Bringing It All Back Home

Season 3 Episode 17 -  The Last Resort & Why I Bought A Hammerhead

Today’s episode explores the inspiration & challenge of Martin Parr’s The Last Resort  - his brilliant collection of 6X7 photographs highlighting 1980s vacationers on a rundown New Brighton Beach. Shot with a Plaubel Makina rangefinder, daylight flash, highly saturated color film - and an impeccable use of Magnum-style composition - his enduring work poses both technical & artistic questions: How did he possibly pull off these perfect photos?

Also on board: birding/surfing pics, the elusive search for a long lens that one could actually afford, renting the Nikkor 200-500mm.

Season 3 Episode 16 - A Decade of Home Developing 

Is D76 truly the Yacht Rock of film developers? Will using Rodinal 100+1 stand development turn you into a lazy genius? Did this podcast actually compare Ilford ID-11 to Michael McDonald’s background vocals? Aw, Mama - Has It Really Been Ten Years? Tune into today’s newest Bringing It All Back Home episode celebrating black and white film home developing. Tips, tricks, mistakes that could have been avoided - and only a minor diversion into bulk loading. Topics discussed: Kodak D76, Ilford ID-11, Rodinal Stand Development, Kodak HC-110, Ilford DDX, Epson V550, Plustek, Darkroom Dave.

Interested in seeing what you might need to get started? Check out this wish list:

Season 3 Episode 15 - Andrew Wyeth’s Home Places

"You can be in a place for years and years and not see something, and then when it dawns, all sorts of nuggets of richness start popping all over the place. You've gotten below the obvious." —Andrew Wyeth

Today’s new episode of Bringing It All Back Home is all about revisiting the life, work, & obsessions of Andrew Wyeth — exploring what it meant to finally visit his home town of Chadd’s Ford, as well as the historic Kuerner Farm. What does it mean to be deeply rooted in place? Can we discover the magic lurking in everyday realism? And did it really take me 10 years to finally drive out to Chadd’s Ford and see the landscape for myself? Tune in, turn on, and check out the poetry & vision that was the work of Andrew Wyeth.

Michael Palin documentary on Wyeth:

Season 3 Episode 14 - Anatomy of a Film Photoshoot

Three legendary portrait lenses - a bunch of different film stocks - and one hour to work with a terrific model in a great South Jersey location: come back onboard to the Bringing It All Back podcast and find out how it all went! Which lenses? Asahi Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 6×7 105mm F/2.4 | Nikon AI NIKKOR 105mm F/2.5 | Mamiya Macro K/L 140mm F/4.5 M/L-A 

Changing 120 medium format rolls mid shoot? Using a handheld meter & fluctuating (depending on the camera) between ISO 320 & ISO 50? 

Doing an entire shoot completely analog with nothing but manual focus lenses? Did it all work out? Or was it a disaster? Tune in, turn on, and check it out.

When does a handheld meter truly hit the spot? Tune in to the latest episode of Bringing It All Back and discover the amazing Ansel Adams era pocket-size Weston Master II. Also noted: Gossen Luma Pro sbc, as well as the industry standard Sekonic L-308S.

Can a neglected 20 year old camera bring joy? Does it do more than just scratch the nostalgia itch?

Is the hunt for Digicams and 6 megapixel cameras from 2000-2005 just a deluded zoomer thing?

Come aboard for this latest episode of Bringing It All Back Home where neglected 20 year old digital cameras suddenly produce “film-like” files, incredibly accurate colors. Explore the latest YouTube trend for interesting and neglected CCD sensors, digicams. Join in on the debate: is it all wishful thinking? Are any of these retro digital combos worth another look? Should I buy another D200?

South Jersey Time Travel: Levon and the Hawks, The Band, Tony Marts, and the persistence of empty places.

