B&h Photography Podcast

At the 2016 OPTIC Imaging Conference, we were immersed in the riches of nature and travel photography; so many talented and distinguished photographers were displaying work and discussing their experiences and craft. We at the podcast were fortunate to be able to sit down with several National Geographic photographers for informal yet intimate chats on subjects ranging from photographic influences to shooting styles to gear choices. This week’s podcast presents a selection or compendium, if you will, of highlights from these conversations. We spoke on a variety of topics but we ended each chat with this question: if you had to choose between photography and travel, which would it be? The answers might surprise you. Guests: Ralph Lee Hopkins, Vincent Versace, Brenda Tharp, Jay Dickman, Katrin Eismann, Chris Nicholson Photo Credit: Katrin Eismann

With deference to Linda Richman, today’s podcast offers its version of the 'Coffee Talk' skit from Saturday Night Live—Fuji is for Artists/Sony is for Pros… discuss! We realize, of course, that any camera—used well—can be for professionals and for artists and that artists can be pros and vice versa; we’re not so naïve as to think otherwise. Given the parameters of the topic, however, we take on this idea in a conversation that touches upon the marketing for these high-end mirrorless cameras, who is actually using them, and most important, their feature sets, lenses, and system accessories. Three of our most trusted in-house experts join us to discuss their experiences with the Sony a7 series and the Fujifilm X series cameras as we attempt to clarify the most appropriate applications for each camera line. Now, I’m getting verklempt…so talk amongst yourselves. Guests: Shawn Steiner, Justin Dise, Todd Vorenkamp

The OPTIC 2016 Imaging Conference provided numerous opportunities to talk with some of the most respected nature and landscape photographers working today, but the highlights of our two days at OPTIC had to be our chat with Michael Kenna, the event’s keynote presenter, and our conversation with Paul and John Paul Caponigro. It is unnecessary to summarize the work of these three photographers in any quick description but, suffice it to say, each is a master of his craft. While their work is distinctive and unique, it was wonderful to hear of their common vision, approach—and yes, spirituality—and for this reason, we present their conversations together. With Kenna we spoke of process, why he sticks with medium format film photography and what motivates and inspires his work. With the Caponigros, we touched upon the spirit of art, how to communicate with nature and, with Father’s Day in mind, how to let a child discover his or her own path to artistic expression. Join us for these two inspirational conversation

Every year, B&H hosts the OPTIC Imaging Conference, showcasing the best nature, landscape, and travel photography. The 2016 edition was a stellar outing, with presentations by the most interesting photographers working in those fields. It also serves as a chance for participants to put their hands on the latest cameras, lenses, and gear from the major manufacturers. In today's episode we talk with gear experts from the most respected camera, lens and accessory manufacturers. Sigma: 2:10 Fujifilm: 10:18 Canon: 16:40 ------------------------- Lensbaby: 24:40 Sony: 35:20 Panasonic: 45:35 ------------------------ Tiffen: 54:12 Tamron: 61:17 Nikon: 68:46 OPTIC is a wonderful opportunity to embrace photography, interact with incredible photographers, and play with the latest tools of the trade. This year, legends such as Michael Kenna and Paul Caponigro spoke and presented work, and we will be sharing our conversations with them and other photographers in future episodes, but today we feature a collection of ou

Today we talk cameras! In this episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we invite two respected members of the B&H team to tell us which one camera offers them all they would ever want from one camera. Well, not exactly, but Christina Smith and Andrea Ortado do provide us with much to consider when we go on this hypothetical journey to find your “desert island” camera. Would it be full frame or film, have interchangeable lenses (but which one lens), would it be rugged and waterproof, be blazing fast or ultra-high resolution? How about high ISO or touch screen or an optical view finder? These are some of the questions we ask as we move toward the conclusion of our episode, when we each reveal which one camera we would choose if we had only one camera to use. Guests: Christina Smith and Andrea Ortado

Wet-Collodion, Daguerreotype, Tintype, Calotype, Gum Bichromate, Van Dyke Brown. Oh my! On this week’s podcast, we welcome Geoffrey Berliner, Executive Director of the Penumbra Foundation, and photographer Jolene Lupo, to talk about alternative process photography. The Penumbra Foundation is an exceptional organization, dedicated to the art, science, and history of photography and Berliner outlines their history and mission and the workshops and facilities they make available to all photographers, while Lupo discusses her tintype work at Penumbra and her Spirit Photography. This episode is a true education, not just on the various alternative processes, but on the history of photography and on how learning the original pre-film processes will improve your digital photography. Guests: Geoffrey Berliner and Jolene Lupo Photograph by Jolene Lupo

