Jared Polin of FroKnowsPhoto has published a new video with the self-explanatory title ‘ASMR Photography,’ a 20-minute auditory exploration that offers ‘soothing sounds that tingle your senses,’ he explains. The video production involved four microphones, two for Polin's voice and another two for capturing binaural sounds from cameras and accessories.
Unlike Polin's other videos, which include gear reviews and lens comparisons, this video is for viewers who enjoy the phenomenon popularly referred to as autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), a tingling sensation produced by listening to certain isolated sounds and whispering.
Viewers should watch the video with headphones to fully appreciate the binaural audio. Sounds included in the video—Polin's whispering aside—include opening a film canister, loading film, firing a strobe light and multiple camera shutter snaps.
Jared Polin's greatest achievement in life: to push Tony Northrup down to the silver podium of most annoying photo YouTuber. If we wanted to see shoddy YouTube AI recommendations we'd visit YouTube and not DPReview.
Really, really is this the kind of crap, DPReview wants to encourage? If so, perhaps most of us should find another photo site to visit.
I guess the presenter doesn't have a clue what binaural sound is, even though he is careful to use that exotic-sounding term in the title. This, emphatically, is not binaural—it is not even proper stereo; it is dual mono, the lowest form of "stereo". I say this as a perfectionist recordist with 30 years experience in real stereo and 40 years experimenting with binaural.
Click bait. This really should be removed.
I skipped through this in about a minute; that's all it took to confirm suspicions generated in the first 10 seconds.
'Real stereo' https://www.tnt-audio.com/topics/realstereo_e.html is characterized by creating, on playback, a virtual image of what is being recorded; an acoustic equivalent to a visual holographic image. To my mind and to other engineers who have bothered to investigate this in detail, there is only one pre-eminent technique for accomplishing this with loudspeakers and that is the so-called Blumlein technique i.e., a crossed figure of eight pair of microphones. Playback needs to be via speakers in a good acoustic environment and at angles of ±45º relative to the listener's frontal axis. Ideally the playback should be capable of passing the mono test, where a mono signal appears to come from a very tightly defined position centred between the speakers. Allan Blumlein took out the world's first patent on stereo in 1931 and his technique has not been improved upon yet—at least for two speaker playback. Optimally done, the playback speakers disappear as apparent sources of the sound.
he and his friends had to have been high when they shot this.....more than likely a sophomoric attempt at entertaining themselves, and due to the nature of social media decided to publish it to get clicks/likes/revenue of some sort.
People are getting WAY too upset about JP. As a hospital doctor who sees the agony cause by neglect, selfishness, greed, alcoholism, drug abuse, rape, and the other horrors of the human condition, JP's post bring a little laughter in this mostly joyless world. I appreciate him for that. The rest of you sitting on your high horse need to find better things to be upset about. Seriously.
...and it's mostly a matter of taste they likely don't like. If you can get past the style of delivery, he's pretty good. One of the genuinely useful youtubers providing quality content, and not drawing it out so much for the view times, like some do.
UppercanadianAcadian, I have no problem with rational subjective opinions. But when their sense of outrage goes so far as to 1) insist that DP bans JP from its website, 2) goes into juvenile name calling, 3) attacks his character for making an entertaining video, 4) degrades JP's credibility without knowing his background, then that bothers me. Your country music analogy is not even in the same category.
Yes, I am a physician, but I do not consider myself self-important. In fact, there are days that I am barely able to get out of bed. But I do find people like JP who like to make people laugh better than some of the folks here on this website that like to tear down.
Finally, the "ER physician" is not a trump card. It's a "perspective card". And it has been a good reminder to myself when I'm upset or depressed... not everything is worth getting worked up about.
If people’s strong opinions about Polin are enough to cause you to somehow link your outrage at their intensity to the seriousness of your job, you really need to work on your self-care as a physician.
Life and death and tragedy of your job has zero connection to your perceived inappropriateness of other’s views about some YouTube personality.
I’d be embarrassed to bring up the seriousness of my profession in the attempt to somehow demonstrate how one’s opinion is invalid simply because it regards a topic that is not as serious as my job.
I never said their opinions are "INVALID because it regards a topic that is not as serious as my job." But I do find the VITRIOL about JP ridiculous. I could care less if someone doesn't like his style or his personality. But have you read some of these comments? Some people (maybe you) are seriously angry about a dumb joke. Some perspective is needed. And I am not the least embarrassed.
