All posts by belgradephotomonth

The Founding of YouTube A Short History

YouTube is one of the most influential platforms in modern media, but its origin story is surprisingly simple: a small team wanted an easier way to share video online. In the early 2000s, uploading and sending video files was slow, formats were inconsistent, and most websites weren’t built for smooth playback. YouTube’s founders focused on removing those barriers—making video sharing as easy as sending a link.

Who Founded YouTube?

YouTube was founded by three former PayPal employees: Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. They combined product thinking, engineering skills, and a clear user goal: create a website where anyone could upload a video and watch it instantly in a browser.

  • Chad Hurley — product/design focus and early CEO role
  • Steve Chen — engineering and infrastructure
  • Jawed Karim — engineering and early concept support

The Problem YouTube Solved

At the time, sharing video often meant emailing huge files or dealing with complicated players and downloads. YouTube made video:

  1. Uploadable by non-experts (simple interface)
  2. Streamable in the browser (no special setup)
  3. Sharable through links and embedding on other sites

Early Growth and the First Video

YouTube launched publicly in 2005. One of the most famous early moments was the first uploaded video, “Me at the zoo,” featuring co-founder Jawed Karim. The clip was short and casual—exactly the kind of everyday content that proved the platform’s big idea: ordinary people could publish video without needing a studio.

Key Milestones Timeline

Year/Date
Milestone
Why It Mattered
2005 YouTube is founded and launches Introduced easy browser-based video sharing
2005 “Me at the zoo” is uploaded Became a symbol of user-generated video culture
2006 Google acquires YouTube Provided resources to scale hosting and global reach

Why Google Bought YouTube

By 2006, YouTube’s traffic was exploding. Video hosting is expensive—bandwidth and storage costs rise fast when millions of people watch content daily. Google’s acquisition gave YouTube the infrastructure and advertising ecosystem to grow into a sustainable business.

What YouTube’s Founding Changed

YouTube didn’t just create a popular website; it reshaped how people learn, entertain themselves, and build careers online. Its founding helped accelerate:

  • Creator-driven media and influencer culture
  • How-to education and free tutorials at massive scale
  • Music discovery, commentary, and global community trends

From a small startup idea to a global video powerhouse, YouTube’s founding is a classic example of a simple product solving a real problem—and changing the internet in the process.

The winners of the BPM New Talents 2025

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the BPM New Talents 2025.

First, we would like to extend our thanks to the fantastic Jury Team: Dušan Kochol (Off Bratislava), Isabel Lázaro (Art Photo BCN), Jelena Janković (Sarajevo Photography Festival), Simone Azzoni (Grenze Arsenali Fotografici), and Špela Pipan (Photon Gallery).

And now, the winners, in alphabetical order, are:

  • Emanuel Constantino
  • Luuk van Raamsdonk
  • Nađa Repman
  • Stanisław Świtała

To find out who the First, Second, Third, and Best Serbian is, join us on 7th May for the official opening of Belgrade Photo Month.

Pobednike BPM New Talents 2025

Sa radošću objavljujemo pobednike BPM New Talents 2025.

Najpre želimo da izrazimo veliku zahvalnost fantastičnom žiriju: Dušan Kochol (Off Bratislava), Isabel Lázaro (Art Photo BCN), Jelena Janković (Sarajevo Photography Festival), Simone Azzoni (Grenze Arsenali Fotografici) i Špela Pipan (Photon Gallery).

A sada, pobednici, po abecednom redu: 

• Emanuel Constantino
• Luuk van Raamsdonk
• Nađa Repman
• Stanisław Świtała

Da biste saznali ko su prvo, drugo, treće mesto i najbolji srpski predstavnik, pridružite nam se 7. maja na zvaničnom otvaranju Beogradskog meseca fotografije.

BPM 2022: Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava, Slovakia. Creation of Photo-book

17 May 18h
 UK Parobrod

Kapetan Mišina 6a,Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava, Slovakia   Creation of Photo-books • Image Narrative and Visual Storytelling   What is bookmaking? What is visual storytelling? What is visual dramaturgy? How do you establish a professional network of industry contacts? How to understand the photobook market across Europe. How to read images and how to tell your story with photography. What is the role of graphic design in the book and why is it essential? Why make a photo-book?   The online lecture will focus and open discussion on all these topics and explain what a photo-book is and show examples that can be helpful in the photo-book creation process.   Lecturers:
Olja Triaška Stefanović, photographer, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava Slovakia
Juraj Blaško, graphic designer, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava, Slovakia   This conversation will be conducted in English.

BPM 2022: Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava, Slovakia. Creation of Photo-book

17. maj u 18 časova
 UK Parobrod

Kapetan Mišina 6a, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

Akademija lepih umetnosti, Bratislava, Slovačka
 
Stvaranje foto-knjige • Slikovni narativ i vizuelno pričanje priče
 
Šta je stvaranje knjige? Šta je vizuelno pričanje priče? Šta je vizuelna dramaturgija? Kako se uspostavlja profesionalna mreža kontakata u industriji? Na koji način funkcioniše tržište foto-knjiga širom Evrope? Kako čitati slike i na koji način pričati priču kroz fotografiju? Koja je uloga grafičkog dizajna u knjizi i zašto je ključna? Zašto uopšte praviti foto-knjigu?
 
Onlajn predavanja će se fokusirati i baviti svim navedenim pitanjima, ali i objasniti šta je foto-knjiga i dati primere koji mogu biti od koristi pri njenom stvaranju.
 
Predavači:
Olja Traiška Stefanović, fotografkinja, Akademija lepih umetnosti, Bratislava, Slovačka
Juraj Blaško, grafički dizajner, Akademija lepih umetnosti, Bratislava, Slovačka
 
Ova prezentacija realizovana je uz veliku podršku Španske ambasade u Beogradu i Instituta Servantes iz Beograda.

BPM 2022: GRAIN

17. maj u 15,30 časova
 UK Parobrod

Kapetan Mišina 6a, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

GRAIN
 
The “GRAIN” association was founded in Belgrade in 2015 with a special emphasis on the promotion, development and production of documentary hotography, based on society and social engagement. Grain Association has organised several exhibitions by photographers and published a number of photo books.

grain.rs
 
Igor Čoko – Subverzivna estetika ulice, 2017
The aesthetics of the street from the perspective of a visual anthropologist that evokes the turbulent struggle of the metropolis and the province to the last drop of sweat.
Colour, 104 pages, 22×20 cm, hardcover, digital reissue.
 
Igor Čoko – Karaburma moj geto, 2019
Belgrade Bronx, Little Colombia, visual aesthetics of the street, the end of the restless spirit in a new, supplemented reissue over an increased number of pages.
Monochrome, 128 pages, 25×20 cm, hardcover.
 
Igor Čoko – Living Behind Bars, 2020
The story of the life of a convict behind bars in Belgrade’s central prison, published in English. Original books published
in 2016.
Monochrome, 128 pages, 25×20 cm, hardcover.
 
Igor Čoko – Štekovi, 2021
The story of migrants traveling through Belgrade during the years 2015-21, and their stay in all imaginable and unimaginable forms of rat holes, shelters and barns, while on their way to the EU.
Monochrome, 128 pages, 25×20 cm, hardcover.
 
Imre Szabo – Godine zapleta, 2021
A important photo-book on the topic of our downfall from Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia and again to Kosovo. Lessons from which we learned nothing. A doyen masterpiece of newspaper and documentary photography.
Monochrome, 128 pages, 25×20 cm, hardcover.
 
Neven Grujić – JHaria Burning, 2022
Direct transmission from one of the largest and most polluted mines in India and on the planet. When you see these scenes, you will want to go to Bor on vacation. No kidding!
Monochrome, 104 pages, 25×20 cm, hardcover.
 
Miloš Stošić – Ljudi govore, 2022
I will not curse you out loud, I will make you read this book of thoughts drawn on the walls in which the whole vortex of madness of the brains of the local state of consciousness is hidden. This will be an important historical book in the future.
Colour, 128 pages, 20×20 cm, hardcover.
 
Miloš Cvetković – Bilo jednom na Azurnoj obali, 2022
Once upon a time, there was a seemingly free world and we as a nation were a part of it. Uncensored, directly from the crowd, the legendary Cvele recorded the freedom, decadence and hedonism of the Cote d’Azur in the early 1980s through the Cannes Film Festival and the Grand Prix of Monte Carlo, Formula 1 races. This historical photo-book provides a break before the upcoming book about Bosnia, after which you will really not be well.
Monochrome, 128 pages, 25×20 cm, hardcover.
 
Nemanja Ledenski – Sirovi rezovi, 2021
If a book describes the brutality of the street, it is Nemanja’s masterpiece. Escaping from the shackles of the capital, these images faithfully evoke the charm and raw immediacy of provincial life, striking between the horns and below the belt. This book will make your eyes bleed.
Monochrome, 64 sides, 20×20 cm, hardcover.
 
This conversation will be conducted in English.



BPM 2022: GRAIN

17. maj u 15,30 časova
 UK Parobrod

Kapetan Mišina 6a, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

GRAIN
 
Udruženje „GRAIN” je osnovano u Beogradu 2015. godine sa posebnim naglaskom na promociju, razvoj i produkciju autorske dokumentarne fotografije, bazirane na društveno i socijalno angažovanoj formi. U organizaciji udruženja Grain organizovano je više autorskih izložbi i objavljeno nekoliko foto-knjiga.
 
grain.rs
 
Igor Čoko – Subverzivna estetika ulice, 2017.
Estetika ulice iz perspektive vizuelnog antropologa koja dočarava turbulentnu borbu velegrada i palanke do posljednje kapi znoja.
Kolor, 104 strane, 22×20 cm, tvrdi povez, digitalno reizdanje
 
Igor Čoko – Karaburma moj geto, 2019.
Beogradski bronks, Mala Kolumbija, vizuelna estetika ulice, kraja nemirnog duha u novom, dopunjenom reizdanju na
povećanom broju strana.
Monohromno, 128 strana, 25×20 cm, tvrdi povez
 
Igor Čoko – Living behind bars, 2020.
Priča o životu osuđenika iza rešetaka beogradskog Ce zea, izdanje na engleskom jeziku, originalne knjige objavljene 2016.
Monohromno, 128 strana, 25×20 cm, tvrdi povez
 
Igor Čoko – Štekovi, 2021.
Priča o migrantima na proputovanju kroz Beograd tokom 2015-21. godine i njihovom boravku u svim zamislivim i nezamislivim oblicima pacovskih rupa, skloništa, štekova, na putu ka EU.
Monohromno, 128 strana, 25×20 cm, tvrdi povez
 
Imre Szabo – Godine zapleta, 2021.
Udžbenik na temu naše propasti od Kosova, Hrvatske, Bosne i opet do Kosova. Lekcije iz kojih ništa nismo naučili. Remek djelo doajena novinske i dokumentarne fotografije.
Monohromno, 128 strana, 25×20 cm, tvrdi povez
 
Neven Grujić – JHaria Burning, 2022.
Dirketan prenos iz jednog od najvećih i najzagađenijih rudnika u Indiji i na planeti. Kada vidite ove prizore, poželićete da odete u Bor na odmor. Bez zajebancije.
Monohromno, 104 strane, 25×20 cm, tvrdi povez
 
Miloš Stošić – Ljudi govore, 2022.
Neću te opsovati glasno, natjeraću te da pročitaš ovu knjigu misli iscrtanih po zidovima u kojima se krije sav vorteks ludila mozgova ovdašnjeg stanja svijesti. Istorijska knjiga u najavi.
Kolor, 128 strana, 20×20 cm, tvrdi povez
 
Miloš Cvetković – Bilo jednom na Azurnoj obali, 2022.
Jednom davno, bio jedan naizgled slobodan svijet i mi kao narod dio njega. Bez cenzure, direktno iz mase, legendarni Cvele početkom osamdesetih bilježi svojim aparatom slobodu, dekadenciju i hedonizam Azurne obale kroz festival u Kanu i veliku nagradu Monte Karla, trke formule 1. Istorijska čitanka u pauzi nadolezeće knjige o Bosni nakon koje vam zaista neće biti dobro.
Monohromno, 128 strana, 25×20 cm, tvrdi povez
 
Nemanja Ledenski – Sirovi rezovi, 2021.
Ako neka knjiga opisuje brutalnost ulice, onda je to Nemanjino remek djelo. Izmaknuta iz okova prestolnice, vjerno dočarava garež i sirovu neposrednost života provincije, udara među rogove i ispod pojasa. Brutalno reže po očima.
Monohromno, 64 strane, 20×20 cm, tvrdi povez
 
Ovaj razgovor će se voditi na engleskom jeziku.
 

BPM 2022: Photo book self-publishers, talk

16. maj u 17,15 časova
 UK Parobrod

Kapetan Mišina 6a, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

Photo book self-publishers
 
During BPM book 2022 we will be presenting several talks based around the theme of photo books. In addition to these presentations on books, by both authors and publishers from across Europe, there will be a fantastic three-day workshop and a photo book market.
 
We enter this world of photo books hand in hand with photographers, editors, publishers and organisers of photo book contests, in order to have a global vision.
 
Surely all of us who create photographic projects with our cameras would also like to be able to see our work on the shelves of a book store, art store, photography store or some photographic market in the form of a book. Perhaps it is a more economical way for people to take our work into their homes rather than buying original prints. Perhaps we can start dreaming that this may be possible, or even win a book award!
 
This talk will bring together several photographers who have self-published books. They will share their experiences with us, from the choice of the project, the narrative, selection of materials, texts, design, format of the book, financing, and the production of the book. They will also offer advice about what to do once we have the final book in our hands, how to distribute it, how to give it a life and make it visible within Serbia.
 
The participants are:
Dušan Đorđević
Katarina Radović
Siniša Vlajković
The conversation will be conducted in English.



BPM 2022: Photo book self-publishers, talk



16. maj u 17,15 časova
 UK Parobrod

Kapetan Mišina 6a, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

Samoizdavači foto-knjiga
 
Tokom Beogradskog meseca fotografije 2022. godine imaćemo par predavanja na kojima je glavna tema foto-knjiga. Uz prezentaciju, koju će voditi i autori i izdavači iz raznih delova Evrope, dogodiće se i trodnevna radionica, kao i market foto-knjiga.
 
Sa foto-knjigama se upoznajemo uz fotografe, urednike, izdavače i organizatore, kako bi se stekla opštija slika.
 
Naravno, svi mi koji se bavimo fotografijom, imamo želju da svoj rad vidimo između korica na polici neke knjižare, galerije, fotografske radnje ili marketa. Verovatno je ovo i najekonomičniji način da fotografski rad završi u domovima, mnogo ekonomičniji od kupovine originalnog dela. Možemo čak i sanjati o mogućnosti dobijanja nagrade za foto-knjigu.
 
Razgovor će voditi nekoliko fotografa koji su sami objavili foto-knjige. Podeliće sa nama svoje iskustvo, počevši od odabira projekta, preko narativa, materijala, teksta, dizajna, formata same knjige, finansija, kao i izrade foto-knjige. Posavetovaće nas i šta treba činiti kada je foto-knjiga gotova, kako je distribuirati, oživeti i učiniti je vidljivijom u Srbiji.
 
Učesnici su:
Dušan Đorđević
Katarina Radović
Siniša Vlajković
 
Razgovor će se voditi na engleskom jeziku.



BPM 2022: Anahronike/Anachronicles 1995–2020. Siniša Vlajković. Photo book presentation

16 May 16,30h
 UK Parobrod

Kapetan Mišina 6a, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

Siniša Vlajković
Anachronicles 1995–2020
 
Having lived in Beirut and Dubai and travelled extensively across the Middle East, Siniša Vlajković began to photographically record his impressions and experiences of this complex, multi-ethnic, multi-confessional, historically layered, turbulent but always inspiring part of the world, and to imprint his memories of growing up in the Balkans.
 
The title of the monograph Anachronicles”, a neologism created from the terms “anachronism” and “chronicle”, summarises the character of Siniša Vlajković’s photographic opus created during the last 25 years, and presented here in a thematically rounded series titled “Americana” (1995), “Time Regained” (2003–2008), “Genius Loci” (2006–2012), “Substations” (2007-2013), “Balkan Jazz” (2013–2020) and “Largo” (2009–2020).
 
The monograph contains 75 reproductions, texts by New York-based independent curator, Lara Pan, and art historian and curator, Jovana Stokić, as well as an interview with Siniša Vlajković by the Hungarian art historian Zoltán Somhegyi.

This talk will be conducted in English