My YouTube Top 5
These days, YouTube has evolved slightly from amusing cat videos, people hurting themselves and bad Russian driving; although thankfully there is still plenty of that too. The wealth of knowledge available is staggering, with many people now making a living out of it. For amateur and professional photographers alike, there will always be something worth watching. The quality of the content is excellent with near professional levels of production and editing; I would not be surprised if YouTube brings in more of an audience than standard broadcast television.
Here are my “Top 5” recommended photography channels worth checking out:
Topping my list is Chelsea and Tony Northrup. A husband and wife team from America, the experience they bring to the table is incredible. Wildlife, portraiture, landscapes; their skill set seems never ending, with several books also on the market covering the basics of photography, Lightroom, Photoshop and even an equipment buying-guide. The content they offer is amazing, and caters for people of all levels. From very in depth, systematic walkthrough guides for most of the cameras on the market, to insanely detailed and technical analyses of the latest and greatest equipment that will keep even the nerdiest photographer entertained. There is a regular “Picture This” Podcast that looks at different photographers from the ages or different and new trends in photography. The best thing is their weekly “TC Live” show on Thursdays (10pm UK time). They invite people to send in their own photos for a live critique (we have had several of ours commented on!), look at peoples photography portfolios and more. If you are an avid photographer, you will struggle to find better free content!
Next on my list is a UK based Vlogger called Thomas Heaton. If you are a landscape photographer, I highly recommend checking out his channel. Thomas takes you around the world in the palm of his hand, scoping out some of the best landscape locations. The Vlog style videos really make you feel like you are right there with him, while he explains in immense detail how he is composing and capturing the shot. One thing I like is that he is honest, and very little is cut out. If he does not like something, or a photo did not work out the way he wanted it to, he will still show it. He strips back some of the glamour and shows you what it is really like to be a professional landscape photographer, and I commend him for that. There are also the occasional “what is in my bag” style videos talking about some of the latest kit. While these videos can feel a bit more like “Corporate Advertising”, Thomas maintains his honesty and will identify if the manufacturer donated something. Overall, a great channel to give you inspiration to go out and shoot.
Matt Granger – Get Your Gear Out
An Australian based portrait shooter and self-proclaimed “Mr Nikon” (do not worry, I will not hold it against you, Matt!), Matt’s channel is packed full of great educational videos and product reviews. His videos take you through various photographers’ studios, live and uncut photoshoots and well-detailed field tests, actually using gear in the real world. Matt’s videos are fantastically varied, containing something for everyone. The production quality is always high, and regular Video Podcasts involve the audience with prizes for the best shots submitted during the week.
If you are from the USA, you probably know all about B&H, as they are one of the largest photography retailers around. As well as being a massive camera superstore, they also have a great YouTube channel crammed full with over 1,000 videos. Their channel is regularly updated with little quick, bite size tips and tricks. If you are a full-blown nerd like me, they also have a huge range of recorded seminars that are over an hour long each. They have speakers from some of the key players in the industry, offering great insight and tutorials on various subjects from wildlife photography, landscape, macro and even how to light portraits effectively.
The new channel name might not sound that familiar, but Kai’s previous work with “DigitalRev” certainly should. DigitalRev had become one of the most popular photography channels as Kai had a reputation for being, let’s say, less than serious. Recently, Kai has decided to go it alone and started his own channel, and thankfully, the recipe has not changed. Production quality isn’t as high as some other channels, and I would brand it as more “Entertainment” than “Informative”, however the reviews are still detailed enough to satisfy the detail hungry while not being sinfully boring that they send you to sleep. It is a nice blend… it is “Info-tainment”
Other favourable mentions go to:
* “F-Stoppers”
* “Fro Knows Photo”
* AdoramaTV
* SLR Lounge
* The Camera Store TV
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