The Large Format Photography Podcast Large Format Photography Podcast

#63 Return of The Prodigal Gearhead
 
We have been waiting for the return of our beloved Simon to the podcast for some time now, so a threesome to kick off the new year of 2023 was a perfect opportunity for us all to have a catch-up and hopefully make Simon realise he misses this whole podcast thing and there’s more to life than the 3d printing of camera accessaries.
 
As things turned out we didn’t get to cover everything we had planned, even Erik only managed a couple of swear words such was the focus on what Simon has been up to.
 
Anyway, that’s good as it means we will almost certainly have a follow up……
 
Things we chatted about on the show:
Our conversation was a tad shorter than usual due to Erik not being able to get out of bed, however, it was enough time for Simon to bear his soul and admit he doesn’t really know anything about photography.
OK, a bit harsh but once you’ve listened you will see what I mean. 
His lovely MPP MicroPress, partnered with a Bronica S mount (6x6 medium format camera) Nikon (Nick-on) 25cm f/4 lens and the wonderful edge “otherworldliness” was the focus of a lot of chatter as he has now had it serviced (the MPP) by George Walsh – George’s social media details are here, should you have a similar request.
 
https://www.facebook.com/george.walsh.35513
 
www.instagram.com/gwalshphotography/
 
 
Earlier in 2022 Simon shared some photos from a LF trip he had in Snowdonia, a bit of a turning point for him really as the blank images he returned with made him realise he had to make things a bit simpler and not try too many new things at once.
 
In fact it was a photowalk with Simon’s friend, Christopher McKie, during a photo walk with Simon around the Queen Street Mill in Burnley with just one camera that Simon realised 1) HP5 is actually a pretty good emulsion and doesn’t have to be grainy and 2) It makes nice prints in HC110 dilution B.
 
So you have a combination that you like why change and indeed why not focus on that combo in LF?
 
More chatter followed………
 
Erik briefly told us about the million lens elements friend of the show Jason Lane sent him.
Jason is the man behind J Lane dry plates and is also an optical engineer. He is currently looking to restart coating more dry plates as life has gotten in the way.
https://www.pictoriographica.com/store/c5/www.pictoriographica.com/store/c5/All_Production_Dry_Plates.html
 
Steve Lloyd invariably gets a mention on pretty much every show (don’t think we have seen that endorsement fee yet Steve). This time when Simon mentioned Dave Whenham and his lovely night time images made with Steve’s snapshot camera.
Dave in Elland (@elland_in) / Twitter
Dave Whenham (@dave_in_elland) • Instagram photos and videos
(18) Dave Elland | Facebook
 
Erik also mentioned the new Jason Lane designed single element lens Steve has recently launched for thread mount Leica things.
Chroma Camera Ltd
 
All in all a fun chat.
 
 
LFPP links -
https://largeformatphotographypodcast.podbean.com/
ko-fi.com/largeformatphotographypodcast
 
You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2296599290564807/
 
And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe
https://www.flickr.com/groups/lfpp/
 
Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –
https://twitter.com/warboyssnapper
 
Or from Simon –
https://twitter.com/simonfor
 
Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast
largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com
 
Podcast Hosts Social Media presence
 
Simon Forster
www.classiclensespodcast.com
www.simonforsterphotographic.co.uk
https://stores.ebay.co.uk/itsfozzyphotography
https://www.flickr.com/photos/125323761@N07/
https://www.facebook.com/SimonForsterPhotographic/
https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/
https://twitter.com/SimonFor
 
Andrew Bartram
https://anchor.fm/thelenslesspodcast
https://andrewbartram.wordpress.com
https://www.instagram.com/warboyssnapper
https://www.i

From Simon’s website -  “I specialise in analogue and alternative forms of photography, this is my passion.  Currently, I'm immersed in practicing the art of Victorian wet plate photography, invented in 1851 the process is still to be rivalled today.  There are only a small number of people worldwide practicing wet plate.
​I became an artist in 2016, travelling through various analogue and darkroom disciplines.  In 2021 I won a global wedding award for my natural portraiture.  I also worked closely with Channel 4 on the set of SAS: Who Dares Wins. 
 
