This week, we’re going West Wing and doing a walk and talk LIVE from the National Mall in Washington DC. We’re talking about the connection between tools and process and their effect on the work we produce and we wonder whether it’s better to just keep using the tools that are familiar, rather than always chasing the latest pieces of kit. Since we are on the Mall, home to the many of the Smithsonian museums, our Photographer of the Week is the first photographer and curator of photography for the Smithsonian, Thomas Smillie.

National Mall – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fly-by-wire – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Smithsonian’s First Photographer | Smithsonian Institution Archives

Bill Wadman (@billwadman) • Instagram photos and videos

Smithsonian’s First Photographer | Flickr – Photo Sharing!

On Taking Pictures – Google+ – Assignment: #photographersChoice

This week, are film shooters just better photographers? Also, we discuss a TIME article that suggests the idea that traditional photographs will soon become relics, out of time with the future of photography. Plus, a listener asks what we think of the classic “nifty fifty.” Pedro E. Guerrero is our Photographer of the Week.

On Taking Pictures – Google+ – Assignment: #vintageProcess

Process Driven: Sam Faulkner

Film vs. Digital | Amber Events

We’re All Artists Now – The New York Times

Nikon D3s – Mark Seliger, Photographer – Baryshnikov Shoot – YouTube

The Next Revolution in Photography Is Coming | TIME

The Future of Photography | Photoshop Blog by Adobe

Hipstamatic – TinType

Pedro E. Guerrero – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pedro E. Guerrero « | Official Pedro E. Guerrero Archives

Pedro E. Guerrero ~ Preview | American Masters | PBS

This week, we unpack some of the challenges around deciding that something is not art, just because you don’t agree with it or understand it. Does making art an “ism” stifle growth and innovation? Also, long before drones surveilled us, there were…pigeons? Plus, a tease of next week’s show, where we will be talking about what some believe to be the future of photography. Ilse Bing is our Photographer of the Week.

On Taking Pictures – Google+ – Assignment: #metal

Pier Exposure Set at MoMA form 1971

Why is Modern Art so Bad? – Prager University

The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly by James Hampton / American Art

MoMA PS1 – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pigeon photography – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Turn Your iPhone Into a Crappy 1985 Camcorder With This App

Algorithm turns any picture into the work of a famous artist

The Next Revolution in Photography Is Coming | TIME

The Future of Photography | Photoshop Blog by Adobe

The Hunt of the Unicorn – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ilse Bing – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

IlseBing1986.jpg (1023×828)

Queen of the Leica – Dieselpunks

This week, we talk a little about gear and the ongoing debate over megapixels, using the new Sony A7R II as an example. We also talk about film and why it’s ultimately pointless to keep having the “film v digital” discussions. Spoiler: they’re just different. Use what challenges you and gets you out taking pictures. Grete Stern is our Photographer of the Week.

On Taking Pictures – Google+ – Assignment: #windingdown

Sony A7RII Review and Hands On Report – Luminous Landscape

Sony a7R II Hands-on Review – YouTube

Format Comparison Results : On Taking Pictures

Why is Modern Art so Bad? – Prager University

R3 MONOBATH DEVELOPER – New55 FILM

Amazon – Paterson Universal tank and 2 reels-#115

The Politics of the Curation Craze | The New Republic

Pinhole Photography :: Digital SLR Camera Caps :: Olympus Four Thirds Cap – Lenox Laser – The Leader in Small Hole Technology

An ‘Open Letter’ to Landscape Photographers: It’s Time for an Etiquette Check

Grete Stern – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Dream Life of Grete Stern

MoMA | From Bauhaus to Buenos Aires: Grete Stern and Horacio Coppola

Bruce Springsteen – Wings For Wheels – The Making of Born To Run -2005 – YouTube

From Bauhaus to Buenos Aires: Grete Stern & Horacio Coppola

This week, inspired by a recent NPR story, we talk about the idea of art as an experience, where the mechanics of viewing objects become almost more important than the objects themselves. We also discuss some of the opportunities that young people have today, with regard to the viewing and sharing of their experiences, that we simply didn’t have when we were growing up. Plus, with so many cameras on the market, how do you recommend one to a friend who just wants to take good pictures? Lee Friedlander is our Photographer of the Week.

On Taking Pictures – Google+ – Assignment: #UpsideDown

People Love Art Museums — But Has The Art Itself Become Irrelevant? : NPR

I Bought a Fake Nikon DSLR: My Experience with Gray Market Imports

Kodak’s First Digital Moment – The New York Times

HDR Photography Is for Everyone – PC Mag

Lee Friedlander – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lee Friedlander | MoMA

Lee Friedlander | Fraenkel Gallery

Giant Steps — The Jazz Pianist Fred Hersch – NYTimes.com

This week, on our first all east coast edition of the show, we’re taking a stab at answering some of your questions. You have asked some really great questions this time around – around process, gear, where we think art is going, even asking about some of our favorite things. Anuar Patjane is our Photographer of the Week.

