I've known Iain for so long that I almost can't remember how we first met. I'm not sure if that's a testament to age or memory. We intersected in the world of agencies and consulting for a time and while our paths may have diverged since then, we've always remained in touch and continued to have considered and wide-ranging conversations about technology or photography.
Around March last year, Iain debuted a weekly podcast called Prime Lenses. Each episode features a conversation with a photographer, centred around the notion of three "lenses" that hold deep personal or creative meaning for them. These lenses span a broad definition - from physical lenses to metaphorical perspectives.
With just over 80 interviews at the time of writing, including a number of prominent photographers (Joel Meyerowitz was his last guest) and an invite from Leica to participate in their 100 year celebrations, he has already far exceeded his initial ambition with more to come.
Iain is an enthusiasm enthusiast and his passion for photography combined with an affable interview style make the podcast an engaging and easy listen. It's not about gear which makes it an antidote to much of the unutterably dull brosphere content with all the clickbait titling that seems to dominate.
In some ways, the show feels like a spiritual successor to Alec Soth's blog circa 2006. Soth referred to his blog at the time as a 'virtual smoky loft' for artistic expression and an informal space to share his work and thoughts. What was interesting is that it exposed the dichotomy between the public consumption of his work and Soth's intent and practice as an artist in making it.
I caught up with Iain earlier this week - the first time since he went full-time and put a handful of questions to him. I'm looking forward to the Andre Wagner episode when it happens.
You’re fast approaching 100 episodes of Prime Lenses - what was your original motivation for creating the podcast and do you feel your vision has evolved through the course of 80 episodes?
It’s definitely changed. When I first started, it was because I wanted a creative project for myself. I figured I’d make 10 episodes and I’d try to get 10 listeners, and I wouldn’t look at the numbers because it’s not about that. Fast forward 18 months or so, and I’ve gone full-time on this and I feel like there’s a job to be done, recording conversations with working photographers for posterity. Preserving them and talking about the craft and the art. I think it’s a reaction to the creator economy of hot takes and AI slop. I’m pushing hard in the other direction. Slower, audio only. I want to create space to think.
Which guest or episode has surprised you the most so far, and why?
I’ve not been particularly surprised yet because I only pick people I want to talk to rather than being pitched.
Has running the podcast affected your own photography practice or style?
Definitely. I’m doubling down on having only one camera and a small selection of lenses because the people doing great work keep reminding me when I speak to them that the vision or goal comes first. Practice and iteration cycles, that’s the key. Make work, review the work, go out and make more work. I try to do that more myself now and it applies as much to the show as it does my images.
What’s one lesson or story you’ve learned through the podcast that you think every photographer should hear?
That you don’t need to get coverage or do this professionally for your work to be meaningful. The world is filled with noise telling us we need better gear or the next thing, or that if we just have that super fast lens everything will be better, but if you can just listen to your own creative voice, make the images you want to make, I really think that’s the route to creative satisfaction and happiness. The most satisfied folks I have spoken to knew what they wanted to make and made it. They weren’t really worried about whether someone wanted it or not.
If you could share an episode that encapsulates the essence of your ambition for the show - think of it as a taster for a potential listener - which would you pick?
I really love the episode with Tom Oldham. He’s a portrait photographer and we had a great conversation. I could talk to him all day, he’s ace. When I released that episode a listener contacted me to say it was like sitting down with a mate for a coffee to talk cameras and photography, and I hope that’s what the show is every week for listeners.
And a bonus question, perhaps an obvious one but given the opportunity to have any photographer come on to the show, who would that be and what marks their appeal as the perfect next guest?
Ooof, that is super tough because I’m still constantly discovering folks. If I could make one person appear right now it’d be Andre Wagner. I love his images and energy in interviews I’ve seen with him. He has done a lot of street work in New York, mostly on film with an M rangefinder. He has shot commercially, photographing Lewis Hamilton recently for Ferrari, but then also did the press images for the film Queen and Slim. I think he’ll be regarded in time as one of the greats.
