B+W 35mm Photojournalist
by Johnny Martyr Peeking behind, much less going behind stage curtains can sometimes disillusion fans of their favorite celebrities. But when I hung out with comedian Nikki Glaser, I saw that who she is backstage is as compelling as who she is onstage. What follows is an account of Nikki's performance in Baltimore, MD on... Continue Reading →
by Johnny Martyr "I just found this awesome Konica Autoreflex at my local thrift store for just $25! It works perfectly and just needs to be cleaned. But I noticed that sometimes when I wind the advance lever, the shutter opens. Is this normal?" "I just bought this awesome Olympus XA rangefinder from eBay for... Continue Reading →
by Johnny Martyr I was developing some personal photos today and it occurred to me that the fixing step seems to be a point of many questions and issues. So I thought it might be useful to dedicate an entry about fixing specifically. Some of this will bleed over into color but I'm a b&w... Continue Reading →
by Johnny Martyr I'm pretty committed to film photography. Not because I think film photography is superior to digital photography - on a technical level, it's just not. And on an artistic level, there is no such thing as "superior," there's only how things feel and how they make you think. I am not committed... Continue Reading →
"My experience was probably pretty similar to other people who discover the Mahoning. First, I was taken by how this place seemed trapped in amber. There was little about it that seemed to have kept up with the times. I didn’t grow up going to drive-ins, but it felt like stepping back into my childhood. With the exception of the cars, it could well have been the 70s… could have even been the 50s for that matter. Everything seemed in place, and yet out of time."
by Johnny Martyr On my way to work, I called the local camera shop to verify they had the camera I found on their website the night before. I was so excited when the employee reported that he had the Zeiss Super Ikonta in his hand that I replied "I'll be there in about ten... Continue Reading →
“Why would I buy a new Nikon FM10 for $150, a new Nikon FM2 for $700 or a new Nikon FM3a for $800 from a camera store when I can buy a used Nikon FM from eBay for $50?”
by Johnny Martyr Look, I don't want to curtail anyone's creativity, but I think it's worth rethinking how readily many photographers shoot expired film. For me, shooting paid work, I never ever take client photos on expired film. And I really don't use it for personal work either because to me, it's just not worth... Continue Reading →
by Johnny Martyr Here's a DM from a reader in France: "Hi Johnny, how are you? My name is Victor and I live in Paris. I was intrigued by your article about camera shops in Paris. I am trying to start in the photography world, more as a hobby than anything else, and I wanted... Continue Reading →
by Johnny Martyr I got the notification from my Ring doorbell when a non-descript cardboard box was dropped off at my front porch. Who, in the 1930s would have imagined that this little handcrafted camera would be couriered to the United States by robots and its arrival announced by a motion-sensing camera that transmits images... Continue Reading →
The Thoughts & Photography of Johnny Martyr 