The Establishing Shot :: Why Its Important

[@Simpack51]

It's videos like this that make me continue watching and subscribing to 'The Art of Photography'. Quality content. 👍

[@Avangardphotography]

I love when you do videos like this. No BS hardware stuff just pure Art of Photography. Awesome 👏

[@DirkDelfortrie]

You’re a beautiful storyteller and historian! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and wisdom, fun to watch and learn 👍

[@bigshooter461]

You know?

[@marcusmaddox]

These kinds of videos are so much more fun and intuitive than the gear reviews

[@harry.digital]

The classic rules of photography and cinematography will never change. You can use these principals in every visual medium whether it's snapchat, Instagram stories of youtube. Very informative Ted thanks for making this video!

[@CarmeloVazzanaAudiovisivi]

We need more "Ted Forbes like" people in our lives.

[@wanakoplays8874]

This is precisely the type of content we need more of! Actual discussions about photography as an art and a form of expression, and ways to improve on it. The only thing anyone really talks about is the newest gear. "Sony this, Sony that! Muh Eye-AF! Canon will go bankrupt! Nikon is shit! etc, etc, etc." and it's gotten to the point where it's become extremely annoying. I always enjoy seeing these types of videos from you and Jaime Windsor.

[@johnp515]

Exactly. W. Eugene Smith used Minolta SLRs, Nikons, Leica Ms, Rolleiflexes, Olympus Pens, 5x4, everything. None of his photos are better than any other based on the camera he used. Equipment doesn’t matter. Why aren’t Cameramen in the movies famous? Because they are technicians.Directors and screenwriters are famous because they are artists. In 5 years no one will give a shit how many megapixels your photo had or whether you captured it with the aid of AF. If your camera doesn’t make things more convenient for you, become proficient without the use of those conveniences. No one questions the quality of W.Eugene Smith’s photos from 60 years ago. No one says they would be better with, say, less grain. Steve McCurry took the Afghan girl photo with a Nikon FM2, which was an “amateur” camera. Equipment. Doesn’t. Matter.

[@RezaMolavi]

Ted, thank you for getting back to what brought me to your channel. I missed these lectures. Please post more of these types of videos.

[@henryjarmuszewski6209]

Ted you’re turning another corner on just what you want your program to become. I’m signing on wholeheartedly to this new approach. The world of photograph is a large tableau.

[@jarman1970]

I just picked up a book called "Behind the Camera:the greatest photojournalists of our time" it gives a brief glimpse into the work of 19 photojournalists including W Eugene Smith. I read one chapter then spend the next little while on planet Google learning more. Great video!

[@TheGazmondo]

This is what nobody else does, and that you do so well. That’s why camera reviews are a bore when there are these with you at your best ?

[@4imazupi]

I really enjoy Ted the teacher! Thanks for the great video.

[@wor.g]

"We are not in the world of the photo essay anymore" you brought that up as something someone might say in response to this but I would disagree with them. Instagram allows for stories in the form of posts with multiple images. I always try to introduce an establishing shot to provide context and better convey the story I want to tell with my imagery. Great video.

[@markjarrett9400]

I use establishing shots alot. My photo essays are on journeys. This may be a hike (boots, entrance to a park), a river trip (the source - the sea, lake, a spring, mountains) etc. The closing shot is also important. This mirrors where the journey ends (an open fire in a pub, muddy boots by the car, the sunset, a door or gate closing etc).

[@edruttledge342]

Peter McKinnon did a KZbin video on how your Instagram grid looks. I suppose the grid IS the establishing shot for that particular platform. Just a thought.

[@derek_boen]

Good observation.

[@570films]

Outstanding! I come from a published photographers background, and I agree with you 100%.

[@chrisiclickyou3947]

A story about a story line.. love every moment, you say it with such poise !

[@bengquist]

Stories are powerful thanks for the reminder Ted. A lot of photographers and videographers I talk to in my circle we all talk about telling better stories because people are drawn to the story.