I have a bespoke studio and darkroom located at the top of the picturesque Nigg Hill, Ross-Shire, in the Scottish Highlands.  The rest of my time is spent in the Isle of Skye, where I'm currently immersed in the Skye Collodion Project”.
 
And….. so very much we didn’t talk about.
 
If he survives his daring adventure up a mountain, in December, with wet collodion…..then I’m sure we will have him back on to finish the story…….
 
With Simon though, we are not at all sure there will be an ending in sight.
 
 
Things we chatted about on the show:
 
Andrew met Simon at the Photography Show in Birmingham and sat in awe as he presented some images from his widely publicised “Mental Collodion” body of work. If you aren’t familiar with this visual exploration of one man’s recovery from depression and PTSD then maybe take a look at these links.
MentalCollodion with Simon Riddell (srfilmphotography.co.uk)
Introducing MentalCollodion: Shining light on mental health struggles - EMULSIVE
 
As we knew Simon was embarking on a project called #PeakPerserverence and that part of this “adventure” would involve filming a documentary with footage from the trip and interviews with mental health professionals we thought we would start there.
 
Simon is trying to raise some extra cash for the trip and has a Go Fund Me page which explain more about the project.
https://www.srfilmphotography.co.uk/peakperseverance
https://www.gofundme.com/f/peak-perseverance-documentary
 
 
One of the therapies Simon has used with great success is EMDR, we didn’t really go into any detail in the chat but here is a link.
What is EMDR? - EMDR Institute - EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING THERAPY
 
Simon and his fellow adventurers will spend time on the Cuillin Ridge helped by Mountain Guide Adrian Trendall – you can read more about this environment and Adrian here.
All Things Cuillin
 
One (and there are a few) of the challenges of using wet plates on a mountain, in December is the lack of washing water so he has asked Steve at Chroma Camera to make a “holding tank” for his plates, which can be filled with water to stabilise the exposed plates for later washing.
Chroma Camera Ltd
 
Our Erik mentioned this Eric – who also does things up mountains.
Eric Bouvet | Paris | Facebook
 
Simon has had lots of help and encouragement from Markus Hofstatter, Borut Peterlin and Shane Balkowitsch.
Markus Hofstätter (@mhaustria) • Instagram photos and videos
 
Borut Peterlin Photography – Borut Peterlin is a fine art photographer and educator, dealing with wet plate collodion process, albumen printing, salt printing, carbon printing and woodburytype printing processes
 
Shane Balkowitsch Wet Plate Collodion Ambrotype Photography
 
And whilst we were referencing inspirational wet plate photographers we had to mention our buddy Dave Shrimpton.
https://daveshrimpton.co.uk/
 
 
 
LFPP links -
 
https://largeformatphotographypodcast.podbean.com/
ko-fi.com/largeformatphotographypodcast
 
You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2296599290564807/
 
And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe
https://www.flickr.com/groups/lfpp/
 
Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –
https://twitter.com/warboyssnapper
 
Or from Simon –
https://twitter.com/simonfor
 
Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podca

#62 Sammy the Afghan Camera Lady
 
Erik and Andrew are joined by the force of nature known as the Afghan Camera Lady for an enjoyable natter.
 
Sammy has a background in commercial photography but with the help of her local analogue photography group Leicester LoFi became obsessed with the Afghan box camera.
 
Currently Sammy takes her huge “portable darkroom and studio” camera to festivals and weddings to make unique “instant” portraits.
 
Bursting with enthusiasm and ideas for how she might develop her work Sammy made our life easy for this recording.
 
 
Things we chatted about on the show:
 
When Sammy lived in Leicester she discovered they had an Afghan Box Camera and decided there and then that “it was a camera to match her personality”.
www.leicesterlofi.co.uk
 
For all things related to these wonderful cameras you should look at the Afghan Box Camera Project Website.
 
