B&H Photography Podcast

In 1958, Art Kane, already a successful art director looking to jump-start his photography career, pitched the idea of a "class photo" for Vogue magazine's annual jazz edition. In addition to individual photographs of jazz legends, he proposed a group portrait of musicians gathered on a stoop, in Harlem. For music and photography aficionados, the photo, now commonly referred to as "A Great Day in Harlem," is an iconic image, and on today's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast we speak with Jonathan Kane—Art Kane's son and an accomplished musician and photographer in his own right—about the creation and impact of this photograph. We also discuss the new book, Art Kane. Harlem 1958 - 60th Anniversary Edition, which provides context for the image's creation and never-before published outtakes. In the second half of the show, we welcome contemporary jazz photographer Clara Pereira, who is one-half of the team behind the blog Jazztrail.net. Pereira speaks on the nuts and bolts of jazz photography, including tips on gear, technique, settings, and lighting. We find out that her simple approach is very effective, as she explains how to keep a low profile while shooting, the differences between working a club and a concert hall, and between performance and portrait work. Join us for this enjoyable episode and take a listen to our earlier episode on the image, "A Great Day in Hip-Hop," which was photographed at the same Harlem location as Art Kane's masterpiece. Guests: Jonathan Kane and Clara Pereira Photograph © Clara Pereira

On this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we welcome photographer Rick McGinnis and curator Julie Grahame, to discuss blogging and archiving. While this is certainly a broad subject, we will focus on the work of our two guests while considering how best to keep your collection of photos vibrant and valuable. Rick McGinnis is a veteran portrait, editorial, and travel photographer based in Toronto. Most of his assignments and self-assignments had been for local newspapers and magazines and, when this professional landscape changed and motivation was lacking, he almost got out of the business entirely. With a little encouragement, he began to explore the many images he had shot over the previous twenty years—some he had never even viewed—despite being gorgeous portraits of well-known musicians, actors, and artists. The result of this deep dig was a blog he simply called someoldpicturesitook. The blog proved to be an avenue not only into his past, but to his future, because images never seen were now appreciated, discussed, shared, and ultimately, licensed. McGinnis is now on to a new travel blog and a new chapter in his career, and we will hear what he has learned along the way. Curator, consultant and writer, Julie Grahame is the publisher of aCurator.com, a full-screen photography magazine, and the associated aCurator blog. She directed the Retna photo agency for 16 years and currently represents the estate of Yousuf Karsh for image licensing and maintains the extensive karsh.org website. We speak with Grahame about the benefits of a blog compared to a website, Instagram, or in her case, a webzine, and we discuss her relationship with the Karsh archive and insights she has drawn from licensing his iconic portraits. Throughout the humorous conversation, we consider Google search tools, tagging, preferred blogging sites, and repurposing older work, but we also touch on the personal, professional, and historical importance of valuing and maintaining your photo collection. Guests: Julie Grahame and Rick McGinnis Photograph © Rick McGinnis

Today we welcome two of professional basketball's best photographers, and that's not just me talking. Nat Butler is Senior Photographer for NBA Entertainment and has worked the last thirty-three NBA Finals. He is also the official photographer for the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. Andrew Bernstein is the longest-tenured official NBA photographer, the photographer for the L.A. Lakers and L.A. Clippers, a recent inductee to the NBA Hall of Fame, and the photographer of the new book, The Mamba Mentality, by Kobe Bryant. So, enough of the bona fides, these two photographers are also great friends, and they bring their easy-going banter and the ultimate insider's perspective to the B&H Photography Podcast. Our conversation covers a wide range of topics, from the gear they use (and what they don't), the lighting systems they've developed, the intimacy of basketball photography compared to other sports, and how fashion and social media has affected their day-to-day work. We also dig into the shooting strategies they employ for each game and how their images are used by NBA Photos. Butler noted that in the past, a cover photo on Sports Illustrated would have been seen by approximately 3 million subscribers and, now, with tethering and instant feeds, a game photo can be seen by up to 30 million subscribers to the NBA Instagram feed within five minutes of the photo having been taken. Whether you are into sports photography, event and production photography, or NBA history, this episode is for you. For more info on the items discussed in this episodes: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II DSLR Camera Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM Lens Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens Guests: Nat Butler and Andrew Bernstein Photograph © Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE / Getty Images

