B&H Photography Podcast

Bruce Gilden is a street-photography icon. With summer in full swing and International Street Photography Day (otherwise known as Henry Cartier-Bresson's birthday) looming on the horizon, what better time to feature a lively chat with the master himself, recorded at B&H's 2023 Depth of Field Conference, just before the Magnum photographer's keynote lecture. Gilden's emotionally fraught depictions of real people up close are an acquired taste, and we address this aspect of his work during our chat, with Allan admitting that Gilden's work has terrified him in the past. We also touch on a somewhat surprising facet of Gilden's career—fashion photography—as he discusses making pictures for high-end clients such as Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabana, and Diesel. From the influence of early 20th-century mugshots on Gilden's aesthetic to the importance of making, and living with, visual choices to keep the photography fresh, our discussion covers a lot of ground. Stay to the end to learn about Gilden's long held photographic wish—photographing murder in a beautiful way. And for anyone who's ever fantasized about a taking workshop with Gilden, check out the link below to his upcoming street photography workshop in New York! Above photograph © Bruce Gilden Guest: Magnum photographer Bruce Gilden For more information on our guest and the gear he uses, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/closer-look-bruce-gilden Stay Connected: Bruce Gilden Website: https://www.brucegilden.com Bruce Gilden Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BruceGilden Bruce Gilden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bruce_gilden Bruce Gilden Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/brucegilden Bruce Gilden's Magnum page: https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/bruce-gilden/ Bruce Gilden's Upcoming New York Workshop: miamistreetphotographyfestival.org/bruce-gilden

At the Depth of Field Conference, two tech wizards, Scott Kelby and Kristina Sherk, discuss the impact of AI on Adobe software. Kelby explores the pros and cons of AI in photography, while Sherk talks about powerful AI selection tools in Lightroom. They also touch on mobile photography, the importance of audio quality, and share experiences from the vibrant event.

Do you have questions about establishing your photography business and legally protecting yourself and your images? From setting up a business entity to drafting client contracts to key terms in a model release, we cover these points and much, much more, during an in-depth discussion with intellectual property attorney Rachel Brenke. Listen in and learn about the value of contracts as the center point in any sort of business transaction. You'll also discover how the legal tripod of a business entity, attorney-drafted contracts, and liability insurance can create a powerful force field of protection. During the show's second half we explore various infringement scenarios, and even take the plunge into potential legal implications in the wake of AI technology and other current trends. Guest: Rachel Brenke For more information on our guest and the gear she uses, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/legal-matters-for-photographers-with-rachel-brenke-thelawtog Stay Connected: Rachel Brenke Website: https://rachelbrenke.com TheLawTog® Website: https://www.thelawtog.com Eden Law Website: https://eden-law.com Rachel Brenke Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrenke TheLawTog® Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelawtog TheLawTog® Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelawtog TheLawTog® Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thelawtog Audio-Technica Link: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Audio-Technica/ci/15748/N/4232861079

Like good acting—and skilled retouching—masterful lighting is an accomplished skill that should remain mostly unseen. This is the takeaway from our conversations with two great lighting whisperers, Canon technical advisor Eric Stoner and Nikon Ambassador Joe McNally. We sat down with both of these experts earlier this year at B&H's 2023 Depth of Field Conference. Our first guest is Eric Stoner, a Canon technical advisor who specializes in creating portraits with Speedlites and colored gels. He offers insights about the high degree of control these tools provide, describing how adding colored gels boosts creative improvisation and heightens impact. We also discuss the technological advances of the past 20 years, while reflecting on how great photography still hinges on learning the craft and connecting with your subjects. After a break, Nikon Ambassador Joe McNally discusses his mission to light photographs in a way that provides an unfettered experience for the viewer. In addition, we explore his long and successful career as a working professional, from his formative years as a LIFE magazine staff photographer to the recent exhibition of those very same images in a fine art gallery. Stay to the end to learn about his latest book The Real Deal, which he wrote during COVID, and hear about his busy schedule of international workshops. Guests: Eric Stoner & Joe McNally For more information on our guests and the gear they use, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/lighting-whisperers Above photograph © Joe McNally Stay Connected: Eric Stoner Website: https://www.mystonegallery.net/ Eric Stoner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericstonerphoto Joe McNally Website: https://joemcnally.com Joe McNally Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joemcnallyphoto Joe McNally Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joemcnallyphoto Joe McNally YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/joemcnallyphoto Joe McNally Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeMcNallyPhoto Joe McNally Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/joemcnallyphoto

