#101 - A Million Followers & Why AI Isn't Photography w/ Alan Schaller

Alan Schaller, black and white street photographer, co-founder of Street Photography International and founder of the Irys app, joins Tom and Greg to talk about building a photography-only platform, why he shoots exclusively in monochrome, a frightening encounter with a stranger on the street, and why he thinks AI generated imagery should never be called photography.Thank you for listening to The Exposed Negative Podcast. Running this podcast takes a lot of time and effort, and we hope you have found it helpful and interesting. If you would like to support us by buying us a beer or coffee, or by helping with the running costs of the show, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider signing up for our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/exposednegative) or making a one-time donation through PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/exposednegative).Thank you for your support!Here are the shownotes, full disclosure, some of which are affiliate links which we use to try and raise money to support the show. - Alan Schaller - https://www.alanschaller.com/- Irys - Alan's photography-focused app, community and publishing platform: https://www.irysphotos.com/- Street Photography International (SPI) - Alan's earlier project showcasing overlooked photographers: https://streetphotographyinternational.com/- Tim Paton - previous podcast guest, referenced as an earlier Irys conversation: https://streetphotographyinternational.com/- Leica MP - Alan's film camera of choice for street work: https://leica-camera.com/en-GB/photography/cameras/m/mp-silver- Leica M11 Monochrom - Alan's main digital camera: https://leica-camera.com/en-GB/photography/cameras/m/m11-monochrom- Leica 16mm, 24mm, 50mm and 90mm lenses - Alan's lens kit, mentioned individually- Kodak Tri-X - Alan's preferred black and white film stock- Polaroid I-2 - instant camera Alan uses, mentioned with manual exposure controls: https://amzn.to/4wuZA7A- Kodak Portra 400 - colour film stock mentioned in the black and white versus colour discussion- RICOH GR IV Monochrome **** - a recently released monochrome-sensor camera Alan references: https://amzn.to/4wyAYLa- Peakto - AI-powered photo cataloguing software mentioned by Tom: https://cyme.io/en/products/peakto/- Ansel Adams - key early influence on Alan's composition and tonal range: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams- Henri Cartier-Bresson - influence, referenced for the "decisive moment" concept: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Cartier-Bresson- Sebastião Salgado - photographer referenced, including his book Genesis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastião_Salgado- Fan Ho - photographer whose book Alan cites as a favourite: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_Ho- Bill Brandt - photographer, Alan owns a print in his bedroom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Brandt- Bruce Gilden - street photographer referenced for having a strong personal style: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Gilden- Steve McCurry - street/documentary photographer referenced: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_McCurry- Vivian Maier - photographer discussed in relation to market saturation and influence: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Maier- Saul Leiter - photographer discussed as an example of rediscovered influence: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Leiter- Magnum Contact Sheets - book recommended for learning from full shoots, not just final images: https://amzn.to/4p5PLdPDesert Island Camera: Leica MPDesert Island Book: Sebastião Salgado - Genesis https://link.amazon/B00gFlJXxGuest Contact Details: https://www.alanschaller.com/