This project was initiated early in 2011 by Austrian artist Lukas Birk and Irish ethnographer Sean Foley. The aim of the project from the outset was to create an urgent record of the disappearing art of Afghan box camera photography and make that information freely available online for all. Funding for the project in 2011 as in 2012 came primarily via crowdfunding on the KICKSTARTER website. The Visual Anthropology Dept. at Goldsmiths University, London has also contributed funding.
Afghan Box Camera Project
 
The discussion turned at some point to the “6 degrees of separation” that led to Erik being a co-host on the show so we ended up talking about the work of former guests Wayne Martin Belger and Jenny Sampson.
"The Beauty of Decay" Project (waynemartinbelger.com)
 
jenny sampson photographyJenny Sampson Photography jenny sampson photography, gallery tintypes
 
Erik is building a camera around an RB67 back and Mamiya press lenses to take an Instax Wide back – Friend of the show Ethan Moses has helped him a lot.
CAMERADACTYL
 
A man with a similar brain for camera design is Steve Lloyd of Chroma Cameras and you can see what he can offer you here.
Chroma Cameras – Unique 4×5, medium, instant and 135 format..analogue cameras
 
Last but not least it was Suffolk photographer and all round lovely chap Mark “Jimmy” Hickford who first suggested that Sammy would be a good guest for the show.
Mark 'Jimmy' Hickford (@jimmyshootsfilm) • Instagram photos and videos
https://twitter.com/Jimmyshootsfilm
 
 
LFPP links -
 
https://largeformatphotographypodcast.podbean.com/
 
ko-fi.com/largeformatphotographypodcast
 
You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2296599290564807/
 
And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe
https://www.flickr.com/groups/lfpp/
 
Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –
https://twitter.com/warboyssnapper
 
Or from Simon –
https://twitter.com/simonfor
 
Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast
largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com
 
Podcast Hosts Social Media presence
 
Simon Forster
www.classiclensespodcast.com
 
www.simonforsterphotographic.co.uk
 
https://stores.ebay.co.uk/itsfozzyphotography
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/125323761@N07/
 
https://www.facebook.com/SimonForsterPhotographic/
 
https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/
 
https://twitter.com/SimonFor
 
Andrew Bartram
https://anchor.fm/thelenslesspodcast
 
https://andrewbartram.wordpress.com
 
https://www.instagram.com/warboyssnapper
 
https://www.instagram.com/warboyssnapper_pinholes
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/warboyssnapper/
 
https://twitter.com/warboyssnapper
 
Erik Mathy
A not updated website.
https://www.erikmathy.com/about
 
IG probably best for all things including rabbits.
https://www.instagram.com/erikhmathy/?hl=en
 
The East Bay Photo Collective
https://www.ebpco.org/
 
 
Stay Safe

Alys was first on the show in 2019 following the hugely successful launch of her 5 year “Ex Voto” project researching modern day pilgrimages across Europe and photographing the relics/offerings left in the landscape (the ex votos) and the people she met along the way.
Since then she has published “Lost Summer” photographing teenagers who lost their summer prom due to covid, winning first prize in the 2020 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait competition.
In 2022 Alys completed her second Kickstarter for her new book Gli Isolani (The Islanders) – link below to pre order the book from GOST books.
 
 
Things we chatted about on the show:
 
The Ex Voto project.
http://www.alystomlinson.co.uk/personal/ex-voto/
 
Lost Summer.
http://www.alystomlinson.co.uk/personal/lost-summer/
 
The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize.
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/nov/24/lost-summer-prom-images-win-over-judges-of-taylor-wessing-photo-portrait-prize
 
Gli Isolani (The Islanders).
http://www.alystomlinson.co.uk/books/
 
Huckleberry Fine art represents Alys and you can see an exhibition of her latest work from 6th September.
https://hackelbury.co.uk/exhibitions/
 
Alys got her original inspiration for the work now known as The Islanders from a visit to the Venetian Cemetery Island of San Michele 20 years ago.
http://www.venice-guide.info/San_Michele.php
 
