Prime Lenses | Podcast on Podbay

Prime Lenses

Iain Farrell

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

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.

Aug 9

1 hr 3 min

Appreciating 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.

Aug 5

1 hr 3 min

Episode 125 - Irene Yee

This week, my guest is Irene Yee, a photographer specialising in the outdoors and climbing. She’s a brilliant and open guest who shares a lot of her techniques and ideas for making great creative work.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.

Aug 2

1 hr 8 min

Stockholm Fotomarathon 2026

Emil Gyllenberg joins me today. He is the chief organiser of the Stockholm FotoMaraton, a 24 hour event taking place in August. I had never heard of such a thing, people running around making pictures for 24 hours and then entering to have theirs selected as the best in various categories, so I contacted them and Emil agreed to come on to talk about 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.

Jul 29

1 hr 3 min

Episode 124 - Mike Chudley

This week I’m joined by Mike Chudley, a Photographer and YouTuber based in the UK. We begin talking about other creators we admire and spoke as he was putting the finishing touches to his video about a trip he made to China.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.

Jul 26

55 min