The Large Format Photography Podcast

You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group.

And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe.

Twitter updates from Simon.

Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast

largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com

Podcast Hosts Social Media presence

Simon Forster

https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/

Andrew Bartram

Erik Mathy

A not updated website.

IG probably best for all things including rabbits.

The East Bay Photo Collective

https://negative-thinking.myshopify.com/

Saturday Apr 13, 2024

#67 Intended Art At Negative Thinking

Saturday Apr 13, 2024

It has been far too long between shows and hopefully we can now get back to some kind of regular output.

For this show our last guest Nick Davis (The 120ist on the YouTube) makes a visit to community darkroom / darkroom community that is “Negative Thinking” in Bristol where he gets to interview Tim Pearse about the space, the community he is helping to build, his love of the darkroom as a means of expression and creating unique works of art.

Things we chatted about on the show:

Negative Thinking Community.

The Sabattier Effect and Solarization – an interesting article for more background reading.

https://waihora-gallery.com/solarization-and-the-sabattier-effect/

Mordentcage process.

https://www.alternativephotography.com/mordancage/

Lith Printing a useful starting point.

https://emulsive.org/articles/darkroom/darkroom-printing/a-practical-guide-to-lith-printing

Steve (@stigofthedump) Starr has made a wonderful book of his lovely coastal images and thoughts and now an exhibition in North Wales where his prints are being sold for a good cause.

https://www.visitconwy.org.uk/whats-on/steve-starr-coastal-encounters-reflecting-on-appearances-and-associations-at-oriel-colwyn-p476781

Also operating from Bristol and, like Negative Thinking, building community and affordable access to creative photographic art is Justin Quinnell.

https://www.pinholephotography.org/bio-and-cv

Guy Bellingham (former guest) and local to Nick.

https://www.youtube.com/@guybellinghamphotography1290

Nick’s links

Nicks YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@the120ist

Website.

https://www.the120.ist/

LFPP links -

You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group

And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe

Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –

Or from Simon –

Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast

largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com

Podcast Hosts Social Media presence

Simon Forster

https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/

Andrew Bartram

Erik Mathy

A not updated website.

IG probably best for all things including rabbits.

The East Bay Photo Collective

https://zebradryplates.com/

Friday Sep 29, 2023

#66 On Safari With The 120ist

Friday Sep 29, 2023

#66 On Safari With The 120ist

In so many ways this show episode typifies what we love about making this podcast – it was just like being in a pub (or coffee shop) and having a chat with like minded folk about, mostly, large format photography. The fact that the conversation wanders around is exactly what happens when you have enthusiastic guests and hosts getting together to ponder the thing that occupies their minds for most of the time.

Nick Davis is better known for his YouTube channel the 120ist – contrary to the title it isn’t just medium format film and cameras that feeds his content but his sheer love for film, the process, the ideas, creativity, trying new things and explaining what he’s doing in a “come and learn with me” approach.

Things we chatted about on the show:

Zebra Plates and various other LF related accessories for wet and dry plate working.

“Mr Zebra” has a really good You Tube Channel that’s worth checking out too. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lost+art+light

Nick recently purchased a pack of Zebra Tintypes and his latest video shows how he got on – here is a link to learn more about the history of Tintypes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tintype

And if you want to make your own…..

https://www.alternativephotography.com/the-modern-tintype-process/

Guy Bellingham (former guest) and local to Nick gets a mention by Simon for the excellent video content on his You Tube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@guybellinghamphotography1290

The conversation wanders off to photographers who influence us, who we admire and some books about the “why” of photography.

Jason Lane.

https://www.pictoriographica.com/store/c5/www.pictoriographica.com/store/c5/All_Production_Dry_Plates.html

Ben Horne.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ben+horne

James Fee.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Fee

Some books…….

Photography Workshop Series are excellent and published by Aperture.

https://www.wob.com/en-gb/category/all?search=photography%20workshop%20aperture

Richard Misrach Desert and Border Cantos – search for best deals and availability.

Nick mentioned “Landscape Within” if you are struggling with your landscape photography.

https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/david-ward/landscape-within/9781902538341?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=18129456947&cq_con=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&gclid=CjwKCAjwgsqoBhBNEiwAwe5w0806MS1qxE2OJykACJe-LXBPE0QOjVTUpWbF8XYO5nodmWF8t4AoIRoCfn0QAvD_BwE#GOR005425058

When we were discussing darkroom spaces and Guy Bellingham – Negative Spaces came up.

https://negative-thinking.myshopify.com/

Nick’s links

Nicks YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@the120ist

Website.

https://www.the120.ist/

LFPP links -

You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group

And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe

Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –

Or from Simon –

Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast

largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com

Podcast Hosts Social Media presence

Simon Forster

https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/

Andrew Bartram

Erik Mathy

A not updated website.

