Prime Lenses

Iain Farrell
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  • Visual Arts
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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.

  1. 1 day ago

    132 - Geoff Ang

    Mentioned in this episode People Helmut Newton — fashion photographer Geoff cites as having briefly worked in the Singapore press before his career took off · Wikipedia Steve Jobs — referenced as an example of the "human factor" books Geoff reads about how people become exceptional · Wikipedia Books and reading Inside the Mind of a Photographer by Geoff Ang — his book distilling 20 years of workshop material into a guide to the psychological and business side of commercial photography · insidethemindofaphotographer.com Tools and products Phase One digital backs — the medium format system Geoff bought into in the late '90s and still shoots today · phaseone.com Sinar 4x5 cameras — the large-format studio camera system he used for high-resolution transparencies · Wikipedia Dicomed — the dedicated digital retouching system used before Photoshop matured · Wikipedia Leica SL3 — his current mirrorless body; Geoff has been a Leica ambassador since the first SL · leica-camera.com Fujifilm GFX — his second current system, chosen for faster autofocus at high resolution than his Phase One · fujifilm-x.com Apple Vision Pro — discussed as a new, if "selfish," way of viewing photography · apple.com Sony Alpha 7R VI — mentioned by Iain as a recent loaner, notable for combining high resolution with strong video specs · Sony product page Godox — budget lighting-stand brand Geoff cites as part of the barrier-to-entry drop after 2010 · godox.com Companies and institutions GeoffStudio — Geoff Ang's studio and portfolio site · geoffang.com Profoto — lighting brand Geoff has been a longtime workshop ambassador for · profoto.com Leica Gallery Singapore — hosted his recent exhibition to launch his book · leica-camera.com Places and events Singapore — Geoff's home base for his entire career · Wikipedia Bali — where Geoff lived semi-retired during COVID and wrote much of his book · Wikipedia Support the show on Patreon. 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.

    132 - Geoff Ang

  2. 13 Sept

    131 - Graham Niven

    Mentioned in this episode People Colin Prior — cited as one of the landscape photographers whose 1990s work first caught Graham's eye, before that kind of image became common in the social media era · colinprior.co.uk Jocelyn Bain Hogg — London-based documentary photographer known for his books on British organised crime, The Firm and The Family · theviifoundation.org Martin Parr — referenced as one of the few photographers who can "get away with" a heavy, unflattering flash aesthetic on his subjects · martinparr.com James Popsys — landscape photographer and YouTuber based in Snowdonia, Wales, cited for his discipline of carrying a bag deliberately too small to fit his camera; a future guest on the show · jamespopsys.com Places Nethy Bridge — the Cairngorms village where both Graham and Iain live, and home to Graham's Arbor Gallery · Wikipedia Torridon / Liathach — the mountain and viewpoint (seen from Beinn Alligin) behind Graham's punishing winter hike story · Liathach — Wikipedia The Cuillins — the Skye mountain range referenced both as a backdrop and in Graham's composited "Madeira and Cuillin" image · Wikipedia Coire an t-Sneachda — a corrie on the Cairngorm Plateau where Graham photographed wind-whipped snow and a reindeer herd · Wikipedia St Kilda, including Boreray — the remote Scottish archipelago where Graham shot his well-known black-and-white sea cliff image from a boat · St Kilda — Wikipedia · Boreray — Wikipedia The Buachaille (Buachaille Etive Mòr) — mentioned in relation to one of Graham's early-morning mountain shots · Wikipedia Aviemore — mentioned in passing as the location of Graham's five-a-side football game · Wikipedia Gear and tools Olympus OM-1 — Graham's first camera, already 30 years old when he acquired it in the early 2000s · Wikipedia Leica M (digital back on a film body) — one of two bodies Graham colour/black-and-white "loads" like film stock · leica-camera.com Nikon — Graham's current system, chosen, by his own account, essentially by coin flip · nikon.com DJI Osmo Pocket — his go-to for casual video, bought secondhand · dji.com Ricoh GR — referenced as the classic "glove box camera" for always-with-you shooting · Wikipedia Companies and institutions Niven Photography / Arbor Gallery — Graham's studio and the small gallery he and his wife run on Dell Road, Nethy Bridge · nivenphotography.com Monocle — cited as the magazine that adopted a flash-heavy portrait style for its diplomat and official portraits, to mixed effect · monocle.com Support the show on Patreon. 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.

    131 - Graham Niven

  3. 6 Sept

    130 - Jocelyn Bain Hogg

    Support the show on Patreon. 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.

    130 - Jocelyn Bain Hogg

  4. 30 Aug

    129 - Natasa Leoni

    Natasa Leoni is a photographer based in the UK who in addition to commercial work photographs causes she cares about in relation to climate and social change. Support the show on Patreon. 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.

    129 - Natasa Leoni

  5. 23 Aug

    Episode 128 - Rachael Talibart

    Rachael Talibart is a photographer of coast and sea based in the UK. Support the show on Patreon. 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.

    Episode 128 - Rachael Talibart

  6. 16 Aug

    Episode 127 - Dave Herring Returns

    Dave Herring returns to the show this week to talk about his remit to educate and entertain. He’s a lovely guest with excellent taste in 35mm lenses :) Support the show on Patreon. 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.

    Episode 127 - Dave Herring Returns

  7. 9 Aug

    Episode 126 - Kit Young

    Kit Young is a British analogue photographer and printer. In an age where film is a niche choice and many folks who do shoot it send their film to someone else to process and scan, Kit handles the whole process himself, making his photos, developing the film and then making the prints in a darkroom. As a result his images stand out to me and have a very specific look. Support the show on Patreon. 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.

    Episode 126 - Kit Young

  8. 5 Aug

    The Small Stuff with Ian Bogost

    People often say “It’s the little things”, but what does that mean? Ian Bogost has written a book on this subject called The Small Stuff, and in it he describes the gratification that we can all get from paying attention to the small things that happen around us every day. The way a camera feels in the hand, the texture of our clothing, the difference in taste of a soda drunk from a can instead of a plastic bottle. All of these things can be savoured and make our lives a far richer tapestry than it might otherwise be. I am sold and hope you will be too after you enjoy this conversation. And go pick up a copy of the book, I did and it was very much worth it. Support the show on Patreon. 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.

    The Small Stuff with Ian Bogost
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Iain Farrell
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    164
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Iain Farrell 2025
  • Show Website
    Prime Lenses

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