Lina Bessonova Interview with Paula Chamlee (YouTube)

[r.e.]

Posted to YouTube a few days ago. Bessanova's husband, ADOX CEO Mirko Böddecker, was also present and interjects briefly on the subject of AZO paper.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMPHtsMObLU

[Tin Can]

Very interesting

I did not know their history, environment nor back to the land

I have seen one of their last exhibits in Illinois with Peter

I had a different mental picture

[Tin Can]

I forgot

Thank you, Lina!

[Salmo22]

A very interesting and informative interview. I would have loved to see and hear more about the darkroom.

[MartinP]

When the video finished, I immediately went back to the start and watched again. That person (and late husband), location, facilities and history are inspirational.

ETA: Thank you to Mirko and Lina too of course, and r.e. the OP.

[Jim Noel]

Paula has been one of my most interesting people since I first met her. I have had the privilege of 5 or 6 personal and private conversations with her. I have learned an unbelievable amount of information concerning how to photograph from her. She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met, not just natural physical beauty, but also in her approach to people.
Thank you for this.

[h2oman]

I'm pretty much a total dilettante at most things I do, including, to some extent, photography. I have massive respect for Michael and Paula regarding their commitment to LF photography and contact printing. Same for dedicated, accomplished musicians, athletes, etc.

The video is really nice. Maybe I need to go set up my camera somewhere and just start panning with my head under the dark cloth, to try to understand her way of seeing.

[Jim Noel]

Her method works well, especially with 5x12 or 7x17. I use it for every image.

[Mick Fagan]

I thought it was a wonderful interview, it would have been slightly better if Lina had a microphone as well; it was very hard to hear her questions and sometimes her dialogue.

Other than that, it was intriguing to find that they somehow managed to create something that Kodak said couldn't be done.

Thanks for posting the link.

[jmdavis]

While I have had more conversations over the years with Michael than with Paula. I always found talking with her and listening to her illuminating. My approach to photography changed (for the better I believe) after a 2005 workshop with them. I had the opportunity to work with her and her camera under the darkcloth setting up a composition. Upside down and backward became a positive after that day.

I just heard yesterday or this morning that Paula will be conducting a small workshop at the studio in Pennsylvania May 27-29, 2022. You should contact her for full details.

[Scott__Allen__]

I thoroughly enjoyed that interview.

Scott

[Mike Lopez]

While I have had more conversations over the years with Michael than with Paula. I always found talking with her and listening to her illuminating. My approach to photography changed (for the better I believe) after a 2005 workshop with them. I had the opportunity to work with her and her camera under the darkcloth setting up a composition. Upside down and backward became a positive after that day.

I just heard yesterday or this morning that Paula will be conducting a small workshop at the studio in Pennsylvania May 27-29, 2022. You should contact her for full details.

Hey there, Mike. I hope you're doing well! I came to this thread to post the same thing you did about her upcoming workshop. I was notified of that yesterday.

To anyone else reading this, a workshop with Paula is a treasure you won't regret or forget.

[peter schrager]

Paula is amazing and she just helped guide me to printing my first photo book....

[Roberto Nania]

Beautiful. Thank you for posting it.
Inspiring, it gave me some good hints.

[Bill Burk]

I like the thought in what Paula Chamlee said about looking at the groundglass... "see the world for how it looks versus how it is."

Maybe this is where I have gone wrong by shooting a rangefinder, I have trouble separating what I am looking at from what it is.

[jnantz]

Great interview, thanks for posting it!
John