Also, my job (and life experiences) DO inform me of the perceived appropriateness and inappropriateness of various opinions (including YouTube personalities). And guess what, your job (and your life experiences) do exactly the same thing for you. And if there is someone who has life experiences that is different from mine and that helps me to interpret this world a little better, then I do my best to learn from them.
If you don't mind, let me write down what I said in the entirety:
As a hospital doctor who sees the agony cause by neglect, selfishness, greed, alcoholism, drug abuse, rape, and the other horrors of the human condition, JP's post bring a little laughter in this mostly joyless world.
Translated...
I see horrible things at work, and JP video brings some laughter.
Sounds reasonable to me. I am NOT saying that people cannot be truly angry and upset at things. But being REALLY upset about JP's video seems a little... well... insane to me.
Now when you say that "You think other people are overreacting?" I apologize, but I'm not exactly sure what you mean. If you are asking if I think some people are overreacting to JP's post, then yes I do. Those people sound like they need self-care more than I do. Although I do admit that I need to work on my own self-care more. So thanks for that reminder. I do honestly appreciate that.
"the self-explanatory title ‘ASMR Photography" - ?? Alright, so I'm old and out of it, but the title is hardly 'self-explanatory' to me. I've not the faintest idea what 'ASMR Photography' is.
The ‘ASMR Photography’ title is self-explanatory because it is about ASMR and Photography; it doesn’t have to explain ASMR to be self-explanatory, it only has to explain without question what the video is about. If the title were “Adjusting aperture” it would be self explanatory that it is about adjusting aperture regardless if the viewer even knows what aperture is.
I would disagree. This is a photography gear site and aperture is a photographic term so your example would be self explanatory here. ASMR is not so in this context is not self explanatory.
Clickbait is just another word for marketing. It's what people always do to make their stuff seem enticing and get you to pay attention and try it out.
It's no different from a well done movie trailer, an ad for virtually anything, the opening notes or "hook" of a song, etc.
We need to get over the fact that video content producers actually want to market their stuff. Same as it ever was.
DOES DPR has any standard left ..come on... this guy is douche bag and Fake... so called photographer! ..no he is not ....he is a click and bait type ...scam artist......ugh....
I'm not Fro's biggest fan but he matriculated at the Antonelli Institute and also shot sports and concerts professionally, so he's probably more a photographer in the traditional sense than most youtube reviews.
I like Fro. He is a goofball, but throughout the years, I've found his reviews and tips helpful. He takes life a little less seriously and with a sense of humor. We all could use a little levity in this insane world.
That's one helluva generalisation. I've shot raw since it was available in the late 90s and at the same time, can't stand this plonker of an individual. He makes my flesh creep.
Please remove the word 'binaural' as this video has nothing to do with that (Jared doesn't even claim so). Natural binaural audio is done with a special setup where microphones are placed inside artificial ears to simulate the way our ears modify the sounds so that the brain can place them in the 3D space. It can also be simulated artificially in software but that requires the software to know the exact position of the sound source relative to the listener.
When listening to Jareds video using headphones it's obvious that it's not binaural since all sounds appear inside your head and not outside as it would if it really was binaural. Just seeing the microphone placement should be an obvious giveaway, actually.
I'd rather happily commit 'Seppuko' before I had to listen to Polin's 'whisperings. Listen to this weirdo in his natural voice was already punishment even when it took me only a couple of seconds before I could slam the stop button.
Ha, I just love it :-) Oh dear oh me. We need more like this DPR. Classic.
I was watching one of his comparisons just the other night with the Sony 600 F/4 and the Sony 200-600. No matter what anyone says, the guy can shoot and maybe, just maybe, thats where a lot of people have an issue with him. Beats the heck out of some of the elitists and so called ..... eh eh, fine art photographers (oh I love that term) that we have on DPR. GOOoooooo Fro
I suspect, especially if the naysayers are from the UK, that there is an undercurrent of antisemitism here. They'll all deny it but it continues in Europe, unabated even after the horrors of the last century.
