Photography Insights - important industry interviews by Phlogger

Recently I’ve been talking with friends about developing, my mistakes, and how to improve after recently going back to development.  It’s been interesting to improve my results, so being more careful in preparation has been good.  After speaking with James Lane about developing we became friends and started talking to different developers etc.  Now although James is young, he has a scientific persona and can hear how enthusiast he is for alchemy!  He loved it so much he started developing for customers and runs his own lab!

James talks to us about why he’s different from other labs and spends time talking to us about making your own chemicals. He’s got some top-secret plans he’s working on and has an interesting future ahead of him.  I love his passion for pushing film, controlling contrast and grain.

What’s interesting about James lab (zone imaging lab) is you can choose the developer!  He even has explanations on his website what each one does.  I think this is a great unique selling point and makes him stand out.

In this one:

- spending 3 hours with a reel

- light leaks

- custom pushing technique

- increasing negative density

- epilepsy

- career choices

- trying new developers

- pyro 510

- beta testing XTOL killer

Random questions

having a pint with James Bond and James chooses a strange superpower.

Links:

We discuss a few of the characters from facebook forums including  Rüdiger Hartung and Daniel Keating

Lab website - https://www.zoneimaginglab.co.uk/about

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/james.nguyen.7

Friends of the show

Recently I've shared some of the work brought to us by Static Age.  It's great to see Pete at Static Age is bringing more photographers zines to us.  The most recent is called "cooking with gas" by Brandon Lasko.  It's available now and only £7.

https://www.staticage.co.uk/product-page/cooking-with-gas-by-brando-lasko

Other friends are:

Do check them out - https://filmdev.co.uk/

Chroma Camera -  https://chroma.camera/

Welcome to episode 103 of photography insights, the shot that interviews people from the photography industry.

It’s funny how I look back over the past hundred episodes and still cannot believe some of the names and talent I’ve managed to interview.  Each year of my photography seems like how do I beat last year.  Then all of sudden you get a reply from a legendary photographer and they say sure, let’s do it.  It’s times like this I’m still amazed that people that have so much experience are willing to spend some time talking to me.  It’s a very humbling experience I can tell you, and yes I still get nervous but this soon dissipates.  In fact, for those who come back regularly, I suspect you will notice this with guests.  After 15 minutes they might slow their speaking down and start laughing etc, but after 60 they are totally relaxed and like 2 friends are talking.  Well, that's what I try to do and hope its conveyed.  It’s an important skill when interviewing.  Anyway, where was I?

So yes because of COVID you are lucky enough to listen to the one and only skateboarding photography legend Grant Brittain!  It’s a true honor to have a man with many years of experience behind him.   For these sorts of interviews, I just couldn’t fit in my random questions, in fact, I had to edit this down just to get it where it is now.  So I know this is a long one, so feel free to skip forward.  But listening back to Grant was such a pleasure and we spoke over 3 hours in the end.  Let me tell you, this does not happen very often.  I try to edit what I believe you want to hear but can only do my best.

There is not much that needs saying about Grant, to be honest, just google his name, check Instagram, etc.  what was really nice, as he has a great reputation in the industry too as a kind person.  He did not disappoint too, as we talk from his roots in photography, through skating, the magazines, and working freelance now.  It’s a hell of a journey  and in the words of Grant " All wanted  to do was surf, skate & smoke pot"

So in this one, we cover:

Friends of the show

I have discussed David from FilmDev in this show and how he's developed all my 120 colour work for a few years.  Great work guaranteed and as an example, he only charges £4 for small files with delivery & TIFF's!  Large scans are £8 compared to.

Do check them out - https://filmdev.co.uk/

Other friends are:

Static Age - https://www.staticage.co.uk/

Chroma Camera -  https://chroma.camera/

Links

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jgrantbrittain/

Website - https://jgrantbrittainphotos.com/

I’m pleased to bring you episode 102 which is all about one of my favorite subjects – beer!!!  During COVID it’s been great to get to the weekend and relax with a couple of beers (obviously you all should drink in moderation like me).  After a recent delivery from Beer52 I looked through the Ferment magazine and noticed some interesting articles.  This work led me to the author behind the work - Matthew Curtis.  Matthew is a freelance photographer, blogger, podcaster, and now a magazine publisher!