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk." There is no better role model for this Thomas Edison quote than Steve Sasson, the electrical engineer fresh out of grad school who was hired to work in a Kodak research lab, in 1973. With a passion for scavenging parts and a penchant for invention, he developed the world's first self-contained digital camera just two years after his arrival in the lab. In honor of National Camera Day, we invited Sasson to the podcast for an in-depth discussion about his invention of this revolutionary device. Listen in to hear about the surprising reception Sasson's prototype received from Kodak executives during early demonstrations of its use, the complicated mix of cultural and business factors confronting a company in the throes of innovation, the many years that elapsed before Sasson was allowed to speak publicly about the camera, and much, much more. In addition to being a storyline worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, our conversation offers rare insight into the inner workings of a long-established, successful company that knows a lot about the problem but doesn't like the answer. Stay to the end to hear Sasson make a comparison to a groundbreaking technological development in the corporate world today. Guest: Steve Sasson For more information on our guest and the gear he uses, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/invention-of-digital-camera Above photograph © Courtesy of the George Eastman MuseumStay Connected Steve Sasson Profile at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: https://eng.rpi.edu/about/alumni-achievements/steven-j-sasson Steve Sasson at the National Inventor's Hall of Fame: https://www.invent.org/inductees/steven-sasson Steve Sasson at the National Science & Technology Medals Foundation: https://nationalmedals.org/laureate/steven-sasson/ The George Eastman Museum: https://www.eastman.org

Family portraits have come a long way since the heyday of department-store setups. In this episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we examine business and creative factors at work in this constantly evolving field, recorded on location at B&H's 2023 Depth of Field Conference. Listen in for fresh insights on family portraiture from two specialists serving very different market segments. Above photograph © Monica Sigmon, Sigmon Taylor Photography Our first guest is Michele Celentano, a serial entrepreneur who's shifted from weddings to families to her latest focus on the big business of school and sports portraits. After getting the scoop on her career trajectory, Celentano describes how she's modernizing and redefining this very lucrative market. After a break, we chat with Monica Sigmon about the central role that formal family portraits can play in establishing a visual legacy and building self-worth among your clients, while she also elaborates on the complex economic factors involved in pricing your work. Guests: Michele Celentano & Monica Sigmon For more information on our guests and the gear they use, see: https://blogd7.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/business-family-portraits-michele-celentano-monica-sigmon Top shot © Monica Sigmon, Sigmon Taylor Photography Episode Timeline: 3:37: Celentano's early mentors, professional groups that helped coach her in business, and early advice she received. 9:55: Reinventing yourself, from weddings to portraits to school and sports photography. 14:25: Adapting a business to the volume market for school sports portraits. 16:52: Differentiating between school sports portraits and senior portrait styles and modernizing the approach to deliver a clean contemporary look. 19:28: Believing in the work you do to manifest a value-based experience for your clients. 24:58: Episode Break 26:14: The power of a family portrait to change the way that children and families see themselves, and the value of formal printed portraits that lock in time as part of family history. 34:14: The shrinking of the family portrait specialty as a full-time career. 36:00: Sigmon's Black Label portrait series as a premium style of formal portrait. 37:42: Explaining a family portrait shoot to kids to get them on board with the concept, while minimizing studio clutter and props to keep the focus on the portrait session. 44:25: The importance of taking control of the shoot and the experience. You are hired for being an expert in what you do. Guest Bios: Michele Celentano has enjoyed a professional photography career of more than 30-years, from her start photographing weddings in New York City, through a shift to newborn, children, and family portraiture to her recent focus on the school and sports portrait market. Widely known as the "Queen of Group Posing," Celentano has a passion for teaching and giving back to the photographic community. Her artwork has been published in numerous books and in a wide range of professional photography magazines. Monica Sigmon is on a mission to revitalize family portraiture. After opening her Williamsburg, Virginia, photography studio, in 2000, she quickly built a successful business with a reputation for excellence and cutting-edge imagery. The recipient of two prestigious degrees from the Professional Photographers of America, she is a popular speaker, traveling nationwide to offer entertaining programs on marketing, building your brand and running a luxury studio with authenticity. Sigmon is also co-host of The f-Stops Here podcast. Stay Connected: Michele Celentano Website: https://www.michelecelentano.com/ Michele Celentano Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelecelentanophotographer/ Michele Celentano Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicheleCelentano.photographer/ Michele Celentano Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michcelentano/ Monica Sigmon Website: https://www.sigmontaylor.com/ Monica Sigmon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sigmontaylor/ Monica Sigmon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SigmonTaylorPhotography Monica Sigmon Twitter: https://twitter.com/monicaandmike Monica Sigmon Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/monica_sigmon/