We tried something new for this episode of the B&H Photography Podcast—we ventured into the B&H SuperStore to interview camera shoppers, fans of the podcast, and attendees of the Panasonic Lumix Day Event. We coordinated with our marketing team and organized a sweepstakes to give away a Lumix DMC-GX85 Mirrorless camera with a 12-32mm lens and a 45-150mm lens. We became acquainted with our audience a bit better by asking people two simple questions and chatting with them about photography. The first question was: "Which is the favorite photo you have ever taken?" and the second question was, "How would winning a GX85 change your photography?" The answers were as varied and entertaining as one would expect, and we include several of these short conversations in this episode. When we finished our recordings, we randomly picked a winner of the sweepstakes, and the winner will also be announced toward the end of the show. Because we were recording as part of the Lumix Day event, several interesting photographers and videographers, each a Lumix ambassador, were speaking at the B&H Event Space. After their talks, they joined us for a brief chat, and we include these conversations with documentary filmmaker Griffin Hammond, lifestyle photographer Jeff Carpenter and wedding and travel photographer William Innes. Each brings insight to their respective disciplines, and the engagement with shoppers and fans is not to be missed. Join us for this fast-paced and entertaining episode. Guests: Jeff Carpenter, William Innes, Griffin Hammond, B&H SuperStore Shoppers Photograph © John Harris

When we finished recording this episode, Jay Maisel asked us which podcast episode was our favorite. It didn't take Allan a second to answer, "This one!" While we have almost one-hundred and fifty to choose from, there is no doubt that this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast is very memorable. Once we turned the mics on, nobody wanted this conversation to end and, indeed, it runs longer than 80 minutes, but it is worth every minute. When listening to Jay Maisel and Stephen Wilkes talk, time doesn't fly—it soars. The reason we have two such remarkable photographers and long-time associates on together is because this weekend, at the DOC NYC Film Festival, Wilkes is premiering his documentary about Maisel, called Jay Myself. We sat with Maisel and Wilkes to discuss the making of the film and their personal and professional relationship that has lasted for almost 40 years. At the heart of the film is Maisel's former residence and studio, the six-story, 30,000 square-foot Germania Bank building that he bought, in 1967, and sold in 2014 for a tidy profit. This massive space, almost as legendary as Maisel himself, must be emptied before Maisel is to move, and Wilkes was there to capture this undertaking. The movie touches upon themes of mentorship, mortality, visual creativity, and the changing face of New York City, but along with the remarkable space he created, the film focuses on the life, work, and legacy of Maisel himself. It is a loving tribute from one photographer to another, one friend to another. Our conversation is filled with the type of creative insight and humor that these towering figures in contemporary photography can bring. Join us for this fascinating conversation and see the trailer of the film here. Part I, Maisel and Wilkes: 00:00 - 38:40 Part II, Jay Myself and The Bank: 39:00 – 83:50 Guests: Jay Maisel and Stephen Wilkes Photograph © John Harris

