B&H Photography Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we sit down with New York-based photographer and content creator Brandon Woelfel (@brandonwoelfel) to discuss his personal journey as well as the growing pains of being modern creator and photographer. Brandon shares how fine art led him to taking photos, adapting to the ever-changing social media landscape, gaining confidence in one's own work, educating in the space, and even leveraging AI.

Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, TikTok star, podcaster, or just starting your creative journey, this conversation is full of insight, motivation, and practical advice you can use right now. Episodes drop every other Thursday. Hit subscribe and join the B&H Creators community for more unfiltered conversations with creators shaping today's culture.

Guest Bio: Brandon Woelfel

Brandon Woelfel is known for his dreamy portrait photography. His creative use of lighting and color lend a unique sense of intimacy to his portraits that makes his work instantly recognizable. He's also the author of two photo books, Ultraviolet and Luminescence.

Credits:

• Host & Creative Producer: Deanna Testa
• Creative Producer: Elena Maidebura
• Creative Editor: Larissa Mattei
• Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein
• Executive Producer: Richard Stevens

Although they cater to different senses, photography and music share much in common. In both these arts, timing, rhythm, and mood are key. It's been a while since we've mixed photography and music on the show, so we're particularly excited about today's chat with two photographers who share a passion for documenting musicians and their fans—in particular, devotes of punk and indie rock.

From early memories of being truly moved by music to practical tips about photo access, image rights and restrictions, plus the complexities of organizing your work for a book, the conversation doesn't miss a beat.

So, turn up the volume as Bootsy Holler reminisces about dropping into the Seattle music scene in the early 1990's to capture the raw energy of her favorite bands, now compiled in the book Making It: An Intimate Documentary about the Seattle Indie, Rock and Punk Scene. And Chris Ortiz describes how the house parties he captured at a punk commune in Kansas served as the foundation for his skills as a music photographer with a keen eye for differentiating himself in the photo pit.

As Chris points out when it comes to preparing for a show. "It goes back to knowing that music and knowing the band, and being able to sit back and say, Yes, I am a fan of the band, but I also am professional, so this is what I'm going to look for when the band comes out."

Guests: Bootsy Holler & Chris Ortiz

Episode Timeline:

• 3:20: Bootsy Holler recalls her early days dropping into the Seattle music scene, photographing garage bands and dive bars.
• 9:41: Chris Ortiz talks about his start in photography, and his time photographing house parties at a punk rock commune in Lawrence, Kansas.
• 12:01: The difference between documenting live music and making portraits of musicians, where you need to develop a rapport with your subjects. 
• 17:32: A tip of the hat to Chris as a longtime podcast superfan, plus what he's learned from listening to our 10-year archive of shows.  
• 20:20: Bootsy's early stylistic influences and its effect on her art and music photography.
• 25:54: The earliest memory of being truly moved by music and the songs Bootsy and Chris were listening to when they truly got it.
• 31:56: Applying the inner feels of music to photographing a concert and connecting with the rhythm to grab key moments.
• 39:00: Negotiating access, shooting from the photo pit vs the side of the stage, plus differentiating your pictures from other photographers' work.

48:00: Episode Break

• 48:56: Chris talks more about current dynamics for gaining access when shooting music and concerts. 
• 53:44: Current limits on concert photo usage and restrictions on contracts offered by some artists and entertainment companies.
• 58:28: Legal parameters related to pictures in Bootsy's book, plus the difference between concert pictures and portrait situations.
• 1:02:26: Bootsy's nine-year process of assembling a book, working with a designer for big picture decisions, plus leaving room to break the rules.
• 1:08:09: Finding publishers, choosing between options, plus the importance of owning the rights to your images.
• 1:10:20: Bootsy and Chris name the band at the top of their bucket lists to photograph.  

Guest Bios:

Bootsy Holler has spent 30 years capturing the essential personality and emotions of her subjects. Best known for her work as a portraitist, Bootsy's journey began with intimate depictions of herself and friends at the center of Seattle's pivotal music scene during the early 1990s. These formative years at both ends of the lens cemented her style as well as the methodology behind her empathic and journalistic approach. Bootsy's work has been recognized by the Society of Photographic Journalism and twice selected for the Critical Mass Top 50. Her photos have been exhibited and published internationally and are included in the permanent collection of the Grammy Museum. In 2019 she published the monograph, TREASURES: objects I've known all my life. Most recently, her book Making It: An Intimate Documentary about the Seattle Indie, Rock and Punk Scene, was released by Damiani books.