[@Joel4JC]

I love these types of videos, it is truly about the Art of Photography, and nothing to do with the latest gear/camera. This is a breath of fresh air, I am so tired of hearing about Sony this, Canon that, etc. It is videos like this, that keeps me subscribed to your channel. I almost unsubscribed a while back when your videos were all about gear and nothing to do with the Art of Photography. I also view your KZbin videos for the History of Photography. I think every photographer should do a personal project that is a photo essay, in fact, I'm working on one now. Excellent video, keep them coming!

[@tombuck]

Why have I never thought of establishing shots outside of film/video before?! This is illuminating!

[@philipshucet9481]

I enjoyed the discussion about the establishing shot. I just put up a story on my website and this makes me go back to think about how I might have done a better job of using this concept. But now I’ll certainly think more about it going forward. Any Gene Smith review is of course always terrific. Thanks for that. I took about 100 photos in front of the Jazz Loft a couple months ago just to imagine what it must have been like to experience that scene. I look forward to seeing you in NYC in 10 days. We can talk more about instagram then.

[@davidlongenecker9414]

All great opening shots, but I still think the best is 2001: a space Odyssey. "The dawn of man" just about the grandest opening shots of all time. Loved the video Ted 👍🏼 establishing shots are arguably the most important part of any visual story.

[@philg6757]

I love the smell of The Art of photography video in the morning, it is 6.30am here in Oz after all.

[@theartofphotography]

Nice reference ;-)

[@usernro1]

As far as telling a story with photos, from experiences to memories which becomes a historical documentary about your life. For this, IG is very powerful tool. Taking a meaningful photo is not just about quality of the picture, it is much more than that. Ofcourse nobody can’t really see or feel what I was thinking or experiencing while taking the shot. But I do. And thats what matters most to me.

[@BrianAndersonPhotography]

You are the reason I bought that book a few years ago ;) His photography is amazing.

[@wes6571]

As a photographer and a future filmmaker, this was an interesting video to watch. Good stuff Ted, keep it up!

[@ablawver]

Ted - As always, you direct our attention to ways of thinking about photography that is deeply informed and intelligent. Thank you for creating yet another excellent thought-piece.

[@jkjackknowles]

Such a great video Ted ! I got into photography because of my love for film and now I'm deeply passionate about photography. So glad you made the connection between the two!

[@frenchphot]

Finally we talk photography without pronounced Sony Fuji canon nikon .......😆😉, so good to my ears, thank you 👏

[@punkrachmaninoff]

best establishing shot ever: 'once upon a time in the west' (charles bronson's man with a harmonica)

[@shakteem]

Is he related to Richard Bronson, the Virgin dude?

[@steveshawl2186]

The loss of the photoessay is a true loss, I believe. Would be great to have a site purely for photoessays and photo series.

[@brentkollock8370]

Agreed ! I am working on it!

[@danieljones163]

Lensculture?

[@jeffgoldberg6022]

Ted, I’ve really come to love AOP in the last while. I’m so glad to have learned about the establishing shot. In my mind, it totally relates to photography, certainly mine!

[@lauracaptaintv]

Very enjoyable and very informative Ted, another great video. You nailed it with this topic for me. I didn't know about the concept of the establishing shot, now I do, I can put my finger on it and it makes perfect sense. I've been struggling with what I want to do with my photos and how I could go about conveying a story or theme. I'm excited and now have a solid plan for my next photo shoot. I love Eugene Smith's photography and Story Blocks looks like a great tool. Cheers!

[@jenohogan9254]

I think this my fav video of yours. Movies are such a great place for photo inspiration.

[@saligraphy]

I love these types of videos, I enjoy hearing you talk about the technicality and artistry.

[@ecycled3d]

This really gave me a lift today. Great story and great storytelling. Thanks!

[@bigshooter461]

This was a fantastic video Ted, I enjoy allot of what you post and totally get exactly what you are talking about the authenticity of those who document what they see, live and experience or do their best to share what is happening around them as they see it or interpret it through the medium they work in is getting harder to find. You made a great point about IG and I agree that there is still a great opportunity there too, I have no idea how I never looked you up there b4 I find a familiar aesthetic in the way you look at things, or at least what you capture. 12 years ago I would never have considered KZbin to be such an incredible community of creative people that I have come to discover it is in the last couple years. Thanks again for sharing this content and putting yourself out there, it is appreciated!

