B&H Photography Podcast

On this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast we spoke with AP photojournalist Richard Drew about his powerful and haunting photograph, "The Falling Man", taken during the attacks at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. However, during our conversation, we also touched upon other aspects of his career including the night of June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, when Robert Kennedy was assassinated. We felt this material, while not fitting with our "Falling Man" conversation, was worth a listen and have created a short "bonus" episode for those interested. In addition to his experience at the RFK assassination, Drew discusses his Pulitzer Prize-winning work during the 1992 presidential campaign, his early years as a reporter in Southern California and the changes in gear and methods of image transmission that he has seen in his fifty years of photojournalism. Join us for this educational conversation. Guest: Richard Drew Image: AP Photo/Richard Drew

"The Falling Man" is the name that has been given to the photograph of a man falling from the north tower of the World Trade Center during the attacks of September 11, 2001. The image depicts a lone figure falling headfirst against the backdrop of the vertical lines of the twin towers. As an image, it is a striking composition and the casual position of the man's body bisecting the two towers, has even been described as graceful. These visual elements mask the horror of its immediate context and perhaps add to the upsetting response that often accompanies this image. Unlike other photographs from that day, this image does not explicitly depict carnage and destruction, but it is this image that has been often singled-out as too disturbing to view, too galling to publish. In fact, the image was published by many newspapers on the day following the attacks and was received with such recoil that editors were called to apologize for its inclusion and almost immediately, it fell under a shroud of obscurity, which in the sixteen years since 9/11, has been slowly lifted. On today's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we welcome veteran Associated Press photojournalist Richard Drew who took this now iconic photograph. We talk with Drew about his experiences on September 11, 2001, about media self-censorship and about how this photo, which is simultaneously peaceful and deeply painful, had been received, rejected and perhaps now, accepted as part of the whole story and a symbol of all that was lost that day.

On today's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we continue our exploration of photographic collaboration with photojournalists Ben Lowy and Marvi Lacar. In addition to sharing a vocation, they also share two children and a life together. Photojournalism is a decidedly independent, at times dangerous, career, certainly not one known for a routine home life, but when domestic responsibilities and children enter the picture, how does a couple balance craft and career with the need to earn a living and the time needed to nurture relationships? More so, when both people are working in the same field, how does bolstering one career cross the line into debilitating the other and how does a creative couple find ways to support each other's efforts? Lowy and Lacar bring an animated humor and a willingness to talk about the difficult moments from their lives and careers and explain how they have come to recognize their best personal and professional attributes and bring those strengths into a working relationship that continues to evolve. -------------------- Gear discussed in this episode: Yongnuo YN686EX-RT Lithium TTL Speedlite for Canon Cameras Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera -------------------- Guests: Marvi Lacar and Ben Lowy Photograph: Marvi Lacar

I don't think I've ever seen Allan as happy as he was during our recording of this episode and, if you are into vintage cameras, lenses, and all things film photography, just sit back and enjoy our conversation with Bellamy Hunt, aka the Japan Camera Hunter. The palpable enthusiasm between these two camera lovers cannot be feigned, and they talked like old friends about Nikon SP, Canon rangefinders, Hasselblads, and anything with a red dot. We also learn how an Englishman arrived in Japan, worked for a camera company, became a camera hunter, and eventually developed a business that not only sources vintage and rare cameras, but sells film, custom-paints cameras, and writes and shares his love for photography on the "JCH" site. In addition to talking about cameras, we discuss the photography culture of Japan, camera shops of Tokyo, and the renaissance of film photography. Join us for this pleasurable conversation on the B&H Photography Podcast. --------- Some of the gear mentioned in this article: Artisan & Artist LMB-M3 Half Case for Leica Black Label Bag Half Case for Leica MegaGear Ever Ready Half-Bottom Leather Case for Sony Guest: Bellamy Hunt Image courtesy of Bellamy Hunt

On August 21, 2017 there will be a total solar eclipse passing across the United States from the northwest to the southeast. While the path of totality will be in the center of the country, at least 60% obscuration will be seen throughout the U.S. and into Canada and Mexico. This is a historic event and millions of people will be viewing and photographing it. On today's episode, we will discuss the what, when, and where of the eclipse and concentrate on the best and safest ways to view and photograph it. Joining us for this discussion are Senior Staff Writer Christopher Witt, our in-house telescope and optics expert, and photographer and B&H Photography Podcast veteran Todd Vorenkamp, who will explore the best ways for novices as well as experts to view and photograph the eclipse. After a break, we welcome noted astronomer and night sky photographer Dr. Tyler Nordgren who will offer his thoughts on the eclipse and explain why it might be best to not photograph this eclipse. Finally, we will be joined by Dr. Laura Peticolas from the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. Laura will discuss her plans for the eclipse, specifically discussing the Eclipse Megamovie project, a crowd-sourcing effort to collect and share images across the path of totality. Join us for a multi-faceted conversation about this once-in-a-lifetime event. Guests: Dr. Tyler Nordgren, Dr. Laura Peticolas, Christopher Witt, Todd Vorenkamp Photograph: Tyler Nordgren Dr. Tyler Nordgren- 38:50 Dr. Laura Peticolas (Eclipse Megamovie)-56:10

