B&H Photography Podcast

Photokina is the world's largest trade fair for photography, and this year's affair saw 983 exhibitors from 42 countries fill the Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre in Cologne, Germany, with an array of new gear for photography, video, and imaging, in all its forms. Today's episode of the podcast will offer an overview of the notable cameras and photo equipment announced at this biennial event, held from September 20-25, with a special emphasis on new lenses. Our guests, podcast regulars Levi Tenenbaum and Andrea Ortado, highlight the features of new cameras from Fujifilm, Leica, Olympus, Panasonic and others, and offer their opinions on a range of new gear. As mentioned, we take an extra moment to talk lenses and ask, "What can we expect from new lens technology in the coming years?" For gearheads, GASsers, and anyone interested in the latest photo equipment, this is an entertaining episode packed with practical information. Guests: Andrea Ortado and Levi Tenenbaum https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/p/podcast

In celebration of Gail Buckland's wonderful new book, "Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present", and the accompanying exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, we take a look at sports photography from all angles. With Buckland, we discuss the making of her book and the role that sports photography has played in the history and technology of photography. Buckland breaks apart false distinctions by including photographers as diverse as Andy Warhol, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Stanley Kubrick with legendary sports photographers such as Walter Iooss and Charles Conlon. Her research on individual photos and overall perspective on sports photography opens up the genre to the wide world of art, and her insights are invaluable. Also joining us is photographer Andrew Bernstein, well known as the long-time photographer for the Los Angeles Lakers. He has also served as official photographer for the L.A. Clippers, Kings, and Dodgers, and held the position of Senior Director of NBA Photos. Bernstein has photographed a wide variety of sports and has published several books, including "Journey to the Ring", documenting the 2009-10 Lakers championship season. His awards and accolades run deep and he was instrumental in developing the multiple camera Flash Wizard II system, which revolutionized indoor sports action photography through the use of triggers and remotes with strobe lighting. Bernstein discusses his career development, gear setups and shooting techniques, as well as his relationship with athletes, specifically with Kobe Bryant, whose photo is included in the book and exhibit, "Who Shot Sports". Guests: Gail Buckland - www.gailbuckland.com Andrew Bernstein - www.adbapi.com Photograph by Tim Clayton, courtesy Tim Clayton For more images visit www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/p/podcast

Coney Island and photography have been together almost since birth. There is a great tradition of photography associated with this beach, located at the last stop of the D, F, N, and Q trains, in Brooklyn. Our guest, photographer Mark Hartman, created an intense summer project of walking the beach at Coney Island photographing the interesting people who crossed his path. His project was disciplined and relatively short, but thanks to a little app called Instagram, his austere, detailed, and colorful portraiture has quickly found many fans. Hartman was kind enough to join us to talk about his series and the gear, techniques, and attitude that has made it such a success. We are also joined by writer and photographer Todd Vorenkamp, who adds insight to our discussion with Hartman, and also offers some very practical tips on how to keep your gear clean, dry, and sand-free while shooting on the beach. Why a show on beach photography as summer draws to a close? Well, as anyone who has photographed on the beach (and who hasn't?) will tell you, it's not just a summertime thang—the people, architecture, nature, wildlife, water, and sunsets are there year-round and whether it's a jam-packed Sunday at Coney or a contemplative, deserted windswept winterscape, the beach is always a great place for photography. Guests: Mark Hartman, Todd Vorenkamp Photographs – Mark Hartman * "...and balancing on eyebeams/ above a sea of faces/ paces his way/ to the other side of day" -from "Constantly Risking Absurdity" in A Coney Island of the Mind by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available on September 15, 2016, and we've organized an episode to celebrate iPhone photography, including a hands-on review of the new iPhone 7 Plus. Joining us are three photographers who bring unique perspectives to the imaging capabilities of the iPhone. First, we speak with Robin Robertis, a 2016 winner of the iPhone Photography Award and an artist for whom the iPhone provided a new creative tool for her ethereal and vibrant work. Next, we speak with Ed Kashi, a multi-faceted, veteran photojournalist and filmmaker who was one of five photographers assigned by Time magazine to document Hurricane Sandy with just an iPhone. Kashi also teaches workshops in iPhone photography for National Geographic, and will discuss how he incorporates mobile photography into his journalistic work. After a break, we speak with Brendan Ò Sè, a photographer from Cork, Ireland, whose playful image of the curved lines in Copenhagen's Superkilen Park was chosen for the "Shot on iPhone 6" ad campaign. He'll talk with us about that experience and how the iPhone revived his love for photography. Finally, to put a bow on this episode, we sit with Olivier Laurent, editor of LightBox, at Time.com, to chat about his first impressions of the iPhone 7 Plus. Mr. Laurent was given the latest iPhone 7 before its official announcement to test and review its camera, and he shares his thoughts with us on the new features and specs. Guests: Robin Robertis - 02:00 Ed Kashi - 16:37 Brendan Ò Sè - 37:36 Olivier Laurent/iPhone 7 Review - 57:25 Photograph: Robin Robertis

