Getting better at photography on the sofa: useful Youtube channels
Practising is key, studying is also key
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Learning from the couch is a dream that can come true – in some cases. It’s true, photography like cycling is a matter of a lot of practice, so you need to shoot a lot, and doing it while sitting down isn’t a great idea. However, for the study/inspiration/technique side of things, there are valuable resources to draw on. We’ve talked a lot about photography books; here instead is my own personal, non-exhaustive selection of reliable and interesting channels, some in Italian, others in English. And not just for learning from the couch: also at the bus stop, in the kitchen, at the bar…
1. Riflessioni fotografiche (formerly Promirrorless), the reference in Italian - but not only
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2. . Tatiana Hopper, passion and rigor
This German artist produces videos of excellent craftsmanship, very elegant, in which she tells the story of a photographer or a theme through several photographers. The style is dry and Teutonic, not particularly captivating, which IMHO is a plus: no clickbaiting, just solid content. I found some of them very interesting, others less so, because there aren’t detailed analyses of photos. Still, the channel definitely deserves some exploring.
- Don McCullin‘s photography.
- Christopher Nolan’s advice to photographers
3. Jamie Windsor, the Brit who captivates
His baroque videos, full of special effects, are a great joy for the eyes. But besides the pleasure of watching, he often analyzes interesting and varied topics with extreme clarity.
It ranges from practical tips to very high-level discussions, passing through thematic videos – for example on creative long exposures – or, in the most recent case, a spectacular interview with Harry Borden. The only regret is that he doesn’t publish enough videos, but to be honest that’s another aspect that makes me like him even more: he publishes when he has something concrete to share, in defiance of the algorithm.
- Examples and tips about composition
- David Bowie’s advice about creativity
4. Peter McKinnon, the global YouTuber
How can you not include him? He’s in a category of his own, because for years now he’s been as much a YouTuber as a photographer. I followed him, then unfollowed him, it’s one of those love-hate relationships that then becomes almost indifference, but it still holds a surprise every now and then. All his videos are very well made, and there are a ton of them – like one a week. As for the content, it depends on what you’re into. There are even videos of doing burnouts in the desert, for instance. Some videos have been really useful for me to think about specific techniques or find some creative inspiration, others are very clickbait-y, the kind with big titles like ‘this will change your life’ or ‘my grandmother’s incredible secret about [pick a topic].’ Those, we can forget without regret. Many others, well, absolutely interesting.
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5. Michael Bertolasi/Toni Thorimbert, auteur photography with photographers.
Another creator I’m appreciating more and more is Michael Bertolasi, often working together with Toni Thorimbert. The channel is very rich, and at first it dealt mainly with portrait-related questions as well as technical/technology topics. More recently, his/their videos also involve other people; sometimes accompanying them around, other times chatting about specific photographers in a more or less in-depth way. Here too, an even more meticulous analysis of some photos would better satisfy the thirst of those who want to learn, but we can make do. The general discussions are fertile nonetheless. There’s also a lot of other stuff, like the series ’25 portraits of strangers’ and a wide collection of vlogs and podcasts, which you may or may not enjoy.
6. Streetsnappers, that is, Bryan Lloyd Duckett
This mild-mannered English gentleman is a photographer, or at least I think so. Who knows. He definitely has a certain knack for workshops and teaching, and he’s very pleasant to listen to. He’s currently been on a break for a few months, but his channel is extremely rich with material and there are many interesting videos, almost all no-frills. Among the more recent ones, there are some ‘student showcase’ videos in which he comments on his students’ photos, which is quite useful for understanding a photo’s strengths and weaknesses; in other videos he hands out very sensible practical advice.