B&H Photography Podcast

B&H Photo & Video
undefined
Aug 8, 2024 • 1h 9min

Picturing World Cultures: Tailyr Irvine - Native America

How would you feel if all the coverage you saw about your culture was a superficial view from the outside, rather than a narrative steeped in details of lived experience? Above photograph © Tailyr Irvine This is the motivating force that led today’s guest to pick up a camera, enter the newsroom, and cultivate an insider’s perspective on contemporary Native American life, to expand the scope and enhance the accuracy of stories being told. From exploring quiet moments at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests to a revealing photo project on Blood Quantum, you’ll gain fresh insight into the traumatic history and complex issues affecting Native American people today. Make sure and stay to the end for details about valuable resources like the Indigenous Photograph database and Illuminative’s Guide to Native Representation, as well as to learn about Tailyr’s ongoing work with businesses and organizations, to foster native representation in their projects.  All told, you’ll walk away with a new appreciation for the idea that “Learning your culture is a privilege, and it's not a privilege that everyone gets.” For more information on our guest and the gear she uses, click here.  If you haven’t already listened, check out all the episodes of our Picturing World Cultures podcast series here. Episode Timeline: 2:04: Tailyr’s early documentation at Standing Rock, and the value of her insider perspective as a Native journalist. 8:19: Distinctions between stereotypical views and a more authentic and diverse representation of Native culture.  12:42: Tailyr’s Reservation Mathematics project and the controversial issue of blood quantum.  21:05: The role of reservations as a center for Native culture and history, and the recent push to revitalize Native traditions. 24:11: The dark history of Native boarding schools and Tailyr’s work in telling stories about past abuses. 29:25: The public response to Tailyr’s Reservation Mathematics story and the challenges to changing this system. 32:30: Episode Break 34:25: Tailyr Irvine’s go-to gear and photojournalistic techniques. 38:21: Documenting tribal powwows to feature individual style rather than reinforce Native stereotypes. 42:56: Rules of etiquette at a powwow, the importance of consent, and questions of picture use.  47:17: Tailyr’s first assignment on the Blackfeet Boxing Club and an ESPN editor’s help to overcome economic barriers to entry.  54:28: Tailyr’s consulting work and building partnerships with businesses and organizations to foster native representation in projects. 1:04:06: Tailyr Irvine answers our PWC Visual Questionnaire. Guest Bio: Tailyr Irvine is a Salish and Kootenai photographer and journalist born and raised on the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana. Her work focuses on providing in-depth representations of the lives and complex issues within the diverse communities that make up Native America. Tailyr is also a co-founder of Indigenous Photograph, a global database dedicated to support the media industry in hiring more Indigenous photographers to tell the stories of their communities and to reflect on how we tell these stories. She is a National Geographic Explorer and frequently contributes to the New York Times and other national outlets.  Stay Connected: Tailyr Irvine Website: https://www.tailyrirvine.com/ Tailyr Irvine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TailyrIrvine/ Tailyr Irvine Twitter: https://x.com/tailyrirvine Tailyr Irvine Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailyrIrvine/ Tailyr Irvine on National Geographic: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/storytelling-through-photography-tailyr-irvine/ Tailyr Irvine’s Blackfeet Boxing Story: https://indigenousfutures.illuminatives.org/ending-violence/tailyr-irvine Illuminative’s Guide to Native Representation for Entertainment Industry Professionals: https://illuminative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IllumiNative_industry-guide_June-2022.pdf Native American Journalists Association Website: https://najanewsroom.com/ Tailyr Irvine’s Vital Impacts Grant: https://vitalimpacts.org/pages/grant-winner-2023-tailyr-irvine Indigenous Photograph Website: https://indigenousphotograph.com/ Senior Creative Producer & Host: Jill Waterman Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein Executive Producer: Richard Stevens Theme Music: Gabriel Richards
undefined
Aug 1, 2024 • 1h 23min

