When you have had as momentous a year as our guest, photographer Misan Harriman, had in 2020, you should shout it from the rooftops. However, on this episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, Harriman offers us nothing but humility and gratitude for the work he has done, including creating the September 2020 cover photographs for British Vogue and the powerful images he made at Black Lives Matter marches in London.
Harriman left us inspired, and we are happy to share this conversation, supported by Leica Camera. Sweet drops like, “Our ancestors are whispering to us every time we press the shutter” and “…there’s no small talk in black and white” are the icing on the cake of a wonderful conversation about his work and workflow. Harriman reflects on his love for image making but also speaks about coming to photography relatively late in life and maintaining confidence despite “imposter syndrome.” He advises photographing what you know and love before you dip your toe in deeper waters. We also talk about keeping your head above those deep waters when you are offered incredibly important assignments, such as the triple gatefold cover with twenty portraits for British Vogue, the first cover photograph by a black man in that magazine’s history.
With Harriman we also discuss portrait work and minimizing technical distractions to focus on the “exchange of humanity.” This concept serves for portraits taken remotely as well, as his noted portrait of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex demonstrates. Remote photography apps are mentioned, as is his workflow during BLM protests, including a dogged devotion to black and white and using up to five cameras with longer prime lenses for intimacy and safety. Harriman provides us with much to consider, from thoughts on why we should photograph to how to economize using L-mount gear. Join us for this engaging episode and please leave us a comment below.
Guest: Misan Harriman
Photograph © Misan Harriman
Lynn Goldsmith’s Prince Portrait and its Legacy in Case Law
Picturing World Cultures: Rita Leistner - Canada
Still Photography & the WWE, with Brad Smith & Rich Freeda
Ecliptic Visions—with Rebecca Boyle, Gabriel Biderman, Atlas Obscura & B&H
Picturing World Cultures: Daniel Rosca - Romania
Photography in the Age of AI, with Stephen Shankland
B&H Podcast: Chat with Inventor of the CMOS Chip, Professor Eric Fossum
Picturing World Cultures: Joshua Irwandi - Indonesia
Holding to Truth: Radio Encryption & the Press, with Todd Maisel & Lloyd Mitchell
Picturing World Cultures: Kiana Hayeri: Iran / Afghanistan
2023 Photo Gear of the Year with Kevin Rickert
Adobe's First Evangelist: Russell Preston Brown
Picturing World Cultures: Wayne Quilliam - Australia/Tasmania
Lee Miller: Combat Photographer, Fashion Model & Muse, with Antony Penrose
A History of Hip-Hop Photography: Encore Episode from November 2017
1950s America as Seen by Robert Frank & Todd Webb, with Lisa Volpe & Bill Shapiro
Connecting the Creator Community: B&H Bild Ambush Interviews
Communicating Visually: Expert Tips from Photo Editor Sarah Leen at Bild
Taking Chances on Stories to Tell: Photojournalist Deanne Fitzmaurice at Bild
Why Oceans Matter: Underwater Photographer Brian Skerry at Bild
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Spider-Man Crawlspace Podcast
The Week in Art
Harlem Is Everywhere
Anne of Green Gables
The Story of Mankind
ArtCurious Podcast
A brush with...