Stay ConnectedBrian Matiash brings you a fun, pithy, entertaining podcast covering the intersection of photography and technology in a way that only he can.
Brian has over a decade of experience as a professional photographer and published author, as well as a brand ambassador to several top photo and technology companies.
Raise your hand if you’ve paid to attend a photo workshop? Don’t worry. Mine is up there, too. The truth is that investing in a photo workshop can be one of the best investments you can make for yourself. Then again, it can also be one of the worst. The difference largely falls on who is leading the workshop. In some cases, professional photographers can charge a solid chunk of money to attend one of their workshops and, typically, you are paying for that person’s availability, their knowledge, and access to certain locations. When a workshop leader has his or her act together and provides a top-notch experience, the results can be monumental. Similarly, if the workshop leader doesn’t really know what they’re doing, the results can also be… monumental. In both cases, it’s likely that lifelong memories will be formed. One type will be positive and the other… not so much.
That’s why I’m so excited to have professional photographer, workshop instructor, and all around great guy, Nick Page join the show. Aside from being a wonderful landscape and travel photographer, Nick has extensive experience leading workshops all over the world. He understands what is involved with coordinating great photo workshops and providing his clients with an excellent experience. If you’ve ever considered attending a photo workshop, you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode.
I listen to a lot of podcasts that span a multitude of genres including comedy, politics, and, of course, photography. Regardless of the show, there is a common element to my favorite episodes. When the host and guest(s) dive deep with some real stuff—I’m talking about authentic, personal, and raw conversation—that’s when I find myself glued to the speakers. The show could go on for three hours and I’d still be there listening.
That’s how I feel about this episode. I’m lucky to be joined by my longtime friend, James Brandon, to discuss not only what led him to become a professional photographer, but what made him realize that he wanted to leave that life behind. I suspect that a lot of what he says may resonate with some of you. It certainly did with me. I hope you enjoy this one!
Oh man, I have been SO excited for this episode! For the past year or two, I’ve been keeping very close tabs on how certain tech companies are leveraging computational photography with their products. Companies like Apple, Google, and Huawei have invested tons into this software technology, all in the name of helping their customers take better photos with their mobile devices. But, computational photography isn’t limited to mobile phone manufacturers. Software companies like Skylum and ON1 have been dipping their toes in the artificial intelligence (AI) pond. But, few software companies who support creatives have invested as much in this area as Adobe. And that’s why I’m so excited to welcome my friend and Adobe Lightroom Product Manager, Josh Haftel to the show.
I’ve known Josh for almost a decade and—fun fact—he is the singular person responsible for me being hired by Google. He’s a wonderful guy with both deep and wide knowledge of the photo industry. As I mention in the show, Josh truly is a photographer’s photographer and I had an absolute blast discussing the role of computational photography in the creative process and its impact on photographers. Give the show a listen and let me know your thoughts on this wildly interesting topic in the comments or on social media.
Well, isn’t this a nice treat. We’ve got our very first in-studio guest at the No Name Photo Show. Originally, I planned on recording this episode on my own, but after having a great conversation about the value of a photo with my good friend, Dan Hawk, I asked him to join! In this episode, Dan and I return to the topic of Squarespace partnering with Unsplash, first discussed in Episode 43. Because Dan is primarily a commercial photographer, he has some pretty interesting reasons as to why this partnership, and Unsplash’s business model in general, warrant concern. You’re in for a real treat, so listen up and enjoy!
What’s On Your Gear Shelf?
Dan: Lume Cube LED Light [via Amazon]
Brian: Manfrotto Variable Friction Magic Arm [via Amazon]
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--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nonamephotoshow/messageWell, aren't you a sight for sore eyes? Or... ears. Or... you get it. It has been a spell since our last episode and we promise that there was a good reason for the gap. The good news is that the No Name Photo Show is back on track and we kick off this episode with an update on what the future of the show looks like. We love the audience that we've built since kicking off the show and we seriously hope you are enjoying everything. But don't be a stranger! Let us know what you think about the update. The second half of this episode focuses on a pretty inflammatory bit of news regarding Squarespace and its decision to offer all of its users direct access to Unsplash and its 750,000+ license-free photos. Suffice it to say that a lot of photographers did not take the news very well. So check it all out and enjoy!
Show Notes
Ep. 042: Deeper Pixels
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Connect with Brian Matiash and Sharky James on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (all @NoNamePhotoShow).
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With the recent Apple announcement of their updated line of iPhones and their deeper pixels, we thought it'd be fun to dive into mobile photography. Ever since Apple, Samsung, and the like began investing serious R&D, Marketing, and PR dollars into that tiny little camera sensor and lens assembly, we've seen a gigantic industry evolve, which spawned even more cottage industries to support it. Whether you agree with it or not, mobile photography is a very real thing. It's not a fad and it's not something we think you should discount so easily. Fortunately, we're joined by David Imel, an experienced and knowledgeable journalist who has covered a multitude of phones and the companies who make them, writing for Android Authority. David joins us to discuss his thoughts on the topic and also shares why he's not quite ready to leave his Fujifilm camera on the shelf for the latest phone in his pocket.
Show Notes
• The iPhone Xs, Xs Max, and Xr have been announced [via The Verge]
• Here's a hot take review of the new iPhone Xs and Xs Max [via The Verge]
• Apple illustrates the capabilities of their latest camera sensors [via YouTube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL8piHkl3X8
• Google reveals Pixel 3 colors: mint, white, and black [via The Verge]
What's on your gear shelf?
David: Fujifilm X-T3 [via Amazon]
Brian: Loupedeck+ [via Amazon]
Sharky: Dust-off Compressed Gas Duster [via Amazon]
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nonamephotoshow/messageEp. 041: Did Ya Hear About That New Camera?