Photography in the Age of Synthetic Imaging, with Fred Ritchin

Where does the medium of photography stand in an era where the latest mantra encourages people to “Skip the Photo Shoot?” How can a viewer continue to trust photographs as evidence in a marketplace where AI is touted as a “revolution,” and “the new digital camera” that we need to embrace? And what methods can a photographer use today to be considered a credible witness with a transparent code of ethics? These are just a few of the points raised in our discussion with renowned writer, photo editor, and educator Fred Ritchin. For more than forty years, Ritchin has kept tabs on the progressive shift from using a camera to record the visible as truth to getting the world to look the way we want it to look. Join us, as we wade through the swampy terrain separating photographic fact from synthetic creation, as part of a wider series tracing the effects of AI on today’s creative community. Bonus invite: In preparation for an upcoming discussion between visual artists and AI instigators Boris Eldagsen and Miles Astray, we’re soliciting listener questions. To get your chance for an on-air shout out, please post a question for our guests to the comments section below or email it to: podcast@bhphoto.com. Guest: Fred Ritchin Top shot: Synthetic image, not a photograph, generated by the artificial intelligence system DALL-E, in response to the text prompt by Fred Ritchin, “An iconic photograph from the year 1945,” 2023. For more information on our guest and the gear he uses, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/photography-in-the-age-of-synthetic-imaging-with-fred-ritchin Stay Connected: Fred Ritchin Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Ritchin Fred Ritchin bio from ICP: https://www.icp.org/users/fredritchin Four Corners Project: https://fourcornersproject.org/ The Fifth Corner https://thefifthcorner.org/ Writing with Light Campaign: https://wwlight.org/ The Synthetic Eye book: https://wwnorton.com/books/9780500297391
undefined
Jul 18, 2024 • 1h 9min

Sports Action & Image Workflow for the Paris Games, with Maddie Meyer & James Chance

Sports enthusiasts from around the world will soon be glued to their nearest viewing screen, watching the action unfold during the international Summer Games in Paris.   But how much do you know about the finer points of photographing elite level competition, or about the lightning-fast, high-tech journey these images make from inside a camera to a remote editing workflow, and then onward to be enjoyed by you, the viewer?   In today’s podcast we’ve got the inside track on how these visual delicacies are brought to life and served up to global audiences. Our guests are Getty Images Chief Photographer Maddie Meyer and Managing Editor James Chance, who runs Getty Images’ editing operations in Europe.   We start with Maddie, who details the advance preparations and complex logistics required to ensure the success of 60 Getty Images photographers on the ground in Paris, alongside a sizable amount of remote and robotic gear. In the show’s second half, James describes the impressive synergy between the photographers on site and the massive team of photo editors he’s assembled to work remotely from London and in other locations around the world—a complex infrastructure that’s a first for the agency.   Immerse yourself in the passion for sports and learn what it takes to capture images that set you apart from the pack.   As Maddie Meyer sums up, “That's where the real challenge comes in. And that's where I would say it's really difficult. But that's where knowing the athletes comes in, knowing the way they move, knowing their rituals before they get in the pool, knowing some of the dynamics between the athletes, where you can really kind of pick up on the minutia to try and make something special.” Guests: Maddie Meyer & James Chance Episode Timeline: 3:37: Maddie’s college internship at Getty Images, and her experiences as a woman shooting sports. 8:30: Plans for covering the Paris Games, and details about the Getty Images team. 11:56: Maddie’s aquatics specialty and details about photographer assignments. 16:23: A question of shooting strategy: going for maximum volume vs anticipating more and shooting less. 22:37: Dedicated cameras vs remotes and robotic equipment, plus Maddie’s go-to gear: A Canon R3 mirrorless and 28-70 mm f/2 lens. 28:23: Episode Break  29:35: The synergy and trust between photography and photo editing teams. 33:28: Logistics of staff photographers, remotes, and robotic cameras on the ground to capture the Paris Games  38:28: Details about Getty Images remote photo editing staff in the UK during the Paris games, and their three-stage editing process. 43:33: The technical tools—hardware and software—powering the Getty Images workflow and file management process. 1:00:58: The most important qualities in a Getty Images photo editor. Guest Bios: Maddie Meyer is a chief photographer for Getty Images based in—but not geographically limited to—Boston, Massachusetts. She joined the Getty Images team in January 2015, after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in photojournalism from Ohio University. Maddie’s assignments range from covering New England’s professional sports teams to international travel covering events such as the Men’s and Women’s World Cup, the FINA World Swimming championships and the Olympic Games in Rio and Pyeongchang. Her pictures are continually published in major metropolitan newspapers, magazines, and websites worldwide, including ESPN, the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, the Washington Post, among many other media outlets. Equally skilled as a photographer, James Chance began his editing career as a freelancer in London. He currently serves as the managing editor for Getty Images Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He works to train and schedule the editing team, as well as plan editing for major events such as the Women's World Cup in Australia, and the Paris Olympic Games. James helped to create the vision for Getty Images remote editing plan, where photo editors will be working out of the company’s London office, while the photographers will be in Paris.  Stay Connected: Maddie Meyer Website: https://www.maddiemeyerphoto.com/ Maddie Meyer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddiemeyer2/ James Chance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameschance_5 Getty Images Website: https://www.gettyimages.com/ Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1742972-REG/samsung_mu_pe4t0s_am_4tb_t7_shield_portable.html
undefined
Jul 4, 2024 • 1h 22min