When you think of an image from your favorite movie, what comes to mind? Is it a well-edited sequence, a dramatic crescendo, or perhaps simply a static photo, maybe even the poster art itself? If it is a static image, chances are it's a photo taken by an on-set "still" photographer. On today's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we discuss this craft with two photographers who make their living as still photographers, working on location and in-studio on television and film productions alongside the camera assistants, boom operators, grips, DPs and myriad crew members, who make the movie magic. Joining us are JoJo Whilden, a fine art and still photographer who has worked on numerous films, including Silver Linings Playbook and The Fighter and television series such as Orange Is the New Black, and Homeland. Her clients include HBO, Netflix, CBS, Sony, and Killer Films. She is the 2018 recipient of The Society of Camera Operators Lifetime Achievement Award in Still Photography. Also joining us in the studio is David Giesbrecht, an editorial and still photographer with credits on The House of Cards, The Blacklist, Mr. Robot, Jessica Jones, and many other shows and films. We speak with Giesbrecht and Whilden about the specific photography skills required on-set, the working relationship within a film crew, their gear setup, and the changes that the profession has seen with the onset of digital streaming, cell phones, mirrorless cameras, social media, and the growth of the episodic television series. This is a very informative episode about a craft that is often overlooked and misunderstood. For more info on the products mentioned in this episode: Nikon D5 DSLR Camera Nikon Z6 Mirrorless Digital Camera FUJIFILM X-H1 Mirrorless Digital Camera Guests: JoJo Whilden and David Giesbrecht Photograph by JoJo Whilden, from the film "A Late Quartet"

Can you imagine a better perspective? On today's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we welcome two shooting buddies who, perhaps not so coincidentally, happen to be talented and inspirational landscape photographers. Ryan Dyar and Miles Morgan are both well recognized for their gorgeous "land-based" landscape photography and post-production skills, but over the past few years, both have incorporated drone photography into their workflow. Our show today is a discussion of their aesthetic approach, and of the techniques and gear Dyar and Morgan use to make their stylized landscape images with the DJI Mavic Pro, Mavic Pro 2, and Phantom 4 Pro drones. The topics we discuss are the differences between aerial photography and drone photography (Morgan is also a pilot) and, of course, composing from a tripod as opposed to a monitor image relayed from a few hundred feet in the air. We also talk about camera settings, long-exposure photography, drone choices, flying techniques, how to handle inclement weather, scouting locations, and the legal restrictions on drone operation. It is quite an informative episode but what also becomes clear is the camaraderie between Dyar and Morgan and how their friendship not only informs when and where they photograph but also how they work, how they view photography as a practice and certainly the influence each has upon the other in terms of their shooting styles. Join us for this enjoyable conversation. Guests: Miles Morgan and Ryan Dyar Photograph © Miles Morgan

On this week's B&H Photography Podcast we dig deep into the vault for one of our most successful early episodes. 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 so broad and so deep; 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 a recipe for creating images of star trails. This is truly an episode for all levels of shutterbugs seeking to explore or master image making at night. Well done guys! Click here for more info on all the gear you need for night photography. Guests: Gabriel Biderman and Todd Vorenkamp **We are presenting this episode as a response to listener requests...and it also allows us the time to prepare our next few episodes, which look to be incredible. We will be speaking with Ryan Dyar and Miles Morgan about shooting landscapes with drones, with on-set still photographers in the film and movies business, with NBA basketball photographers, and are planning a very special episode with photographers Jay Maisel and Stephen Wilkes. Stay tuned.

On this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we get the old band back together for one more gig. Joining us are Explora writers and podcast veterans Todd Vorenkamp and Shawn Steiner. They are not on the show just because we like them so much, but also because they are experts on camera gear and have written up most of the camera news from photokina 2018. In addition, we welcome Dana Glidden, the B&H social media manager, to join us. Glidden attended this year's camera trade fair, which was held from September 26-29, 2018, in Cologne, Germany. We start the episode with Glidden, who provides an overview of the biggest, and perhaps most important camera expo on the planet, and then we go to Steiner and Vorenkamp to fill us in on the most impressive of the cameras, lenses, and other gear announced at this year's show. Although announced before photokina, the Canon EOS R and the Nikon Z6 and Z7 mirrorless full-frame cameras were still the biggest draw at the convention. The Zeiss ZX1 Digital Camera, the Fujifilm X-T3 and the Panasonic Lumix S1 and S1R also received their share of attention, as did the new medium format Fujifilm GFX 50R Mirrorless Camera. If it wasn't already clear that high-end mirrorless cameras were in full display this year, a new silver Leica CL Mirrorless Digital Camera was also announced. Many lenses were also unveiled at photokina 2018, including the Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 lens, the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens, the Voigtländer NOKTON 50mm f/1.2, as well as several lenses for the new Nikon and Canon full-frame mirrorless systems. Other products discussed on the show are the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, the GoPro Hero 7, the Profoto B10 Off-Camera Flash and the Gitzo Mini Traveler tripod. Join us for this comprehensive overview of the latest cameras and photography gear from this year's photokina trade fair. Guests: Dana Glidden, Shawn Steiner, Todd Vorenkamp