It was really interesting to talk with someone who actively has an interest in great beer, but has the vocabulary to describe this.  Matthew really has understood how to use each medium (the written word, the spoken word, and photography).  He’s originally from my local area, so it’s nice to hear about his roots and also how traveling to breweries around the world has helped him.  Matthew doesn’t pull his punches and will tell you honestly about his work, mistakes, and his thoughts of some labels.

He talks to us about his magazine label - Pellicle, its beginnings, and how COVID has affected the brand and his life.  Matthew also talks about his roots in adult life and how he stumbled into photography.  He's now very experienced and works for a few brands and even helps teach others.  

In this one we discuss:

Random questions

Yes, Matthew eases his way through these and won't forget thinking about hitmen from now on!  So don't forget to check out Matthew's unique way of banning daydreaming.

Links

Please do check out Matthew's lovely work.  His magazine is made through voluntary contributions, so take a look!

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/totalcurtis/

Magazine - https://www.pelliclemag.com/

Podcast - https://www.pelliclemag.com/home/2020/1/15/the-pellicle-podcast-series-one-is-now-available

Twitter - https://twitter.com/totalcurtis

From the show

During the podcast we mention a few brands too, so don't forget to check them out:

Beer52 - https://www.beer52.com/

Brewdog - https://www.brewdog.com/uk/

Cloudwater brewery - https://cloudwaterbrew.co/

Ferment Magazine - https://www.beer52.com/ferment

Good Beer Hunting - https://www.goodbeerhunting.com/authors/matthew-curtis

Beer Guild Training event - https://www.beerguild.co.uk/events/online-training-advanced-beer-photography-with-matthew-curtis/

Chosen Brew podcast - https://shows.acast.com/thechosenbrew/episodes/matthew-curtis-beer-writer-the-pellicle

Friends of the show

Thanks to:

Chroma Camera, Filmdev & Static Age

Oh crikey where do we begin on this one?  The big 100!

When approaching the turn of the century I came up with an idea to do something different and flip the host and guest scenario!  Now I have to be honest I asked and was trying to arrange my first ever guest to host it.  However, Sarah (street media) had literally just started a new job after we started planning this.  I really did want to have a female host to show I have grown as a person and involving everyone.  However, since this was not feasible my good friend Jon at Instinctive Photography accepted (without a bribe) the position.

Please bear with us, I've never done anything like this so it's not designed to be a normal episode at all.  It's a light-hearted show about you all, I love you all for supporting my work.

What's in store for you:

1. Jon fires off a few random questions at the Phlogger!

2. guests Steve at Chroma Camera, Pete at Static Age and the model Shannon Ashby.

4. What photography means to the guests

5. written messages

6. video messages (this will be aired on Youtube soon)

7. a few special messages (from my daughter, my wife and good friend Jeni at Signature too)

Outtakes - yes I will be making a short bonus episode where you will hear real-life mistakes!

Links

Instinctive Photography Website - https://www.instinctivecollection.co.uk/

Instinctive Photography Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/instinctive_photography/

Jon's b&w Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_boy_in_the_tall_house/

Chroma Camera website - https://chroma.camera/

Chroma Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chromacamera/

Static Age website - https://www.staticage.co.uk/

Static Age Instragram - https://www.instagram.com/static_age_zines/

Shannon Ashby Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shannon_model_/

Thanks

It was so kind of everyone to email me with their messages and videos.  Taking time out their day for me, was a humbling experience and I don't mind saying it made me very tearful.

I literally have met some wonderful people on this young and will continue to hunt more down!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart (in no particular order).

Gina Milicia

Jay Good

Tobias Beach-Wlyd

John Hughes

Paul at Analogue Wonderland

Top Gun Dave

Max Hellweg

Quinn Jacobson

Bob Patterson

Jeni Lowe

Ibarionex Perello 

John Whitmore

Leyton Cleveley

Andy Church at Kodak Alaris

Michael Kirchoff

David Collyer

Marius

Lomig from Film Washi

Hi everybody I’m so thrilled to bring you yet another first – an underwater photographer for episode 99!  I was sat reading my copy of the technology/science magazine WIRED and came across some different photos.  It was all about reefs and a project involving them with some beautiful photographs by a gentleman called Lorenzo Mittiga.  After checking his work I was really impressed and contacted him.  Lorenzo was nothing but intriguing and fun to communicate with, he must have been as excited as me

Lorenzo’s work is known around the world for his images and works in documentaries, like natural history. By trade, his is a marine biologist but left that in Italy to work more in the field.