Picturing World Cultures: Pablo Bartholomew—India

A photographer’s success hinges on access. This is an underlying thread in the tapestry woven in this week’s show. Our discussion covers multiple facets and cultural attributes of Indian society, as seen through the eyes of a photographer with a knack for being in the right place at the right time. In this month’s episode of the series, Picturing World Cultures, we speak with Indian photographer Pablo Bartholomew about his long career as a documentarian and photojournalist. From his early intimate views of 60s-era hippies launching a counterculture invasion from the West to his photojournalistic coverage of historic events, Bartholomew shares insights about dynamics at work behind the scenes. We also discuss changes to the marketplace for pictures over time, and whether an iconic picture is still able to affect a change in the world. As an antidote to a life chasing the news, Bartholomew embarked on a ten-year documentation of India’s remote Naga tribes. In the show’s second half, he walks us through his background research and the permissions process involved in photographing tribespeople and their customs with professional lighting gear.  There’s also a personal motivation behind Bartholomew’s Naga Project. As a child, he had heard many stories about goodwill the Naga showed his father’s family during their flight from Burma to India during World War II.  “Principally, what I couldn't wrap my head around was that headhunters, they're supposed to be these ferocious people. Why would they let fair game pass through their backyard, to the degree where they would provide food and shelter?” he says. “So, there was in this savage something very kind. And I wanted to find out what the contradiction was.” Tune in today for more on the Naga tribes and other stories from India! If you haven’t already listened, check out all the episodes of our Picturing World Cultures podcast series here.    Guest: Pablo Bartholomew Episode Timeline: 2:16: Pablo describes how the caste system functions as a defining aspect of Indian culture. 7:18: The influx of the Western hippy counterculture in India as recorded in Pablo’s earliest pictures. 12:27: Capturing life on the streets of Delhi, Bombay, and Calcutta, a photo essay on Calcutta’s Chinatown, and Pablo’s work with the renowned Indian film director Satyajit Ray. 17:05: The rise of Pablo’s photojournalism career, the dynamics of a photographer’s access, and his iconic images of the tragic gas leak at Bhopal. 29:09: Pablo discusses how the work of a photojournalist has changed in the past 40 years. 32:53: Go-to camera gear, the various cameras Pablo’s used over the years, and his transition from analog to digital. 36:37: Tips for mitigating the heat and humidity of India, plus equipment for image storage and film scanning. 40:10: Episode Break 41:23: Pablo’s long-term project documenting the Naga tribes in Northeast India, his preliminary ethnographic research on the tribes, and gaining permission to photograph with full lighting gear.  51:43: Animist practices within the Naga tribes, and distinctions between tribes within the Naga identity. 1:00:05: Naga rituals it may be too late to photograph, and a memorable festival held by the Konyak tribe. 1:04:09: Pablo’s cross-cultural project documenting economic emigres from India who have resettled in the US, France, England, Madagascar, and Portugal. 1:14:38: Pablo Bartholomew answers our PWC Visual Questionnaire.   Guest Bio: Pablo Bartholomew, a self-taught photographer born in New Delhi in 1955. His father Richard was a noted art critic as well as a photographer, allowing Pablo to learn photography at home at a very young age. In his subsequent career of nearly fifty years, Pablo has documented societies in conflict and transition, while also recording intimate details of his own generation maturing amid a changing India. From 1983 to 2004, his photojournalistic work was featured in every major international publication, from National Geographic to Paris Match and beyond. Pablo’s photographs have been recognized by World Press Photo on three different occasions, including a 1985 ‘Picture of the Year’ award for his riveting image from the Bhopal gas tragedy. In 2013, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contributions to photography, and in 2014, he was honored with the status of Chevalier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. For more information on our guest and the gear he uses, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/picturing-world-cultures-pablo-bartholemew-india Stay Connected: Pablo Bartholomew Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pablobartholomew/ Pablo Bartholomew Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/parabart Pablo Bartholomew Bhopal photo from World Press Photo 1985: https://www.worldpressphoto.org/collection/photocontest/1985 Pablo Bartholomew Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Bartholomew Pablo Bartholomew Nagaland Project: https://ninefish.in/viewing-room/the-nagas/ TEDxIIMRanchi: Pablo Bartholomew - A Life in Photography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBldVr4YIBE Kishor Parekh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kishor_Parekh  
undefined
Jun 20, 2024 • 1h 24min