Stay Connected:

• Website: https://bootsyholler.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bootsyholler/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shop.BootsyHoller/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BootsyHoller 

Chris Ortiz has enjoyed a relationship with photography since age six, when he learned the basics from his stepfather. He's specialized in music and documentary subjects since 1998, shooting with both digital and medium format black and white film. After earning a bachelor's degree in art history, Chris obtained an MFA in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Select documentary projects include Portraits of Latinx Identity, and We Are All We Have Tonight, featuring portraits and personal narratives from punk rock enthusiasts, describing each subject's connection to the scene. Additionally, Chris works as news editor for the Prescott Daily Courier, covering area news and events. 

Stay Connected:

• Website: https://www.chris-ortiz.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastboyent/

Credits:

• Host: Derek Fahsbender
• Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman
• Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein
• Executive Producer: Richard Stevens

The photo world is filled with remarkable young and up-and-coming talents. They often don't get the visibility they deserve, so we created Next Frame—a new monthly series aiming to shine a light their way. These bite-sized episodes are equally inspired by the guests we speak with and the invaluable contributions of local creative arts programs that have played a key role in their development.

We're launching this series with photographer, filmmaker, and boxing & music aficionado Josh Nass, an alumnus of Baltimore's Wide Angle Youth Media programs. From nailing his Photoshop skills while still in middle school to trading in his boxing gloves for a camera during college and beyond, Josh regales us with practical tips about both the successes and challenges all young creatives must face as they transition from trading pictures for access to molding media skills into a profitable career.

Looking back on his early days chasing both music and fashion scenes, Josh notes, "Your main role as a photographer—especially with talent and famous people—you know, I thought I was just making them look cool, but I'm making them money. I'm marketing them for their next tour, for their current tour. Looking back, I've learned a thing or two about how to get users' attention online."

Guest: Josh Nass

Episode Timeline:

• 2:04: Baltimore/DC-based photographer Josh Nass talks about first picking up a camera to fill his time after hanging up his boxing gloves.
• 3:40: Leveraging social media to get on stage and photograph his favorite Caribbean singer, then trading free pictures for ongoing access.
• 7:25: Navigating one's comfort level as an up-and-coming photographer, plus making a distinction between comfort with gear and social ease with subjects and clients.
• 9:08: Making pictures of cool moments, creative editing decisions to draw out the cool factor, and being first to deliver the files are all key to Josh's success.
• 14:02: Street hustling at New York Fashion Week to gain access to photograph top artists and celebrities, and the tough lessons Josh learned in the process.
• 19:06: Josh's connection to Baltimore's Wide Angle Youth Media and the formative role their programs have played in his early photography success.
• 22:50: Being referred by Wide Angle for a Comcast commercial, and the backstory to what transpired behind-the-scenes. 
• 29:49: Josh weighs future career options and whether he'll choose to pursue photography full time. 
• 35:40: Essential advice for emerging photographers: Prioritize building your skills and don't overvalue your work early on. Plus, a look at Josh's first big paid gig for a Keke Palmer concert and marketing campaign. 

Guest Bio:

Josh Nass is a Baltimore/DC-based freelance photographer and a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he's pursuing a bachelor's degree in information science. As a high school graduate of The Baltimore School for the Arts and a participant Baltimore's Wide Angle Youth Media non-profit, he's honed his subject-based style to give each of his shoots, whether its celebrities, musicians, athletes, or models, a unique "wow" factor.

Stay Connected:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

Wide Angle Youth / Comcast Video

Host: Derek Fahsbender

Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman

Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein

Executive Producer: Richard Stevens

This episode of the B&H Photography Podcast was originally published on July 29, 2021. We revisit it today to mark the passing of the podcast torch from creative producer John Harris to Jill Waterman, a creative content writer for the B&H Explora blog, who appears as a guest with Davies. Harris will continue to be an avid listener to the show, and we hope he'll also grace us with his voice on occasion as a future guest. 

Photographer Sally Davies embodies a remarkable creative spirit, and we think that spirit also resides in the homes of the 72 New Yorkers she photographed for her colorful book of environmental portraits, appropriately titled, New Yorkers. If this spirit does not exist and Davies is not in tune with it, how could she have captured the essence of her subjects and their abodes so efficiently, in some cases in just minutes?

