Prime Lenses

My guest this week is Anthony Prince Leslie, a photographer and filmmaker from Brooklyn. He has made a name for himself shooting behind the scenes footage for films like The Drama and Spider-Man Brand New Day. I wanted to speak to him to learn all about shooting behind the scenes on a modern movie set, and on film. This conversation involves some fairly hard-core cameras of the stills and moving picture variety and an impromptu fit check so you might want to watch this one on YouTube.Mentioned in this episodePeopleZendaya — connected AP to The Drama and later to Spider-Man: Brand New Day · WikipediaLaw Roach — celebrity stylist AP worked with on the Bringing It Forward series, including a Tommy Hilfiger campaign · WikipediaTom Holland — star of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, who told AP he loved the sound of his camera on set · WikipediaSadie Sink — mentioned as the subject of new images AP is preparing to release · WikipediaDestin Daniel Cretton — director of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, credited by AP for giving him access on set · WikipediaGreg Williams — behind-the-scenes photographer known for his work on the James Bond films, cited for a Matt Damon film image printed in Hollywood Authentic · gregwilliams.comFilms and projectsSpider-Man: Brand New Day — the film AP shot special unit stills for; his medium-format and Bolex images from set are the reason Iain invited him on · WikipediaThe Drama — A24 film starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, directed by Kristoffer Borgli, that first connected AP to feature productions · WikipediaSugar Honey Iced Tea — AP's own feature film in development, about gentrification in Brooklyn, which he now plans to shoot on filmBringing It Forward — AP's editorial series with Law Roach, including the Tommy Hilfiger campaign that helped lead to his film workGear and toolsMamiya RB67 — AP's favourite stills camera, prized for its square format · WikipediaBolex H16 — his hand-cranked 16mm film camera, used to steal moments between takes on set · WikipediaFujifilm GFX 100 — his discreet, medium-format digital go-to for campaigns and editorials · fujifilm-x.comLeica M11 — his everyday carry camera, paired with a Zeiss 35mm lens · leica-camera.comLeica R9 with digital back — a film-era body converted to a 10-megapixel digital camera, which AP recently discovered · WikipediaARRI 416 — the Super-16 camera AP calls his "graduation" from the Bolex, used briefly on the Spider-Man set · WikipediaAlexa LF — the large-format digital cinema camera at the top of AP's wish list · arri.comCanon IXUS 75 — his low-key point-and-shoot for staying discreet on set · WikipediaCompanies and institutionsEquator Studio — AP's creative studio and full-service production company · equator.studioRapid Eye Dark Rooms — the London film lab AP trusts for colour development and scanning · rapideye.uk.comKodak London — Kodak's UK film processing lab, credited for fast, high-quality 16mm and 8mm turnaroundPanavision — camera rental house that supplied and serviced AP's cameras on setHollywood Authentic — the large-format film photography magazine that printed Greg Williams' Matt Damon image · hollywoodauthentic.comMusic"Interrogation (Skit)" by A$AP Rocky, from the album Don't Be Dumb — the source of the episode's title line · WikipediaSupport 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.

A little mid-week episode to let you all know about some photo walks taking place this week in conjunction with Foto, the photo sharing app. You can join one of the many walks this weekend, 26th September, taking place all over the world. To find out more head over to their website or listen to my conversation with Michael from Foto.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.

Mentioned in this episodePeopleHelmut Newton — fashion photographer Geoff cites as having briefly worked in the Singapore press before his career took off · WikipediaSteve Jobs — referenced as an example of the "human factor" books Geoff reads about how people become exceptional · WikipediaBooks and readingInside 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.comTools and productsPhase One digital backs — the medium format system Geoff bought into in the late '90s and still shoots today · phaseone.comSinar 4x5 cameras — the large-format studio camera system he used for high-resolution transparencies · WikipediaDicomed — the dedicated digital retouching system used before Photoshop matured · WikipediaLeica SL3 — his current mirrorless body; Geoff has been a Leica ambassador since the first SL · leica-camera.comFujifilm GFX — his second current system, chosen for faster autofocus at high resolution than his Phase One · fujifilm-x.comApple Vision Pro — discussed as a new, if "selfish," way of viewing photography · apple.comSony Alpha 7R VI — mentioned by Iain as a recent loaner, notable for combining high resolution with strong video specs · Sony product pageGodox — budget lighting-stand brand Geoff cites as part of the barrier-to-entry drop after 2010 · godox.comCompanies and institutionsGeoffStudio — Geoff Ang's studio and portfolio site · geoffang.comProfoto — lighting brand Geoff has been a longtime workshop ambassador for · profoto.comLeica Gallery Singapore — hosted his recent exhibition to launch his book · leica-camera.comPlaces and eventsSingapore — Geoff's home base for his entire career · WikipediaBali — where Geoff lived semi-retired during COVID and wrote much of his book · WikipediaSupport 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.

Mentioned in this episodePeopleColin 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.ukJocelyn Bain Hogg — London-based documentary photographer known for his books on British organised crime, The Firm and The Family · theviifoundation.orgMartin Parr — referenced as one of the few photographers who can "get away with" a heavy, unflattering flash aesthetic on his subjects · martinparr.comJames 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.comPlacesNethy Bridge — the Cairngorms village where both Graham and Iain live, and home to Graham's Arbor Gallery · WikipediaTorridon / Liathach — the mountain and viewpoint (seen from Beinn Alligin) behind Graham's punishing winter hike story · Liathach — WikipediaThe Cuillins — the Skye mountain range referenced both as a backdrop and in Graham's composited "Madeira and Cuillin" image · WikipediaCoire an t-Sneachda — a corrie on the Cairngorm Plateau where Graham photographed wind-whipped snow and a reindeer herd · WikipediaSt 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 — WikipediaThe Buachaille (Buachaille Etive Mòr) — mentioned in relation to one of Graham's early-morning mountain shots · WikipediaAviemore — mentioned in passing as the location of Graham's five-a-side football game · WikipediaGear and toolsOlympus OM-1 — Graham's first camera, already 30 years old when he acquired it in the early 2000s · WikipediaLeica M (digital back on a film body) — one of two bodies Graham colour/black-and-white "loads" like film stock · leica-camera.comNikon — Graham's current system, chosen, by his own account, essentially by coin flip · nikon.comDJI Osmo Pocket — his go-to for casual video, bought secondhand · dji.comRicoh GR — referenced as the classic "glove box camera" for always-with-you shooting · WikipediaCompanies and institutionsNiven Photography / Arbor Gallery — Graham's studio and the small gallery he and his wife run on Dell Road, Nethy Bridge · nivenphotography.comMonocle — cited as the magazine that adopted a flash-heavy portrait style for its diplomat and official portraits, to mixed effect · monocle.comSupport 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.

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.