Pictures from the Inside: Seeing Fascination Everywhere, with Chantal Zakari & Nigel Poor

Most people’s perception of prison life revolves around sensationalized news stories and Hollywood movies depicting drab, inhospitable environments far outside our reach. In today’s show, we’re challenging that view in a chat with two educators who use photography as a framework for teaching visual literacy and the art of storytelling to incarcerated men. Cameras, computers, and sometimes even books, are prohibited from classrooms inside lock up, which forced our guests to come up with creative workarounds, using the generosity of the photographic medium as a path to engage in dialog with their students. As one of our guests, Nigel Poor, puts it: “With a little bit of ingenuity, there's always a work around to come out with something really beautiful and emotional. And that's one of the pleasures of working in a prison, is that you've got to really rely on your imagination and your ability to hit a road bump and find a way around it.” Don’t miss this inspiring discussion with two artists and educators who successfully adapted their teaching to the prison workaround, then connected with students on a human level, ultimately triggering their capability to “see fascination everywhere.”  Guests: Chantal Zakari & Nigel Poor For more information on our guests and the gear they use, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/pictures-from-the-inside-seeing-fascination-everywhere-with-chantal-zakari Top shot courtesy of Nigel Poor and the San Quentin State Prison Museum, with thanks to former Warden Ron Davis and retired Lieutenant Sam Robinson Stay Connected: Chantal Zakari Website: https://www.thecorner.net/chantal-zakari Chantal Zakari Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/show.n.tll/ Chantal Zakari’s Pictures from the Outside book: https://www.thecorner.net/picturesfromtheoutside Tufts University Prison Initiative (TUPIT): https://sites.tufts.edu/tupit/overview/   Nigel Poor Website: https://nigelpoor.com/ Nigel Poor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nigelpoor/ Nigel Poor’s San Quentin Prison Project: https://nigelpoor.com/project/san-quentin/ Nigel Poor’s San Quentin Prison Project book: https://aperture.org/books/the-san-quentin-project/ Ear Hustle Podcast website: https://www.earhustlesq.com/ This is Ear Hustle book: https://sites.prh.com/thisisearhustle Mount Tamalpais College: https://www.mttamcollege.edu/
undefined
Jun 6, 2024 • 1h 13min

