. I watch these idiots on KZbin and think daddy must be footing the bills, nice apartments traveling across country on a whim. Lousy pictures, no information and just a look at me daddy video and worse of all 5 times the viewers. Give them hell Dan, shame them off the earth.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Well, remember, it's KZbin. This is mostly about following and not about photography. None of the best photographers I know are on KZbin. NONE. They are working not making films about trivial things. The hipsters know how to build following and that is a very poignant skill in this time. In fact, it's more important than the work. Plus, when your audience doesn't know what good is.....you can get away with anything.

[@markscott4059]

Was that a dumb and dumber reference…. “Putting out the vibe”

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Oh yes it was.

[@filipemarques78]

I almost thought this video was gonna be colorful....

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Just a taste.

[@josephjamessilva]

reel talk

[@KeithElliott]

Just bought a plane ticket to Omaha...gonna make a field guide on strip clubs. 8-)

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Urgent, stat.

[@robmcd]

I live in a very hot tourist destination here in Australia. We hate tourists because they just want a dumb selfie with a rock and not actually discover the actual incredible aboriginal and colonial history of the region.

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

The bar for the basic tourist is quite low. Here in America tourists want what they have at home hence the massive homogenization.

[@robmcd]

@@DANIELMILNOR505 I had a lady stay on my coach- refused to get off at Bondi Beach. “I’m from Fort Lauderdale I’ve seen a beach I don’t need to see this one.”

[@TheGazmondo]

This is getting boring, I’m agreeing with you again. Nauseating isn’t it ? Still it’s intelligent and enjoyable!

[@DANIELMILNOR505]

Yes, stop doing that. My favorite color is green. Just say "red."