Humans and pets have shared a deep bond for centuries, yet our animal companions are now considered more a part of the family than ever. So, it's no surprise that pet photography is a blossoming niche, and a perfect subject for this week's podcast—especially since it's National Pet Month! Above photograph © Nancy Borowick We start by chatting with pet photographer Karen Hoglund, who alerted us to her work in response to Allan's musing about using the hashtag "kittens" to generate traffic on social media. After noting that #kittens only yields a 20 percent bump over #photographer, Hoglund offers advice on the dos and don'ts of posing pets, and picking up on their non-verbal signs of anxiety or stress. After a break, we switch gears from posed pet portraits to learn about Sony Artisan Nancy Borowick's candid editorial-style coverage of the Westminster Dog Show, and her long-term project, "Part of the Pack." Primarily known for telling intimate stories about people, Nancy explains how an invitation to photograph the dog show helped her process the loss of both her parents to cancer. She talks about the challenges of covering the show's frenetic atmosphere, describing how she maintains focus by seeking out telling details. As we all agree, pets are truly a gift in our daily lives, and learning how to capture their unique personalities in pictures can only deepen this bond and enrich our experience. Guests: Karen Hoglund & Nancy Borowick For more information on our guests and the gear they use, see: https://blogd7.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/kittens-picturing-pets-karen-hoglund-nancy-borowick Top shot © Nancy Borowick Episode Timeline: 2:06: Does #Kittens or pictures of cute pets help to drive traffic on social media? 4:28: How to recognize signs of stress and anxiety in pets, and tips for posing pets during a photo session. 7:48: Giving treats to a pet so they'll behave during a photo shoot and behavior differences to keep in mind when photographing dogs or cats. 16:06: Tips for photographing groups of pets and people, plus advice for photographing darker-colored pets. 21:32: Hoglund's pet photography gear bag and her thoughts on using mirrorless cameras and lenses. 25:57: Episode Break 27:04: Nancy Borowick's love of the Westminster Dog show and the challenges of working in such a fast-paced, frenetic environment. 36:11: Difficult breeds to photograph, the benefits of real-time eye autofocus for animals in Sony lenses, and Borowick's favorite dog breed. 39:25: Borowick's love for close-up details as storytelling tools, and her favorite lens: a Sony G series 85mm f/1.4. 42:30: Evolution from photographing at the dog show to Borowick's long-term project "Part of the Pack," and the differences between dogs and owners at a top competition setting and in a home environment 54:30: Final thoughts from Borowick and Hoglund about owning pets today. Guest Bios: Karen Hoglund started out as a graphic designer, art-directing photo shoots for ad agencies and commercial clients. After honing her camera skills by photographing children and families, she shifted focus to her true love—dogs and cats. After starting a pet photography business in 2012, she hasn't looked back, working from her home base in Denver, Colorado with a squeaky toy in one hand, a camera in the other, and fur all over her clothes. Nancy Borowick is an internationally renowned photographer, author, teacher, and speaker. A graduate of the International Center of Photography, she is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and a Kickstarter Thought Leader. Working regularly with the New York Times since 2013, Borowick has told intimate stories of people, places, and pets from every corner of the globe. Her break-out project about her two parents in parallel treatment for stage-four cancer has received major accolades and awards such as The Arnold Newman Prize and the Humanitarian Award from the organization Women That Soar. This project was published in 2018 as the monograph The Family Imprint. Borowick currently resides on the island of St. John, USVI with her husband, two sons, and her dog, Einstein. Stay Connected: Karen Hoglund Website: https://karenhoglundphotography.com Karen Hoglund Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenhoglundphoto Karen Hoglund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenHoglundPhotography Karen Hoglund Twitter: https://twitter.com/khoglund_photo Karen Hoglund Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/khoglund/ Karen Hoglund YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@karenhoglundphotography/ Karen Hoglund TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@karenhoglundphoto Nancy Borowick Website: https://www.nancyborowick.com Nancy Borowick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancyborowick/ Nancy Borowick Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancy.borowick/ Nancy Borowick Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancyborowick

Tati Bruening and Anya Anti are two rising stars at the confluence of photography, digital assets, and social influence. In this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we get the lowdown on their burgeoning careers in fashion / beauty and conceptual / fine art portraits in part two of our chats from B&H's 2023 Depth of Field Conference. Above photograph © Tati Bruening We start with Tati Bruening, who shares how her plea to "Make Instagram Instagram Again" became a global meme, ultimately prompting a response from the platform's head. Learn how she spent the pandemic focused on daily DIY shoots with friends, allowing her to quickly master her Canon 5D Mark IV inside and out. Today, Bruening is supported by a powerhouse management team. Hear how she made these essential connections, get tips on working with a manager, and learn which pitfalls to avoid. After a break, we shift gears to Anya Anti, who fills us in on the intricate set design and attentive compositing work behind her whimsical portraits, which seamlessly bridge fantasy and real life. She distinguishes between shooting self-portraits for a more personal approach and posing models as alter egos for more control behind the camera. We also tackle the elephant in the room—artificial intelligence in photographic creation—with Anti weighing in on both the significant ethical issues posed by AI and its positive aspects as incorporated in Adobe's smart selection tools. Guests: Tati Bruening and Anya Anti For more information on our guests and the gear they use, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/confronting-algorithms-and-ai-tati-bruening-anya-anti-at-depth-of-field-2023 Top shot © Tati Bruening Episode Timeline: 2:38: Tati Bruening's offhand Instagram post that turned into an international viral movement, emphasizing the value of stills over video. 6:13: Bruening's preferences for lighting tools, modifiers, and lenses. 11:52: Making an initial connection to a manager and assembling a wider team. 14:04: Bruening's 5-year plan to stop being controlled by social media algorithms. 15:33: Bruening's tips for seeking and working with a manager and pitfalls to avoid. 18:50: Episode Break 20:44: Anya Anti's approach to self-portraits vs. photographing other people to use as alter egos in her pictures. 25:20: Concept development and preproduction process for Anti's portraits. 28:27: Concerns about AI technology and its related ethical issues. 32:31: The beneficial aspects of AI and using Adobe smart selection tools. 34:22: Upcoming projects, a series of editing tutorials, and animation pieces. Guest Bios: Tati Bruening rose to fame by making personal portraits of some of TikTok's most recognizable stars, celebrating the individuality of her subjects. She made headlines in 2021 by posting a simple request to 'Make Instagram, Instagram Again' and the rest of the world echoed her sentiment by adding over 300,000 signatures on her Change.org petition. She consults on Gen Z with various companies and has been a featured speaker on photography and social media at events such as VidCon 2022, among many other conferences. Anya Anti specializes in on-location fine art and conceptual portraiture. An internationally published, award-winning photo artist, Anti strives to go beyond traditional portraiture to tell imaginative stories through her art and share her passion for beauty and a craving for everyday enchantment. An international speaker and workshop instructor for companies such as Broncolor, Adobe, and Nikon, Anti has been a featured presenter at events like Adobe MAX, Adobe Live, PPE, WPPI, CES, among others. Stay Connected: Tati Bruening Website: https://www.illumitati.com/ Tati Bruening Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illumitati/ Tati Bruening Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tati.tutu.5/ Tati Bruening Twitter: https://twitter.com/illumitatiana Tati Bruening TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/tati-bruening Anya Anti Website: https://anya-anti.com/ Anya Anti Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anya_anti_art/ Anya Anti Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnyaAntiArt Anya Anti YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AnitaAnti Anya Anti Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnyaAnti Anya Anti Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/anya_anti/ Anya Anti TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anya_anti