Structure and limitation is a key to the artistic process. This is the idea that opens our conversation with photographer and publisher Brooks Jensen. In addition to his work as a fine-art photographer, Jensen is well recognized as the publisher of LensWork, the beautiful print magazine (and website) about photographs (not cameras!). We speak with him about LensWork's "Seeing in Sixes" competition, in which photographers submit a series of just six images with the idea that this limited number forces efficiency and creativity. Our discussion glides to other topics, such as the purpose of art, digital versus analog preservation, and the simple joy of creating and sharing your work. On the second half of our show we return for Episode Four of "Dispatch," with Adriane Ohanesian. In this segment, Ohanesian talks about the cameras, lenses, and gear she uses in covering breaking and long-form news in Africa. She compares her newer Sony mirrorless to her Canon "tanks," and offers insight on working in some of the toughest conditions imaginable. Ohanesian also continues to detail her assignment work and, on this occasion, she is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with rangers combating illegal poaching and mining in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. She tells of the region and the struggle for resources, and of the dangers, both natural and human, which confront locals and visitors. Chronicling her time with the rangers and her miles-long hikes through thick jungle, she shares thoughts on interacting with subjects and developing photo narrative with understated humor, and prepares us for the next chapter to this story, which ultimately turns quite tragic. Guests: Brooks Jensen and Adriane Ohanesian Photograph: Brook Jensen from "Shoji - In Praise of Shadows"

We tried something a little different with this episode of the B&H Photography Podcast. We took three writers from our Explora blog along with us as we visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the much praised photography retrospective, Irving Penn: Centennial. Upon our return we gathered to talk about the exhibit and the influential work of Irving Penn. If you love photography, the name Irving Penn should be familiar to you, but this retrospective places equal emphasis on work that falls outside the realm of his famed fashion and portraiture for Vogue Magazine and synthesizes his almost 70 years of photography, acquainting us with his still-life, documentary, nudes, and even street photography, as well as with his skills as a printer. Along with our guests Cory Rice, Jill Waterman, and Akeem Addy, we talk about the works on view in this retrospective-- what impressed us the most, what confused us, what surprised us, and what we learned about the cohesive strength of composition, light, and gesture in Penn's work and just how influential he has been on all of our photography, whether we realize it or not. ------------ Rollei Retro 400S Black and White Negative Film Rollei Ortho 25 Black and White Negative Film Rollei Black Magic Variable Contrast Liquid Emulsion Guests: Jill Waterman, Cory Rice, Akeem Addy Photograph: Pablo Picasso at La Californie, Cannes, 1957 by Irving Penn. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, © The Irving Penn Foundation

On this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast we take a look at wide-aperture, wide-angle lenses. With our guest, Neil Gershman, a lens expert from the B&H Superstore, we touch upon the history of wide-angle lenses, their design and general applications, and then we discuss some pros and cons of wide-angle lenses with maximum apertures wider than f/2. Given the market demand and the technical capability, lens manufacturers have been introducing wide-angle prime and even zoom lenses with maximum apertures designed for better performance in low light and greater control of depth of field. We will discuss many of these newest lenses from Sigma, Nikon, and Canon and provide a run-down of all the fast aperture wide-angle lenses available from B&H. Join us for this educational episode. -------------------------- Some of the gear discussed in this episode: Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM Lens Sigma 24-35mm f/2 DG HSM Art Lens for Canon EF Guest: Neil Gershman

When you get a chance to speak with an expert, you take advantage. At this year's OPTIC 2017 Conference, when Lance Keimig and Chris Nicholson passed by our mobile studio, we did just that. Keimig is an author, instructor, and above all, a photographer who specializes in night photography. Well before digital technology made photographing the Milky Way an easy endeavor, Keimig was experimenting with film stock and developing processes to create long-exposure images in dark settings. He is currently an instructor at National Parks at Night and along with Nicholson, offers workshops at many US National Parks. On today's episode, we speak with Keimig and Nicholson about the differences between creating night photography with film and with digital cameras. There are obviously many modes and functions on a digital camera that make night photography simpler, but at the heart of the enterprise, is the process the same? We ask this question and discuss techniques used with film and the advantages that accompany digital cameras. We also ask "What is night photography?" and "What are the charms that keep these two photographers interested in this specific discipline?" Listen as Keimig provides insight into the history of night photography and Nicholson discusses his shooting methods and ideas on composition that he applies while working in national parks. For those interested in night photography, this episode is a must-listen. -------- Gear mentioned in this episode: Nikon D750 DSLR Camera Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED Lens Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera Guests: Lance Keimig and Chris Nicholson Photograph by Lance Keimig

Steve Giralt is an accomplished still life, food, and product photographer and director with a list of advertising clients that includes Harman Kardon, Godiva, BBDO, Starbucks, PepsiCo, Petrossian, and Verizon. With a deep background in digital tech and engineering, and a long list of awards for his still photography, he began to include motion capture in his repertoire and is now on the cutting edge of what he has dubbed, "visual engineering." That term is an attempt to describe what he does, but more so, to describe a new way of shooting in which photography, video, and modern imaging technologies are integrated—integrated within the creation process, as well as in the final product he offers to clients. To complete assignments with this level of integration and with the highest quality of reproduction, Giralt has had to invent new methods for image capture, as well as the tools needed to do so. On today's episode, we visit Giralt in his Manhattan studio and talk about his theory and process for shooting stills and video simultaneously, and the lighting systems and mechanisms he has developed for these tasks. Of course, we ask him about his cameras and lenses, but we also discuss 3D printers, Arduino controllers, LED panels, robotic arms, and an array of old and new tech that he combines to create stunning explosions, slo-mo splashes, and cascading hamburgers! Join us on this forward-thinking discussion to see how much thought and work goes into "visual engineering" before and after the shutter button is pressed. Guest: Steve Giralt