The Pulitzer Prizes for Feature and for Breaking News Photography are the highest honors that a photojournalist can receive and, between our two guests, they have won four. Martha Rial won the award for her coverage of Rwandan refugees fleeing genocide, and Ruth Fremson has won the award for her team coverage of the Bill Clinton impeachment process and for coverage of the 9/11 attacks in New York and of Pakistan and Afghanistan in the months after September, 2001. Both photographers join us to discuss how the Pulitzer Prize affected their lives and careers. We talk about the assignments that earned them their honors, the process of submission, how they were notified of their awards, and how winning the awards and forever being known as a “Pulitzer Prize- winning photographer” changed their assignments and the direction of their work. Join us for this enjoyable conversation with two tremendously talented photographers who have been firsthand witnesses to our shared history. Guests: Martha Rial and Ruth Fremson

Some days, I love my job, and this was most definitely one of those days. We were in a room of heroes, not just heroes of mine, but actual heroes, people who fill their lives, risk their lives, for passion and for the betterment of humanity. The gathering was called “The Pulitzer Prize Photographers,” held in celebration of the centennial of the establishment of the Pulitzer Prize and organized by the Eddie Adams Workshop, the Parsons School of Design, and supported, in part, by B&H Photo. It brought together Pulitzer-Prize-winning photographers from six decades, displayed their history lesson of potent journalism, and gave time and space for their stories to be told. At times, emotion filled the auditorium, tears were shed, but by the end of the night, there was joy—Nick Ut hamming it up in the photo booth, Adrees Latif and Ruth Fremson pressing limes for margaritas at the after-party. I shook hands with Robert Jackson, who captured the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald, and thanked Daniel Berehulak—he riske

In addition to her fashion and commercial photography, Lindsay Adler is a much sought-after speaker and educator and, after listening to this episode, there’ll be no surprise as to why. With clarity and conviction, she walks us through all the steps of producing commercial and editorial fashion shoots, beginning with the initial contact with the client to concept development, budgeting, casting, and collaboration, all the way to delivery of the final product. Adler offers concrete examples and insightful anecdotes that will appeal to photographers at any stage in their career. Hair, makeup, lighting, gear, set building, retouching, keeping your crew happy, and just how many assistants a professional parrot needs are all part of this enjoyable conversation. Guest: Lindsay Adler

Not Believing in Roadblocks, Part II – The Making of a Photojournalist Photojournalist and 2016 World Press Photo award winner Adriane Ohanesian joins us for a captivating two-part conversation on her work in South Sudan, Darfur, and Burma, and describes how she made the transition from anthropology student to conflict and humanitarian photographer. This conversation is divided into two parts, but its themes of women in photojournalism and the difficult but fulfilling life of freelance work in war-torn areas permeates the entire conversation. With her confident and compassionate demeanor, Ohanesian relates how she was introduced to the cultures of East Africa, snuck into South Sudan to begin her career, faced down military commanders and navigated a month-long trek into Darfur to photograph displaced families living in a cave. She also talks about the challenges and advantages of being a female photojournalist and the amazing resilience of people living through years of war and abuse. Also joining us on this

Not Believing in Roadblocks, Part I – Women and Photojournalism Photojournalist and 2016 World Press Photo award winner Adriane Ohanesian joins us for a captivating two-part conversation on her work in South Sudan, Darfur, and Burma, and describes how she made the transition from anthropology student to conflict and humanitarian photographer. This conversation is divided into two parts, but its themes of women in photojournalism and the difficult but fulfilling life of freelance work in war-torn areas permeates the entire conversation. With her confident and compassionate demeanor, Ohanesian relates how she was introduced to the cultures of East Africa, snuck into South Sudan to begin her career, faced down military commanders and navigated a month-long trek into Darfur to photograph displaced families living in a cave. She also talks about the challenges and advantages of being a female photojournalist and the amazing resilience of people living through years of war and abuse. Also joining us on this compell

Lens adapters are certainly not new items in the savvy photographer’s gear bag, but they have taken on an added significance since the onset of mirrorless camera production, and can be the literal link between the cold efficiency of digital cameras and the distinctive character of exotic lenses from an earlier era. Of course, there are high-tech electronic adapters too and what may be surprising is just how important adapters are to filmmakers and how they have up-ended the used lens market. In this episode, we talk with two unapologetic old lens zealots who regularly use adapters to connect lenses from a range of manufacturers to their many cameras. We start with a basic introduction to the common types and brands of adapters and then “geek out” on the many ways to use adapters for creative experimentation and unique imaging. Guests: Johnny Tsang and Victor Samoilovich For images of some of the adapters and lenses discussed on this show, link to the B&H Instagram feed at https://www.instagram.com/bhphoto

