B&h Photography Podcast

Despite poking a little fun with this episode’s title, we are big fans of photography websites and camera blogs, and if you are reading this, you probably are, too. On this week’s podcast, we are fortunate to have Kevin Raber and Jason Hermann, proprietors of Luminous Landscape and SonyAlphaLab, respectively. Have you ever wondered how sites like these operate, are funded, get gear to review and deal with the, shall we say “experts,” who populate the comment sections? In this very animated, on-point conversation, Raber and Hermann talk specifically about their sites, the proliferation of gear chat, and the camera industry in general. Guests: Kevin Raber and Jason Hermann

We're none of us perfect, and thank goodness for that. As my favorite saying goes, perfection is the opposite of good, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to be better. Whether you are a newbie or a more experienced photographer, there is a constant need to improve your skills, and to open your mind to new approaches. With the spirit of the New Year still warming our souls, we brought in Jason Fulford, co-editor of The Photographer’s Playbook, and Todd Vorenkamp, author of 13 Creative Exercises for Photographers, to discuss methods that will feed your creativity and improve your photography. Simple games to daily exercises to deep thoughts, all wrapped in a pleasant conversation, let’s just call this episode the “Coffee Klatch on Creativity.” Guests: Jason Fulford and Todd Vorenkamp

Anyone, I mean, anyone can submit their photos for sale in the stock-photography market. (Are you a foaper?) But the question remains: is it worth it? No doubt, the industry has been transformed by corporate conglomeration and digital technology but, while some decry the devaluation of the image, others see huge opportunity and a bright future. Join us as industry expert Paul Melcher and former Getty executive and now independent photographer and boutique agency owner Rana Faure relate their experiences in the stock-photo business. We’ll ask them to explain the various types of agencies, what makes a good stock shot, and we’ll get to the truth behind the myth of the “lottery” photo. Guests: Rana Faure and Paul Melcher

Well, what does that mean? Yes, it’s owned by Facebook and yes, Taylor Swift has 62 million followers, but we asked two professional photographers with hundreds of thousands of followers and a magazine editor how they use Instagram to engage their followers, interest clients, raise revenue, and keep the creative blood flowing. DSLR or smartphone? Hashtag or not? Strategies for gaining followers? More important than your webpage? Is it the most important brand in photography? These are some of the questions we ask in this fun conversation with three savvy veterans of social media. Since Instagram is already five years old, we also discuss future possibilities for this incredible image platform. Guests: Sharon Radisch, Sam Horine, and Libby Peterson

My apologies for the personal question, but we all suffer from Gear Acquisition Syndrome in one form or another, and it’s good to talk about it, especially if it aids in recovery. With Gabe Biderman and Todd Vorenkamp, we will discuss camera cycles from the digital and analog eras, talk new technology and try to understand why there is so much camera stuff to buy nowadays. Who is to blame for G.A.S.? The camera manufacturers, the retailers, the blogs, China!? Or could it be that imaging technology has improved so much in the past few years to truly warrant this welcomed illness? Either way, our guests will commiserate with your suffering and even provide a few simple cures for what ails you. Join us for an enlightening and entertaining conversation and while you're at it, shout us out on Twitter with #BHPhotoPodcast and rate our episode on iTunes. Thanks!

Gearheads, tech geeks, fanboys, and all you gift givers—this is the podcast for you. In this episode, we sit with two of our favorite guests and, fortunately, two very knowledgeable photographers, Matt Hill and Levi Tenenbaum. They offer their well-informed opinions on what should be considered the Cameras of the Year for 2015 and our host, Allan Weitz, adds his two cents, making for a lively conversation on new cameras of all formats. We make time for a nod to the best lenses and accessories, too. Please take a moment to share your favorite 2015 cameras on Twitter with #BHPhotoPodcast and leave a review of our episode on iTunes. Thanks! Guests: Matt Hill and Levi Tenenbaum

Guests: Greg Kahn, Ed Kashi and Carolyn Monastra On the historic occasion of more than 150 heads of state gathering in one place on one day (Monday, in Paris, for COP2015) it’s fortuitous for us to be able to present an episode that recognizes photography's ongoing role in addressing our most serious concerns. We are pleased to have three photographers on the podcast, all with a wide body of work—in photojournalism, documentary, and fine art—discussing the photography they do in regard to climate change. From collaborative efforts to going it alone, international adventure to gaining the trust of small communities, aerial photography to dusty river beds, Ed Kashi, Greg Kahn, and Carolyn Monastra bring their distinctive approaches to the subject and agree that photography can play an important role in advocating for progress and that innovation will spring from addressing this issue facing us. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily represent t