Tom and Greg mark 100 episodes of The Exposed Negative Podcast by reflecting on six years of honest conversations with photographers, commissioners, retouchers and producers, sharing their favourite guest moments, discussing how the photography industry has shifted since 2020, and getting into the practical detail of Canon R5 Mark II wireless tethering via Capture One.Thank you for listening to The Exposed Negative Podcast. Running this podcast takes time and effort, and we hope you have found it helpful and interesting. If you would like to support us by buying us a beer or coffee, or by helping with the running costs of the show, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider signing up for our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/exposednegative) or making a one-time donation through PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/exposednegative).Thank you for your support!Here are the shownotes, full disclosure, some of which are affiliate links which we use to try and raise money to support the show. - **Art Streiber** (ep. 18) - US entertainment photographer; guest and close friend of the show, listen to the episode here: https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-018-celebrities-set-builds-w-photographer-art-streiber/- **LS Digi** (ep. 17) - digital technology specialist; episode referenced for gear and workflow nerd chat: https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-017-digi-teching-data-wrangling-w-dit-ls-digi/- **Chris Floyd** (ep. 2) - photographer; highlighted as one of the great storytellers in the industry: https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-002-egoes-mistakes-w-photographer-chris-floyd/- **Owen Gale** (ep. 05) - former photo editor at House and Garden, now shooting; perspective on the commissioning side: https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-005-approaches-assignments-w-photo-director-owen-gale/- **Fiona Shields** (ep. 22) - The Guardian; commissioning photographer's, how assignments work: https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-005-approaches-assignments-w-photo-director-owen-gale/- **Lucy Laucht** (ep. 09) - photographer; candid discussion of imposter syndrome: https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-009-instagram-imposter-syndrome-w-photographer-lucy-laucht/- **Monashee** Alonso (ep. 72) - photographer; discussion of personal time, project work and slowing down: https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-72-licensing-and-negotiation-with-photo-consultant-w-monashee-alonso/- **Emily Maye** (ep. 60) - : https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-60-directing-creating-time-and-icons-w-emily-maye/- **Christina Force** (ep. 91) - The photographers mentor: https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-91-get-paid-to-shoot-what-you-love-w-mentor-christina-force/- **Ben Nash** (ep. 13) - producer; episode highlighted for insight into how producers approach their work: https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-013-productions-usage-w-producer-ben-nash/- **Danny Houghton** (ep. 41) - former army photographer;early guest with a distinctive background: https://www.exposednegative.com/exposed-negative-podcast-041-shooting-in-the-army-w-photographer-danny-houghton/- **Rafael Orta**, Capture One (ep. 51) - Capture One's relationship with its user base: https://tinyurl.com/bdz535z8- **Nick Dunmur, AOP** (ep. 15) - Association of Photographers; community and collaboration: https://tinyurl.com/4ae956bs - **Isabelle Doran, AOP (ep. 93)** - more recent AOP episode: https://tinyurl.com/2jzc877m- Capture One wireless tethering - https://tinyurl.com/5n93pp8h- **Canon R5 II** - https://tinyurl.com/5882s635- **The Photography Show** - live event attended and filmed at this year: https://tinyurl.com/mtuwevbh- **Patreon WhatsApp community** - active listener group; referenced as a core part of the show's community offering: https://www.patreon.com/c/exposednegative

Award-winning Australian documentary photographer Stephen DuPont joins Greg to talk about four decades shooting conflict on film, his close call with a suicide bomber in Kabul, the unreleased Tim Page Vietnam archive he spent a year editing, and why he believes truth in photography is under greater threat now than at any point in his career.Thank you for listening to The Exposed Negative Podcast. Running this podcast takes a lot of time and effort, and we hope you have found it helpful and interesting. If you would like to support us by buying us a beer or coffee, or by helping with the running costs of the show, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider signing up for our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/exposednegative) or making a one-time donation through PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/exposednegative).### Show Notes:- Stephen DuPont — https://www.stephendupont.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephenmdupont/?hl=en-gb- W. Eugene Smith Grant — humanitarian photography grant awarded to Stephen; https://www.smithfund.org/recipients/2007-stephen-dupont- Robert Capa Gold Medal — citation awarded to Stephen; https://opcofamerica.org/Awardarchive/robert-capa-gold-medal-2005/- Stephen Dupont Scrapbooks: https://www.stephendupont.com/fucked-up-fotos- Frank Ockenfels Scrapbooks: https://fwo3.com/Book---Volume-3-/1- Pentax K1000 — Stephen's first camera: https://thenoisyshutter.com/2022/08/20/classic-camera-review-pentax-k1000/- Tim Page — late conflict photographer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Page_(photographer))- Tim Page Vietnam book: https://www.stephendupont.com/blog/2020/7/1/nam-contact-by-tim-page- "Page After Page" by Tim Page — Page's autobiography; out of print: https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Page-After-Tim-Paladin/32208238270/bd- "Unreasonable Behaviour" by Don McCullin — autobiography: https://amzn.to/3Q74hVu- Philip Blenkinsop: https://www.philipblenkinsop.com/- Small Voices Podcast with Philip Blenkinsop: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/275-philip-blenkinsop/id1039540784?i=1000749205415&l=vi- Catherine Leroy — French conflict photographer in Vietnam: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Leroy- Cathy Leroy documentary - Jacques Menasch film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DhZH-5xGAw- "Two of the Missing" by Perry Deane Young — book about Sean Flynn and Dana Stone; out of print: https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/two-of-the-missing-book-perry-deane-young-9780981628097?sku=GOR004271004&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19591730531Desert Island Camera: Leica MP: https://leica-camera.com/en-GB/photography/cameras/m/mp-black-lacquered?srsltid=AfmBOoqmzaXjDmwRvNKoKlqhe6XXfZrcaYPimNkht3vr6QqoDo63I-SZDesert island photo book - Josef Koudelka, "Exiles": https://amzn.to/436NQvh

