On Taking Pictures

Welcome to OTP year six! This week, are better and better cameras taking the craft out of photography, or does not having to worry about the technical free us to concentrate on the artistic? Is there more long term value in keeping your kit simple? Also, a listener question has us discussing how to figure out what comes next after a large or long-term project. Plus, sometimes we lose sight of our own creative worth and need to recalibrate. Diane Tuft is our Photographer of the Week.

Links for this episode:

• OTP G+ Group - Assignment: #overhead
  
• I MET MARTIN PARR! Q&A - YouTube
  
• pic4-1.jpg (2000×2000)
  
• Shooting 50mm on the Island of Gozo - YouTube
  
• Sheryl Sandberg Finds Comfort for Herself and Offers It to Others - The New York Times
  
• Errol Morris’s Latest Documentary ‘The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’ Is Gem | IndieWire
  
• LUMIX V-Log L Function Firmware Upgrade Kit - DMW-SFU1-VLOG - Panasonic US
  
• How YouTube’s Shifting Algorithms Hurt Independent Media - NYTimes.com
  
• Optimal Tip-to-Tip Efficiency - Jerking Scene (Silicon Valley) - YouTube
  
• Deke's Techniques 022: Removing People with Image Stacks | dekeOnline
  
• The New Screen Savers 100 PancakeBot
  
• Stream Japanese Electronic Pioneer Ryuichi Sakamoto's First Album in Eight Years - Thump
  
• DIANE TUFT
  
• Larry Sultan · SFMOMA
  

This week, we’re doing our best to answer your photo questions, which range from the technical to the obscure, from dream camera setup to whether or not you need an agent (spoiler: it depends). This episode marks the end of five years of OTP and we couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you for continuing to take an hour and a half or so out of your week to join us. We love doing the show and are looking forward to year six. Claire Rosen is our Photographer of the Week.

Links for this episode:

• William Coupon;William J. Clinton Pictures | Getty Images
  
• TCP&Co - Photographer Insurance | Camera Equipment Insurance
  
• Catch Me if You Can Opening Title Sequence - YouTube
  
• Se7en | opening credits | 720p - YouTube
  
• These historical black-and-white photos have been transformed into colour masterpieces by a 21-year-old Brazilian artist
  
• Claire Rosen
  
• Claire Rosen (@clairerosenphoto) • Instagram photos and videos
  

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace - Get 10% off with offer code 'OTP'

This week, tutorials, gear reviews, benchmarks and ratings. If everyone is an Expert, who do you trust? Ultimately, you need to use the tools and advice that works for you, regardless of what They say. Also, we geek out a little over video cards and the importance of being able to upgrade your rig. Plus, our Photographer of the Week, Joel-Peter Witkin, inspires a discussion that wonderfully illustrates the power of a photograph.

Links for this episode:

• On Taking Pictures - Google+ - Assignment: #full
  
• Video: Pentax's Medium Format 645Z Gets Covered in Sand and Run Under a Shower
  
• Amazon.com : Peak Design Clutch CL-2 Quick-Attaching, Quick-Adjusting Black Hand Strap : Camera & Photo
  
• Palo Duro SoftGloss Rag by Red River Paper
  
• The Designer's Dictionary of Color: Sean Adams: 9781419723919: Amazon.com: Books
  
• On Taking Pictures #61 — For discussion next time
  
• NVIDIA Announces 'Pascal' Graphics Drivers Coming to MacOS | tonymacx86.com
  
• Incredible low-light camera turns night into day
  
• The Polaroid 210: Yes, They Still Make Film for That | B&H Explora
  
• Joel-Peter Witkin - Wikipedia
  
• Joel-Peter Witkin | artnet | Page 3
  
• Joel-Peter Witkin: An Objective Eye (OFFICIAL 30 MINUTE FREE PREVIEW) - YouTube
  

This week, what’s the most iconic nude photo you’ve ever seen? Now, think about what makes it iconic. The human form is a blank canvas, but depending on how it’s lit, posed or seen by the artist, the resulting representation can be either beautiful or disturbing, art or porn. What’s takes it one way or the other? Also, we talk about when “official” portraits are just bad portraits. Plus, would you pay to use social media if it meant keeping your private information private? Suzanne Moxhay is our Photographer of the Week.