[@JoaquinGomezF]

Always enjoy your ideas! I like your idea of crossovers between mediums, and I almost always find some sort of inspiration in these videos of yours. Your channel is a constant stream of inspiration to some of us that are “inspirationally land-locked”, and for that I thank you!

[@WayneLLC]

Love this side of you, Ted, the most. But that is not to say I dislike the other aspects of your video like tech or gears. I feel like through your transition and variety of video contents in more recent times, you are the embodiment of someone who was old school transiting through time and embracing what the new age has to bring and I do truly appreciate your efforts.

[@jackreckitt5162]

Maybe we need a 2.0 Life magazine?

[@jackdavenport3151]

Great video. Fun to see Ted getting energised by the topic. Videos like this demonstrate the very best of AoP - deep, meaningful, instructive, and passionate.

[@polintr]

Thanks for another great video. I’d love to see a whole video (or series) on photo essays with some tips and tricks. I’d like to get into looking at photo projects as essays.

[@brentkollock8370]

nice video Ted, I think the photo essay, as envisioned by Smith, has never been truly explored much. I hope that my magazine scratches the surface a bit! I think there is a place for it and people always desire a 'story'. Keep posting the good material!

[@TubeThings]

This is actually very interesting. I often wonder what would artist and photographers of the past do with social media as a medium today. I think Andy Warhol would be a very interesting one. Illustrator, turned painter, turned photographer, turned KZbinr?

[@davisparkhurst6637]

The first part really helps start the story, I don’t alway notice it but the examples you pulled are great. Thanks always for the great content.

[@pixelcityart3554]

Love your story telling. Definitely one of my favorite videos from you. Will be looking into this amazing photogragher !

[@matiasg19]

Love your topics and how you present them.

[@rubenespinoza7121]

The best content on this platform..

[@JapaneseReds]

Haven't been here for a while...glad I stopped by.

[@polaroidphoenix175]

Heck yes. Can't wait to see you in Flagstaff for my portfolio review!!!

[@DEVUNK88]

OMG "the Searchers" one of the greatest of all time!!!

[@brentbishop444]

Great Video Ted, Thank you for what you bring us!

[@stefanberndt3734]

Thanks, ambitious topic, great inspiration!

[@ryans_life]

Beautiful and thought provoking video Ted. Another classic like your "ancient" awesome videos circa museum.

[@alasdairmcleod]

Ted, you are absolutely right about social media - we have hardly begun to scratch the surface of what is possible. Currently I struggle with Instagram and Facebook. They are clearly incredible powerful - more so than we give them credit for. Is KZbin the future? Will video replace still photography as a serious communication medium?

[@davidrothschild8913]

Definitely a new favorite Ted.

[@strandlie92]

Quality content, as always! I think this is a very interesting topic, and I've actually played with the thought myself of moving towards more photo-essay style posts on instagram. For the first time ever we are able to tell stories close to our hearts the way we want to tell them, without having to invest loads or get through to a magazine. We are can inspire change both locally and globally through well thought out IG posts and similar, and most of us probably don't see how powerful social media really can be before its too late - me included. I really enjoyed this video, Ted and hope you do some sort of follow-up - it surely is an interesting topic.

[@SIRILION1]

Great video! Thanks a lot Ted for these insteresting insights!

[@rejeannantel1185]

As a result of his obsessive nature, W. Eugene Smith was the greatest photo essayist. Just adore his work. Very nice podcast! Ted, I don’t think photo essays are gone. Nothing can compare to it - even today. In a video documentary, it’s hard to focus on the essentials elements and ignore the distractions that can occur in the background. In a photo essay, one is in total control - it’s much easier to avoid the distractions and keep the observer focus on the story. Personally, I don’t think that network media platforms like Instagram can do a photo essay real justice. Yes, it might get a whole lot of attention but the power of the essay cannot be as strong as one who appears in a book or a magazine with a well-planed layout.

[@pixiedixie3682]

I really miss the Artist Series , there are a lot of new photographers ..... Lauren Wellis among them . Will be nice to choose a bunch of them and analyse their photographs. Good work Ted

[@boyankrivoshiev679]

Love your content! Especially the more philosophy videos. Keep going!

