Episode 15 John Kasko

John Kasko has shot professionally for over 40 years. In that time he’s gone from dropping expensive cameras at weddings photographing the defining artists of our time from Elton John and Madonna to Steve Martin and seemingly everyone in between. A no nonsense pro with a preference for a simple setup he has seen and done it all and it was great to talk to someone who is still trying to change and evolve their photography over time. It’s no longer about perfection for him and he doesn’t put pressure on himself to always use the “best” camera he has with him. His YouTube channel has me itching to get a flash and some lights, you’ll get the bug too once you spend any time with him.

More about the 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.

Episode 14 - Dan Baker

Dan Baker is a UK based photographer specialising in documentary photography/ street in the UK, although specialising doesn’t really cover it. Dan doesn’t just specialise. He set himself the challenge of shooting a single 100m stretch of beach front in his home town. This hyper specifc focus has produced beautiful colour imagery that’s rich, playful and often features a dropped ice cream cone.

I love his work we had a great conversation about three very similar lenses, but then that’s very Dan, he has found great variety and depth over several years in a place most photographers would feel they’ve explored in an afternoon.

More about the 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.

Prime Lenses - Episode 13 - David Barth

David is the founder of a company called Pixii, a French based team of folks who decided to make a new type of camera. A digital rangefinder without a screen that seeks to reinvent the way that we engage with a high quality interchangeable lens system. I worked with David over a decade ago in open-source software and was stunned when I saw his face on the website for Pixii a couple of years ago. He’s passionate about his company and what they can make. He and his team are making something special and it was a real thrill to talk to someone making a camera. How often do you get to do that!?

More about the 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.

Prime Lenses - Episode 12 - Mattias Burling

Mattias Burling has worked in media production since 2007. Experience in Production, video and stills made a YouTube channel about photography a natural fit and since then he has published over 420 videos about cameras. For me he’s one of photography’s permanent fixtures and I often watch his videos as I really trust his no nonsense approach to technology not to mention his fantastic eye. His images are stunning, dynamic, and beautiful.

More about the 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.

Prime Lenses - Episode 11 - Vjeran Pavic

Director, producer and journalist for the Verge where Vjeran gets to work on a little bit of everything — from writing to filming, editing and running a video team. His free time a lot more photography centric — street, pets, drones and a lot of different lenses.

More about the 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.

Prime Lenses - Episode 10 - Kevin Mullins

Kevin Mullins is a documentary and reportage-style photographer from the UK who’s best known for his wonderful candid wedding photos. His journey in photography only began sixteen years ago and we get into that a little in the conversation. He has a very human approach and firmly believes that "a photograph doesn't have to be good, it just needs to be important”.

More about the 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.

Prime Lenses - Episode 9 - Ali Okeefe

Born into photography by way of a family entrenched in it (father, grandfather, uncle and husband are all photographers), Ali took a circuitous path back to this medium by way of old, digital and analog cameras when she started her YouTube channel one month two cameras.

More about the 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.

Prime Lenses - Episode 8 - Dan Milnor

Daniel Milnor is the “Creative Ambassador” for Blurb, Inc. Milnor is a former news, editorial, and commercial photographer who now works primarily on long-term projects. His work combines still photographs, motion, sound, and the written word. Milnor began printing his work in the darkroom in 1988 and has self-published hundreds of titles, from award-winning to experimental. His love of travel and teaching have combined for workshops across Latin America, Europe, Australia, and North America. He has taught at the Art Center College of Design and the Academy of Art University. His work is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art collections, The George Eastman House, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. He lives in New Mexico.

More about the 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.

Prime Lenses - Episode 7 - Dave Herring

My guest today is Dave Herring. Normally I describe guests as photographers but Dave has recently shed this label preferring instead to be thought of as a creative. He produced a really interesting video about it too, explaining why he thinks of himself in this way. He's a working photographer with an interesting lens choice and varied career that's brought him to this place.

More about the 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.

Justin Mott is an independent photojournalist, commercial photographer, and documentary filmmaker based in Vietnam and is available for covering assignments worldwide.

He has shot over 100 assignments for the New York Times while a retrospective of his work photographed in Vietnam has been featured on the BBC.

Mott is also a global ambassador for Helping Rhinos , a non-profit dedicated to rhino conservation worldwide, and his work documenting the last two northern white rhinos left in the world was featured in Leica’s global witness campaign.

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More about the 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.