@XXTwnz, no, what exists in Europe is the separation of state and religion, so when Europeans, like most sane people, question what Israel is doing just as an extension to the genocide their people themselves suffered, they are not being anti-semitic, they are being anti-murderous fascist government, which is what the Israeli government is. But yes, we are well aware of the active intent of said government to call anything that is not agreeing with their ways completely as "anti-semitic", and this it is not! And what the hell does all this have to do with Jared? He's a d-bag, whatever religion he may have been born into. Actually now I see, this is the same story as with the Israeli government?! Question anyone that looks Jewish for anything they do and you're automatically anti-semitic? Pathetic!
10 and counting agree so far. Pretty sure the vast majority of those who read it will agree, whether they watch JP or not. Who cares whether SH10453 watches his videos or not, and what is the point of telling us? That is the point of my post. Is SH10453 some authority with influence on DPR content? Don't get me wrong, I love such comments. They make me think outside the box.
I'm sure one million plus JP subscribers and many more would, if they cared enough to read and contribute, give the opposite feedback. To which DPR should give just as much attention. Zero!
@Aberaeron Cheap sarcasm aside, I would have thought the comments section is for (drumroll...) expressing one's opinion about the piece they just read/watched, which is exactly what he did. Even if it is to say he hates it so much he won't watch it. Plus, his comment has more likes than yours so I guess we can say more people agree with him? So joke's on you buddy...
It isn't stereo, it is binaural. There is a difference, particularly that the two channels are completely independent with no mixing and intended to be heard via headphones only with each ear receiving a unique signal.
Well predictably there is the criticism of JP, but I find his humor very entertaining among some quite stale photography types, and entertainment is probably more important on YT than actual content. Usefully however, Polin can back up his clowning around with some solid experience and (for the internet) relatively unbiased info. [His own work is well above average IMO].
He's got what it takes to get there, whether he's too much for you or not, and he's willing to put it on the line and go toe to toe if he believes he's right. That's pretty rare in a world looking for the least effort. But he's a bit much for me to watch
It's tough, but I'm going to say Ken is more talented than this guy. Ken is entertaining, wether it's his intention or not and he is skilled in the art of blogging.
The guy in the video, well, I just don't see how he has subscribers.
Ken is great at photographing lenses. Not a fan of his work when he photographs anything else though. Very generic style. Nothing offensive but nothing that makes my heart hurt with that "MAN, I wish I could shoot like that!" feeling that great photographer illicit. I also don't enjoy the non-stop contradictory statements he makes. He's just trolling for clicks. (Admittedly, JP is too, but I guess I'm in the minority that finds this entertaining...)
@DamianFI - Ken is a good blogger, self claimed good engineer (don't know about that), but a good photographer or a a famous artists as he claims to be... not at all. Jared has never make such claims, he is just doing his thing, shooting videos, taking photos, reviewing equipment, not bragging about things he is obviously not.
Say what you will about Ken, but he's the real deal. He seems to be shooting constantly and actually has a love for it. Can't say I'm the #1 fan of his work but he has a very consistent style and can shoot just about anything. He may be a bit odd but he knows his stuff.
This Froknows guy's site doesn't even have his portfolio, just a link to a bunch of youtube videos and a whole bunch of junk to buy/sign up for. His instagram is a bunch of pictures of him and a few of some fancy gear. Its looks like a self-marketing exercise.
Perhaps I'm a bit old school but I just reeks of influencer/youtuber junk more than a useful source of photography information. I'll stick with Ken.
@rbach44 NAH, Ken isn't the real deal as he claims false things. Yes, Ken's reviews are awesome, the best IMO. But his pictures are far, WAY far from the "great artists" he claims to be. He has more ego than talent as he even patented film photography as the "real RAW" (something that deleted from all his blogs). Jared, well... he is just a vlogger, not the best, not the worst, but at least he is not preaching lies about himself.
Jared P is not only funny and intelligent, but one of the best sources of accurate photo reviews on the Internet! Honestly guys if you're not trusting Jared P...
Nice personality, yes. Some good info. But he rubs "me" the wrong way because when I watch his content I can't help but think he's more about entertainment, views, likes and subscriptions over quality content.
In general, IMHO, Jared comes across as someone who tries to be objective and generally offers some good insight and knowledge. Of course he's not perfect but no one is.
But I can't help but ask @rjx why, if Jared "rubs" you the wrong way, you even bother to watch his content. This is the internet; you don't have to watch at all.