Pulitzer Prize and Cannes Lion award winner Vincent LaForet has accomplished so much in still and motion photography, yet he continues to push himself to create images he has “never seen before”. This drive has led to his most recent passion project on high-altitude night photography and the incredible book, "AIR". LaForet joins us for an in-depth conversation on the thrills, as well as the logistical, technical, and physical challenges of creating the images for this book. From lessons taught to him by his father, to combat and sports photography, to the pressure of self-funding a project, to gear and technical advice, LaForet regales us with wonderful stories from his career and the making of "AIR". Guest: Vincent LaForet To purchase the book follow this link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1199832-REG/laforet_visuals_978_0_9960587_2_8_book_air_1st_edition.html To see footage of LaForet in action and the making of AIR, check out this B&H Prospectives Video. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/pho

The B&H Photography Podcast has been streaming for almost six months and we have had some incredible guests, and discussed aspects of photography from gear to technique to art to funding your work. We pride ourselves on our eclectic approach to photography and are pleased to present this episode, which features of a wonderful set of clips from some of our first 20 episodes. We’ve chosen segments that highlight our broad range and evince the heart of the very insightful and entertaining conversations we have hosted. We also added a few bloopers just for fun. This “sampler platter” offers talks on drones, the digital versus film experience, Leica history, night photography, the Museum of Modern Art, the best cameras of 2015 and the future of DSLRs. Sit back (unless you’re driving), enjoy and thank you for making our show the success it has become.

Has your wedding photography gone stale? Do your photos look just like everyone else’s? Perhaps you need to inject a little bit of you into your photography. Kristi Drago-Price knows wedding photography from all the angles—as a shooter, as an editor, and as a speaker and consultant. She joins us for a high-spirited chat, offering core ideas to improve your wedding photography. This episode is not about the latest gear or lighting techniques, but more, “how to get your game on”—how to get the most out of your style and build a client base that will grow with you. Thoughts on pre- and post-wedding communication, popular shooting styles, marketing, “eye-candy,” and getting published in wedding magazines will inspire you as the wedding season approaches. Guest: Kristi Drago-Price

For many, photography is a solitary endeavor. We enjoy the time alone or the one-on-one interaction with a subject, but how do we improve our skill set and network with others when we only have our “inner Ansel” on which to bounce ideas and techniques? A photography workshop may be the answer, and there is a wide range of choices when it comes to workshops, from weekend get-togethers on specific disciplines to intensive courses to overseas adventures. Our guests represent two well-known workshops and detail the distinctions between their organizations and other available options. In between the laughs our host provides, we discuss changes in the photo industry that have affected the workshop business and factors to consider if you are thinking about attending a workshop. Guests: Alyssa Adams and Mirjam Evers

With the prevalence of “staff” photography jobs dwindling and the number of “photographers” increasing, finding regular freelance work and funding your own project is more complicated than ever. Yes, the tried-and-true rules of self-motivation and hustle are still the fundamentals, but today’s guests offer solutions to put photographers together with those who will support their work, regardless of the photographic discipline. Matt Craig, of blink, and Theresa Hubbard, of Fractured Atlas, discuss their organizations’ novel approaches and, together, we talk technology, content marketing, crowd sourcing, and what’s available in the new marketplace to monetize your photographic efforts. Guests: Matt Craig and Theresa Hubbard

We run a little long on this episode, but when you have guests of this caliber, it’s well worth the extra time. Today we welcome legendary AP photo editor Hal Buell and Time LightBox photo editor Olivier Laurent. Bringing distinctive cultural and generational perspectives to the table, our two guests discuss the idea of an iconic photograph. We start with an attempt to define an iconic photo and, along the way, we talk about the editing process, war photography, mobile technology, photo manipulation, important photos from 2015 and many, many of the greatest photos ever taken. For working professionals, photo historians and anyone interested in how photography impacts our life, this is an episode for you. Guests: Hal Buell and Olivier Laurent

In the past few weeks both Canon and Nikon have announced their latest flagship DSLR cameras, the Nikon D5 and the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II. Our expert guests, Levi Tenenbaum and Shawn Steiner have had a chance to play with these new models and join us to report on their findings. We discuss the upgraded specs and what differentiates these cameras from their predecessors, and from each other. We also take time to talk about their video capabilities and get into the bigger issues of who these cameras will appeal to, are they worth the upgrade and what the future may hold for the DSLR form factor. This is a straightforward and very informative conversation on some of the best cameras available today.

In less than an hour, this podcast will teach you everything you need to know about night photography. Seriously. While our show is not a tutorial, the conversation is deep and broad; it touches upon every aspect of the craft. Guests Gabriel Biderman and Todd Vorenkamp blanket this subject with an engaging and humorous tone—from the psychological predisposition common to night shooters and the science of rods and cones to cameras, gear, apps and techniques for creating images of star trails. This is truly an episode for all levels of shutterbugs seeking to explore or master photography at night. Well done guys! Guests: Gabriel Biderman and Todd Vorenkamp