The Spooky Park Bench

Finally, after three years, Mike comes to visit Christopher in America. Coffee, film, food, diners, dogs, you name it.

Mike and Christopher are back! Updates on personal work, the film lab, beards, AI, and more.

Happy new year, friends. Mike and Christopher are back to chat about creativity, working as a creative, beards, and stalkers. Follow us on Twitter @SpookyBench and on Instagram @spookyparkbench Mike Instagram: @mikeysim1 Christopher Instagram: @cmsturm

Hey! We are back with a hot one. We talk about rigged film contests but first, sobriety, the importance of focusing on your style, books, and more.

We really did it this time. We sit down with 4x5 wizard Alex Burke and talk about stuff,  things, people, places, etc. We certainly learned a few things during this episode, and you will too.   Check out Alex's work here: https://www.alexburkephoto.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alexburkephoto/          

There has been an ongoing conversation about the safety of women in the photography community. Male photographers have historically created a hostile environment for members of the community. In recent years, there has been a reckoning on social media targeted at exposing and ostracizing male photographers who exhibit predatory behavior in an effort to provide more safety for women, nonbinary, and queer photographers in the community. Victor's behavior is an example of this predatory pattern that targets women and vulnerable members of the community. Social engineering and manipulation tactics are employed to gather information, garner trust, and take advantage. It is imperative that these instances are called out publicly to achieve awareness in the community, and to make this predatory behavior too risky for men to attempt in the future.   Links:   Medium Article - https://medium.com/@accountabilityvm/accountability-victor-matthews-3481dafb384d   Photo Community Accountability Coalition Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pcacoalition/   More to be added!

It's us again. Sorry we've been away.    

This week we have a guest that has more layers than an old lady in the winter. It's Autumn Spadaro.   We talk about assisting, Black Hawk's going down and her awesome Grandmother. 

Just us I'm afraid.   We talk haircuts, car horns and how to find work in photography.

This weeks pod we have Thomas Hawkins aka Ed Scissor. Rapper, writer and occasional taker of photos.   We discuss creativity, the Contax T2 and Korn.

On this episode we have Financial Times restaurant critic, writer, broadcaster and photographer Tim Hayward.  We discuss creativity, Saucy Janitors and why gear doesn't matter.

This week we speak to Director and photographer Joan Michel. We talk about making docs, shooting them on film and the joys of skateboarding 

This week we have the Attic Darkrooms, Shawn Kim. We discuss film as a medium, why we shouldn't be so precious and briefly touch upon WW3.

This week we discuss film costs, our humble intentions and Robin Williams      For 20% off some banging coffee from New Ground hit them up at newgroundcoffee.com and use the code 'spooky20' at checkout.

This week we talk to the master of the corner and curator of Two Hour Photo, Jason Hunter.    We discuss his work, the importance of printing your images and authenticity.   We are also now sponsored by New Ground. A coffee roastery and social enterprise in Oxford who use their business to give employment opportunities and training ex offenders in the UK.   Head to NEWGROUNDCOFFEE.COM and use the code SPOOKY20 for 20% off your first order.

To start the new year we tell you a little about ourselves, answer a listener  question and discuss future plans. 

It's the man with the 4x5, Bryan Birks. We talk about approaching strangers for portraits, the expectations of a project, YouTube and....NFTS.

We discuss Mike's resemblance to George Michael, Christopher's new venture and the divisive NFT.

This week we're joined by The Bearded One himself, Kyle McDougall.   We discuss Boots, Nickleback, buying a mirrorless camera and home scanning.  

Hello! This week we discuss Christopher's new hoose, Mike's inability to change a roll of film and the complex issue of privilege in photography. 

This week's guest is a professional photographer with over 35 years experience in the game.  Ben is a commercial photographer with current clients ranging from Rolls Royce to Café Du Cycliste.    We discuss working in dark rooms, shooting large format film, assisting, and Mike being useless.    Get it in your lugs.     

It has indeed been a while. Had some personal jazz going on so thanks for baring (bearing?!) with us.   This episode we talk about film elitism, the affordability of film cameras and not being vegan.    

She's back. Our sister from another Mister (people still say that), Big Al joined us again after we had such a great response from our first one.   We primarily talk about gender inequality in photography but dip into other heavy topics like morality, injustice and Christopher being a nerd.   I also apologise profusely for not only my language but my terrible audio quality.    Hope you guys enjoy it!    

*EDITOR NOTE* Apologies for the audio quality, clearly some technical difficulties. We will definitely have it sorted for the next pod!   This week, Mike and Christopher discuss assisting on shoots as an experienced photographer, NFT's, and raw pork.  Next week, we have Allister in the second episode in our two part journey. Make sure to check that out!   Check out Stewart Bryden's work at @stewbryden www.stewartbryden.com   Follow us at   @spookyparkbench @mike_sim_photo @christophermichaelsturm/@thephotodept

PART ONE OF TWO    This week we had THE PLEASURE of talking to Allister Ann.  We could have talked to Allister for hours. So we're going to. This is part one of two parts with her. In this part we talk music, old school social media, working during the pandemic and dream subjects.   Check out her work at    allisterann.com @allister_ann   Follow us at   @spookyparkbench @mike_sim_photo @christophermichaelsturm

On this weeks catch up episode we talk about the joys of wedding photography, valuing your time and we have a call in question from Mike's pal, Robbie. 

Oh hey. Hi. How are you guys? Us? Yeah we're good. Just been chatting to RAY BARBEE.   This week we had the unbelievable fortune of getting to speak to a true legend. Skate hero, photographer and a beautiful soul. We talk gear, what drives him and his stripped back, no bullshit approach to making images.   It was a genuine honour to get to speak to this man. We hope you enjoy it!   @spookyparkbench @mike_sim_photo @christophermichaelsturm @r.barbee

We're back in business with some STELLAR audio this time.  Ok. It's better. In this episode we discuss British names for clothing, our first bad review, photo competitions, the importance of photo books and some other stuff about other things.    Some of the books we mentioned in the episode: Wim Wenders - Polaroids Vivian Maier - Street Photographer  Annie Lebovitz  - Women (foreword by Susan Sontag)    Find us on the socials at:   @spookyparkbench @mike_sim_photo @Christophermichaelsturm @thephotodept      

When people think of cool guys with beards they might think of a young Oliver Reed or a group of pirates drinking rum and beating a villager to death. I'll tell you who we think of. A Canadian man with a passion for creativity and a heart of pure gold.    His name is Kyle McDougall, and he's on the podcast.    Kyle is a photographer, editor, DP, podcaster and YouTuber.    On this weeks episode we chat to Kyle about being true to yourself, enjoying the creative process and editing film.   Check out Kyle at:   https://www.kylemcdougallphoto.com YouTube      

Our first episode! We discuss the new release from Jason Lee's company Film Photographic, the joys of Snappy Snaps, we answer some VERY specific questions and Christopher is outed as a cultural philistine.   NINETY SIX DREAMS, TWO THOUSAND MEMORIES  is available  HERE