We answer that question and many others in this discussion about the making of her book. We are also joined by Jill Waterman who has been photographed by Davies, and has written about her work. Our conversation gets to the heart of Davies' fanciful project, and touches upon its themes of inclusiveness and of gentrification, but also digs into the process of photographing in cramped quarters with little time, and of the surprisingly difficult task of getting people not to smile for a portrait.

We talk about Davies' decision to eschew light stands for on-camera flash and to use a Sony mirrorless camera and Zeiss 18mm lens. We also talk about the importance of creative freedom and rejecting preconceived expectations. Davies photographed a wide range of New Yorkers for this series and did not refuse a single person suggested to her, but when it came to organizing a book, edits needed to be made, and we discuss this process, as well. Davies is well-known for her street photography, and we mention her projects on neighborhood storefronts and vintage cars, but this series of interior portraits is as "New York" as it comes. Join us for this engaging conversation.

Guests: Sally Davies and Jill Waterman

Photograph © Sally Davies

For more information on our guests and the gear they use, see:
www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts

On this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we continue our coverage of the 2022 OPTIC Conference with two highly invigorating segments about exploring the world after dark.

Our first guest is Susan Magnano, who specializes in luminescent night painted portraits. Our chat is revealing on many levels, from the balance of careful orchestration and randomness inherent in her portraits to a mention of the OM Systems OM1 as Magnano's newest secret weapon. After delving into her playful yet powerful arsenal of lighting tools, we gain insight into her multifaceted career—from beginning at a local newspaper to her currently thriving wedding photography business, and her upcoming schedule of intensive photo workshops.

After a break, we welcome Sigma Ambassador Jack Fusco to discuss his unique blend of astrophotography with idyllic nocturnal landscapes. During our conversation, Fusco distinguishes astro work from deep sky photography, weighs the differences between DSLRs, the latest in mirrorless cameras, and even mobile phones such as Google's Pixel 6 Pro, (check out Fusco's Pixel 6 Pro photos here). In addition to elaborating on his favorite Sigma lenses for nocturnal imaging, Fusco provides insights about advanced accessories such as star trackers, all the while offering encouragement to anyone seeking to embark on a new adventure chasing the stars. Please join us for these otherworldly conversations about photography at night. 

Guests: Susan Magnano and Jack Fusco

Photograph © Susan Magnano

For more information on our guests and the gear they use, see:
www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts

On this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast we return to the 2022 OPTIC Conference for two enjoyable and pragmatic segments about macro photography. While both photographers we speak with are well-rounded professionals, their not-so-secret joy is crawling around in gardens and woods, making beautiful close-up macro photographs of insects, plants, and the tiny wonders of nature.

Our first guest is Chris McGinnis, who specializes in spider and insect photography and is an OM System Ambassador. Our chat with McGinnis is incredibly elucidating, not only about OM System lenses and cameras, but also about computational photography and his macro techniques with flash.

After a break, we welcome Sigma Ambassador Heather Larkin to discuss her macro work with flowers and to learn a bit about her specialty portrait work. Primarily, we discuss the wealth of macro subjects available in your own backyard and garden, but we also learn of the latest Sigma macro lenses and a few very specific tips for approaching your subjects and maintaining focus. Join us for these insightful conversations on macro photography.

Guests: Chris McGinnis and Heather Larkin

Photograph © Chris McGinnis  

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts

On this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we are pleased to welcome photographer and director Brandon Tauszik and journalist Pendarvis Harshaw to talk about their recently completed project, "Facing Life," an effective blend of form and content, whose principal image format is the cinemagraph and whose content speaks to one of our society's most pressing issues: prison reform.

Our discussion takes on both aspects as we learn how cinemagraphs are produced and how Tauszik uses this process to create resonating portraits that blur the line between still and motion photography.  We also come to understand the motivation for these two creators to address the changing landscape of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and profile the joys and struggles of eight people recently released from life sentences. Our conversation brings together the technical and creative aspects of this imaging process, including Tauszik's thoughts on portraiture and the specific gear and techniques for making these hybrid images, as well as the issues of mass incarceration and "mass integration."