Links for this episode:

• On Taking Pictures - Google+ - Assignment: #empty
  
• 16 Podcasts Photographers Should Follow in 2017 – Resource
  
• Touchnote | Send your photos as postcards and greeting cards
  
• Shooting with the Fujifilm GFX 50S: Extended Thoughts and Sample Images
  
• First Lady Melania Trump Gets Her First Official Portrait : NPR
  
• This is President Trump's Official Portrait
  
• File:Official portrait of Barack Obama.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
  
• Photos - Google Photos
  
• Home | Mission Control
  
• Daring Fireball: The Mac Pro Lives
  
• Dell’s 8K monitor is a sublime $4,999 luxury for the pros - The Verge
  
• Multiplane camera - Wikipedia
  
• suzanne moxhay
  
• Interview with Suzanne Moxhay | Dada Magazine | Kids of Dada
  

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace - Get 10% off with offer code 'OTP'

This week, a followup to our depression discussion from a couple episodes ago and a letter from a listener. Despite how it sometimes feels, you’re not alone. It’s dark sometimes - really dark - but it’s not empty. We, along with countless listeners, have been there. Call us, email us, post in the group or talk to a family member or a friend. Make things. Share work. Every day, every picture is a chance to change course, either a little or a lot. Also, an offline phone call inspired a discussion around conventional wisdom pertaining to gear and equipment. Nick Veasey is our photographer of the week.

Links for this episode:

• On Taking Pictures - Google+ - Assignment: #Saturation
  
• Richard Tuschman’s Once Upon a Time in Kazimierz is a look back at 1930s Poland
  
• Bill Wadman 2017 365 (@wadman365) • Instagram photos and videos
  
• Instagram begins blurring some sensitive content, opens two-factor to all | TechCrunch
  
• X-Trans: The Promise and the Problem
  
• Opinion: Thinking about buying medium format? Read this first: Digital Photography Review
  
• Stunning Rare Photographs of Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Marlene Dietrich from Hollywood’s Kodachrome Era Photos | Vanity Fair
  
• Stunning Rare Photographs of Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Marlene Dietrich from Hollywood’s Kodachrome Era Photos | Vanity Fair
  
• Nick Veasey - Wikipedia
  
• HOME - nickveasey
  
• Nick Veasey: Exposing the invisible | TED Talk | TED.com
  
• Extreme X-Rays: Photographer Nick Veasey Takes You Inside … Everything | WIRED
  

This week, prompted by a listener email, we talk about taking “those” photos that have been taken a million times before and why you should or shouldn't take your version. Also, a discussion around being open to the process and giving yourself permission to play, regardless of whether or not all the pieces are in place. Paul Outerbridge is our Photographer of the Week.

Links for this episode:

• Three Iconic Musicians on Artistic Creation — and Its Importance Now - NYTimes.com
  
• U.S. Limits Devices for Passengers on Foreign Airlines From Eight Countries - NYTimes.com
  
• Behold the most terrifying images in these declassified nuclear test videos - The Washington Post
  
• Polaroid Swing aims to reboot brand and inspire new generation | Art and design | The Guardian
  
• Gregory Heisler on Arnold Newman - YouTube
  
• Paul Outerbridge - Wikipedia
  
• When Color Was Vulgar: Paul Outerbridge’s Avant-Gardist’s Eye - The New Yorker
  
• L.A. exhibitions focus on Paul Outerbridge - LA Times
  
• Helmut-Newton-Self-Portrait-with-Wife-and-Models-Vogue-Studio-Paris-1981----Helmut-Newton-Estate.jpg (2200×2200)
  

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace - Get 10% off with offer code 'OTP'

This week, we discuss the paralyzing power of depression via a story of a Chinese photographer called Ren Hang, who recently took his own life. Also, a quick roundup of some of our current favorite photo apps. Plus, we tease a couple articles to discuss next week around the creative process of artists like Beck, Tom Waits and Kendrick Lamar as well as the value of immersion via Chrissie Hynde. Laurent Nivalle is our Photographer of the Week.