Picturing World Cultures: Juan Brenner - Guatemala

Documenting a culture can be a daunting process, especially when it involves a history of conquest and colonialism. Synthesizing such a complex and traumatic past in a contemporary narrative is a formidable task, requiring extensive researchh and dedicated planning. This is the back story to today’s podcast. Above photograph © Juan Brenner For the seventh chapter in our monthly series, Picturing World Cultures, we speak with Guatemalan photographer Juan Brenner about his recent projects in the country’s Western Highlands. Our chat begins with Brenner’s introduction to photography as a youth, and the protective bubble surrounding him during the country’s brutal civil war. He left Guatemala at age 20 to forge a career as a fashion photographer in New York, which filters into our discussions about portraiture and photo gear. But our primary focus is on Brenner’s recent personal projects, created after his return to Guatemala, and an epiphany he had about the idea of “Indigenous Power.” Listen in as he describes how this concept was subsequently called into question. You’ll gain insight into the unequal power quotient that comes with being a “Mickey Mouse” photographer and discover how critical aspects of communication extend well beyond the basic structure of language. As Brenner notes during our chat, “You have to be really careful just being a photographer. It's so colonialist, you know, having a camera. You have this big robot that you stick in people's faces. You have this advantage. And, for me, it's really important to think about that a lot.” If you haven’t already listened, check out all the episodes of our Picturing World Cultures podcast series here. Guest: Juan Brenner For more information on our guest and the gear he uses, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/picturing-world-cultures-juan-brenner-guatemala Stay Connected: Juan Brenner Website: https://www.juanbrenner.com Juan Brenner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juan_brenner Juan Brenner Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JuanBrenner5/ Artist talk with Juan Brenner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPiwQXWUMJ8&t=40s Juan Brenner’s book Tonatiuh: https://editorialrm.com/en/producto/tonatiuh/
undefined
May 23, 2024 • 1h 1min

Larger than Life: Julia Blaukopf’s Custom Photographic Wall Decor

Julia Blaukopf is not afraid to think big, particularly when it comes to her photographs. She’s also not afraid of blurring the lines between fine art and commercial enterprise. Equal parts photographer, designer, visual artist, and entrepreneur, Julia is the founder of Fotografica—an arts-products venture with the goal of re-envisioning options for photography and photo-based products. Top shot © Julia Blaukopf In this week’s podcast, Julia leads us along her inspiring path—from her early days working with alternative processes and forging relationships with crafts people to her latest collaborations with architects, designers, and developers in the creation of architectural-scale commissions and custom photo-based installations. When collaborating with professional partners and clients on huge projects, psychology is key, which we discuss in detail. Blaukopf also describes the critical importance of seeking out the best printers and installers. Besides a command over technical details such as sound absorption, color fading, and bubbling, she sheds light on lesser-known yet equally essential construction issues such as fire codes. In addition to Blaukopf’s commercial work, she is also a documentarian with a passion for women’s empowerment and social justice. Towards the end of our chat she describes her work in that realm, offering insights about connecting with non-profits, and sharing stories through photography that have the ability to galvanize change. Guest: Julia Blaukopf For more information on our guest and the gear she uses, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/larger-than-life-julia-blaukopfs-custom-photographic-wall-decor Stay Connected: Julia Blaukopf’s Website: https://www.juliablaukopf.com/ Fotografica Website: https://www.thefotografica.com/ Julia Blaukopf’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliablaukopf/ Fotographica’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fotografica_official/ Julia Blaukopf’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliablaukopf Julia Blaukopf’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julia.blaukopf/ North Bar Wall Covering:  https://www.thefotografica.com/north-bar Julia’s book The Rain Parade: https://www.abingdonsquarepublishing.com/rainparade.html
undefined
May 9, 2024 • 1h 3min