Guests: Frank Dabba Smith and Jill Enfield The oft-quoted line paraphrased for our headline and notably used in reference to Oskar Schindler and Chiune Sugihara can also be applied to industrialist and Leica camera manufacturer Ernst Leitz II, who used his influence to help many Jews and other subjugated people avoid persecution, maintain their jobs, or even escape Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. Like any story drawn from a terrible era of oppression, heroes are painted with shades of gray, and humanitarianism can be found in small gestures, but historian Frank Dabba Smith creates a narrative derived from primary source research. Our other guest, photographer Jill Enfield, recounts her family’s direct relationship with this chapter of Jewish, German, American, and photographic history. Join us for this engaging conversation.

Guests: Harvey Wang and Todd Vorenkamp Have you ever shot film? Do you still shoot film? Does it make a difference in your work? Is your work defined by it? This episode of the B&H Photography Podcast addresses an issue that is still at the heart of photography—does the medium you choose affect the way you work and, ultimately, the images you produce? With the recent release of his book, From Darkroom to Daylight, we will talk with photographer Harvey Wang and with writer and photographer Todd Vorenkamp about the differences between shooting film and shooting digital images. From the perspectives of those who grew up shooting film and those who did not, we’ll discuss working process, technological developments, quality of images and yes—nostalgia. Wang will also recount from his book conversations on this subject with legendary photographers such as Eugene Richards, Elliott Erwitt, Sally Mann, and George Tice.

Guests: Jason Wallace and Chris Koentje Five years ago you could buy a quality 35mm film camera for the song playing in your head. Used medium format film cameras collected dust on store shelves. Today, if a Mamiya, Hasselblad, or Rolleiflex become available, they don’t last long before being snatched up by a zealous photographer. And those who regularly shoot digital SLRs know that buying an older model does not diminish the quality of your work, and it can save you hundreds of dollars, especially if you use them as roughly as some professionals do. Whether film or digital, the used camera market is alive and well and we will talk with photographer and camera collector Jason Wallace and member of the B&H Used Department, Chris Koentje on what is new in used gear. From the cameras that are hot in Argentina, to what to inspect when buying a used lens, and to just how important trust is between buyer and seller, we will touch on all aspects of the used camera market in this spirited conversation between ind

The Benefits of a Long Term Project For Your Photography Guests: Dennis Livesey and John Harris While their approaches are distinct, photographers Dennis Livesey and John Harris both have benefited from taking the long road. As their experience exemplifies, there are many joys and successes to be found in approaching a photo subject with a long-term commitment in mind. Relationships grow, errors are made and improvement is organic as you spend significant time working with one subject. Eventually, the harvests are reaped and the time put into your project is paid back many times over. Citing examples from their work (Dennis’s train photography and John’s documentary work), we distinguish between “series” and “projects” and discuss the benefits, foibles, and eventual outcomes of the long-term project.

The Latest on Aerial Photography Platforms Guests: Randy Scott Slavin and Dan Campo Drones are definitely a hot button topic and not only for photographers! Despite the controversy and legal conundrums, aerial photography is entering an incredible exciting era with the proliferation of drones. Director and photographer, Randy Slavin, founder of Yeah Drones and the New York City Drone Film Festival, provides his enthusiastic input, with product specialist Dan Campo, to a conversation about the use and misuse of drones. We talk about the legal and safety issues of flying drones as well as the practical applications of drone shooting and, of course, highlight the best and latest in gear for the drone photographer. Randy, Dan and our host Allan pepper our conversation with anecdotes from their experiences flying and filming with drones.

From Classroom to Real World- How Young Photographers Are Succeeding in a New Environment Former Director of Photography at New York magazine and renowned professor Jordan Schaps offers his insight, experience, and humor to a discussion on ‘what it takes to make it’ in the “new” world of photography where a popular Instagram account can open as many doors as a solid portfolio. New York Times contributing photographer An Rong brings stories from his own recent transformation from talented student to working professional and host, Allan Weitz keeps the conversation bubbling with anecdotes from his own lengthy resume. For all shooters, at any stage in their career, this is an engaging episode and a great way to kick off our new platform.