Bringing It All Back Home is back with a new episode about discovering the backstory of a local empty lot. Join us as this new episode takes a sideways look at rediscovering the details, paying closer attention to the storytelling behind what is both here - and not here. Tony Marts, Levon and The Hawks, The Band, Bob Dylan, Edie Sedgwick, Somers Point, 1965 … And Time Travel through sound, songs, & Google research.

Bringing It All Back Home returns for a New Year’s Day episode all about the Yashica Electro 35 and its astonishing Yashinon  DX 1.7 45mm lens. What makes the lens so special? Will your eBay purchase actually have working electronics? Does anyone list them as tested? Step-less shutter, DIY repairs, a lens that outperforms almost any in its class - listen in, subscribe, and check out this must have rangefinder. *Plus* Some New Year’s Day ideas for starting a fresh new Photo library.

Season 3 Episode 2 brings it all back home with a return to the analog combo series: all about the right combination of camera, film, & developer. Join us for an episode devoted to the most classic of vintage SLR cameras: the original Nikon F, as well as the near perfect Nikkor-H 50mm f/2 pre-AI. Listen in for the laid back joy of stand developing! And celebrate Rodinal - created in 1891 - plus its amazing connection to TMAX film. 

Links:

It’s the episode Bringing It All Back Home has been waiting for since the podcast began - a live chat with Jerry Bennett. A renowned photographer working in Philadelphia & South Jersey since the mid 80s, Jerry has consistently put his energy & passion into a brilliant body of work that spans four decades. Eye-popping fashion shoots created in his legendary Spring Garden studio, as well as on-location portraits throughout Philly - including abandoned industrial locations & Eastern State Penitentiary - Jerry’s work has always aimed higher. Join co-host Gerry Hecht and I as we get to know more about how it all started, making the transition from film to digital, working with Audrey Kitching, Jade Vixen, & more.

Making a move and job change eleven days before the pandemic begins - succeeding at the new job financially but eventually getting let go due to widespread company layoffs - but then choosing to bring it all back home to the career of your dreams. We speak with Frelyni Fernandez about her truly amazing journey: taking the leap into doing what you love. We talk about how it began, what led to the leap, as well as inside gear talk about how she produces her YouTube channel.

Bringing It All Back Home returns for Episode 38 - and it’s an exploration of the 1958 rangefinder known as the Konica IIIA. Is this the most underrated classic 50s rangefinder of all time? The mythical poor man's Leica M3? Join today's podcast as your host, Charles, explores how he discovered this neglected but brilliant camera, as well as its astonishing CLA and eBay source. 

Bringing It All Back Home returns for episode 37 with another Analog Combo and this time it features the all time classic developer - Rodinal. Combined with Rollei RPX 25, a Minolta SRT 101, the Rokkor 58mm 1.4, and some bright light — the results can be staggering. Join us again as your host, Charles, goes all in on Rollei R09/Rollei RPX 25, as well as singing the praises of Minolta’s groundbreaking CLC metering system. This episode also attempts to unravel the weirdness that is the current Rollei brand, its mysterious relationship with Ilford, and why you might want to hold off using RPX in 120 format.

It’s great to be back. And here’s to Bringing It All Back home, whichever way we can.

Bringing It All Back Home returns for Episode 34 with a look at one of the slowest B&W films out there,  addressing the current COVID-19 pandemic, looking for ways to stay motivated and positive, discovering old prints, as well as pondering a return to a fresh new improvised Darkroom setup. 

Take a listen and come onboard for future Live Chats as we all go through these strange times.

Bringing It All Back Home returns for Episode 31 — a look back on the classic 70s SLR system known as OM. Your host, Charles, explores how he got started with his back in 2005, the brassed-up pawn-shop OM-1, and his years relearning photography with the manual focus Zuiko 50mm 1.4 lens ... And why the OM system might still fall short compared to a Barnack Leica. Check it out!

Bringing It All Back Home returns for Episode 29 as your host, Charles, returns to the fabled Doo-Wop Wildwoods in search of sublime morning sunlight on its 1950s motels, as well as Sunny 16 metering, a Barnack-era Leica IIIA, a Nikkormat FT2, a rant against modern Jersey shore architecture, and a massive chart massive mess up when it comes to dilutions. Is less really more? Can useable negatives be found after completely screwing up development times? Listen in — and find out!

