Pictures On My Mind

Hello Readers On My Mind! I've written a post on Substack about: Print Drops, Benefactors and trying to fund long-form photo projects. You can read it here:

open.substack.com/pub/synchromancy/p/how-to-photo-…

And yeah, it could have been a Youtube video, but I think I would have lost 90% of Youtube viewers at 'The Medici Family...'

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 4

Pictures On My Mind

This week's video was about an A.I company paying photographers $60 an hour to generate content for them to train their A.I on.

I've thought about it a bit since and I've come to two conclusions:

1. They are already stealth training on all our data anyway.

My website analytics are swamped by views from China that have zero engagement. So at least this way photographers are getting compensated.

2. There is no shame in trying to earn a living as a photographer.

It is incredibly hard, especially if you are remote working or somewhere where there are little to no freelance opportunities.

If you missed the episode:
https://youtu.be/Lgzb6dZB6e8

The $60 per hour remote photography job is here:

work.mercor.com/jobs/list_AAABmfNdlw2tlswfxR1JyZyl…

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

Pictures On My Mind

A little Arthurian Photo Quest teaser reel for next Tuesdays Print Drop!

I'm finally selling some prints from my ongoing QUEST to help make new work.

Pricing a range of editions so there's something for everyone.

youtube.com/shorts/xZQ5wvzK2T...

1 month ago | [YT] | 7

Pictures On My Mind

Just posted an essay on Substack for you:

open.substack.com/pub/synchromancy/p/photographers…

No public video this week, it'll be members only tomorrow.

2 months ago | [YT] | 10

Pictures On My Mind

Are you wondering why so many YouTubers are quitting or hard pivoting into 'education' all of a sudden.... I wrote something on Substack:

open.substack.com/pub/synchromancy/p/youtube-kille…

2 months ago | [YT] | 8

Pictures On My Mind

I've got an assignment to shoot 50 lit portraits across 50 different locations of 50 people. If I filmed my lighting set ups and creative choices would that be helpful? These would be for channel members only and it would be a monster video of ALL the set ups.

2 months ago | [YT] | 25

Pictures On My Mind

CRAZY! Do you remember when I made that video trying to track down the Unit Stills Photographer of the film Falling Down? https://youtu.be/7CUJFB7ycE0

SHE SAW MY VIDEO!

Her sister reached out to me and we are emailing each other! Wild! Christine M Loss! Photographer of Raging Bull, 8mm, Flatliners, Falling Down, St Elmos Fire... Isn't the internet amazing!?

2 months ago | [YT] | 34

Pictures On My Mind

And here I was thinking a Youtube video about how National Geographic Magazine found my work would CRUSH on Youtube. https://youtu.be/KnjiR-C4z6M

I was wrong.

The video had great click through rate (CTR 6%) but for some reason Youtube decided to shop showing it to people after 24 hours, normally it pushes it for at least 72.

So yeah, I'm a bit miffed.

And then I fire up Youtube and some talentless idiot, like a clown shoe holding a camera, has got 100,000 views for a law of thirds video.

It's really depressing.

Not sure how to proceed with making videos that are NOT for morons, that WILL work on this platform.

Any ideas anyone?

I could start making videos for morons, like skipping around London, gurning, doing street photography, but you know, I won't do that.

I've seen this on other more intelligent Youtube channels, like youtube.com/@DamienWalter and his amazing channel on science fiction. YT just stops pushing the videos out for some reason. Meanwhile film critics/kids entertainers who rant about 'the wokes' get all the views.

I'm going to work on freelance photography stuff today, its much more rewarding than the hellmouth that is Youtube.

May they live inside their own videos.

2 months ago | [YT] | 17

Pictures On My Mind

New essay up on Substack: synchromancy.substack.com/p/slutty-little-glasses-…

2 months ago | [YT] | 2