[@AF8Images]

Great video, so right that taking photos is one skillset, but telling a story through images is another one that then bridges into video. With the rise of hybrid cameras I think it's going to mean that photographers will have to raise our game in this area. Thought provoking

[@leontorresslightsketches8014]

“Photography and filmmaking are like sisters. One is still and one is moving-that is the only difference.” - Fan Ho

[@Fowey7]

I've complained about Instagram for a long time but what you said really made me think about it more, I actually don't have a good reason for disliking it. I gotta admit I don't like it just cause I'm not good at it lol But I'll give it a shot now thanks for all your thoughts Ted!

[@barrystreet2046]

Eugene Smith would have embraced this technology of today.. Steve McCurry certainly has.

[@lausteofraigneau]

I totally agree with your point of vue: as you said before "photographers need to be better..." I don't want to talk for everyone, but creating nice pics is not enough anymore for me now... To get back real joy of photographing I think I need to create meaningful content!! And probably storytelling is the way: finding a GOOD subject, exploring it and following it for a certain amount of time... ;-)

[@eherrmann01]

Great video Ted, thanks.

[@bencushwa8902]

Great video. I'm just starting to get more interested in cinematography and the concept of the establishing shot really does apply well to photography and social media. In particular, I think it's interesting to see how photo essays from the era of Life Magazine kind of fit in with the notion of having a "curated feed" on social media; you want to tell a story and you want it to be consistent. I also agree with your statement that people like feeling like they're a part of someone's story, and posting about your life, even if it's not all high-quality work, can draw people in. Well, what if your life isn't consistent? What if your artistic interests are broad and don't fit neatly into a single genre? Should you make different accounts for every interest to keep everything neat and tidy or cram them all into one and show everyone the whole mess at once? I did a little bit of both; I have one social media presence very much tailored for a specific kind of work, and one that is for everything else. The tailored one is all about one particular topic (sailing and boating) and gets posted to less frequently and has more followers, but since it is so consistent that I don't really get to experiment with it. That's where the other social media presence comes in. It's more like a stream of consciousness than a tailored feed. There's very little consistency beyond 2-3 posts on a particular topic or trying out a new technique and I don't have many followers there, but I feel like my work there is by far better than on my more tailored account because I'm free to experiment and try new things because I don't have any genre to conform to. I guess the point I'm trying to get at is that I agree that the establishing shot is important, even to photography, but I also think you have to be careful to not let your establishing shots confine you artistically. Thanks again, and keep up the great work. I'm a huge fan.

[@jrlakin370]

Great stuff Ted! 👍

[@matthconphoto]

Thanks a lot for another great and inspirational video, Ted! I had totally forgotten the works of W. Eugene Smith. Do you know the works of the Icelandic photographer/photojournalist Ragnar Axelsson? For me personally his books "The faces of the north" or "Last days of the Arctic" are truly inspiring to me.

[@poolboyinla]

Frasier never used establishing shots.

[@johnsmalldridge6356]

It seems like this would be a great project for photo assignments. Thee photos, one establishing shot and two story shots.

[@deep-dey]

Awesome video mate!!

[@AnandaSim]

I'm currently into conveying a narrative at the moment. In the individual frame and in the lead in to the frame on insta by the grid of thumbnails. Lots of people implement serious design and sequencing of their thumbnails, I find I don't want to be that rigid.

[@for09tx]

Thank you for your insight Ted.

[@odedzukerman9368]

Very interesting subject, well done presented! 👍👌

[@andrewnoden9117]

Hi Ted, a great video. I have been following you for several months now and actually went back to some of your work related to sketchbooks and improving your photography. Sorry I don’t use twitter so I am using this platform to reach out to you. Any chance you can bring some of your previous work that is great and reflect if you feel anything has changed in respect of improving your photography. Determination, motivation, sketchbooks etc, where do you see it today, what’s new. I feel I am too harsh on myself and feel I am failing. I am teaching myself to re learn photography but I need some fresh inspiration, welcome your insights and hopefully this is a placeholder for a 2019 update. Many thanks from Andrew in Ottawa Canada

[@AlexSmyntyna]

Perhaps through the medium of augmented, and virtual reality we could represent these large bodies of work from artists. And also our own works as they chronical our lives and the people around us.