Bringing It All Back Home returns for Episode 28 as your host, Charles, explores taking photos of a live concert performance, dragging the shutter with Godox TT350 flash — then spending a week renting the mirrorless Fujifilm X-E3. Also, using GoodSync to save the day with a dying external drive.

Bringing It All Back Home returns for Episode 27 as your host, Charles, goes on a road trip to a rally in Wildwood, NJ. Returning to Ilford Delta 100 35mm film, rediscovering The Wildwoods, family landmarks, and getting back into Street Photography during a rare visit by the President of the United States.

Bringing It All Back Home returns with Episode 24 — and it is a special one. A Live Chat with local filmmaker Alex DePhillipo who, along with Andrew Gessler, runs Dark Fall Productions, a professional South Jersey video production company that has produced brilliant & beautiful surfing movies during the last ten years. Come listen to their story and get inspired by their jaw-dropping, amazing work.

Bringing It All Back Home returns for Episode 23 as your host, Charles, goes on a  quest to rediscover the legendary Nikon 105mm 2.5 lens, particularly the original Sonnar design Pre-AI version. Last minute eBay bids, Nikkormat FT2, as well as almost getting caught in a severe Holiday Discount induced Gear Acquisition Syndrome fever. Check it out — and subscribe!

Bringing It All Back Home returns for Episode 22 as your host, Charles, explores his new passion for (slow-shutter) Panning Speedblur — and how challenging it can be for all the right and left conditions to line up. This episode also includes reports on the latest Rollei Walk, as well as looking back on the best of 2019's smartphone photography, including a street shot session from Memorial Day when thousands of Philly teenagers descended on Margate's beaches. Join us and subscribe!

Bringing It All Back Home returns for episode 19, a live chat with Joe Playo. Join us as we connect with Joe's concept albums — Summer of Joe/Summer of Joe 2.5. We explore Joe's decision to create and produce music on his own, his journey as a writer & hiphop artist, making his own beats, and growing up in South Jersey. Joe's music is authentic and inspiring — check out his work!

Bringing It All Back Home returns for episode 18, a live chat with Paula Sussman. Join us as we explore Paula's journey through her passion for making art, her first oil painting at 7, her journey from South Jersey to Montana and Italy, and what inspires her today to keep being true to artwork, herself. Come on board and check out Paula's story, as well as her Instagram and web site. 

Bringing It All Back Home returns (at last) for Episode 17, wherein your host, Charles, gives a shoutout to listeners from Finland, developing Tmax film, HC-110, eBay finds, Fujica cameras, Pentax waist-level finders, #todayatapple Philly Photo walk, staycation colds, Indie Photo Lab, Epson scanner software weirdness ... and more.

Bringing It All Back Home returns for Episode 16, a reflection on location & timing, miracle fog, inimitable sunrise light — and the mystical art of getting a decent motion blur (panning) surfing shot. Join us, subscribe, and listen as your host Charles bangs his face into the microphone yet again. 

Bringing It All Back Home returns for episode 13, this time taking a look at the ultimate classic TLR camera — Rolleiflex. Your host, Charles, attempts to explain how he imagined one could be had on a budget, explores the beauty and delight of using a lightweight medium format camera, and sings the praises of original Nottingham Raleigh bicycles. Celebrate the end of Shoobie season & check it out.

Bringing It All Back Home returns for episode 12 - and this one is all about jumping into the Leica reality distortion field — specifically the Barnack Leica IIIA coupled with a collapsible Elmar 50mm 3.5 lens. Your host, Charles, explores the idea of Leica on a budget, Henri Cartier-Bresson, learning to love loading a Barnack, and singing the praise of Youxin Ye and his amazing new beam splitter. Come on board and get all Leica'd up!