Why Rian Johnson made a photo app
Summary
Director Rian Johnson joins The Vergecast to discuss his new smartphone camera app, Chromograph, which applies his cinematic color grading to iPhone photos. The conversation covers the transition from film to digital in filmmaking, the resurgence of analog photography, and Johnson's excitement for the new iPhone Duo. He also shares his personal camera collection, including 3D-printed devices and vintage gear, while reflecting on the current state of tech and AI.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: On Investing and Jira by Atlassian
Introduction: Rian Johnson and camera nerdery
iPhone camera experience and telephoto concerns
Using a Leica M6 as a set workhorse
Shooting habits: film vs digital vs phone
Frustrations with smartphone photo editing apps
Developing the Chromograph camera app
Transition from film to digital in filmmaking
Technical challenges of shooting on film
Steve Yedlin's approach to digital color grading
Debunking the myth of a specific 'film look'
Creating the Chromograph app with Steve Yedlin
Applying movie color science to smartphone photos
Creative control and the unpredictability of film
Rejecting the tyranny of format in art
Film stock evolution vs digital innovation
Cinema experiences and the magic of process
The magic of developing film and new tech
Sponsors: Whatnot, Bitwarden, and Horizon 3
Showcasing a 3D printed 4x5 camera
Using an iPhone as a viewfinder for film
Scanning 6x17 film and shooting speeds
The Kyra digital camera with iPhone screen
Exploring the Kyra camera's PSC sensor
A 50mm anamorphic lens for smartphones
Debating lens imperfections and Pentax 67
Medium format film and Mamiya 7.2
Diffusing sharp lenses with pantyhose
Sticking with the Leica M6 for 35mm
Experimenting with glass plate photography
Early experiences with Hi8 home video
Editing in camera and early video classes
Influence of Infocom text adventures
Feelings on the current state of technology
AI concerns vs the joy of new tech
The impact of 3D printing and sharing models
Vibe coding and the development of Chromograph
Coding the app with Claude and human devs
Concerns about unfinished AI-generated code
Praising Apple's intuitive camera design
Usability as the definition of good design
Chromograph's burst and image merging tech
Apple's strategy for everyday smartphone photos
Balancing phone convenience with dedicated cameras
Confidence in smartphone digital photography
Steve Yedlin's YLab raw photo app
Struggling with raw photos in Snapseed
Inspiration for creating the Chromograph app
Sponsors: OutShift by Cisco and Quince
Sponsor: Scribe workflow documentation
Sponsor: Scribe continued
Conflicted feelings about the new iPhone
Wishes for future iPhone optical zoom
Attaching Moment lenses to iPhones
Early phone cameras and the Nokia era
The resurgence of digicams and film
Halation and the subtle film look
Adding grain to digital photos
Detesting HDR in cinema and TV
The need to understand digital tech
Future digital looks beyond film emulation
Knives Out's traditional film look
Inspiration from nitrate film festivals
The danger of focusing on tech over story
The joy and pain of writing movies
Defining the look: halation and grain
Creating the look in the printing process
The importance of the tonal curve
Why Chromograph doesn't support video
Showcasing a Leica M11 100-year edition
The rabbit hole of camera gear
Digital medium format and Leica SL
Hype for GTA and puzzle games
Playing Dota 2 and Steam Deck
Outro and credits
Subscription reminder
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