BTW, Jared is also about entertainment because that is how he can continue to make money and do his reviews. Whether one likes it or not, if you are not entertaining very few people will watch. That's the nature of the business. It may not seem fair, but as the great sports commentator Stephen A Smith often says, "fair is a place where pigs go to get judged." So we all just need to deal with that.
I will also give credit where it's due: it's easy to criticize people like Jared or Tony Northrup. But in reality the way they can project their personality and hold people's attention is pretty impressive. Most people could not do that.
@ Thoughts R Us. Since you asked, I no longer watch his videos. I only clicked on this post because sound design is something I do and I was curious about "ASMR binaural sounds." But no, I didn't click on the video.
Well now Mr Bond, that would be a matter of OPINION, would it not? I do hope that you can find a way of coping with this situation without turning to drink, drugs or issuing stern position statements.
LOL, apparently when you've been shooting for a while, you turn old, grumpy, and lose all sense of humor. This is nothing but satire with a photography twist.
Lighten up folks, you act like DPR shot your dog and made your cat move away. You're more than welcome to start your own, free-content site and post what you will there. Go ahead, might even give it a visit! :D :D :D
(p.s. I didn't watch the entire thing, but I laughed. I even looked up the gal's video linked below -- I don't get it, and yes I'm wearing headphones.)
if people have an opinion about they way someone presents (or shouts) in his videos has nothing to do with jealousy.... it's just about the way he hosts his show. I ignore his channel and content for various reasons. That doesn't mean I'm jealous, I choose not to be shouted at.
Only reviewers who can’t afford to put any effort into their reviews, and have no incentive to work hard on them or be consistent? That doesn’t sound like a great idea.
Reviewers have to eat too, feed their kids, pay their mortgage, etc.
Generally reviewers make money through ads or sponsorship. The only other alternative is to pay for their content. So if you want these purist reviews, then ask yourself: am I willing to pay for them?
She puts out a light, friendly helpful technique / retouch / photo-workflow-oriented video once or twice a week. She keeps it simple and straightforward, with particularly useful pointers for beginners.
She doesn't
1/ take money from camera or software manufacturers; 2/ photograph skeezy pron or noooods; 3/ try to be a clown-goofus; 4/ argue with anyone, or denigrate anyone. Seriously, she just doesn't comment on what other people do, what cameras they use, etc. She just tells you what works for her. The positivity of her community is stunning compared to the rest of the photographic internet.
She does
1/ promote her photography; 2/ sell (inexpensive!) Lightroom presets that she makes herself.
Seems pretty reasonable, to me. How 'bout featuring more people like her, DPReview?
@MeeVee and @Horshack: thanks for passing along those photographers and their channels. They do have a very nice tone to their videos, very positive and without controversy.
Perhaps you are onto something...a feature article at DPR, highlighting some of these lesser known YouTuber photographers that are solid, engaging, offer quality content, but just a bit more subdued in their personalities.
Most people who criticize the Fro are just JPG shooters that can not tolerate the huge file sizes and storage consumption that his way of shooting demands.
But actually they are just jealous because they secretly dream of a higher dynamic range and flexibility of their files.
Imagine you are a photography enthusiast in the early days of YouTube; you start a channel, have a moderately goofy schtick, but are successful.
As the years go on, YouTube changes. Click-bait becomes the norm, with actual content being a minor part to videos. Video thumbnail previews require a mandatory ‘shocked’ or surprised face while pointing to a product.
The arms race for views and subscribers reaches a high point— antics, hyperbole and superficial content are now primarily required as people watch videos now for quick dopamine reward release (why I hate, top 5, why I switched, etc)
Topics that ideally should be covered in thoughtful long-form videos now are treated with quick superficial dismissive rants.
At some point, you find yourself pandering to viewers completely.
You find yourself doing an ASMR video.
You think about how the you of ten years ago would think of what you are doing now.
Sure Jared has some schtick but I think he does some pretty good content overall. I find him amusing but I can see why the Pentax and m4/3 people don't like him.
To be fair, click bait is partly demand driven. It wouldn't be there if people didn't click it. But it's so tempting... I recently installed a chrome extension that blocks the up next side bar and highly recommended it. Just Google it, there are a few.
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