The Future of Photography

This week we delve into the world of fads in photography past, present, and future. If you’ve got any to add to our list, let us know! From the early Victorian penchant for post mortem photography, the Cottingley Fairies and hidden mother photography to the more current bread cat (yes, it’s true -google it) just what fads are likely as we go forward into the future of photography? More current examples where photography plays a role and which might be more meme than fad: cat beard, horsemanning, glitterbeards or teapotting. PICKS OF THE WEEK: Insta360 ONE R (Chris), Eimear's photo. What photo fads will the future bring? Let us know on Twitter.

It’s time for a TFOP workflow update! In Ade's ever-changing work-in-progress photo workflow, what's new? Plenty actually - including a JPEG-based process - also plenty of constructive challenge from the team ;-) Fave tools: Apple SD card dongle, iOS 13 Files app, Apple pencil, Snapseed - non-destructive editing with layers and masks and selective tools, Darkroom - great for HSL adjustments. Picks of the week: Gnarbox, DruePhoto, Nollaig na mBan. [n3ar87oGiv4c9hwiwmj61lwb4qckvevivyefz3i]

Welcome to 2020! This week we indulge in some fantastical speculation about the future of photography. Always fun and remember to call it out if we are wrong! Links to all our references and speculations... Jessie Reiser, The Death of Retail, Intrepid Camera, Cameradactyl, The Blind Smartphone Camera Test 2019!, Drone armies, Further out: photographic archaelogy / Insta 360 One X, Super fast Instax wide printer, Pocketable full spectrum LED light (that flies), Global culture shift to (a) focus on QI rather than IQ and (b) use the camera that points away from you. Shout out to Munetake Kayo aka @bigheadtaco for the QI thing. Authentication of photos, Buy a superpower, A real one due in “early 2020”: Sirui 50mm Anamorphic, Loupedeck CT, Kodak Stereo Camaera and Realist Electric Stereo Viewer

Happy Holidays to all our listeners, friends and family! Holidays are a time of photographic opportunity and occasionally obligation. To help you maximise/survive the TFOP team offer these creative ideas. Chris: Move that camera, especially around all those Christmas lights. Ade: Theme a shot - Christmas mugshots with presents - one lens, one light, one plain wall. Or maybe rent a lens so you can have fun and experiment and learn whilst also doing the holiday chores. Or give away photos as you shoot - make people smile! (Selphy dye sub, instant film, zink...). Eimear: I am far more likely to be found sweating in the kitchen on Christmas day. Seriously... I do love looking back at old albums from when I was a kid, Christmas featured heavily in those, simpler times. Jeremiah: Extreme macro holiday-themed image! Don Komarechka, Lenshield, the freelensing helper. Picks of the week: Kodak Ektachrome in 4x5, Zines and Issuu, Photographing light as a wave AND a aprticle, Jermeiah's very own Christmas Vacation.

Chris and Jeremiah discuss a topic that has always been at the foundation of photography and that in future, with sheer unlimited possibilities, play an even greater role: creativity. What is it, what can it be and where will it go? Picks of the week: 99pi - episode "The Kirkbride Plan", Miyu Kojima, kodokushi (link 2), toothpaste for dinner.

The start of a mammoth conversation on movie making past, present and FUTURE (of course). We talk colour, equipment, vision and story, story, story in this first slice. Picks of the week: 99pi is a great podcast, and this show in particular. This Unreal Engine resource is a glimpse into the future of production. And how about getting inspired by some of the best ever cinematography.

Sony's 3-layer sensor incorporates not just the light-sensitive pixels, but also some DRAM and logic, sandwiched on top of each other. This enables Sony to achieve high frame rates without the dreaded rolling shutter effect. | Scientists at the university of Utah have developed a lens that is 1000x thinner than regular optics. We speculate about how this could change photography in the future. And it's not all positive. | Out of Germany comes the self-resetting pixel which promises a way to end overexposure once and for all. Chris remembers MIT's Modulo Camera, which proposed the same method. | The traditional method of film makers to animate static 2D images is getting challenged by researchers at the Portland State University. Their 3D Ken Burns effect is AI generated and actually quite mind-blowing.

Eimear introduces us to land/earth art, with Andy Goldsworthy's art as a great example. We explore how this art form depends on other media and how you would show and present this art to audiences that are not in the position to go there. VR? Photography? And would that become its own new form of art in the process? | Picks of the week: Samir Belhamra, the art of Andy Goldsworthy

How do we best represent climat change in our images. One newspaper has made some choices - what do the team feel about that. And sports coverage has taken an uncomfortable turn | Picks of the week: A: Obsolete and Discontinued - a book edited by Mike Crawford. The work of Annuar Patjane. Fyuse app | Twitter: @tfopnow

This week the team slooooww down. Inspired by a news article about an amazing artist, we discuss the benefits of making images more slowly - different approach, different kit, different outcomes | Picks of the week: Solarcan solography, making long exposures on your phone. And set yourself an assignment with friends! Book: Jeff Bridges: Pictures Volume 2 | Web: thefutureofphotography.com | Twitter: @tfopnow