The Camera Life

• EP96 Will Photography Go Extinct?

  Is still photography dying? Justin and Greg explore the impact of social video, AI tools, wearable cameras, and Meta bots on the future of the medium. They dive into infrared conversion, compare Canon vs Fuji for IR shooting, and break down the XT50 vs XT5. Plus: Prime Day deals, Canon Pro printers, new Lucky Strap prototypes, and Greg’s camera advice for beginners. Don’t miss the review of Japan Leica photos or their upcoming New Zealand trip plans. ===========================================THE CAMERA LIFE - LIVE PHOTOGRAPHY PODCAST===========================================➡Blog: https://luckystraps.com/the-camera-life➡YouTube: @the_camera_life ➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_camera_life_podcast➡Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1dC4kPNrLORz2ASrukyOS5?si=18c6fd2534cf4d97➡Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-camera-life/id1760304677 ===================================================LUCKY STRAPS - THE BEST CAMERA STRAPS ON THE PLANET===================================================✅ Quick Release System✅ Anti-Theft, Cut-Resistant and Safety Lock✅ Super Comfortable Genuine Leather✅ Australian Made and Lifetime Guarantee ✅ Personalise with Your Name or Logo✅ Owned, Designed and Used by Working Photographers SHOP NOW - https://luckystraps.com/ ================CONNECT WITH US================Greg Cromie - Writer and Photographer➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/gcromie/➡Greg's Blog: https://gregcromie.blog/ Justin Castles - Photographer and Founder of Lucky Straps➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/justincastles Jim Aldersey - Wedding and Boudoir Photographer➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/jimaldersey/➡Wedding IG: https://www.instagram.com/justinandjim/

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• EP95 Random Photography Show with Andrew Chapman - Inside the theatre room

  Veteran Australian photojournalist Andrew Chapman joins the show to share his extraordinary 55-year career, his battle with liver failure, and how surviving two transplants inspired him to document the transplant process from both sides of the operating room. This deeply personal and visually powerful episode dives into the ethics of medical photography, the making of his upcoming gallery exhibition, and the importance of organ donation — all through the lens of a photographer’s eye.   Watch these videos about Andrew's transplant work:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tz1sQqxPYk Yellow - A short film about Andrew's personal transplant journey:https://player.vimeo.com/video/354590949 Andrew Chapman has photographed multiple transplant surgeries and has also had his own transplant experience. Since then, his images and exhibitions have inspired others to move ahead with transplant surgery in (often) a last effort to improve quality and duration of life. He has a new exhibition opening soon at Magnet Gallery and it’s a story worth sharing and an amazing example of how photography inspired others to seek better health. Andrew Chapman has photographed much of Australia’s social and political landscape over the last five and a half decades. Andrew’s subjects have ranged from Prime Ministers to heroin dealers, celebrities to sheep. Andrew has a passion for rural life, ordinary folk as well as a love of the Australian bush. His work has been widely exhibited and he has published nine books. Andrew says he’s always wanted to do more than create pretty pictures. “I want to leave a visual record that people can rely on,” he says. "I don’t add things in before I photograph and I don’t take things out with Photoshop. To make a shot visually appealing, I just have to be sure to get it right in the first place”. In his studies Chapman specialised in documentary, photojournalism & landscape photography. From 1978 he first worked for The Melbourne Times, then for Syme Community Newspapers and has since been a freelancer contributing to Time, on the cover of which his work featured more than a dozen times, BRW and The Bulletin, as well as Australian newspapers. Rural Australia, its human and animal inhabitants, European and indigenous, the harshness and beauty of the Australian bush landscape, its vernacular architecture, and lively Australian Federal politics are Chapman's main photographic subjects. Since 2006, Chapman has published nine books and has made photographic contributions to others’. He has exhibited in Australia, France and the USA. In 2011 Chapman had a liver transplant, during which he was almost blinded due to a viral infection, prompting him to hold a 2012 exhibition - Nearly A Retrospective, a survey of four decades of his work. Chris Franklin recorded Andrew's recollection of events around the transplant and reflections on his lifelong calling in photography in Yellow which won the international Lift-Off Global Network Best Short Documentary in 2019. Links:https://www.andrewchapmanphotography.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Chapman_(photographer)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tz1sQqxPYkhttps://player.vimeo.com/video/354590949https://www.donatelife.gov.au/   =========================================== THE CAMERA LIFE  - LIVE PHOTOGRAPHY PODCAST =========================================== ➡Blog: https://luckystraps.com/the-camera-life ➡YouTube: 

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• EP94 Luke Tscharke | Nature, infrared, aerial, & nightscape photography