IG probably best for all things including rabbits.

The East Bay Photo Collective

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Gelatin-Liquid-Photographic-Emulsions/dp/1902538153

Thursday Jul 27, 2023

#65 Liquid Emulsion With Graham Vasey

Thursday Jul 27, 2023

We first interviewed today’s guest over 4 years ago, in fact he was our first proper guest to help us and our listeners along the “new to LF path”. Show 2 with Graham Vasey is worth a listen as we touch on many interesting subjects, one area Simon and I wanted to return to was Graham’s use of liquid emulsion on watercolour paper and that’s pretty much what we covered in show 65.

So thank you Graham for indulging us once again and we look forward to following up another topic in 4 years time.

Things we chatted about on the show:

We mentioned a few books that Graham has found useful.

This is probably the only printed definitive guide to using liquid emulsions and copies are getting more expensive, if you can get a copy then it’s an excellent resource for all things “liquid emulsion”

After relistening to show 2 Simon went out and bought a copy of Fred Picker’s book on the fine print, turns out its not the same one Andrew has, and Erik has neither (maybe he should make one). Anyway here are some links to both (shop around is my advice as some silly money is being asked for )

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zone-VI-Workshop-Photography-Hardcover/dp/B00JYHSZE8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=389LBHG4EFQZP&keywords=fred+picker&qid=1690189053&s=books&sprefix=fred+picker%2Cstripbooks%2C75&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fine-Print-Fred-Picker-1975-08-02/dp/B01K3NHYJS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=389LBHG4EFQZP&keywords=fred+picker&qid=1690189173&s=books&sprefix=fred+picker%2Cstripbooks%2C75&sr=1-2

Graham mentioned several commercially available liquid emulsions from Rollei, Forte, Fotospeed and Foma – the latter is his favourite.

https://www.foma.cz/en/catalogue-photographic-emulsion-detail-1082

https://parallaxphotographic.coop/shop/foma-photo-emulsion-250g/

Graham found that 300g NOT watercolour paper from Bockingford works well.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bockingford-300gsm-Watercolour-Spiral-180mm/dp/B008OVA49Y/ref=asc_df_B008OVA49Y?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80058247183242&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583657823004312&psc=1

Graham’s links

Best to head over to IG as his website is a bit broken.

https://www.instagram.com/graham_vasey_photography/

https://www.instagram.com/the_black_tor/

Graham’s work is represented in a local arty gallery – take a look

https://www.gallerina.co.uk/graham-vasey

Graham’s film work can be hunted down on YouTube and Vimeo but here is an interesting insight into what we have been talking about in show 65

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Io9WjR826k

LFPP links -

You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group

And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe

Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –

Or from Simon –

Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast

largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com

Podcast Hosts Social Media presence

Simon Forster

https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/

Andrew Bartram

Erik Mathy

A not updated website.

IG probably best for all things including rabbits.

The East Bay Photo Collective

https://theradavist.com/paris-roubaix-femmes-2023-ef-education-tibco-svb-team-interviews/?fbclid=IwAR1_uJip13ID1Bor5Jj1wx0G7t805daYUgHtDFmsa9t4uSg8A5eWJoPAFp4

Monday Jul 03, 2023

#64 The Hell Of The North

Monday Jul 03, 2023

#64 The Hell of the North

Our second catch up show of the year once again saw the return of Simon to the fold who, it turns out, has had sufficient time off to be reinvigorated and enthused for all things LFPP. What does that mean? Well, more shows we hope, at least three a year……

Things we chatted about on the show:

As we didn’t have a guest on show 63 Simon kicked things off by thanking those who had so very kindly sent in Ko-Fi donations (see link to the LFPP Ko-Fi site somewhere at the end of these notes) with nice words as well. So very appreciated and well, considering we haven’t had a show out since, a tad humbling.

One of the donors to the show mentioned Conflict Cameras who are making superb progress with an auto focus large format camera, I know, right! The mind boggles. Anyway follow along here whilst we see if they can be a guest on the show. https://www.instagram.com/conflict.cameras/

Simon had just come back from another “#MerseyMeetup” organised by the nicest Liverpudlian we know Steve Starr https://twitter.com/Stig_Ofthedump

George Walsh was there, we spoke about George and his repairs to Graflex cameras back on show 63 and George is another guest we have lined up. George’s Facebook details are here: (18) George Walsh | Facebook should you have a similar request.

