The Paris Chong Show

Paris Chong and acclaimed photographer Mark Edward Harris share a candid, lighthearted detour into the personal side of life as they discuss relationships, dating dynamics, and the secrets to defying the aging process. From navigating age gaps in dating to sharing a laugh over the "Dorian Gray effect," the two explore the humorous and relatable realities of growing older while staying tr...

Paris Chong welcomes acclaimed travel and documentary photographer Mark Edward Harris to discuss his extensive career and global adventures. With a background rooted in documentary history, Mark shares his journey from starting out with stills for *The Merv Griffin Show* to photographing in over 100 countries across all seven continents. The conversation highlights his acclaimed work, particularly...

Lee Kaplan shares heartwarming memories of the late Diane Keaton, highlighting her unique spirit and her status as a devoted patron of independent bookstores. He recalls a curious anecdote about Keaton window-shopping at his former location—a behavior he notes was shared by the great painter Richard Diebenkorn—offering a glimpse into her idiosyncratic charm. The conversation then shifts to the cor...

Lee Kaplan and host Paris Chong discuss the realities of running a long-term business, with Lee candidly describing the transition from the thrill of the hunt for rare books to the daily "grind" of operations. The conversation shifts to the history of Arcana Books’ home within the iconic Helms Bakery complex, which Lee reveals was built for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. They explore the...

Paris Chong chats with Lee Kaplan, the owner of Arcana Books, about the evolution of the independent bookselling scene in Los Angeles. Lee shares the story behind starting his iconic store in 1984, operating initially from a small one-bedroom apartment in Westwood, and explains the strategic reasoning behind choosing the name "Arcana" to stand out in the pre-internet Yellow Pages. Throug...

Paris Chong sits down with Lee Kaplan, the owner of Arcana Books and a former fixture at the legendary Rhino Records. Kaplan shares his memories from 1975, when he served as one of the record store's original employees during its pre-label era, and details his role in scouting rare imports of creative improvised music, free jazz, and Jamaican reggae. Beyond his music industry roots, Kaplan ref...

Paris Chong welcomes Lee Kaplan, owner of the long-lived Arcana Books in Culver City, a destination known for its vast selection of visually-driven material, including modern and contemporary art, photography, music, and fashion. Kaplan discusses his eclectic background, revealing he was a musician and visual artist before opening his store. Notably, he was one of the original three employees at R...

Photographer Olaf Heine recounts his incredible experience photographing an 80-foot swell at Jaws in the winter of 2024, describing the atmosphere as "an army going out there into war" due to the seismic power of the ocean, which he notes is also what drives big wave surfer Laird Hamilton, who is featured on the book's cover. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Olaf Heine https:...

Photographer Olaf Heine justifies his powerful decision to shoot Hawaii in black and white, explaining that the monochromatic aesthetic is more "pure and reduced" and timeless, allowing him to focus on the islands' volcanic, harsh, and rugged origins rather than the distracting colors of golden beaches and sunsets. He chose black and white to capture the full spectrum of Hawaii's...

Olaf Heine emphasizes that in Hawaii, daily life revolves around the ocean and the sun, with people rising and going to bed with the sun, and the sea defining everyone from local fishermen and surfers to tourists. He describes the ocean as the true "architect" of the islands, constantly shaping them by taking away and rebuilding the land, and this central role of the ocean is the primary...

Photographer Olaf Heine and host Paris Chong explore the core of Hawaiian culture by discussing the Aloha Spirit, which Olaf defines as a philosophy of unity, solidarity, and open-hearted living, rather than just a greeting. Olaf explains that these principles and codes were developed by the Polynesians to survive on small islands, a contrast to his native, crowded Europe, and these foundational v...

The Paris Chong Show welcomes renowned German photographer Olaf Heine, known for his rich portraits of artists, musicians, and athletes, to discuss his latest book focused on Hawaii. The book is being celebrated alongside his current exhibition running at Leica Gallery LA from Thursday through June 1st. Heine’s new work features personalities like famous surfer Laird Hamilton and captures the isla...