Links for this episode:

• On Taking Pictures - Google+ - Assignment: #contrast
  
• Three Iconic Musicians on Artistic Creation — and Its Importance Now - NYTimes.com
  
• SKEW on the App Store
  
• Fotograf on the App Store
  
• Procreate Pocket
  
• The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde in studio q - YouTube
  
• Adobe mobile, iPhone, iPad, Android apps | Adobe Creative Cloud
  
• Ren Hang, Provocative Chinese Photographer, Dies at 29 - The New York Times
  
• Ren Hang - TASCHEN Books
  
• Djimon with Octopus, Hollywood (Getty Museum)
  
• Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock - Movie Trailers - iTunes
  
• Infographic shows the (depressive) state of the camera industry – 43 Rumors
  
• Photographer Spends Three Months Building His Own Sets by Hand for Cinematic Photo Series | Fstoppers
  
• GILBERT O`SULLIVAN tells the TRUE story of ALONE AGAIN ( Naturally ) - YouTube
  
• Episode 07 :: Revisionist History Podcast
  
• Laurent Nivalle
  
• DS 60 ANS - Director’s cut on Vimeo
  

This week, we’re starting out with a discussion around craft, inspired in part by the terrific Netflix series, Abstract. Also, we talk about two extremes of making work - at one end, we cite John Free and his 10 year photo essay project talking to people in the train yards in Los Angeles. On the other end, is the recent pop-up display of images and contact sheets from Robert Frank’s The Americans which, at the request of the photographer, were taken down and destroyed. Is one of these things a more valid expression of art than the other, or are they each a potentially necessary part of the creative process? Plus, with our five year anniversary coming up, we’re asking if you have any ideas on how you’d like to see us mark the occasion. If so, email us at [email protected]. Aaron Siskind is our Photographer of the Week.

Links for this episode:

• On Taking Pictures - Google+ - Assignment: #mealtime
  
• Mobile HD Video Camera for iPhone, iPad | App of the Year
  
• Ben Thomas
  
• jeffery saddoris — Process Driven: Ben Thomas
  
• Hirshhorn Museum visitor breaks pumpkin taking selfie | Daily Mail Online
  
• Netflix
  
• Advanced de-faking: using public sources to trace the true age of a suspected propaganda video / Boing Boing
  
• How This Wildlife Photographer Got His Shot On a Postage Stamp | Digital Trends
  
• 10 Year Photo Essay by John Free - YouTube
  
• My Photography Lesson With John Free | The Art of Photography
  
• Engineering Prints | Color Engineering Prints | Staples®
  Engineering Prints

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace - Get 10% off with offer code 'OTP'

This week, we respond to a couple listener emails — one involves questions around valuing work and the other is a followup to last week’s discussion around barriers. Also, what do you expect when you post your work online? Are you looking for constructive criticism, likes or is it just a vehicle for sharing what you make? Magnum photographer Eli Reed is our Photographer of the Week.

Links for this episode:

• On Taking Pictures - Google+ - Assignment: #staircase
  
• Ellen DeGeneres Surprises Brooklyn Students With College Scholarships | NBC New York
  
• Sony announced the world’s fastest SD card with 300MB/s read and write speed – 43 Rumors
  
• Pro Tools | First | Avid
  
• Log Commercial - YouTube
  
• Eli Reed - Wikipedia
  
• Magnum Photos Photographer Portfolio
  
• Photojournalist Eli Reed Shares Some of His Favorite Images
  
• Photographer Eli Reed - YouTube
  
• Eli Reed: The Lost Boys of Sudan - YouTube
  

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace - Get 10% off with offer code 'OTP'

This week, an email from a listener sparks a discussion about shipping - specifically around our own expectations over what comes next. This leads us into a broader discussion around self image, privilege and fears - both real and imagined. Also, is an MFA in photography a good idea? Plus, we got lots of terrific phone calls from you and want more. Keep them coming! Herbert Randall is our Photographer of the Week.

Links for this episode:

• On Taking Pictures - Google+ - Assignment:#dutchangle
  
• The Police - Mother [Synchronicity - 1983] - YouTube
  
• World Press Photo 2017: The Best People Images | Time.com
  
• These ’80s Artists Are More Important Than Ever - The New York Times
  
• Admissions: ICP-Bard MFA | International Center of Photography
  
• The best team jugglers in the world! - YouTube
  
• Playboy is bringing back nude photoshoots | Dazed
  
• Small Town Inertia by Colin Wilkinson (Bluecoat Press) — Kickstarter
  
• If you were a hot dog... - YouTube
  
• Dutch angle - Wikipedia
  
• Herbert Randall - Wikipedia
  
• Herbert Randall | Black Culture Connection Explorer | PBS
  
• Watch Full Episodes Online of American Experience on PBS | Herbert Randall - "The Photographer"
  
• Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement -- Images of a Peoples' Movement
  
• Gettysburg Address - Wikipedia
  

This episode is brought to you by FreshBooks cloud accounting software. Remember to enter "On Taking Pictures" in the where did you hear about us box when signing up for your free 30 day trial.