Erik brought us up to date with his large format photo journalist escapades on the Paris to Roubaix cycle race in Northern France, this race was named “The Hell of the North” by those who took part in its inaugural 1919 outing, just one year after the WW1 Armistice when the land was, well, like hell on earth. Erik is getting his work published which is fantastic, here is the latest piece in the Radavist Cycling journal.

Erik explains how he loves to use orthochromatic film and how it fitted in well with this project as its close to the emulsion that would have been available at the time plus he was using his modified Kodak 3A till it broke, a camera that would also have been around back then over 100 years ago.

Erik also took with him a modified Polaroid roll film camera he 800 which can be modified to take 4x5 film here is a link but there are others out there if you are interested in doing the same thing. https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?121626-Mahogany-Polaroid-800-conversion-to-4x5

Foma Film are or have introduced a 400 speed Ortho film which is a welcome addition to those who love that unique look where reds turn very dark and skies are very light (as are blue eyes) read more here… https://www.foma.cz/ew/9e5c83a3-3971-4ee3-ac98-dbb6878ff953-en

Whilst in France Erik visited the grave or memorial to John Kipling (Rudyard Kipling’s Son) – and interesting story about him on the BBC History site. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35321716

Andrew brought us up to date on his “What lies beneath” project looking at the modern day landscape around the numerous WW1 grave sites around the Ypres Salient. Andrew started this project back in 2017 and shared some images and thoughts on his blog.

https://andrewbartram.wordpress.com/2017/11/06/what-lies-beneath-the-beginning-of-a-journey-with-a-large-format-camera/

This time, with more negatives to add to the collection he intends to make 5x7 Warmtone prints for scanning then fibre prints with typed notes for a “box set”.

Anyway its good to have a project.

Finally, Andrew spoke about our previous guest, Jeff Perry https://www.instagram.com/20thcenturycamera/?hl=en and the astonishingly bad times he is currently going through. Jeff can be supported here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqRaMP7vnte/?hl=en

LFPP links -

You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group

And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe

Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –

Or from Simon –

Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast

largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com

Podcast Hosts Social Media presence

Simon Forster

https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/

Andrew Bartram

Erik Mathy

A not updated website.

IG probably best for all things including rabbits.

The East Bay Photo Collective

https://www.facebook.com/george.walsh.35513

Monday Jan 16, 2023

#63 The Return Of The Prodigal Gearhead

Monday Jan 16, 2023

#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.

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 -

You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group

And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe

Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –

Or from Simon –

Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast

largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com

Podcast Hosts Social Media presence

Simon Forster

https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/

Andrew Bartram

Erik Mathy

A not updated website.

IG probably best for all things including rabbits.

The East Bay Photo Collective

MentalCollodion with Simon Riddell (srfilmphotography.co.uk)

Saturday Nov 26, 2022

#62 Simon Riddell - Wet Plate Saved My Life

Saturday Nov 26, 2022

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.

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 -

You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group

And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe

Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –

Or from Simon –

Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast

largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com

Podcast Hosts Social Media presence

Simon Forster

https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/

Andrew Bartram

Erik Mathy

A not updated website.

IG probably best for all things including rabbits.

The East Bay Photo Collective

Afghan Box Camera Project

Sunday Oct 02, 2022

#62 Sammy, The Afghan Camera Lady

Sunday Oct 02, 2022

#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.

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 -

You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group

And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe

Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –

Or from Simon –

Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast

largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com

Podcast Hosts Social Media presence

Simon Forster

https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/

Andrew Bartram

Erik Mathy

A not updated website.

IG probably best for all things including rabbits.

The East Bay Photo Collective

http://www.alystomlinson.co.uk/personal/ex-voto/

Stay Safe

Wednesday Jul 06, 2022

#61 Alys Tomlinson - Vera, Lost Proms and Gli Isolani

Wednesday Jul 06, 2022

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.

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 6^th 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 -

You can join in the fun at our Facebook Group

And now our Flikr group curated by Colin Devroe

Get Twitter updates for the show from Andrew –

Or from Simon –

Email feedback, ideas and questions for the podcast

largeformatphotographypodcast@gmail.com

Podcast Hosts Social Media presence

Simon Forster

https://www.instagram.com/simonforsterphotographic/

Andrew Bartram

Erik Mathy

A not updated website.

IG probably best for all things including rabbits.

The East Bay Photo Collective