Tom and Greg catch up on two genuinely exciting developments in film photography — the newly reverse-engineered WideLux XX panoramic camera from Silver Grand Classics, and the I'm Back Kickstarter, which puts an APS-C sensor inside a standard film canister. Along the way they get into the real-world question of whether upgrading from an M1 Mac is actually worth it, and share some unashamed Peak Design chat.Thank you for listening to The Exposed Negative Podcast. Running this podcast takes a lot of time and effort, and we hope you have found it helpful and interesting. If you would like to support us by buying us a beer or coffee, or by helping with the running costs of the show, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider signing up for our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/exposednegative) or making a one-time donation through PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/exposednegative).### Show Notes:- MacRumors RAM guide — Tom's recommended resource for deciding how much RAM you actually need in a new Mac; https://www.macrumors.com/guide/how-much-mac-ram/- WideLux XX — newly reverse-engineered panoramic film camera; first batch of 350 units, engraved; https://silvergrainclassics.com/en/2026/04/wideluxx-presale_launch/- WideLux F8 — original final model used as basis for reverse engineering the XX: https://www.ordinarykyle.com/blog/widelux-f8-review- I'm Back — Kickstarter campaign for a digital sensor module in a 35mm film canister; https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samellos/im-back-roll-aps-c-one-roll-no-screen-pure-shooting?ref=7sj5y0&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23816967049- Petapixel — article covering the I'm Back prototype and background; https://petapixel.com/2026/03/12/im-back-teases-aps-c-digital-film-roll-that-entirely-fits-in-a-35mm-camera/- Reveni Labs — maker of Tom's custom clip-on light meter; https://www.reveni-labs.com/- Peak Design — newer smaller pouch version discussed; https://www.peakdesign.com/en-gb/products/tech-pouch?Size=Small&Color=Black---HASHTAGS:#filmphotography #podcast #analoguephotography #wiidelux #filmcamera