He’s an intelligent guy who can speak 3 languages and luckily one of them was English.  Lorenzo lives on the Dutch island of Bonaire in the Caribbean. He also talks about living and working as a photographer, so its a tale of weddings, portraiture, food, and anything else!

Lorenzo talks to us about his start in photography and shooting film, all the way through to digital.   He gladly provides details of his kit and how hard it is underwater.  He’s got some lovely split over/underwater projects too, which are very different photographically speaking.

In this one we talk about:

LINKS

Aqua lung - http://www.aqualung.com/uk/

Nimar - https://www.nimar.it/en/

Flexarm - https://www.flex-arm.com/en/

Lorenzo website - http://lorenzomittiga.com/

Lorenzo Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lorenzomittiga/

*** Please note there are a couple of minutes of echo on this show, there was a bad weather storm in Stacy's area.  This caused our video session to black out a few times too, but i've edited all that out so can't tell.  Nothing much to worry about though, just enjoy Stacy's presence. ***

It’s that time again and its now episode 98.  After recently speaking with Stu Mckenzie I thought it would be great to have a female combat photographer too.  Some research later I came across a wonderful story about Stacy Pearsall, who had served and was doing a fabulous veternas project.

After speaking with Stacy it was quite clear she has a wonderful sense of humour (as you will hear).  Stacy is a person who hasn’t let her disabilities from her servitude affect her.  Along with her trusty assistant and Charlie the service dog (world-famous) she applies her trade as a photographer.  One of the main reasons you should listen is to her Stacy talk about her lovely veterans' project.  This involves her traveling to every state in the USA.  This is no mean feat for someone like Stacy, so listen carefully as she talks a little about herself.

So in this one:

Random questions

Of course, Stacy is subjected to the usual barmy questions – so find out why you shouldn't watch horror films.

Stacy links

Website  - http://stacypearsall.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/slpearsall/

Podcast -  https://everythingstacy.com/

Holster - https://spiderholster.com/

Friends of the show

Film development - https://filmdev.co.uk/

Zines - https://www.staticage.co.uk/

Cameras - https://chroma.camera/

Phlogger

You can check my Instagram blog feed here - https://www.instagram.com/phlogger.co.uk/

You can find my best photography here - https://www.instagram.com/phlogger_photos/

Welcome to epsiode 97 of photography insights, the show that interviews people from around the photography industry.  Today is a very special one, something different to my usual interviews and focusing on a specific subject – model safety.  Since I’ve worked with a few and seen some of the problems, I got together with a few to record this.

What follows is a discussion on a Facebook group we are members of that is speicifcally aimed at safety for both photographers and models when working with new people.  It’s a great resource where people can ask questions about others and get some feedback from their experiences.

The group has some careful moderators involved to ensure it’s not just a place to go slam photographers or vice versa.  From the podcast you will learn a little about it and why it’s a really good place for us all.

I’m joined by Alix, Beth and Emily who came forward to talk about the group, experiences and provide you all with some great advice.  All the models give some insight when things can go wrong on shoots and what you should do.  Each one has their experience and its quite eye opening what can happen.

We will talk about ways to whistleblow and when you should for safety.

Everyone provides some great advice for best practises that models should follow like doing some homework on the photographer.  You will also hear my side from a photographers viewpoint too, that should help with any fears.

The models also pinpoint some red flags you should watch for before, during and after the shoot too.

I want to thank Alix, Beth and Emily for taking ti

me out to record this.  We felt like its something that is important to us all and want to protect you all from any potential issues.  There are links to the models social media feeds and do urge you to work with these fantastic ladies.