Greg Gorman recalls meeting the producer and director of *My Octopus Teacher* and becoming great friends with her after flipping out over the movie, which convinced him to stop eating octopus. He notes that he met many "extraordinary" and "fascinating photographers" while out of the insular Hollywood world, and he has stayed in touch with most of them. Show Clip from The Paris...

Greg Gorman recalled that Andy Warhol called him after signing a deal with Ford Modeling. Warhol, who had a stutter, asked Gorman if he thought LAI works would hire him for an ad. Gorman shot the resulting pictures, and he considers that image one of his most significant pieces of commercial work Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Greg Gorman https://youtu.be/5fEyOXb3Of0 https://www.theparis...

Legendary photographer Greg Gorman gives a peek into his personal life, discussing his love for mixing unconventional dinner guests like Heidi Fleiss and David Bowie, his commitment to catch-and-release fishing, and how he now focuses on teaching a master thesis course at SVA and selling prints for his main income. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Greg Gorman https://youtu.be/5fEyOXb3Of0 h...

Legendary photographer Greg Gorman shares his philosophy on capturing genuine portraits, prioritizing spontaneity and subjects who don't take themselves too seriously. He discusses his shift away from commercial work after 2006, explaining that digital photography allowed clients to cheaply replicate his "look" and diminished the focus on capturing a person's "soul". Go...

Celebrated photographer Greg Gorman sits down with Paris Chong to discuss his current work, which includes an unannounced two-volume set of books dedicated to David Bowie and Grace Jones, both of whom he photographed for many years. He also shares that he, Matthew Ralston, and Herb Ritts are planning an upcoming project and book with Fahey Klein Gallery, stemming from their time in the "Schoo...

Mitch Stringer and gallery owner Paris Chong discuss the key to a successful career in photography: having a unique vision and style that makes your work stand out, not just technical skill. Paris shares details about her upcoming "Leica Emerging" show, which will feature eight young artists under 30. The two also exchange stories about Los Angeles, including Mitch's time living near...

Paris Chong and Mitch Stringer talk about the 'secret' to good photography, naming master photographers like Greg Gorman and Manfred Bauman who make everyone look their best. Paris opens up about her personal shyness and her unique experience with nude photography by Sylvie Blum. The conversation takes a relatable turn, discussing how endless Zoom calls have made everyone their own worst c...

Paris Chong recounts a deeply unnerving experience after receiving a "prettiest invitation" from a crematory and shares a lighter moment of relief thanks to AAA coming to her rescue during a car key incident. The discussion then shifts to Mitch Stringer's new creative venture: gathering images for a captivating new book focused on African wildlife, touching upon his travels and the i...

Paris Chong and Mitch Stringer dive into the world of social media, discussing how COVID-19 forced Paris onto Instagram and how Mitch uses the platform as a pure photographic outlet. They explore the challenges of social media algorithms and the potential of new, photography-focused platforms like Iris, created by Alan Shaller. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Mitch Stringer https://youtu....

Paris Chong welcomes photographer and fellow podcaster, Mitch Stringer! The episode kicks off with a fun story about how the two met in New York City at the Leica 100-year anniversary event—a chaotic yet memorable block party where Mitch briefly served as the opening act for a swarming crowd, immediately followed by Jason Momoa. They quickly dive into their shared experience as podcast hosts, disc...

Paris Chong and Ray Barbee bond over the bittersweet reality of post-pandemic travel, despite their busy schedules. Paris shares her upcoming plans to travel to Athens, Greece, and then to Wetzler for an international gallerist meeting, admitting that she actually prefers staying home with her dog and kid. Ray Barbee echoes this sentiment, agreeing that the pandemic "spoiled" them both,...

Legendary skateboarder Ray Barbee describes the two distinct periods of "confusion" in his early career: the "comfortably confused" phase of success, sponsorships, and traveling the world, and the "uncomfortably confused" phase that followed, where the unwanted adoration and celebrity status left him feeling deeply unfulfilled and conflicted. He shares how this emotio...

Ray Barbee tells the engaging story of how he got his first skateboard, which was a hand-me-down from his friend Danny's dad, who grew up in the 70s park era of skateboarding. He describes the board—a vast improvement over the "banana boards" he'd seen—as the key that unlocked a new culture for him. This new board gave Ray and Danny the confidence to approach the "cool kids,...