Erik talked about his recent commission to photograph the Gravel bike event.
https://theradavist.com/stories-from-unbound-gravel-2022/
 
 
LFPP links -
 
https://largeformatphotographypodcast.podbean.com/
 
ko-fi.com/largeformatphotographypodcast
 
You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2296599290564807/
 
And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe
https://www.flickr.com/groups/lfpp/
 
Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –
https://twitter.com/warboyssnapper
 
Or from Simon –
https://twitter.com/simonfor
 
Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast
largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com
 
Podcast Hosts Social Media presence
 
Simon Forster
www.classiclensespodcast.com
 
www.simonforsterphotographic.co.uk
 
https://stores.ebay.co.uk/itsfozzyphotography
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/125323761@N07/
 
https://www.facebook.com/SimonForsterPhotographic/
 
https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/
 
https://twitter.com/SimonFor
 
Andrew Bartram
https://anchor.fm/thelenslesspodcast
 
https://andrewbartram.wordpress.com
 
https://www.instagram.com/warboyssnapper
 
https://www.instagram.com/warboyssnapper_pinholes
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/warboyssnapper/
 
https://twitter.com/warboyssnapper
 
Erik Mathy
A not updated website.
https://www.erikmathy.com/about
 
IG probably best for all things including rabbits.
https://www.instagram.com/erikhmathy/?hl=en
 
The East Bay Photo Collective
https://www.ebpco.org/
 
 
Stay Safe

Frank is an NBC producer and off air reporter who uses his access to the USA Capitol building to explore his film obsession.
 
Using a Speed Graphic camera and Aero Ektar lens he made a moving photo essay 100 days after the January 2020 storming of the Capitol building.
 
“After the Riot” is a series of portraits of 12 individuals who work in the building, made in locations that resonated with each person (from the day of the storming) and aims to bring a sense of closure to the subjects and indeed to Frank who was also in the building on that fateful day.

Project links.
 
See Frank’s portraits here as well as the YouTube video with interviews. 
 
https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/after-the-riot-capitol-attack/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1GOkpqLm4ctRy9gAgT1cbbiUa5gPcp9kxQuMtwZJNA0WWkFLK7Tkrhh4Q

Things we chatted about on the show:
 
The community darkroom that Frank learned at:https://www.theartleague.org/
 
Richard Avedon was mentioned as one of the photographers Frank looked to before embarking on his portraiture project – Erik mentioned this book “Portraits of Power”.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Avedon-Portraits-Renata-Adler/dp/3865216757
 
Frank has started using Jason Lane’s dry plates – just to make his life a little harder.
https://www.pictoriographica.com/store/c5/www.pictoriographica.com/store/c5/All_Production_Dry_Plates.html
 
Frank owes a debt of gratitude to his friend David Burnett and Erik mentioned his body of work documenting the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
https://www.davidburnett.com/gallery.html?gallery=Aftermath&folio=Galleries#/0
 
Eugene Richards “War is Personal”.
https://eugenerichards.com/war-is-personal
 
James Guerin got a shout out as Frank is considering how he might make pinhole photography work for him in the Capitol building.
https://realitysosubtle.fr/
 
Mark Wilson, the legendary Getty photographer Frank got his first 4x5’s from.https://www.washingtonpost.com/photography/2020/11/20/tough-salty-outside-soft-kind-inside-remembering-getty-images-mark-wilson/

Frank Thorp’s social media:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/frankthorpv/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/frankthorp
 
LFPP links - 
 
https://largeformatphotographypodcast.podbean.com/
 
ko-fi.com/largeformatphotographypodcast
 
You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2296599290564807/ 
 
And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe
https://www.flickr.com/groups/lfpp/
 
Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew – 
https://twitter.com/warboyssnapper
 
Or from Simon (Yes he’s still part of the show) – 
https://twitter.com/simonfor
 
Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast
largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com
 