London-based cinematographer Elliot Holbrow joins Tom and Greg to talk about building a career through curiosity rather than formal training, the craft of collaborating with directors, and why shooting on film, whether a Canon Scoopic or 35mm Vision 3, continues to shape how he thinks about images. From decoding the DP's role on a commercial set to the politics of the colour grade, this is a rich conversation about what it actually takes to develop a visual sensibility in the moving image world.Thank you for listening to The Exposed Negative Podcast. Running this podcast takes a lot of time and effort, and we hope you have found it helpful and interesting. If you would like to support us by buying us a beer or coffee, or by helping with the running costs of the show, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider signing up for our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/exposednegative) or making a one-time donation through PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/exposednegative).Thank you for your support!Here are the shownotes, full disclosure, some of which are affiliate links which we use to try and raise money to support the show. - Elliot Holbrow, cinematographer — guest, London-based DP; website: www.elliot.onl- Sony VX2000 — handheld DV camera Elliot grew up using at home- Canon 550D / Rebel T2i — first DSLR Elliot bought; early video work- Blue Velvet (1986, dir. David Lynch) — formative film Elliot watched as a teenager: https://youtu.be/rAA6imfqMYQ?si=WtiQLgOCsoC6ODq7- Will Derbyshire — early YouTube editing collaborator; currently writing his first feature- Sean Bloodworth — Sheffield-based filmmaker and early mentor to Elliot; documented the early dubstep scene- Shaff Film Festival — Sheffield short film festival where Elliot won a young filmmaker prize: https://shaff.co.uk/- MCX — rental house; Jack Exton cited as supporter of emerging cinematographers: https://www.mcxfilms.com/- Canon Scoopic — Elliot's 16mm camera of choice: https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/cine294.html- Kodak / CineLab — film processing and technical support- Cooke S4 lenses — Elliot's preferred cinema prime lenses- Cooke SP3 lenses — more affordable, compact alternative to S4s discussed with Tom- Cooke XTAL Express Anamorphics — lenses used on Layer Cake, cited as an early colour inspiration for Elliot- Layer Cake (2004, dir. Matthew Vaughn) — film Elliot credits as a formative colour reference; shot on Cooke anamorphics: https://youtu.be/EoOHm5otVU8?si=v14CK4vAT-aBlbsG- Darius Khondji — acclaimed cinematographer; Elliot references his book on working with directors: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0451787/- Richard Mosse — photographer whose work Elliot admires; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Mosse- Hiromix — Japanese photographer admired by Elliot: https://global.canon/en/newcosmos/gallery/grandprix/1995-hiromix/index.html- Lumix S1H — camera Elliot uses on set as a director's viewfinder and lightweight B-camera- Austin Phillips — steadicam operator Elliot works with regularly: https://www.austinsteadi.com/about- Chris Mears — first AD Elliot worked with on a recent project; praised for his approach to giving time per scene: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3878514/- Luis Cross — director Elliot worked with on a project involving a single extended shot: https://luiscross.com/- Accidental Renaissance Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/AccidentalRenaissance/- Tom Barnes predator video — Bring Me the Horizon - Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Og4fCRNuaADesert Island Camera: Bolex 16mm Desert Island Book: Alex Webb, "Suffering of Light": https://amzn.to/4mENdlxGuest Contact Details:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotholbrow/website: https://elliot.onl/

Tom & Greg walk the floor at the 2026 UK Photography Show held at the Birmingham NEC talking to former guests, industry experts, checking out the newest gear and generally giving you an insight into what the show is all about!Thank you for listening to The Exposed Negative Podcast. Running this podcast takes a lot of time and effort, and we hope you have found it helpful and interesting. If you would like to support us by buying us a beer or coffee, or by helping with the running costs of the show, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider signing up for our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/exposednegative) or making a one-time donation through PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/exposednegative).Thank you for your support!Here are the show notes, full disclosure, some of which are affiliate links which we use to try and raise money to support the show. Disabled Photographers Society: https://www.the-dps.co.uk/Mr Cads 2nd hand Photography store: https://www.mrcad.co.uk/Irys Photo App: https://www.irysphotos.com/AJ’s photographic (Lighting specialist): https://aj-s.co.uk/Manfrotto vice clamps: https://amzn.to/4cbPEakManfrotto Rapid Flag Kit: https://amzn.to/4bUq8aRManfrotto 244N magic arm: https://amzn.to/4mmXRxiXencelabs Pen Tablet: https://amzn.to/3PSBQKwCapture One: https://www.captureone.com/en

