I did watch the entire video the first time and again just now. Nowhere do I see how he agrees with my conclusion of "Some people do like and care about others' work. Not every shot needs to be intended for art galleries."
Instead, he states: "Work that matters is important and that's what every photographer should be striving for." Also, he agrees with "no more easy shots" and adds "you should be pushing yourself."
I completely disagree with this. For most, photography is a pleasant hobby and a person should do whatever brings them the most enjoyment out of it - whether it's happy snaps of a vacation, or an intense study of the Zone System in an attempt to emulate Ansel Adams.
At the end he states again: "you need to make pictures that matter." Again I disagree: I make photos to satisfy myself; if others like them (and some have), great. I get to choose how much effort I put into the hobby.
I did notice the cameras on the shelf in the background. I won't criticize him for that, as I've got a metric tonne of them on shelves as well. What was amusing was that he had them lit by spotlights.
You don't seem to know Ted very well and you are looking at this from only your own perspective.
Look at the extensive amount of videos he has done, he covers a LOT of topics in the realm of photography.
He is not another youtube-tech vlog, but a photography vlog with interesting discussions and topics and a big chunk of his videos are about the work of past known and not so known photographers, styles and expressions.
He covers various cameras too, from a photography standpoint and he also (important) cover analog photography, cameras and processes. (like this video, about TLR-type of cameras, many of the younger viewers have never even seen one before and it's very cool that he makes an effort to introduce this to a new generation:
)
So what if he has cameras behind him, it's a photography vlog and he actually uses the cameras in the background.
80% of his former videos has been in-front of a bare wall, then in-front of a bunch of boxes (after he moved), it's the latest videos that has the cameras behind him, cameras that would sit in plastic boxes somewhere, until it was time to use them.
What is the point of the criticism?
Take a look at some of his past shows about other photographers and you immediately know that this guy tries to expands people's brain and thinking around many aspects of photography.
I don't ever think he has stated that "I am right", but rather "I think....what do you think", which is a great way to pass on knowledge and make people think a little for themselves.
I think Ted is often right in his conclusions (although he rarely concludes too hard on stuff, but opens up a subject for further thought or discussion).
Heck, he is the only Vlog I could be bother to subscribe to on youtube. ^^
And he does his own work, regarding photography, but since he quit his job as a teacher, he has been putting a lot of effort into his Vlog and Vlog-related activities (you know, to be able to eat), so I am not sure how often he shoots these days.
Here's a follow up to the vlog we are discussing:
