B&h Photography Podcast

You need film stock for your 1947 Brownie Target Six-20 camera? Film for Classics has it. Found an undeveloped roll of film while cleaning out your grandfather’s junk drawer? Send it to the Rescued Film Project. On today’s episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we examine two aspects of the film photography world that are alive and well. First, we speak with Levi Bettwieser of the Rescued Film Project about his self-assigned mission to collect, process, and preserve as many orphaned rolls of film as he can. He tells us about how his project got started, how he sustains it, his motivation, goals, and the future potential for such an impressive, yet motley archive. Bettwieser inspires us with his zeal, and speaks of the thrill (and the responsibility) he feels knowing that he is the first person to ever see the images contained on these rolls, some shot more than 70 years ago. For the Rescued Film Project’s wish-list, please see link below. After a pause, we speak with Dick Havilland, who is a film re-spoo

Continuing with our series of conversations from the Eddie Adams Workshop, we sit with National Geographic photographer Steve Winter to talk about his work and career, specifically on capturing images and telling the stories of the big cats of the world. Winter started his photojournalism career in the social documentary tradition and, working for the famed Black Star agency, fate (and fear) pushed him into the world of wildlife photography. He tells us how his path shifted, how he blends photojournalism and wildlife photography and how specializing in one subject has benefitted his career. With many adventures and close calls under his belt, he relates how travel and gear logistics and long stretches away from home can be the hardest part of his job. He also talks gear choices, working with scientists and local trackers and drone photography. Winter’s work spans the globe and includes an ark full of creatures, but he is most recognized for his big-cat photography, which entails long expeditions in mountains

We have been looking forward to this conversation for weeks. On today’s episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we sit down with retired Detective 1st Grade Michael Cunningham, of the New York City Police Department, to talk about crime-scene unit photography. Cunningham is an expert on crime scene photography and forensics—in addition to his twenty-seven years with the NYPD, he has worked as a trainer for the Department of Homeland Security, authored a book on crime-scene management, and currently works providing case-management solutions to law enforcement agencies for Leeds, LLC. We discuss aspects of crime-scene photography, from camera and lens selection to shooting technique, storage, retrieval and sharing of images. We compare the use of film and digital imaging and the challenges and benefits brought on by new technology. In addition, we talk about photos used for case solving and those of evidentiary value and the different photography departments within the NYPD. Cunningham walks us through the

The B&H Photography Podcast was very fortunate to be invited to the 29th Eddie Adams Workshop this year. The annual workshop, officially sponsored by Nikon, with support from B&H, is a unique and inspiring event, bringing together 100 young photographers with some of the world’s most recognized photojournalists and editors, including thirteen Pulitzer Prize winners, for four intense days of photographic presentation and collaboration. On today’s podcast, we discuss editing for newspapers and news sites and the working relationship between photojournalists and their editors. In the first half of the episode, we speak with Nancy Andrews, the former Director of Photography at The Detroit Free Press and current Ogden Visiting Professor for Media Innovation, Reed College of Media at West Virginia University, and Colin Crawford, the Deputy Managing Editor of Visual Journalism at the Los Angeles Times. Both started as photojournalists and we chat about the differences between photographers and editors, but w

The B&H Photography Podcast was very fortunate to be invited to the 29th Eddie Adams Workshop this year. The annual workshop, officially sponsored by Nikon, with support from B&H, is a unique and inspiring event, bringing together 100 young photographers with some of the world’s most recognized photojournalists and editors, including thirteen Pulitzer Prize winners, for four intense days of photographic presentation and collaboration. Tim Rasmussen, Director of Digital and Print Photography at ESPN, joined us for a chat in our improvised studio in the fabled barn on the Eddie Adams farm. Prior to ESPN, Rasmussen was the Assistant Managing Editor of Photography and Multimedia at the Denver Post and under his lead, their photo department earned three Pulitzer Prizes. Tim is also a member of the Board of Directors at the Eddie Adams Workshop and, in addition to having been a team leader, producer and editor at the workshop, he was a student in its very first year—1988. Our conversation with Rasmussen rev

The B&H Photography Podcast was very fortunate to be invited to the 29th Eddie Adams Workshop this year. The annual workshop, officially sponsored by Nikon with support from B&H, is a unique and inspiring event, bringing together 100 young photographers with some of the world’s most recognized photojournalists and editors, including thirteen Pulitzer Prize winners, for four intense days of photographic presentation and collaboration. The team leaders and speakers are a who’s-who of the photojournalism community, and we took our opportunity to sit down with many of them for conversations that ranged from personal inspiration and technical innovation to the photographer-editor relationship and how to set a camera trap for mountain lions. In the weeks to come, we will present several of our “conversations from the barn,” thus named because we created an impromptu studio in the fabled barn on the Eddie Adams farm. Our first conversation joins Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer John H. White and photograp

Is your Leica M7 worth more than what you paid for it? How about the value of that Brownie in your grandfather’s closet, or even your first digital camera from 1995? With Heritage Auctions preparing to host its first-ever auction of collectible cameras, we take time to talk camera and lens collecting with Nigel Russel, of Heritage, and Gabriel Biderman, of B&H Photo. Russel is a world-recognized camera expert and photo historian, and discusses the criteria that make a camera retain or increase in value, the possibility of finding a collectible camera at a garage sale, and the general ins and outs of a camera auction. We also chat about Ansel Adams’s 4 x 5 camera that is currently up for auction, as well as the “cult” of Leica and even about a camera from the 1860s that uses water between the lenses to create a panoramic view. A well-respected night photographer, Gabriel Biderman is also a camera collector whose first rule of collecting is to only acquire cameras with which he can actually take pictures. H

Photokina is the world’s largest trade fair for photography, and this year’s affair saw 983 exhibitors from 42 countries fill the Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre in Cologne, Germany, with an array of new gear for photography, video, and imaging, in all its forms. Today’s episode of the podcast will offer an overview of the notable cameras and photo equipment announced at this biennial event, held from September 20-25, with a special emphasis on new lenses. Our guests, podcast regulars Levi Tenenbaum and Andrea Ortado, highlight the features of new cameras from Fujifilm, Leica, Olympus, Panasonic and others, and offer their opinions on a range of new gear. As mentioned, we take an extra moment to talk lenses and ask, “What can we expect from new lens technology in the coming years?” For gearheads, GASsers, and anyone interested in the latest photo equipment, this is an entertaining episode packed with practical information. Guests: Andrea Ortado and Levi Tenenbaum https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/p/podcast

In celebration of Gail Buckland’s wonderful new book, "Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present", and the accompanying exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, we take a look at sports photography from all angles. With Buckland, we discuss the making of her book and the role that sports photography has played in the history and technology of photography. Buckland breaks apart false distinctions by including photographers as diverse as Andy Warhol, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Stanley Kubrick with legendary sports photographers such as Walter Iooss and Charles Conlon. Her research on individual photos and overall perspective on sports photography opens up the genre to the wide world of art, and her insights are invaluable. Also joining us is photographer Andrew Bernstein, well known as the long-time photographer for the Los Angeles Lakers. He has also served as official photographer for the L.A. Clippers, Kings, and Dodgers, and held the position of Senior Director of NBA Photos. Bernstein has phot

Coney Island and photography have been together almost since birth. There is a great tradition of photography associated with this beach, located at the last stop of the D, F, N, and Q trains, in Brooklyn. Our guest, photographer Mark Hartman, created an intense summer project of walking the beach at Coney Island photographing the interesting people who crossed his path. His project was disciplined and relatively short, but thanks to a little app called Instagram, his austere, detailed, and colorful portraiture has quickly found many fans. Hartman was kind enough to join us to talk about his series and the gear, techniques, and attitude that has made it such a success. We are also joined by writer and photographer Todd Vorenkamp, who adds insight to our discussion with Hartman, and also offers some very practical tips on how to keep your gear clean, dry, and sand-free while shooting on the beach. Why a show on beach photography as summer draws to a close? Well, as anyone who has photographed on the beach (and

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available on September 15, 2016, and we’ve organized an episode to celebrate iPhone photography, including a hands-on review of the new iPhone 7 Plus. Joining us are three photographers who bring unique perspectives to the imaging capabilities of the iPhone. First, we speak with Robin Robertis, a 2016 winner of the iPhone Photography Award and an artist for whom the iPhone provided a new creative tool for her ethereal and vibrant work. Next, we speak with Ed Kashi, a multi-faceted, veteran photojournalist and filmmaker who was one of five photographers assigned by Time magazine to document Hurricane Sandy with just an iPhone. Kashi also teaches workshops in iPhone photography for National Geographic, and will discuss how he incorporates mobile photography into his journalistic work. After a break, we speak with Brendan Ò Sè, a photographer from Cork, Ireland, whose playful image of the curved lines in Copenhagen’s Superkilen Park was chosen for the “Shot on iPhone 6” ad

In Part II of our series on astrophotography, we talk with Ian Norman, founder of Lonely Speck, a site dedicated to making astrophotography easy and accessible to all photographers. The website is loaded with great advice, gear reviews, and tutorials on how to photograph the night sky and specifically, the Milky Way, Our conversation with Ian centers on his development as a photographer and provides many tips on how, with very affordable equipment and apps and basic processing, you can create stunning dark sky images. As you will hear, Norman, like his website, is all about sharing experiences and advice on how to simplify and improve your photography. As he says, “there are few photographs that have as much existential impact as a nighttime landscape against the Milky Way.” Join us for this educational and inspirational episode. Guest: Ian Norman Photo: Ian Norman, LonelySpeck.com

In the first of our two-part series on astrophotography, we are fortunate to be joined by two scientists responsible for some of the most awe-inspiring images ever created. Astrophysicist Dr. Jeff Hester was a member of the team that built the camera on the Hubble Space Telescope and is credited with taking “Pillars of Creation,” an extraordinary image of the Eagle Nebula that has been selected by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential photographs in history. Dr. Hester tells us about his time working on the Hubble and how this image was created, as well as offering his insight on the nature of beauty and the relationship between science and art (Hint: They’re not as different as you might think.) Also joining us is Zoltan Levay, the Imaging Team Lead at the Space Telescope Science Institute, whose principal responsibility is to produce and publicize pictures from the Hubble. Mr. Levay discusses the relative nature of color, his techniques for coloring and composing photographs, and the differences

On August 25, the National Parks Service celebrates its 100th Anniversary, and we celebrate the parks and all that they have provided to photography over the years. From early photographers documenting natural wonders to persuade Congress of the value of a park system, to legendary landscape photographers such as Ansel Adams, to the countless tourist snapshots of Old Faithful, and even to Apple’s ubiquitous Half Dome wallpaper, photography and the National Parks have always been intertwined, and our guests understand this as well as anyone. Chris Nicholson is the author of Photographing National Parks, and Kerry Gallivan is the founder of Chimani, an app designed to help users explore and enjoy each National Park. Our discussion touches upon park protocol as it applies to photographers, gear and location tips, the ethics of nature photography, and we celebrate our national achievement and the gift that has been given to generations of photographers. Guests: Chris Nicholson and Kerry Gallivan Photograph: Chris

While digital camera manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to improve and increase resolution, dynamic range, frame rate, ISO, and…everything, a very strong counter trend has emerged that is turning back to analog, mechanical, and film techniques. Standing out among these “throwback” technologies is the rising popularity of instant film and instant film cameras. Fujifilm Instax has seen their sales soar but more interesting is the Impossible Project, who, in just a few years has become the go-to source for a wide variety of instant film and, recently, instant cameras, such as the new I-1 Instant Film Camera. On today's episode we talk with Patrick Tobin from Impossible and photographer George Weiss, who incorporates instant film into his portrait and wedding work. We discuss how Impossible began by purchasing the last remaining Polaroid film factory, how they refurbish cameras for re-sale and continue to tweak their instant film chemistry. Join us for an enlightening discussion on the intricacies of a

There are good reasons for this episode to have a two-in-one headline. Our initial idea for this show was to discuss the role that happenstance and luck play in photography, but the conversation with our impassioned and articulate guests, Amy Touchette and Gus Powell, quickly turned to a more generalized chat on the principles and practices of street photography—and how lucky we were to have them speak intimately about their work and on photography as an artistic and personal endeavor. For me, it doesn’t get much better! But back to the two titles within a title—perhaps it is our collaboration with chance and a photographer’s ability to recognize, organize, prepare for, and even control what is referred to as chance that is the true essence of street photography. As better writers than I have written, “You make your own luck, Gig,” or “Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.” Finally, and this quote seems made for the street photographer: “Chance favors those in motion.” Drop us a

With the recent announcement of the Hasselblad X1D-50c Medium Format Mirrorless Camera, the debate about sensor size and resolving power has taken a whole new turn. What does the release of this impressive camera say about the future of medium format? Will this camera appeal to DSLR shooters, whether professional or enthusiast? Will traditional medium format photographers embrace it? This week’s episode of the B&H Photography Podcast provides an introduction to digital medium format photography and takes a look at this new camera, as well as medium format digital backs and the Pentax 645Z, released to much acclaim two years ago. We also discuss the value of medium format sensors in light of the recent availability of ultra-high resolution DSLR and mirrorless cameras from Nikon, Sony and, specifically the Canon 5DS and 5DS R. Guests: Levi Tenenbaum and Jeremy Tan

Digital video is a huge a part of “photography” now. There are almost no digital cameras introduced without some kind of video capability and, in some cases, “still” cameras are the go-to choice for professional videographers. Recently, we have seen 4K video surpass 1080 as the standard, and many camera lines, from DSLR to smartphone, are now providing 4K capability, but is this level of quality really warranted or even effective in a point-and-shoot camera? Today’s episode of the podcast will take on this question and, in so doing, we will discuss the particulars of 4K, including what camera models offer this high-definition quality, how do sensor size and form factor affect image quality, what peripherals are needed to make videos of a quality that merit 4K, and what’s the point of recording 4K if you can’t screen 4K? Join us as two B&H experts help clear the air regarding 4K video in still cameras. Guests: Josh Pomponio and Shawn Steiner

What will our future selfies be like? Our guest, Stephen Mayes, suggests that they may be images of what we think rather than what we see. For those of you exasperated by the deluge of duck faces in your social media feed, this may be a terrifying idea, but is the selfie really that bad, and if so, how and why is it different than an artist’s self-portrait? These are the questions we address in this week’s episode and, to do so, we have invited the inimitable Mr. Mayes and photographer Nicky Wanzi, whose recent series of self-portraits, in which she depicts not only herself but also two of her best friends, was included in PDN’s 2016 Photo Annual. Join us for this enjoyable conversation as we expose the selfie. Guests: Stephen Mayes and Nicky Wanzi Photograph: John Harris

Are dance and photography natural enemies? Well, of course not, but one art form is about the still, captured moment, and the other about choreographed movement and fluidity. However, anyone who truly understands photography knows the importance of timing, grace, and harmony, and a dancer must also recognize the relevance of rest and static. Sculpture, or gesture perhaps, is their common bond and our two guests know well the significance of gesture and the conflicting and compatible characteristics of dance and photography. They join us to talk about their distinct work and shooting styles. Lois Greenfield is one of the recognized masters of the craft, having developed a singular style sought by the world’s most renowned dance companies, and Omar Z Robles, an official Fujifilm X-Photographer, brings a fresh take, blending aspects of documentary and street photography. Enjoy this episode as we discuss improvisation, inspiration, dodging taxis and, of course, lighting systems and camera and lens choices. Guests