Allan Weitz had little idea of the grand photographic adventures in store when he signed on as host of the B&H Photography Podcast shortly before the show’s debut in October 2015. As a self-described big mouth, and with more than 40 years as a working pro fueling his curiosity about all things photographic, Allan quickly honed his chops to become the voice of the show.
Today’s episode marks a crossroads, as Allan passes his hosting mic to the show’s incoming host, Derek Fahsbender, producer and host of the B&H Event Space. During a lively chat, we celebrate Allan’s long and successful career, both on assignment and at the helm of the podcast, with some never before told stories and audio clips from memorable interactions with guests.
A few of the many topics we cover include, how a kid from Sheepshead Bay made a name for himself photographing classic yachts, the ways in which Allan’s time behind a New Jersey deli counter enhanced his ability to engage with people on a human level—among other benefits to career reinvention—and how his shift into podcasting taught him to use his voice as an instrument.
As Allan aptly summarized for attendees of the podcast team’s 2018 presentation of Podcasting 101: “It’s not always what you say, but how you say it.”
Guest: Allan Weitz
Episode Timeline
3:38: Allan’s B&H Event Space segment from Podcasting 101.
8:35: The back story to Allan’s one-word podcast intro “Greetings!”
10:44: Allan’s chat with digital camera inventor Steve Sasson about their shared Brooklyn roots.
13:56: Allan’s hosting skills as a court jester—or Tummler in Yiddish.
16:12: Gear talk, and a clip from Allan’s chat with Bellamy Hunt of The Japan Camera Hunter.
21:19: Allan waxes poetic about his love for the Hasselblad Superwide, plus his early adoption of digital gear.
28:24: Branching out from commercial assignments to tech writing and other things.
38:18: Episode break
39:27: Memorable stories and life lessons from Allan’s assignment career.
44:22: Allan’s entrée to the world of yachting photography and portfolio tips.
50:44: Allan’s career evolution in the rarified 1980s photography landscape.
57:31: The art of the interview and the value of collaboration among the podcast team.
59:53: Getting beyond difficult pictures during an interview with Bruce Gilden
1:03:50: Upcoming plans and Allan’s Kodachrome book project.
1:10:31: Allan offers listeners his Tusen Takks for their trust in his time behind the mic.
Guest Bio:
Allan Weitz started taking pictures when digital meant doing something with your fingers. A graduate of New York City’s High School of Art and Design and the School of Visual Arts, Allan is the founding host of the B&H Photography Podcast, one of the highest-rated photography podcasts in Apple's Creative Arts category.
For more than 50 years, Allan’s photographs have graced the covers and inside pages of dozens of publications, including New York magazine, Esquire, GQ, Yachting, and Nautical Quarterly. Many of these images have won him awards from the New York, Philadelphia, and New Jersey Art Directors Clubs, the Graphic Artists Guild, Art Direction Magazine, Print, and Graphis, among others.
More recently, Allan has had great success exhibiting—and winning awards for—his photos as fine art prints, as well as dabbling with artificial intelligence using the traditional photos from his vast image library as source material.
Stay Connected:
Allan Weitz Website: https://www.allanweitz.com/
Allan Weitz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allanweitz/
Allan Weitz articles on the B&H Explora Blog: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/users/allan-weitz
Podcasting 101 with the B&H Photography Podcast Team: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd2KDaNSjGI
Steve Sasson Podcast Episode: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/invention-of-digital-camera
Japan Camera Hunter Podcast Episode: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/podcast-the-japan-camera-hunter
Graham Nash Podcast Episode: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/graham-nash-ace-photographer-digital-printing-pioneer-music-legend-the-bh
Bruce Gilden Podcast Episode: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/closer-look-bruce-gilden
End Credits:
Founding Host: Allan Weitz
Incoming Host: Derek Fahsbender
Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman
Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein
Executive Producer: Richard Stevens