Under starry skies, we took our recorders and headphones to a collection of shipping containers in Brooklyn, known as Photoville 2018 and Photoville did not disappoint—what a wonderful collection of photo exhibits. The exhibits span the breadth photography, but with an overarching theme rooted firmly in documentary and social justice photography. Many shows were sponsored—by the U.S. Marines, by magazines, universities, or collectives; others were curated by New York Public School children, and another by the New York Municipal Archives. As in years past, it was a wonderful, perspective-expanding experience run by people who love photography. We chatted with organizers and photographers from a handful of the exhibitions. First on today's B&H Photography Podcast, we speak with Michael Lorenzini, from the Municipal Archives of the NYC Department of Records. Lorenzini, along with co-curator Matthew Minor, organized the exhibit "NYC Work and Working," a beautiful selection of images from the collection of the WPA Federal Writer's Project. In addition to discussing the current exhibition, Lorenzini offers details on the Municipal Archive itself, its mission and the multitude of historical collections it houses. Staying in the New York groove, we met with the instructors and students from the High School of Art and Design and the High School of Fashion Industries. These photography programs, taught by Brenna McLaughlin and Ben Russell, respectively, have been a part of these high schools for decades and embrace traditional darkroom and digital techniques, offering work experience in photography, as well. The students were kind enough to wait for us to arrive after a long day of discussing their work with fellow students during New York Public School day at Photoville. Next, we speak with Pablo Farias, Isaac Guzman, and Vanessa Crowley of the exhibit, "conSEQUENCIAS/conSEQUENCES" presented by Bats'i LAB. This exhibit and its organizers are invested in creating a photographic community in Chiapas, Mexico. After a short break, we continue with photojournalist Ron Haviv and Dr. Lauren Walsh of The VII Foundation exhibit. The focus of our chat is their upcoming film "Biography of a Photo," which traces the impact of two photographs Haviv took earlier in his career, which have left indelible marks on the countries in which they were taken. Both photographs capture isolated acts of cruelty within societies in conflict, and do so with such resonance that they have become iconic images within those societies. Our next stop is the container curated by the Authority Collective and their exhibit "The Lit List: 30 Under-the-Radar Photographers," a show presenting thirty interesting photographers whose work deserves attention. We speak with one of the photographers, Arlene Mejorada, and organizers of the Authority Collective, which describes itself as a group of womxn, femmes, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people of color reclaiming their authority in the photography, film and VR/AR industries. Finally, we speak with Crista Dix of wall space creative, and artist Deborah Bay about their exhibit, "Internal Ballistics." The work here is more accurately categorized as "art" photography, but its beautiful cross-section depictions of bullets and the abstract damage they create fosters an interesting debate about gun violence. Join us for this interesting set of conversations. Guests: Ben Russell, Brenna McLaughlin, Erika Perez, Yaqueline Garcia-Hernandez, Sumona Islam, Tais Rivera, Michael Lorenzini, Pablo Farias, Isaac Guzman, Vanessa Crowley, Ron Haviv, Dr. Lauren Walsh, Arlene Mejorada, Mary Kang, Elaine Cromie, Deborah Bay, and Crista Dix Photograph © John Harris