Links

Facebook safety group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/588524144617941/

Government advice - https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0071-look-out-modeling-scams

Purpleport advice - https://purpleport.com/articles/194/how-to-avoid-scams/

News articles 

Jailed - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-50838834

Creepy photographers - https://petapixel.com/2016/07/27/models-beware-warning-signs-creepy-photographers

Baby steelers - http://www.web24.news/a/2020/02/fake-photographer-drugs-mother-to-steal-baby-with-poisoned-cupcake.html

Models

Alix purpleport  - https://purpleport.com/portfolio/tinkerspellx/?referrer=tinkerspellx&fbclid=IwAR1TDE_9TIGX9T0Shkt2bRedh9dUU27-CKClZ0oxj954jx_4-AB08GfIKBM

Beth - https://www.instagram.com/choo_choo42

Emily - https://purpleport.com/portfolio/emilyjomodel

Phlogger - https://www.instagram.com/phlogger_photos/

Welcome to episode 96 everyone, really pleased to have you on board once again.  Had some lovely guests recently and I’m adding another friendly person to the list.  This time we are discussing the darkroom with John Whitmore aka TheDarkShed.

John discusses his life around the darkroom, children and all things analogue.  He has his own youtube show and produces live + behind the scenes approach to making art.  it’s challenges and ideas he has and shows us how to do this.

What I really like about John is his honesty, he tells you straight and makes mistakes, just like all of us.  He doesn’t mind saying when something goes wrong and explains why (he usually gets there in the end).

He’s approachable on social media and can hear him on Sunny 16 podcast too quite often.

RESOURCES

The Darkroom handbook by Michael Langford - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Darkroom-Handbook-Michael-Langford/dp/0852231881

Gulnara's handmade project - https://www.gulnara.com/hand-painted-19871993

Sunny 16 podcast featuring John - https://sunny16podcast.com/2020/05/31/ep-204-groceries-point-blank/

FRIENDS OF THE SHOW

Film developing - https://filmdev.co.uk/

Static Age zines - https://www.staticage.co.uk/

LINKS

John website - https://johnwhitmorephotography.co.uk/

John Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/thedarkshed

John Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thedarkshed/

Phlogger Instagram - http://instagram.com/phlogger.co.uk

Phlogger photos - https://www.instagram.com/phlogger_photos/

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to episode 95 of Photography insights, the show that interviews people from the photography world.  Today I would like to introduce you to someone who has travelled a lot of the world.  Someone that’s been to the artic and lived with reindeer herders and who has been to war with a camera!  Examples of places he’s served or work include Moscow, Germany, Nothern Ireland, Edinburgh, Mongolia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, New Zealand, Namibia

Stu Mckenzie life started off in the army and has had some unique experiences which he talks to us about.  He’s a calm, collected and a humble bloke who likes helping others.  I do urge you to check out his collection of photography that shows a mix of culture, travel, portraiture and landscapes. Stu also provides some great tips for those wanting to go out in the cold.

I came across Stu’s work recently due to his work with veterans and PSTD, so check out project mindscape.

In this podcast we also discuss:

- combat camera team

- working with SAS

- preparation for trips

- gear survival in the artic

- military police

- hangovers & Edinburgh castle

- maths & guide numbers

- army photography courses

- working as BBC cameraman

- infrared + converted 5ds

- meeting Neil Armstrong

- working with Don McCullin

Random questions

Yes, you will hear Stu go through these and find out what he daydreams about.

MENTIONED

Jon at Instinctive - https://www.instinctivecollection.co.uk/

David Baranek - https://phlogger.co.uk/interview-with-top-gun-dave-baranek/

Snapshot by Chroma Camera - https://chroma.camera/snapshot/

David's infrared article - https://phlogger.co.uk/how-to-shoot-colour-infrared-film-by-david-hochleitner/

Aerochrome supplier- https://www.aerochrome.shop/product-page/aerochrome-strip-film-127-and-120-formats

Rob Shanebrook (moon camera) - http://www.makingkodakfilm.com/

Paul Berriff - https://phlogger.co.uk/interview-with-press-photography-legend-paul-berriff/

LINKS

Stu Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stumckenziephoto/

Stu website - https://www.stumckenziephotography.com/

Stu Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRy8_LorG0Mh6pTJB7jkF6Q?

Phlogger

My blog - https://phlogger.co.uk/

My Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/phlogger.co.uk/

My photos -  https://www.instagram.com/phlogger_photos/