NYC Artist Lofts & Brooklyn Rooftops, with Joshua Charow & Josh Katz

How much do you know about New York City’s 1982 Loft Law, which established a process for artists to obtain legal occupancy of the raw industrial spaces they inhabited, while also providing rent stabilization and protection from future eviction? Or the pigeon fanciers who were once a fixture across the rooftops of Brooklyn and remain valued as neighborhood sentinels? If these poetic vestiges from Gotham’s storied past have you dreaming about the good old days, then you won’t want to miss our podcast with gen-Z New Yorkers (and good buddies) Joshua Charow and Josh Katz. Their ambitious, self-assigned photo projects explore rarified mini-worlds featuring magical artist spaces and exuding West Side Story vibes. While their respective explorations occupy opposite ends of the struggle for prized urban space, the insights they share when discussing both their working methods and their paths to publishing are instructive and inspirational. What’s more, their spirited camaraderie in conversation is infectious! As Charow aptly notes toward the end of the episode, “I have to say, I don’t know if this book would exist without Josh Katz. Because I started this project towards the end of him finishing his, and as a close friend, he was able to basically show me the roadmap of how you get from idea to a finished book. And like he said, it’s really hard to understand how that works without someone in your life who can show you the steps you have to take.” And for bonus points, listen up to discover the former guest of the show who also sat down with Charow, and ultimately lined him up with a book agent! For more information on our guests and the gear they use, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/nyc-artist-lofts-brooklyn-rooftops-with-joshua-charow-josh-katz Guests: Joshua Charow and Josh Katz Top shot © Joshua Charow Stay Connected: Joshua Charow Website: https://www.joshuacharow.com/ Joshua Charow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuacharow/ Joshua Charow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshcharow Joshua Charow Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshuacharow/ Joshua Charow YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joshuacharow Joshua Charow Loft Law book: https://www.damianibooks.com/en/collections/charow-joshua Joshua Charow Westwood Gallery Exhibit: https://www.westwoodgallery.com/exhibitions/loft-law-photographs-by-joshua-charowosh Katz Website: https://www.joshkatz.me/ Josh Katz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshkatz/ Josh Katz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/joshkatz Josh Katz Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joshkatz/new-york-in-quarantine-rooftop-culture-through-crisis?ref=5bku66 Josh Katz On the Roof book: https://www.thamesandhudsonusa.com/books/on-the-roof-new-york-in-quarantine-hardcover Josh Katz Skatefolio Project: https://skatefol.io/
undefined
May 2, 2024 • 1h 18min

Picturing World Cultures: Maxim Dondyuk - Ukraine

The dictionary defines culture as “the way of life for an entire society.” But sometimes larger forces create rifts within the whole, inevitably leading to a confrontation between factions. A prime example of this cultural struggle is playing out today within the cities and villages of Ukraine, the focus of today’s episode. Above photograph © Maxim Dondyuk In this sixth installment of our monthly series, Picturing World Cultures, we speak with Ukrainian photographer and visual artist Maxim Dondyuk, and his wife and artistic manager, Irina. Our conversation stretches beyond the current conflict, to encompass other aspects of Ukrainian society. From Maxim’s early series on a country doctor’s final visits with patients (which drew inspiration from the work of W. Eugene Smith) to his in-depth coverage of Ukraine’s TB epidemic, we witness the evolution of his working methods and his dedication to long term documentary projects. Step behind the scenes of a military camp for children run by Cossacks, and gain insight into the cultural split between pro-Russian and pro-European factions, which Maxim photographed for his book Culture of Confrontation. As he writes in this book, “One culture tried to cling to old times, old ways of living. They were nostalgic for a past that meant a lot to them, to their parents, and grandparents. Yet there was another culture that felt completely differently. They looked ahead to forging something new, a different country.” Join us for this frank discussion about how such conflicting forces take visual form in Maxim’s powerfully arresting images. If you haven’t already listened, check out all the episodes of our Picturing World Cultures podcast series here. Guests: Maxim & Irina Dondyuk Stay Connected: Maxim Dondyuk Website: https://maximdondyuk.com/ Maxim Dondyuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maximdondyuk/ Maxim Dondyuk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maximdondyuk Maxim Dondyuk Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/maximdondyuk Maxim Dondyuk Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_Dondyuk Maxim Dondyuk‘s W. Eugene Smith Grant: https://www.smithfund.org/2022-maxim-dondyuk
undefined
Apr 18, 2024 • 1h 19min

