Prime Lenses

This week on the show I spoke with Sam aka 2bitboy, the creator of the 2bittoy, a modification kit for the gameboy camera. You can 3D print this add on kit, take the innards of your Gameboy Camera out, put them in this shell and then use the camera with a variety of lenses. This was exactly the sort of madness I wanted to delve into and Sam was kind enough to give up some of his weekend to talk to me about it. This is nerdy in the best ways possible. I hope you enjoy it.More about this show:A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

For the next four weeks, in addition to the regular Sunday episode, I’ll be dropping a special episode with interviews from a recent event I attended. Leica invited me to their centenary celebrations at the end of June, they were celebrating 100 years on continuous camera manufacture and they invited a few of their closest friends to attend and celebrate with them. I was invited to interview a number of special guests and so I’m going to present to you four twenty-five minute episodes. 100 minutes for 100 years. More about this show:A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Marcus Haslam is a photographer from the south of England who has retraced his roots in the north to make pictures of his hometown. Blackpool has changed a lot over the years and you’ll hear about his motivation to make the project, what he found and what he’s doing with the images now that he has them. It was wonderful to catch up with a friend and former colleague.More about this show:A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

This is the third episode in a special series of interviews from a recent event I attended. This episode features my conversation with Inas Fayed and Sarah M. Lee. Leica invited me to their centenary celebrations at the end of June, they were celebrating 100 years of continuous camera manufacture and they invited a few of their closest friends to attend and celebrate with them. I was invited to interview a number of special guests and so I’m going to present to you four twenty-five minute episodes. 100 minutes for 100 years. More about this show:A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Scott Toepfer is part of a proud tradition of folks who drop out of what they were doing to drop in on their calling. He has worked as a microbiologist, photographer, producer, director, I’d say triple threat but I’m not sure that covers it all. I first discovered him through his 2011 book It’s better in the Wind. The book accompanied a short film and when I started the podcast I realised I should try to combine stuff I love, cameras and motorcycles, into one guest. This is a classic prime lenses chat. It goes places and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.More about this show:A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

For the next four weeks, in addition to the regular Sunday episode, I’ll be dropping a special episode with interviews from a recent event I attended. Leica invited me to their centenary celebrations at the end of June, they were celebrating 100 years on continuous camera manufacture and they invited a few of their closest friends to attend and celebrate with them. I was invited to interview a number of special guests and so I’m going to present to you four twenty-five minute episodes. 100 minutes for 100 years. More about this show:A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Brandon Talbot is a Photographer, videographer and YouTuber who has been sharing his photography journey for some time. He loves landscapes and has recently started to print his work with an eye on books and other physical media in the future. One of the things I really like about Brendon is his growth mindset. He has previously been an athlete and he applies this sensibility to his craft and I love it. His enthusiasm is infectious, he’s a lovely dude and I hope you enjoy this conversation with Brandon.More about this show:A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

For the next four weeks, in addition to the regular Sunday episode, I’ll be dropping a special episode with interviews from a recent event I attended. Leica invited me to their centenary celebrations at the end of June, they were celebrating 100 years on continuous camera manufacture and they invited a few of their closest friends to attend and celebrate with them. I was invited to interview a number of special guests and so I’m going to present to you four twenty-five minute episodes. 100 minutes for 100 years. More about this show:A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Gaston Shutters is a photographer and entrepreneur. Like me he’s dabbled in a bunch of industries from tech to tattoos but as you’ll hear, the through line is a consistent love of making and tools. Now, at his company Owl Krown, he’s got the band back together and is making a host of great looking straps. Gaston was in the office the day I spoke to him so there’s some coming and goings which I think add a bit of texture and we end on a lens I’d love to find a good copy of. We could have talked all day, I hope you enjoy hearing from Gaston.More about this show:A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

My guest today is Brandon Ruffin. Brandon was Leica’s ambassador for the M11-D but as you’ll hear throughout the conversation he is a lover of image making on just about any type of digital or film camera. He understands the importance of experience and the impact that can then have on the things you make. He also works at Google on the camera team and I am so glad that someone with a real understanding of photography is embedded there. A pairing of art and science is where the magic happens so I’ll get out of the way and let you enjoy my conversation with Brandon.More about this show:A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.