In Part II of our series on astrophotography, we talk with Ian Norman, founder of Lonely Speck, a site dedicated to making astrophotography easy and accessible to all photographers. The website is loaded with great advice, gear reviews, and tutorials on how to photograph the night sky and specifically, the Milky Way, Our conversation with Ian centers on his development as a photographer and provides many tips on how, with very affordable equipment and apps and basic processing, you can create stunning dark sky images. As you will hear, Norman, like his website, is all about sharing experiences and advice on how to simplify and improve your photography. As he says, "there are few photographs that have as much existential impact as a nighttime landscape against the Milky Way." Join us for this educational and inspirational episode. Guest: Ian Norman Photo: Ian Norman, LonelySpeck.com

In the first of our two-part series on astrophotography, we are fortunate to be joined by two scientists responsible for some of the most awe-inspiring images ever created. Astrophysicist Dr. Jeff Hester was a member of the team that built the camera on the Hubble Space Telescope and is credited with taking "Pillars of Creation," an extraordinary image of the Eagle Nebula that has been selected by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential photographs in history. Dr. Hester tells us about his time working on the Hubble and how this image was created, as well as offering his insight on the nature of beauty and the relationship between science and art (Hint: They're not as different as you might think.) Also joining us is Zoltan Levay, the Imaging Team Lead at the Space Telescope Science Institute, whose principal responsibility is to produce and publicize pictures from the Hubble. Mr. Levay discusses the relative nature of color, his techniques for coloring and composing photographs, and the differences between the images that come to him as "data" from the telescope and the published images with which we are more familiar. Again, science and art blend as we ask why certain colors are chosen to represent various celestial bodies, and come to realize that the decisions made and processes used in the top tiers of astrophotography are not that different from those we ourselves make in our own post-processing. Guests: Zoltan Levay and Dr. Jeff Hester Photograph: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) Next week's episode, Shooting Stars, Part II – The Lonely Speck

On August 25, the National Parks Service celebrates its 100th Anniversary, and we celebrate the parks and all that they have provided to photography over the years. From early photographers documenting natural wonders to persuade Congress of the value of a park system, to legendary landscape photographers such as Ansel Adams, to the countless tourist snapshots of Old Faithful, and even to Apple's ubiquitous Half Dome wallpaper, photography and the National Parks have always been intertwined, and our guests understand this as well as anyone. Chris Nicholson is the author of Photographing National Parks, and Kerry Gallivan is the founder of Chimani, an app designed to help users explore and enjoy each National Park. Our discussion touches upon park protocol as it applies to photographers, gear and location tips, the ethics of nature photography, and we celebrate our national achievement and the gift that has been given to generations of photographers. Guests: Chris Nicholson and Kerry Gallivan Photograph: Chris Nicholson

While digital camera manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to improve and increase resolution, dynamic range, frame rate, ISO, and…everything, a very strong counter trend has emerged that is turning back to analog, mechanical, and film techniques. Standing out among these "throwback" technologies is the rising popularity of instant film and instant film cameras. Fujifilm Instax has seen their sales soar but more interesting is the Impossible Project, who, in just a few years has become the go-to source for a wide variety of instant film and, recently, instant cameras, such as the new I-1 Instant Film Camera. On today's episode we talk with Patrick Tobin from Impossible and photographer George Weiss, who incorporates instant film into his portrait and wedding work. We discuss how Impossible began by purchasing the last remaining Polaroid film factory, how they refurbish cameras for re-sale and continue to tweak their instant film chemistry. Join us for an enlightening discussion on the intricacies of an upstart company that is finding success marketing "old" technology to new customers. Guests: Patrick Tobin and George Weiss Photograph: George Weiss www.georgeweissthethird.com www.bhphoto.com

There are good reasons for this episode to have a two-in-one headline. Our initial idea for this show was to discuss the role that happenstance and luck play in photography, but the conversation with our impassioned and articulate guests, Amy Touchette and Gus Powell, quickly turned to a more generalized chat on the principles and practices of street photography—and how lucky we were to have them speak intimately about their work and on photography as an artistic and personal endeavor. For me, it doesn't get much better! But back to the two titles within a title—perhaps it is our collaboration with chance and a photographer's ability to recognize, organize, prepare for, and even control what is referred to as chance that is the true essence of street photography. As better writers than I have written, "You make your own luck, Gig," or "Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned." Finally, and this quote seems made for the street photographer: "Chance favors those in motion." Drop us a comment if you can name the above-quoted writers and share with us a story on how you collaborated with chance to make a wonderful photo. #BHPhotoPodcast Guests: Amy Touchette and Gus Powell Photograph: Amy Touchette, 2016

With the recent announcement of the Hasselblad X1D-50c Medium Format Mirrorless Camera, the debate about sensor size and resolving power has taken a whole new turn. What does the release of this impressive camera say about the future of medium format? Will this camera appeal to DSLR shooters, whether professional or enthusiast? Will traditional medium format photographers embrace it? This week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast provides an introduction to digital medium format photography and takes a look at this new camera, as well as medium format digital backs and the Pentax 645Z, released to much acclaim two years ago. We also discuss the value of medium format sensors in light of the recent availability of ultra-high resolution DSLR and mirrorless cameras from Nikon, Sony and, specifically the Canon 5DS and 5DS R. Guests: Levi Tenenbaum and Jeremy Tan