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Thank you for listening to the No Name Photo Show!
Connect with Brian Matiash and Sharky James on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (all @NoNamePhotoShow).
Did we mention SUBSCRIBE?!!! Please? ;)
August and September have been quite busy months for the camera industry. Whereas we've mostly become accustomed to hearing about new cameras and lenses from Sony, lately it has been Nikon, Canon, and Fujifilm who have been making waves. And you know what? We couldn't be happier! The fact of the matter is that competition is a great thing, especially for consumers. It requires manufacturers to be on their toes by offering innovative products, compete with pricing, and provide users with options. And with Sony cornering the market with full-frame mirrorless cameras for so long, having some real competition has been long overdue. So, we thought that it'd be fun to devote an entire episode to discussing what Canon and Fujifilm have just announced along with putting our ears to the ground around a possible new entrant with Panasonic. These are interesting times to be a photographer, that's for sure!
Tweet your questions and topics with #AskNNPS!
Show Notes
• Canon Unveils the EOS R, Its First Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera [via PetaPixel]
• Fujifilm Unveils the X-T3 with a 26MP X-Trans Sensor and 4K/60p Video [via PetaPixel]
What's on your gear shelf?
Sharky: V-Flat Black/White [via B&H Photo]
Brian: Aputure 120D LED Video Light + Light Dome [via Amazon]
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nonamephotoshow/messageEp. 040: The Storm Whisperer
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Thank you for listening to the No Name Photo Show!
Connect with Brian Matiash and Sharky James on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (all @NoNamePhotoShow).
Did we mention SUBSCRIBE?!!! Please? ;)
Despite all odds, we've made it to our 40th episode and with that, an impossibly difficult-to-pronounce tuple. But, we persevered and are excited to have Mike Olbinski back as guest host! Aside from being a generally great dude, we asked Mike to come back because we wanted to spend an entire episode digging deep into the world of storm chasing photography and there isn't anyone else who we'd rather talk to about it than him. We cover a variety of subjects related to storm chasing, including how to make it into a business, what the competitive landscape of storm chasing looks like, and what is involved with locating and getting to a storm. It felt great to spend the episode focusing on this topic and we're sure you're going to find it as interesting as we did.
To whet your appetite for the show, check out a small selection of Mike's storm photos, including this episode's Featured Photo (all used with permission), along with two FB Live videos that Mike shared while on-location at some storms.
What's On Your Gear Shelf?
Sharky: Tenba Reload SD 9 Card Wallet [via Amazon]
Mike: VisibleDust Quasar Plus Sensor Loupe [via Amazon]
Brian: DJI Mavic 2 Pro + Fly More Bundle [via Amazon]
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nonamephotoshow/messageEp. 039: Zed's Dead, Baby. Zed's Dead.
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Thank you for listening to the No Name Photo Show!
Connect with Brian Matiash and Sharky James on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (all @NoNamePhotoShow).
Did we mention SUBSCRIBE?!!! Please? ;)
You may have heard about a little camera announcement by a small camera company that rhymes with Mikon. In the off chance that you haven't heard, then all you need to do is listen to this episode. As an added bonus, we're thrilled to welcome Mike Olbinski back to the show! For those who don't remember, Mike was our very first guest back on Episode 10. Between Sharky, who is a Nikon shooter, Mike, a Canon shooter, and me, a Sony shooter, you can be sure that there are plenty of opinions being thrown around.
Before you dig in, we want to make sure you take a minute to check out Mike's amazing work at his website. Be sure to take a few minutes to watch Mike's video, Pursuit, which just took Second Place at the Festival Internacional de Time Lapse! Congrats, Mike!
https://vimeo.com/226958858
Tweet your questions and topics with #AskNNPS!
Show Notes
• Nikon unveils the new Z-series full-frame mirrorless camera system [via PetaPixel]
What's On Your Gear Shelf?
Sharky: Hoodman H30MB HoodLoupe Outdoor LCD Viewfinder for 3.0" Screens [via Amazon]
Brian: Peak Design Everyday Sling 5L [via Amazon]
Mike: Unfortunately, Mike decided to choose a feature of a smartphone camera app and not an actual product. He's a rebel.
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nonamephotoshow/messageEp. 038: I, Robot Photographer
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Thank you for listening to the No Name Photo Show!
Connect with Brian Matiash and Sharky James on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (all @NoNamePhotoShow).
Did we mention SUBSCRIBE?!!! Please? ;)
The Skynet Camera Funding Bill is passed. The system goes on-line August 4th, 1997. Human decisions are removed from the creative photographic process. Skynet begins to learn HDR and Luminosity Masking at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the SD Card.
Well, we've officially reached the point where AI is being used to judge photo contents. It had to happen someday and we welcome our robot overlords. But in all seriousness, building AI systems to serve as a complement to the creative process isn't all that bad! Now, before you grab your monitor and toss it at the wall in a fit of rage, take the time to listen to this episode and hear our take on it. We think it makes sense. While you're at it, let's also talk about whether taking photos of pedestrians' text messages counts as street photography. There's a lot to discuss, so pull up a chair and let's get to it.
Show Notes
• Is It Okay for Street Photographers to Take Photos of Private Messages? [via PetaPixel
• Jeff Mermelstein is a F***ing Anthropologist [via PetaPixel]
• Huawei Launches First Photo Contest Co-Judged by a Phone AI [via PetaPixel]
• Huawei "Spark a RenAIssance Contest Photo Gallery [via Huawei]
What's On Your Gear Shelf?
Sharky: OP/TECH Rain Sleeve (2-Pack) [via Amazon]
Brian: Shimoda Explore Accessory Case [via Amazon]
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nonamephotoshow/message
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