We also come to understand the working relationship between Tauszik and Harshaw—who is primarily an audio journalist and author—and how they met their subjects and developed their stories over several years. While this project may ultimately find its way into galleries or print form, it was devised as an online project and we see, in "Facing Life," eight stories that succinctly and compassionately blend form, content, and presentation to tell important contemporary stories.

Guests: Brandon Tauszik and Pendarvis Harshaw

Photograph © Brandon Tauszik

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts

https://www.facing.life/

On this week's episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we are pleased to present a conversation with photographer Camille Seaman, and pleased to do so from the halls of the OPTIC 2022 Photo Conference, which we have certainly missed over the past two years.

Seaman was a keynote speaker at the 2022 OPTIC Outdoor, Wildlife & Travel Photo/Video Conference, which is hosted by B&H and held from June 12-15, 2022, in New York City. Please check the above link to find an archive of the conference's presentations, but settle in now for an enjoyable and inspiring conversation with Seaman that we recorded in person after her keynote address. 

Seaman's photographs have been published in National Geographic, Italian Geo, TIME, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Newsweek, Outside, and American Photo, among many others. She frequently leads photographic workshops and is a TED Senior Fellow, Stanford Knight Fellow, and a Cinereach Filmmaker in Residence. It is her work photographing Earth's two poles that first captured our attention and her "portraits" of icebergs, specifically. She has published two books on the subject, including 2014's Melting Away: A Ten-Year Journey through Our Endangered Polar Regions. But her subjects also include extreme weather in the Midwest, the peoples of Tibet, and Native Americans.

Our talk was insightful, at times emotional, and her personal story is as inspiring as her photography. Join us for this wonderful chat, and in case you were wondering, the title for this week's podcast is from a quote by Seaman's mentor Steve McCurry, and holds much significance for her—as we discovered in the course of our conversation.

Guest: Camille Seaman

Photograph © Camille Seaman

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts

The 2022 OPTIC Outdoor, Photo/Video, Travel Imaging Conference or just "OPTIC 2022" is live and in-person again and we are excited to welcome the event's director, David Brommer, to the program. Brommer will give us a sense of the updated conference, which after two years online is now a fully hybrid in-person and online event. Of course, we at the B&H Photography Podcast look forward to being back at the live events and talking with the many photographers who speak and present their work. 

This year's OPTIC Conference runs from June 12–15, 2022, and includes presentations by Chester Higgins, Camille Seaman, Joe McNally, and many others. There are also opportunities to try the latest gear in specialized environments, expert-led panels, portfolio reviews, a sunset cruise, the OPTIC Challenge Print Competition, and OPTIC Signature Photo Walks sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions. Online participants can check the selection of available webinars.

After our brief chat with Brommer, we present a very important encore episode—important in the sense that it was our first recording at OPTIC, back in 2016, and because we interviewed three incredible photographers and really began to understand the potential of our podcast. Our guests were Michael Kenna and, in another segment, Paul Caponigro and his son John Paul Caponigro. Each of these photographers offer wonderful insights into their creative processes and to speak with father and son artists is always a treat. Join us for this enjoyable conversation and register for OPTIC 2022 here.

Today's episode is sponsored by Audio-Technica. Check out their AT2040 Hypercardioid Dynamic Microphone, ideal for podcasting!

Guest: David Brommer  

Above photograph © Camille Seaman

It's been a minute since we spoke about drones on the B&H Photography Podcast. The last time we did, it was about drones in news photography and before that, drone work in landscape photography. But today we welcome back to the show one of our earliest guests on the podcast, Randy Scott Slavin.

Slavin is an aerial photographer and drone operator, as well as a motion director and still photographer. He started his company Yeah Drones in 2013, at the dawn of drone use in film and commercial work, and his clients include Showtime, Netflix, ESPN, Saturday Night Live, and CNN, among many others.  Slavin's work crosses all genres from advertising to film, working with small teams and big crews, and he understands drone use from the photographer's perspective as well as a flyer, racer, and builder of drones.

With Slavin, we discuss his recent projects, his workflow, and how he decides which drone is best for each assignment. We also talk about drones and cameras for large professional shoots and those geared more for advanced amateurs. We discuss new technologies and the recent improvements made in navigation, cameras, and batteries and ask which manufacturers are competing with DJI in the drone marketplace. Join us for this informative conversation.

This episode is sponsored by Logitech for Creators, and their Blue Yeti USB Microphone.

Guest: Randy Scott Slavin

Photographs © Randy Scott Slavin