  Award-winning landscape photographer Luke Tscharke joins the Camera Life Podcast to share his journey from scientist to full-time photographer. Discover how Luke captures breathtaking auroras, infrared and nightscape images across Tasmania, and why planning and presence are key. He dives into gear choices, weather forecasting with Windy, and how social platforms impact modern photographers. Plus, he opens up about upcoming projects and balancing photography with a growing family. A must-watch for nature and photography lovers! =========================================== Luke Tscharke is an Australian landscape photographer based in Hobart, Tasmania. With a background in biology and quality assurance, he transitioned from a corporate career to photography, combining his attention to detail with a passion for capturing natural landscapes. Originally from the Barossa Valley, where his family has lived for seven generations, his love for Tasmania’s wilderness and pristine night skies inspired his move from Melbourne and Sydney to Tasmania. Luke’s photography spans nature, infrared, aerial, and nightscapes, showcasing both technical expertise and creative vision. He is known for meticulous planning and analysis of weather patterns, enabling him to capture rare light and natural phenomena, including the Aurora Australis. His passion for dark sky preservation is central to his work, as he uses his astrophotography to celebrate Tasmania’s night skies and advocate for the protection of these areas from light pollution, recognising their ecological, cultural, and scientific significance. A key part of Luke’s philosophy is connecting people to nature’s beauty through his images—whether online, in prints, or exhibitions—to inspire wonder, appreciation, and a shared commitment to conservation. His work has received international acclaim, including the 2015 International Landscape Photographer of the Year and the 2018 David Malin Astrophotography Award. As a CASA-certified drone operator, he has contributed aerial cinematography to projects such as the 2022 film Franklin. As a Sony Digital Imaging Advocate and regular contributor to Australian Geographic, with two cover features, Luke uses his platform to foster a deeper respect for the natural world and encourage efforts to protect it for future generations. https://luketscharke.com/https://www.instagram.com/tscharke ===========================================THE CAMERA LIFE - LIVE PHOTOGRAPHY PODCAST===========================================➡Blog: https://luckystraps.com/the-camera-life➡YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_camera_life ➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_camera_life_podcast➡Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1dC4kPNrLORz2ASrukyOS5?si=18c6fd2534cf4d97➡Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-camera-life/id1760304677 ===================================================LUCKY STRAPS - THE BEST CAMERA STRAPS ON THE PLANET===================================================✅ Quick Release System✅ Anti-Theft, Cut-Resistant and Safety Lock✅ Super Comfortable Genuine Leather✅ Australian Made and Lifetime Guarantee ✅ Personalise with Your Name or Logo✅ Owned, Designed and Used by Working Photographers SHOP NOW https://luckystraps.com/(Use code for 15% off - Codes are JUSTIN JIM or GREG - Which host do you like the most?) ================CONNECT WITH US================Greg Cromie - Writer and Photographer➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/gcromie/➡Greg's Blog: https://gregcromie.blog/ Justin Castles - Photographer and Founder of Lucky Straps➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/justincastles Jim Aldersey - Wedding and Boudoir Photographer➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/jimaldersey/➡Wedding IG: https://www.instagram.com/justinandjim/

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• EP93 Vanessa Gerrans | CEO Ballarat Int. Foto Biennale | The Random Photography Show

