Written by Christian Hopewell
Over the last 9 months Camera Ventures has been researching the current state of analog photography around the world, interviewing hundreds of people from CEOs integral to the industry, to upcoming young enthusiasts. We have gone on to undertake a survey of over 7500 analog enthusiasts from around the globe so that we can see how vibrant, varied and ultimately how healthy the analog camera scene is. This all with the hope that we can answer whether analog photography has what it takes to survive and be appreciated by the generations to come. If you’ve already taken part in our survey then we’d like to thank you for helping with this project, and if you’re yet to do so you can still take part here.
In this article we’re going to be featuring the top 10 Youtube channels as recommended by the Camera Ventures survey participants. Youtube is a revolutionary platform, at this point you can find a video on just about any topic. There are Youtube channels covering all aspects of photography: videos on different cameras, film formats, and shooting styles. In a time where analog photography is a specialist interest, being able to tap into these rich sources of information can really be invaluable.
We asked our Cameraventures survey participants to let us know their favourite analog photography YouTube channels – here are our results:
On YouTube since 2008 and now surpassing 23 million views, The Art of Photography Youtube channel sees host Ted Forbes cover a wide range of photographic topics. From practical photography tutorials on composition, metering and developing, to short documentaries on important figures in the photographic world. Ted’s analog photography experience is extensive and that really shows in the way he is able to present himself and his knowledge before the camera. Of particular interest may be his Vintage Camera Series where he examines cameras from his collection, or his Artist Series which sees him interview working contemporary artists.
The Negative Feedback Youtube channel is a relative newcomer, starting up in April 2016. In that time the channel has grown at a tremendous rate due to the great consistent content they produce. Negative Feedback follows host George Muncey through different shooting environments, working with different cameras and film stocks. Notable videos include Shooting 8×10 Polaroids in New York and Shooting Large Format Portraits for Dickies.
Matt Day is a working analog photographer from Ohio and his videos alternate between practical tutorials, reviews and photo blogs. Matt regularly develops and scans his own film. He has a number informative videos detailing his process and results including a 30 minute at-home developing video. A good introduction to his work can be found in his Carolina Beach video. In this video he shares the shots he took using a Pentax 645n, Pentax 67ii and Leica M6 during a personal trip.
The Nicos Photography show is run by Nicolas Llasera, a Spanish photographer from Bilbao. Nicolas is a very frequent uploader to Youtube with several new videos being published each week. His regular uploads include his weekly Photo News segment and his Analog Hotline live streams where he answers viewer questions.
Eduardo is a multitalented creator, having worked as a screen writer, playwright and audiovisualist. His Youtube videos follow him as she shoots street photos with different cameras and film stocks. What makes his videos stand out is the honesty in his work and reviews. On each camera outing he makes sure to display every shot he takes in the video and sums up each video with a genuine review of his experience. A great place to start with Eduardo’s videos would be to check out his X-Pan + CineStill video.
Digital Rev is the most subscribed and viewed photography channel on YouTube. Their episodes are often referred to as being the ‘Top Gear’ for camera enthusiasts due to their over the top and comedic nature. While Digital Rev have, as the name implies, covered most digital camera releases, they have also created an AnalogRev series on film equipment. Their AnalogRev series tends to be a little more subdued than their regular digital content, with each episode focusing on an iconic film camera.
As the name implies the Forest Hill Film Lab is a photographic lab that offers film processing and scanning in Northern California. The lab is run by Travis Mortz out of his home darkroom and the Forest Hill Film Lab Youtube videos feature Travis covering different cameras, lenses and films. An interesting video to check out would be his Making A Darkroom Print video which takes you through the whole process.
Indie Film Lab is another photographic lab, this time based out of Montgomery, Alabama. The Youtube channel is run by Josh Moates, and although it doesn’t receive new content very often, it is home to the feature length documentary Long Live Film. Long Live Film follows a road trip from Montgomery to Las Vegas, shooting film and interviewing analog photographers along the way. Beautiful shots, fascinating stories, certainly a recommended watch.
Ben Horne is a large format landscape photographer based out of San Diego, California. Ben’s videos cover the less often featured large format, and he covers it well. Ben produces beautiful landscape prints and just watching his videos will make you want to get out and shoot… whether you’d want to carry an 8×10 camera like he does is a different matter! Recommended viewing his his on-location Colorado Plateau series.
Mike Janik’s channel features several camera reviews on some iconic models such as the Nikon F3. His videos are casual and entertaining even if they’re not so frequently uploaded. He has more recently starting shooting some more on location videos including a Cinestill film vlog.
Whether you’re looking for tutorials on shooting or developing, gear reviews, discussions or just artistic inspiration, those recommended Youtube channels have more than enough content to keep you occupied for hours and hours – with fresh videos on the way. While this list represents some of the most popular analog content, it’s far from definitive with new photographers joining up and sharing their expertise all the time. If you’ve not used Youtube to explore analog photography before, you’re missing out.
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