Prime Lenses

Catriona is an artist who lives in the same village as me. She is primarily a photographer with a specialism in portraiture, weddings and brand photos. As you’ll hear from our conversation she’s worked hard to make sure the there work is satisfying to her creatively whatever the medium and I admire the way that she’s created space for her work around her family life and embraces the fact that her practice will change over time. She was also gracious enough to let me meet a record with her at her home so this is also the first episode recorded on location.

More about this show:

A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Craig Mod is a writer, walker and photographer based in Japan. He has lived there for over 20 years and I love this work. If anything the podcast is proof to me that if you follow folks for long enough you’ll eventually find a way to work together. Craig has a new book coming out next week so now seemed like the perfect time to sit down with him to discuss making images, leaning into limitations and the importance of focus when making.

More about this show:

A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Tom Oldham is a photographer specialising in portraits and he’s shot everyone. Athletes, olympians, footballers, models, everyone from Liam Gallagher and Jack White to Usain Bolt. His images are wonderful, he takes creative risks which I love and we also discuss work he does in education to get photography into schools.

More about this show:

A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Amy Elizabeth is an entrepreneur, photographer and teacher from the USA. She develops film soup, makes self-portraits and her own podcast so is just the sort of busy creative person I like to have on the show. As you’ll hear, her creativity is also grounded in supporting her and her family practically as well as creatively.

More about this show:

A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Henley Bailey is a photographer and entrepreneur based in the UK. His business, Akara Labs, makes accessories for Leica and Pixii rangefinder style cameras with more on the way, and we had a great chat about professional photography and making things as well as revealing an exciting new product idea!

More about this show:

A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Scott Evans is a photographer based in the Bay Area of the USA. His portrait and commercial work is fantastic and I loved talking to him about his start in photography, the lenses he loves his favourite photography podcast ;)

More about this show:

A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Chris Erickon is a YouTuber, Producer and photographer from the USA who taught me and thousands of others how to get cheap Polaroid film. He’s a passionate creator and came to the show with some great lenses we’ve never discussed before and a lovely story of his Grandfather’s car.

More about this show:

A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Phil Penman is a world renowned street photographer. An Englishman in New York for 25 years he’s shot major world events, chased weather across the globe and more recently turned his hand to books and workshops.

More about this show:

A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Danny Bligh is a photographer and videographer based in the USA. He’s a dear friend and was my first guest on Prime Lenses so it seemed fitting to bring him back for the first episode of year 2. We talk all things Canon, Leica and even sneak in some instant film.

More about this show:

A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.

Tommy Ga-Ken Wan, a Scottish photographer based in Glasgow who I struck up a conversation with on social media when he picked up a Ricoh GR a few years back. Over the years I’ve admired his work in the arts photographing theatre and dance and some comedy greats. He’s even recently featured in some work himself. Tommy speaks to me not only as a photographer but also as a person who is aware of what they need to keep themselves centred and I really enjoyed this thoughtful conversation with a great photographer.

More about this show:

A camera is just a tool but spend enough time with photographers and you’ll see them go misty eyed when they talk about their first camera or a small fast prime that they had in their youth. Prime Lenses is a series of interviews with photographers talking about their photography by way of three lenses that mean a lot to them. These can be interchangeable, attached to a camera, integrated into a gadget, I’m interested in the sometimes complex relationship we have with the tools we choose, why they can mean so much and how they make us feel.