Sam Hurd and Dixie Dixon may target different photo markets, yet they both prioritize craft and emphasize a human connection to their subjects. In this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we get the lowdown on their respective careers in wedding photography and fashion/lifestyle assignment work as part of our coverage of B&H's 2023 Depth of Field Conference. Above photograph © Dixie Dixon We start with Sam Hurd, who shares the story behind his decision to shift from photographic storyteller to craftsman. He also describes how switching to mirrorless cameras has changed his process. Sam's superpower is his inventive Ring of Fire technique for creative flare, and we discuss this in depth, while also touching on everything from image quality and lens design to the promise of AI-generating tools and the elements that get lost in the exchange. After a break, we chat with Nikon Ambassador Dixie Dixon, who describes how making a connection with your subjects begins with detailed research well before the shoot day. She regales us with tales from major advertising projects, including how her efforts to get a release for a Ford Mustang led her to the company's CEO. Get a first alert on her next book project and hear how her recent forays into video and directing tv commercials earned her a coveted advertising award. For more information on our guests and their photos, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/photographic-craft-connections-sam-hurd-dixie-dixon

"Do I really replace lenses or just buy more of them? That's the major question," says Kevin Rickert, B&H Photo's Senior Sales Trainer for cameras and lighting, in the heat of discussion for our Notable Lens Releases of 2022 and 2023 episode. Listen in as we assess the latest crop of optics from Canon, FUJIFILM, Hasselblad, Nikon, OM SYSTEM, Sigma, Sony, and Tamron. The full list makes for a lot of glass, so we've narrowed things down to a focused selection of primes and zooms spanning medium format, full frame, cropped sensor, and Micro Four Thirds formats. As in our annual Cameras of the Year show from December, we mix up the tech talk with practical anecdotes to help match lenses and customers based on user experience. Among the many threads of our chat, we commend the release of some new and different focal lengths—from Nikon's 26mm pancake to Sony's 20-70mm f/4 G-series zoom to Tamron's 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 telephoto. "Maybe the 26mm will be the new 28, which is great," says Rickert. "We like choices, and a lot of brands are going this route with their lens offerings." Guest: Kevin Rickert Episode Timeline 1:45: Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM lens and its unique cat-eye bokeh. 6:32: Four new Canon RF-S lenses for APS-C cameras, plus RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM and RF 1200mm f/8L IS USM super-telephotos for wildlife and sports. 9:20: FUJIFILM XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR for portraits, XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR for wildlife and sports, XF 18-120mm f/4 LM PZ WR for everyday use, XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR, and FUJIFILM GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR lens for medium format. 12:42: Hasselblad XCD 38mm f/2.5 V, XCD 55mm f/2.5 V, and XCD 90mm f/2.5 V lenses. 18:49: Nikon Z 26mm f/2.8 pancake lens, Z 85mm f/1.2 S for portraits, 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, and Z 600mm f/4 TC VR SZ super telephotos for wildlife and sports. 25:06: Episode break 25:58: OM SYSTEM 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS Pro lens, and the benefit of IP53 weather sealing. 31:43: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art for L-mount and E-mount systems, plus rerelease of lenses for X-mount and Z-mount systems. 36:06: Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G, FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, FE 20-70mm f/4 G lenses. 43:58: Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD, 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD lenses. Guest Bio: Kevin Rickert is B&H Photo's Senior Sales Trainer for Cameras and Lighting. It's Rickert's job to collaborate with camera and lens manufacturers to create curriculum for training B&H's world-renowned sales staff. He knows his stuff! Born and raised in New York and self-described as a ballpark journeyman, Rickert has traveled to—and photographed—all Major League baseball stadiums in the United States since 2008. Earlier this year, he helped to represent the B&H Sales Team, in Nashville, at Imaging USA 2023―where he discovered how hot Nashville hot chicken, really is! Stay Connected: B&H Photo Video Website: https://www.bhphotovideo.com B&H Photo Video Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhphoto B& Photo Video Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhphoto B&H Photo Video YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BandH B&H Event Space YouTube: https://bhpho.to/BHEventSpaceYT B&H Photo Video Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bhphoto B&H Photography Podcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1001107823418353