"The best portraits are like a game of trust – the more I show myself, the easier it gets to reveal the real person."Ever notice how the secret to a powerful portrait is about vulnerability? Gillian Edelstein, a celebrated UK portrait and documentary photographer, shares her journey from South Africa to the National Portrait Gallery. She discusses her transition from social work to photography, capturing social injustice, and the evolution of her visual language, emphasizing trust and authenticity in her compelling portraits.Thank you for listening to The Exposed Negative Podcast. Running this podcast takes a lot of time and effort, and we hope you have found it helpful and interesting. If you would like to support us by buying us a beer or coffee, or by helping with the running costs of the show, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider signing up for our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/exposednegative) or making a one-time donation through PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/exposednegative).Thank you for your support!Here are the shownotes, full disclosure, some of which are affiliate links which we use to try and raise money to support the show. Jillian’s Primo Levi portrait: https://www.themarginalian.org/2017/04/24/primo-levi-survival-in-auschwitz/Jillian’s project “Truth and Lies’: https://www.jillianedelstein.com/truth-and-liesRichard Avedon ‘American West’ at the Gagosian: https://gagosian.com/exhibitions/2026/richard-avedon-facing-west/ Radioactive Lenses: https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Radioactive_lensesDesert Island Camera: Wista 5x4, https://www.largeformatphotography.info/cameras/wista-rf/Desert Island Book: Richard Avedon - **In the American West 40th Anniversary Edition** :https://amzn.to/3PaA0EvGuest Contact Details:Jillians’ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillianedelstein/Jillians’ website: https://www.jillianedelstein.com/

In this episode of the podcast Tom and Greg delve into the latest report on the impact of AI: *‘Brave New World? Justice for creators in the age of Gen AI*’. We discuss the latest impact is is having on the industry and way in which creators can try and fight back.Thank you for listening to The Exposed Negative Podcast. Running this podcast takes a lot of time and effort, and we hope you have found it helpful and interesting. If you would like to support us by buying us a beer or coffee, or by helping with the running costs of the show, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider signing up for our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/exposednegative) or making a one-time donation through PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/exposednegative).Thank you for your support!Here are the shownotes, full disclosure, some of which are affiliate links which we use to try and raise money to support the show. AI - Brave New World: https://www.the-aop.org/uploads/brave-new-world-justice-for-creators-report-29-01-2026.pdf?utm_id=Brave+New+World%3F+-+Report+downloadTrails will blaze - BBC Winter olympics Ident: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXEIU30RsEAWes Anderson Exhibition: https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/wes-anderson-the-archivesTim Flach - Feline: https://timflach.com/feline/Gregory Crewdson: https://gagosian.com/artists/gregory-crewdson/AOP membership: https://www.the-aop.org/membership

On this weeks show we are privileged to be joined by Isabelle Doran, CEO of the Association of Photographers (AOP) in the UK. Isabelle talks about the work that the AOP have been doing advocating for the rights of photographers in the UK and the steps being taken to help shape UK laws on AI development in this field. We discuss copyright, AI, the AOP and what it does alongside a number of other relevant topicsThank you for listening to The Exposed Negative Podcast. Running this podcast takes a lot of time and effort, and we hope you have found it helpful and interesting. If you would like to support us by buying us a beer or coffee, or by helping with the running costs of the show, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider signing up for our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/exposednegative) or making a one-time donation through PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/exposednegative).Thank you for your support!Here are the shownotes, full disclosure, some of which are affiliate links which we use to try and raise money to support the show. The AOP: https://www.the-aop.org/Baroness Kidron: ****https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeban_KidronF22 Forum - Women Photographers at the AOP: https://www.the-aop.org/information/f22-womenDesert Island Camera:Leica Sofort: https://www.wexphotovideo.com/leica-sofort-2-instant-camera-black-3130047/?cpgnid=18138250963&adext=&account=853-353-2386&campaign=&group=&mkwid=_dc&pcrid=&kword=&match=&plid=&pgrid=&ptaid=&si=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17339491396Desert Island Book:Lee Miller - Hillary Floe: https://amzn.to/44xqpfPGuest Contact Details:AOP on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/assocphoto.bsky.socialAOP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/assocphoto/AOP on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-association-of-photographers-limited/](https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-association-of-photographers-limited/posts/?feedView=all)

We talk about the start of the year, some big changes and just general chit chat.Thank you for listening to The Exposed Negative Podcast. Running this podcast takes a lot of time and effort, and we hope you have found it helpful and interesting. If you would like to support us by buying us a beer or coffee, or by helping with the running costs of the show, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider signing up for our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/exposednegative) or making a one-time donation through PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/exposednegative).Thank you for your support!Here are the shownotes, full disclosure, some of which are affiliate links which we use to try and raise money to support the show. Revini Labs Light meter