[@ArminHirmer]

made me think, thanks Ted

[@Loeffler85]

Thank you, i think i learned something from it. Great video.

[@NMTrucha]

Well done.

[@charlieb.4273]

I think it goes back to story. Does your individual photograph, or group tell a story. There are many ways photos can be “successful,” juxtaposition of contrasting entities, repetition, interesting composition and others, but what some of the most powerful human photography have above all else is that it tells a story. Sometime you can do that in a single image. A naked burnt girl in Vietnam, a worried mother in the 1920s dust bowl are examples from photojournalism. Smith masted the multi image photo essay. Good environmental portraits tell a story. The point I am taking away is to once again analyze the story content of my images and see if I can improve my ability to see the stories all around me. If I can see it, I can make a photograph of it, if I can’t see it, well the camera isn’t going to see it for me. Thanks Ted, I wish I could join you in NYC, but the wife said no to the expense. Maybe next time. Charlie

[@TartantazCreates]

Ooh interesting and thought provoking as always. Thanks T x

[@quite1enough]

it's good to bring also Tarkovsky's examples

[@TimberGeek]

My instagram had a pattern going for while but it's completely broken down again.

[@johevideos]

Interesting subject

[@iloper]

Great video

[@perpetualmoto]

Very well said!!

[@stuartschaffner9744]

Nice video. However, many photographs don’t tell a literal story. Consider most landscapes, still-lifes, and abstracts. Still, there is a concept of sequence in compositional elements like leading lines, focus points, and blocking elements. I’ll have to think about that for awhile. My favorite establishing shot was the beginning of the first version of “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. A dry neutral voice said “as soon as I got to the town I had a sense that something was wrong.” For the next 5 minutes, nothing whatsoever was even slightly wrong. That was one of the longer 5 minutes of my life. “Please, just shoot me, I can’t stand this!”

[@travellife08]

I miss Life Magazine's photo essays. I think they had a lot to do with my interest in photography from an early age.

[@dungbeetlemovies]

The establishing shot for a KZbin video is probably the thumbnail - or at least it should be.

[@kyelight]

Another great video! I agree that we haven't "cracked the surface of the mediums we have now", I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. I don't expect that you have answers but I expect you have observations and questions and I think they are more valuable and thought-provoking than answers anyway :)

[@stuartbaines2843]

Very good Ted 👍👾 If you are thinking about "series" With the first image being an over arching link?. I like this idea to assemble a " Zine" which i will follow through 👌 But on digital online platforms A whole page? ( i don't do instagram you may guess :)

[@haraldselke]

I also think that a zine benefits from an establishing shot, just as any photo product with more than one photo would. In the digital world, the Adobe Spark pages might lend themselves to this concept.

[@richardterris4674]

what about the opening shot in the Godfather?

[@johnrwallace]

that. one. hair. haha, jk. Love your stuff man, keep up the great work!

[@JamieMPhoto]

I took landscape establishing shots for my last graduate body of work. My professors hated it. But hey, their loss?

[@w0lfyovi294]

It reminds me of the images in the Harry Potter universe, where they are basically repeating GIFs, might be a direction where photography could turn into at some point. Or even the paintings in the magical world, where they have a life of their own? (AI powered short movies on display? Who knows). Establishing shots work for projects at the largest or short sequences (let's say at least 3 images) to tell a story, generally for books, articles, display gallery, etc. Even though I shoot multiple angles and views of a subject most of the time I choose only one image that best conveys what I want to show (at least at that moment in time, of uploading/printing/publishing) so it wouldn't work for me. ... if Camera Conspiracy is right and we, photographers, are looser because we don't care about video as he thinks it's the future then I feel like a fossil already, I have no interested in vlogging or video work.

[@marcusdidius4090]

Dear Ted, Canny video:) Regards

[@kbmats]

Does somebody knows of someone like W.E.Smith nowadays?

[@rhiwderinraytube]

Thanks for another great video. I wonder what viewers opinions are on social media considering the horrific event in New Zealand where a racist terrorist live streamed his attack on social media. This is the double edged sword of social media, harmless self obsession on one hand and tool for spreading hatred on the other.