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I started in photography in 1968 when I bought a Nikonos II underwater camera to document my SCUBA diving adventures and I was soon hooked on photography selling my SCUBA gear to buy NikonFtn and Nikon F bodies with 35mm f/2.0 and 85mm f/1.8 lenses in college to do photo journalism with enough success to decide to drop-out in 1972, move to Washington, DC with my GF and try to find a job as a PJ there. Instead I wound up apprenticing with world famous wedding photographer/teacher Monte Zucker shooting wedding for his millionaire clients at the top hotels around DC. That led to meeting the asst. chief of the photo lab at Nation Geographic and a job there on the technical side and then a career in the US Foreign Service managing a printing center in Manila where I was once again able to to do underwater photography with my Nikonos II and a newer Nikonos V. Shooting with a 36 exposure roll of film forced one to become a “decisive moment” photographer. That term was used in photography books back in the film era often citing a classic 1936 photo taken by Robert Capa if the exact moment a Spanish soldier was shot. The Nikon F camera I used was notable as being the first which used motor-drive with a frame rate of about 3 frames per second. They were used by some sports photographers but they soon discovered that as John said the key decisive moments occurred between frames. The best lesson learned from my mentor Monte occurred during my first interview when he generously critiqued each of my twenty 16x20 matted 11x14 Zone System B&W prints with a pair of “L” shaped mat board cropping guides. Instead of starting on the edges and cropping inward he asked me what my intended focal point was in the photo. He then cropped in very tight on it and then slowly expanded the frame asking me to tell him when something entering the edged distracted my attention off the focal point. He was showing me I had “tunneled” in on the focal point that had interested me enough to take the photo but had ignored things which distracted and detracted from it. I was so blown away by that new way of looking at a scene that evening I took a razor knife and cut down all my portfolio prints to a collection of borderless 8x10, 5x7 and for one a pair of 4x5s hoping he would be impressed enough to give me the job, which he did. 😊 50 years later, now mostly shooting wildlife and passing boats from the back deck of my home on the ICW in North Carolina and sharing them on my channel here, I still compose my photos the same way, cropping it tight on the focal point then expanding the frame outward to add ‘just enough’ context to explain the environment but not so much it distracts from the focal point. I still only use single frame mode, still trying to capture the decisive moment, which happens more often than not if one practices.

We'll miss you John. Thank you for all your efforts.

I shoot everyday no matter what the weather says. Sometimes I only shoot from my car.

God Bless You,

RIP John

Thanks Pictureman x

Yes, the reasons why they are there, not always about drugs, most of the time it’s about a disruption in life, unavoidable and out of their control. Thank you for your words.

RIP Mr. Free. You're a legend in street photography.

Preach bro!! Love this...

Rest In Peace Maestro, you where an amazing teacher

An absolute legend and treasure.

What a wonderful guy.

I admire you a lot Mr Free, you are a great street photographer who inspired me a lot!! Thank you!!

Wise man, every word is a lesson. Thank you fro everything John. A Legend.

Please tell me if there is an extended version of this? RIP John, you'll be dearly missed

John was among the first photographers who ignited my passion for the craft, showcasing the artistic depth of photography and emphasizing the value of joining this amazing community. I'm grateful for the internet and its vast archives that enable us to revisit and learn from his genius behind the lens. I can't remember how many times I've watched this video, and I don't think I'll ever tire of it. What an incredible man. Rest in peace, colonel 🕊 you'll be dearly missed

Available light never a flash.... Never got those who insisted on using flash in street....

Rip sir

Brilliant ability to see, compose and capture.

John - these are moving videos for me. Enjoyable, grounded, Inspirational - the adjectives are too many to list. Thank you

Rest In Peace Chief

Rip legend John free I am sad since you passed away

RIP, John the humanist.

I visited this museum last August and got some great photos of people sitting next to statues, sometimes unintentionally mimicking the statues. Great advice from John. RIP.

Got your book last month. Love it!! I admire your work so freakin much! Thank you, sir and may you rest in peace! :(

RIP John Free 3/30/24 - absolute legend. I watch this video like once a month.

Rest easy John.

Rest in Peace, John! You are a true inspiration. Can't forget our workshop in DTLA in December 2016.

R.I.P

Thank you. Your comment makes my day.

Is John Free still alive ? update please

Thanks for all your style mr. John free!!! Only wish id discovered you sooner.

To me these are the modern day parallel to the ancient greek cynics, like diogenes of sinope. Fascinating and sorely undocumented. Hope youre well John!

"Like a semiphore of permanent distress" this man is cool.

It’s 2024 now and this video is still very educational

I watch this guy's video over and over and over again. I love you, john. Thank you for all your hard work.

Thank you ❤

In a time where some people concentrate on “the feels”, here’s a man giving out solid advice and having the discipline to do the important work. Discipline is the foundation to doing things and becoming successful.

John is a teacher! So much to learn from the best. Thankyou!

He sounds like a California democrat with the fawning about how great all those people were.

Thank God I always knew I had to have a job and work to have self worth and avoid the life of a tramp.

Wow, say's it all really...

Those pictures tell a story of the hobos of America and there hardship, riding the high iron, reminds Me of the old movie, Wild Boys Of The Road from the 30s,You see some old road names in Your pictures of predecessor Railroads like SRR, SP!🛤🚂

There are no hobos or tramps anymore. They are all homeless victims now.

Priceless masterpiece. Thanks. From New York

Social documentary essays FOR corporations, ahhh haha haaaAhhh cough choke has a ha ha

😲 WoW you are an amazing photographer and a great story teller as well... Thank you for sharing this with us 🙏

You are a very sensitive artist and a Master of Documentary Photography. You achieved a perfect composition in each photo, without losing spontaneity. I appreciate you sharing the photos and your experience. Greetings from Argentina.

John Free, you are a man full of love and compassion for the far less fortunate. You are a man after God's heart. This video with your stories about these men is as good as the best movie. And more valuable because they are true. Thank you for insight into a world that very few would know without your love and dedication, not only for photography but for these wonderful people. Amen.

That one passerby dude with the camys looks like he's headed to a Falling Down appointment