  In this episode, Vanessa Gerrans, CEO and Artistic Director of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, joins the team to share an exclusive preview of the 2025 festival—including headline exhibitions from Mapplethorpe, Campbell Addy, and the powerful legacy of photojournalist Catherine Leroy. Learn how to plan your visit, support emerging photographers, and get involved in Australia’s premier photography celebration. Then, stick around for the Random Show: new gear, film hauls, and an AI photo comp adventure featuring Chicken Man. =========================================== Vanessa Gerrans is CEO & Artistic Director of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB Inc). She is developing the 11th Festival set to launch from 23 August to 19 October 2025. Simultaneously, Gerrans is spearheading the development of the National Centre for Photography, set to transform the former Union Bank building in central Ballarat. Previously, Gerrans served as the Director of the Warrnambool Art Gallery from 2015 to 2022. During her tenure, she revitalised the gallery's cultural role in the region through innovative public and exhibition programs. Before her role at WAG, she spent over a decade at the RMIT Gallery. She holds a Masters in Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne. About the festival:The Ballarat International Foto Biennale (Ballarat Foto) is a world-class arts organisation delivering an internationally significant photographic arts festival, activating the city of Ballarat and enriching the cultural landscape of Victoria and Australia, every two years. Founded by Jeff Moorfoot OAM in 2005, it has grown into a world-class event, attracting over 250,000 attendees and generating $28 million in economic impact. The 2025 edition marks the festivals 11th anniversary. Spanning 60 days from 23 August to 19 October, it features:- A Core Program with international and Australian artists,- An Open Program for emerging talent,- Workshops, public programs, and artist residencies. Ballarat Foto is also establishing the National Centre for Photography, a permanent gallery in a heritage-listed building in central Ballarat. It is part of several global networks, including the International Biennial Association, Asia Pacific Photoforum, and is the only Oceanic member of the Festival of Light. https://ballaratfoto.org/https://www.instagram.com/vanessagerrans/ ===========================================THE CAMERA LIFE - LIVE PHOTOGRAPHY PODCAST===========================================➡Blog: https://luckystraps.com/the-camera-life➡YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_camera_life ➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_camera_life_podcast➡Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1dC4kPNrLORz2ASrukyOS5?si=18c6fd2534cf4d97➡Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-camera-life/id1760304677 ===================================================LUCKY STRAPS - THE BEST CAMERA STRAPS ON THE PLANET===================================================✅ Quick Release System✅ Anti-Theft, Cut-Resistant and Safety Lock✅ Super Comfortable Genuine Leather✅ Australian Made and Lifetime Guarantee ✅ Personalise with Your Name or Logo✅ Owned, Designed and Used by Working Photographers SHOP NOW https://luckystraps.com/(Use code for 15% off - Codes are JUSTIN JIM or GREG - Which host do you like the most?) ================CONNECT WITH US================Greg Cromie - Writer and Photographer➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/gcromie/➡Greg's Blog: https://gregcromie.blog/ Justin Castles - Photographer and Founder of Lucky Straps➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/justincastles Jim Aldersey - Wedding and Boudoir Photographer➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/jimaldersey/➡Wedding IG: https://w...

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• EP92 Nick Fletcher | From Shooting Dirt Bikes to Wild Photo Festivals

  Nick Fletcher shares his wild ride from army life and jumping out of planes to photographing dirt bikes and running Australia’s most vibrant photo festival. In this episode, you'll hear his hilarious camera mishaps, real talk on Nikon and Fuji gear, insights into BMX and MTB photography, and the behind-the-scenes chaos of running the Bright Festival of Photography. Stay tuned for technical flash tips, gear talk, and a wedding story like no other. ________ For over 30 years, Nick has chased adventure through climbing, dirt biking, and hang gliding — but nothing compares to the thrill of capturing the perfect photo. His passion is creating images that help others feel the excitement of these sports, whether he’s photographing world-class athletes or capturing powerful moments with weekend warriors. Nick is happiest editing photos by a campfire after a hard day of riding and shooting. He has worked with iconic brands like Ducati and KTM, and with major events including the Melbourne Marathon and large motorcycle rallies. His photography has been featured in leading Australian and New Zealand motorbike and mountain biking magazines. Nick is also the founder of The Bright Festival of Photography (BFOP), one of the largest photography festivals in Australia. Always keen to break new ground or support the community, Nick is open to new ideas and collaborations — and he’s harmless, promise!Some call him the Godfather of BFOP but let’s give credit where credit is due, this man gave BFOP life way back in 2017 and so Mother BFOP is probably a much more fitting name. Nick is principally responsible for looking stressed and herding participants in the right direction whilst providing inspiring pep-talks to the BFOP instructor team. When Nick isn’t running festivals he’s out in the wild either photographing motorbikes or falling off them. If you see him at the brewery then he will impart his entire photographic knowledge for the price of a pint of beer. He’s a true inspiration and runs workshops not to be missed! https://www.nickfletchersportsphotography.com.au/ ===========================================THE CAMERA LIFE - LIVE PHOTOGRAPHY PODCAST===========================================➡Blog: https://luckystraps.com/the-camera-life➡YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the_camera_life ➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_camera_life_podcast➡Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1dC4kPNrLORz2ASrukyOS5?si=18c6fd2534cf4d97➡Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-camera-life/id1760304677 ===================================================LUCKY STRAPS - THE BEST CAMERA STRAPS ON THE PLANET===================================================✅ Quick Release System✅ Anti-Theft, Cut-Resistant and Safety Lock✅ Super Comfortable Genuine Leather✅ Australian Made and Lifetime Guarantee ✅ Personalise with Your Name or Logo✅ Owned, Designed and Used by Working Photographers SHOP NOW https://luckystraps.com/(Use code for 15% off - Codes are JUSTIN JIM or GREG - Which host do you like the most?) ================CONNECT WITH US================Greg Cromie - Writer and Photographer➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/gcromie/➡Greg's Blog: https://gregcromie.blog/ Justin Castles - Photographer and Founder of Lucky Straps➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/justincastles Jim Aldersey - Wedding and Boudoir Photographer➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/jimaldersey/➡Wedding IG: https://www.instagram.com/justinandjim/

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