Lynn Goldsmith’s Prince Portrait and its Legacy in Case Law

For anyone familiar with the photo industry, the mammoth lawsuit between The Andy Warhol Foundation and renowned music photographer Lynn Goldsmith should be no secret. This complex battle over the rights to her 1981 portrait of the artist formerly known as Prince lasted seven years and went all the way to the Supreme Court.   But do you know the circumstances behind her original portrait session with the famously reserved musician, and were you aware of all the misinformation about this case that was disseminated in both legal documents and the press?   Lynn is a longtime friend of the show, and our 2017 episode about her extensive, long-term work with the band Kiss, among other crazy stories, was a fan favorite. We invited her back to discuss this case in 2022, when the Supreme Court first agreed to hear it, but heeding the advice of her legal counsel she wisely declined our offer at that time.    In May 2023, the Supreme Court ultimately ruled in Lynn’s favor in a 7-2 decision, which has already been shown to benefit others seeking remedies for the misuse of their creative works.   Yet, while this landmark decision happened last year, the case itself was not officially resolved until very recently—Friday, March 15, 2024, to be exact—a day some might recognize as the Ides of March.   Now that the final resolution has been signed, sealed, and delivered, we felt it was a perfect opportunity for Lynn to give us a recap of this David vs Goliath battle, with all its complexities and underlying bias.   From details about the Fair Use doctrine, to the matter of copyright registration, to her thoughts about the current photographer community, to the importance of standing up for one’s rights, Lynn provides a clear and insightful assessment of one of the most traumatic and threatening experiences that any independent artist can face, as only she can.   To her very core, Lynn believes creativity can make anything possible, an ideology she sums up aptly at the end of our chat.   “I felt like some higher power picked me for this,” she says. “And that I had to make myself feel like a 1940s film with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, where there was going to be a happy ending, that everything would work out just fine, and that I was going to prevail.”   Guest: Lynn Goldsmith Top shot © Lynn Goldsmith   Episode Timeline: 2:50: The backstory to Lynn Goldsmith’s 1981 photo session with Prince. 7:17: Shooting both color and black-and-white in the days of film, a separate camera for each option. 11:15: Vanity Fair’s 1984 use of Lynn’s black and white portrait for artist reference.   13:47: Lynn’s discovery of the original image use after Prince died in 2016.  19:50: The value of saving detailed records of licensing agreements for future reference. 23:14: The preemptive lawsuit the Andy Warhol Foundation filed against Lynn, and the misinformation contained in the Federal court filing. 32:15: Lynn discusses the Fair Use doctrine and the matter of copyright registration in relation to her case. 36:43: Episode Break 38:04: Meeting with the Andy Warhol Foundation and the deal on offer to resolve the lawsuit. 44:40: Lynn’s thoughts about the current photographer community and the importance of standing up for your rights. 48:09: The multiple rounds of the Prince portrait lawsuit, from the first Federal case to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court. 56:29: Uneven reporting about the lawsuit in the press, with the photo press being fearful to write anything, and the art press releasing misinformation without fact checks. 1:00:27: Behind the scenes at the Supreme Court hearing, the effects of the 7 – 2 decision, as well as Justice Kagan’s written opinion. 1:08:48: Lynn’s thoughts about generative AI. Guest Bio: Lynn Goldsmith is a multi-awarded portrait photographer whose work has appeared on and in between the covers of top magazines worldwide. Her subjects have varied from entertainment to sports, film directors to authors, and from top celebrities to the ordinary man on the street. Her forty years of photography are both an investigation into the nature of the human spirit, as well as the natural wonders of our planet. As the author of 12 major photo books, Lynn’s images are also featured in numerous museum collections, yet her professional achievements are in no way limited to the world of photography. She is the youngest member ever accepted into the Director's Guild of America (DGA), where she achieved several firsts—from the first rock show on network television to the first music documentary released as a theatrical short, and more. In the mid-seventies, Lynn stopped directing to concentrate fully on photography. By the early 80s, she departed from both photography and film, to become the first ‘optic-music’ artist. Using the a.k.a. Will Powers, she produced the album "Dancing for Mental Health" on Island Records. Her debut album won critical acclaim and her single, Kissing with Confidence, reached #3 on the British charts. The wide range of Lynn's talents, skills and achievements are products of a belief she holds constant: Creativity is based on breaking limiting thought patterns, thus making anything possible.   Stay Connected: Lynn Goldsmith’s Website: https://lynngoldsmith.com/menu.html Rock and Roll Photo Gallery Website: https://rockandrollphotogallery.com/ Lynn Goldsmith’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynngoldsmith/ Lynn Goldsmith’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/goldsmithphoto Lynn Goldsmith’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynngoldsmithartist/ Lynn Goldsmith’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lynn-goldsmith/ Lynn Goldsmith’s GoFundMe Campaign Lynn Goldsmith’s Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Goldsmith Pelican 1510TP Carry-On Case: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1241003-REG/pelican_015100_0050_110_1510tp_carry_on_case_with.html

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app