On Taking Pictures – Google+ – Assignment: #Favoritethings

Q&A@F+B No. 5: Bill Wadman – Faded & Blurred

The Trip

Mobile Photography | Enlight App

KAGE COLLECTIVE

Anuar Patjane Photography

Winners of the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest – The Atlantic

Bill’s Interview with Ibarionex Perello of “The Candid Frame”

This week, we talk about the temporal nature of the things we make. Should they be preserved for the future or allowed to decay to a natural end, whatever that means? We also discuss transitions and how making the decision to leap can come from a variety of sources and happen for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is fear. Plus, an interesting looking trailer has emerged for a new biopic of Eadweard Muybridge. Lorena Lohr is our Photographer of the Week.

On Taking Pictures – Google+ – Assignment: #parkinglot

Floating Stone Productions :: TheCardboardBernini

James Grashow – Sculptor, Woodcutter, Mixed-Media Artist

Beauty is Embarrassing

Find The Thing You’re Most Passionate About, Then Do It On Nights And Weekends For The Rest Of Your Life – The Onion – America’s Finest News Source

Wyatt Neumann Has Passed Away | Complex

Wyatt Neumann Family Fund | Fundly
Dave Ortiz

RESONATORS – Shoot|Photographers Agent London | Shoot|Photographers Agent London

Tim Lewis – Crit Wall

Eadweard – Trailer | HD – YouTube

Lorena Lohr

Lorena Lohr, explorer of all things wild | sleek mag

This week, prompted by a member of the OTP G+ Community, we begin with a bit of follow up on the discussion from last week about the influence of Robert Frank. Also, there is no best, but there just might be a best for you. Plus, a terrific photographer that neither one of us had ever heard of. Pinup photographer Bunny Yeager is our Photographer of the Week.

On Taking Pictures – Google+ – Assignment: #watching

I think you guys were pretty harsh about Robert Frank’s influence. He clearly…

TRENT PARKE: “Geoff Dyer on Trent Parke” (2008) – ASX | Photography & Culture

Why I Stopped Using the DNG File Format

Germaine Krull: The Modernist Photographer That Time Forgot | AnOther

F21 Thread Screen

Mapping Morocco through portraits – CNN.com

Leaving Home, Coming Home: A Portrait of Robert Frank (2005) – YouTube

Floating Stone Productions :: TheCardboardBernini

GALAXY HYPER SPEED Direct Positive Photo Paper by Galaxy — Kickstarter

The Unquiet Sky – The New York Times

20121212-lens-steinmetz-slide-76DW-superJumbo.jpg (1500×998)

The offical Bunny Yeager Homepage

Bunny Yeager’s Darkroom: Pin-up Photography’s Golden Era – YouTube

Bettie Page Reveals All – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This week, we’re discussing a recent New York Times article about Robert Frank, specifically the breadth of his influence on photography and the degree to which he either pursued or avoided fame and celebrity. We also discuss a few news items sent in by listeners, including an interesting piece about a new book by David Bailey which seems to be comprised mostly of mistakes from the darkroom. Rebecca Norris Webb is our Photographer of the Week.

On Taking Pictures – Google+ – Assignment: #slide

The Man Who Saw America – The New York Times

Rolling Stones Cocksucker Blues Movie Part 1.flv – YouTube

Jello Cake Recipe – Food.com

Jacques Nadeau, Le Devoir photographer, robbed of his life’s work

Court Dismisses Photog’s Copyright Lawsuit Against Nike Over Jumpman Photo

Photographer David Bailey’s unseen chemical experiments – CNN.com

Amazon.com : Think Tank Photo Trifecta 8 Mirrorless Backpack : Camera & Photo

ASX.TV: Fire in the East: A Portrait of Robert Frank (1986) | ASX

552 Portable Production Mixer with Integrated Recorder

Developing Film in One Step – Instant Processing | The Art of Photography

Crit Wall: Some friends, a couple of the big guns in the area met up to play

Crit Wall: Doing more headshots at a university library; i keep looking at my work and…

kissing-sailor-statue.jpg (650×477)

Alex Webb // Rebecca Norris Webb // Photographs

Norris Webb books on Amazon

This week, we geek out a little over the New Horizons images of Pluto. Think about this: it will take four months to receive all of the data from nearly 4 billion miles away. We also discuss Chris Arnade’s photos from Hunt’s Point and whether or not being a good person is unethical. Plus, can you sell out as an artist anymore? Magnum photographer Alex Webb is our Photographer of the Week.

On Taking Pictures – Google+ – Assignment: #stack

New Horizons – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NASA’s Three-Billion-Mile Journey to Pluto Reaches Historic Encounter | NASA

Faces of Addiction | Flickr – Photo Sharing!

Chris Arnade Photography | OOOOH, I am not liked… By a museum. An email I…

Philip-Lorca diCorcia – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tulsa (book) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Is it even still possible to ‘sell out’? – The Washington Post

Astronomical sleuth reveals the timing of the iconic 1945 ‘Kiss’ – LA Times

The Man Who Saw America – The New York Times

Mac App Store – Affinity Photo

Steve McCurry’s Advice for Young Creatives #2 | Photography | Agenda | Phaidon

Alex Webb (photographer) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alex Webb // Rebecca Norris Webb // Photographs

Magnum Photos Photographer Portfolio