Podcast Hosts Social Media presence
 
Simon Forster
www.classiclensespodcast.com
 
www.simonforsterphotographic.co.uk
 
https://stores.ebay.co.uk/itsfozzyphotography
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/125323761@N07/
 
https://www.facebook.com/SimonForsterPhotographic/
 
https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/
 
https://twitter.com/SimonFor
 
Andrew Bartram
https://anchor.fm/thelenslesspodcast
 
https://andrewbartram.wordpress.com
 
https://www.instagram.com/warboyssnapper
 
https://www.instagram.com/warboyssnapper_pinholes
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/warboyssnapper/
 
https://twitter.com/warboyssnapper
 
Erik Mathy
A not updated website.
https://www.erikmathy.com/about
 
IG probably best for all things including rabbits.
https://www.instagram.com/erikhmathy/?hl=en
 
The East Bay Photo Collective
https://www.ebpco.org/

Stay Safe!

#59 The Nomadic Photo Ark
 
Monica Jane Frisell and Adam Scher travel the USA with their mobile darkroom, studio and office telling the stories, in recordings and 8x10 portraits of people they meet on their way.
 
Both were clearly fated to meet and undertake this life-changing adventure.
 
Living the dream?
 
We think so…..
 
 
Project links.
 
The website is the place to go to for all things Nomadic Ark.
Travel blog, links to Twitter and Instagram plus ways you can support them financially through Patreon or print sales,
https://nomadicphotoark.com/
 
There are some You Tube videos showing the building of the Ark and more.
Subscribe and follow along.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7IIUnMFUceSralFgUsdGYA
 
https://twitter.com/nomadicphotoark
 
https://www.facebook.com/nomadicphotoark
 
https://www.instagram.com/nomadicphotoark/
 
 
 
 
Things we chatted about on the show:
 
Working with Laura McManus https://unglobalcompact.org.au/our-board/
Monica photographed domestic workers and sought to give them a voice.
http://www.monicajanefrisell.com/domestic-workers-of-nepal-3
 
https://fineartphotoawards.com/winners-gallery/fapa-2015-2016/amateur/portrait/gold-award
 
More links here http://www.monicajanefrisell.com/
 
Shortly before Covid 19 turned the world upside down Monica and Adam met and a synergistic relationship (always the best) began to bloom.
Adam’s strength lay in sound recording and is this, combined with Monica’s passion for traditional large format photography that has led to the (working title) Portraits of US project.
 
Adam has cycled, well, miles across the USA and Europe and we speak about it in the show.
 
Adam completed a leadership course with the Adventure Cycling Association,
 https://www.adventurecycling.org/
 
Had a bad bike accident, cycled along the US coast and then met Monica…..
 
Giles Duley
https://www.legacyofwarfoundation.com/
 
The rest is unfolding.
 
 
LFPP links -
 
https://largeformatphotographypodcast.podbean.com/
 
ko-fi.com/largeformatphotographypodcast
 
You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2296599290564807/
 
And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe
https://www.flickr.com/groups/lfpp/
 
Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –
https://twitter.com/warboyssnapper
 
Or from Simon –
https://twitter.com/simonfor
 
Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast
largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com
 
Podcast Hosts Social Media presence
 
Simon Forster
www.classiclensespodcast.com
 
www.simonforsterphotographic.co.uk
 
https://stores.ebay.co.uk/itsfozzyphotography
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/125323761@N07/
 
https://www.facebook.com/SimonForsterPhotographic/
 
https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/
 
https://twitter.com/SimonFor
 
Andrew Bartram
https://anchor.fm/thelenslesspodcast
 
https://andrewbartram.wordpress.com
 
https://www.instagram.com/warboyssnapper
 
https://www.instagram.com/warboyssnapper_pinholes
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/warboyssnapper/
 
https://twitter.com/warboyssnapper
 
Erik Mathy
A not updated website.
https://www.erikmathy.com/about
 
IG probably best for all things including rabbits.
https://www.instagram.com/erikhmathy/?hl=en
 
The East Bay Photo Collective
https://www.ebpco.org/
 
 
Stay Safe