F-Stop Collaborate and Listen

How we talk about photography can often be wrought with controversy, hurt feelings, and leaves a lot to be desired for those seeking authentic feedback. When I came across the writings of today's guest on Episode 268 of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen podcast, Michael Rubin (or just Rubin for short), it was eye-opening for me. Rubin has created eight useful ways to describe and measure your photos I was really excited to get him onto the podcast to talk about his ideas for how to discuss photographic artwork. On this week's episode, we also discuss: Photographic Haiku, What the Zen Arts can teach us about photography, Rubin's approach to editing his photographs, Rubin's podcast, Everyday Photography, Every Day, And a lot more! Other topics discussed on the podcast this week: Workshops with Rubin. Enter the Natural Landscape Photography Awards. Support the podcast on Patreon. Here is who Rubin recommended on the podcast this week: Jerry Uelsmann. John Sexton. If you enjoyed today's episode with Rubin, you can catch our bonus episode on Patreon where we talk about Wabi Sabi - the traditional Japanese world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about. We also have an Instagram page, a Facebook Page, and a Facebook Group - so don't be shy! Did you also know we have listener after-parties on Twitter Spaces? This is a great opportunity to interact with other listeners, guests, and the host (when I can) regarding your thoughts on the episode. We also have a searchable transcript of every episode! Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week!

How our interests in life inspire our photographic journey is an important ingredient that helps forge who we are as photographers. As such, I had an awesome time talking with these week's guest on episode 267 of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen podcast about how he mixes his study of science with his passion for photography. I was joined by a photographer and astrophysicist living at the South Pole - Aman Chokshi. We also had a great co-host his week, Rajesh Jyothiswaran, who helped to set-up this conversation, which was not easy considering the logistics of internet access at the South Pole! Thanks Rajesh! On this week's episode, we also discuss: Aman's journey into photography, Travelling across India on a bicycle, Photographing Ladakh, Mixing astrophysics and photography, Aman's homemade star tracker, What it's like being a photographer at the South Pole, What is of interest as a photographer at the South Pole, And a lot more! Other topics discussed on the podcast this week: Murchison Widefield Array. Join Nature Photographer's Network. Support the podcast on Patreon. Here is who Aman recommended on the podcast this week: Vibhu Groverr. I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about. We also have an Instagram page, a Facebook Page, and a Facebook Group - so don't be shy! Did you also know we have listener after-parties on Twitter Spaces? This is a great opportunity to interact with other listeners, guests, and the host (when I can) regarding your thoughts on the episode. We also have a searchable transcript of every episode! Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week. P.S. you can also support the podcast by purchasing items through our B+H affiliate link.

The journey of a new photographer can take many paths, but it is in our early years that the foundation is developed and the direction of our work begins. As such, I had an awesome time talking with these week's guest on episode 266 of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen podcast about his journey as a new landscape photographer.  I was joined by a photographer who is relatively new to photography who has impressed me quite a bit in the way he openly and passionately talks about the craft from his position of being an amateur - Devin Rogers. Devin hails from Temecula, California and it has become apparent to me that he has a deep passion for the outdoors and that he will be a name we will be keeping an eye on for a long time. We had a great chat this week and I think you'll enjoy where we take the conversation. On this week's episode, we also discuss: How Devin has approached his development as a new photographer, Devin's thought process about the concept of art and photography, How Devin looks at his own work and other photographers' work through the lens of art, How Devin has approached developing his processing skills, The types of images that Devin enjoys creating, Why Devin feels inspired to make images that represent reality, Devin's approach to balancing full-time work with his passion for photography, And a lot more! Other topics discussed on the podcast this week: Support the show on Patreon. Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. Landscape Photographer Discord Channel.  Here is who Devin recommended on the podcast this week: Tristan Todd. Blake Randall.  On Patreon this week, Devin and I talk about why we think the wide angle grand landscape image gets a bad rap. You can listen to this bonus episode and over 190 others by joining your peers in supporting the show financially on Patreon. I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about. We also have an Instagram page, a Facebook Page, and a Facebook Group - so don't be shy! Did you also know we have listener after-parties on Twitter Spaces? This is a great opportunity to interact with other listeners, guests, and the host (when I can) regarding your thoughts on the episode. We also have a searchable transcript of every episode! Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week. P.S. you can also support the podcast by purchasing items through our B+H affiliate link.

Focusing our nature photography on the subjects we love and care about most can yield the most powerful and personal results. As such, I was thrilled to record episode 265 of the podcast due to our guest's focus on his passion for the woodland. This week on the podcast, I was joined by a legendary U.K. woodland photographer and YouTube sensation, Simon Baxter. On this week's episode, we also discuss: Simon's journey into photography and YouTube, Simon's passion for woodland photography, Balancing content creation with making photographs as a YouTuber, Handling burnout, The psychologically confusing moments when we achieve our goals, How Simon manages his full-time business in photography, Simon's new book, Gathering Time, Planting a Tree in Meg's Grove, And a lot more! Other topics discussed on the podcast this week: Support the show on Patreon. Here is who Simon recommended on the podcast this week: Sean Tucker. Joe Cornish. If you enjoyed our conversation, you can listen to 16 more minutes on our Patreon bonus episode. Simon and I talk about Meg's Grove, Trees for Life Scotland, and identifying why we love what we love as photographers. If you want to check that out, can you support the podcast on Patreon for $5/mo or $50 per year. I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about. We also have an Instagram page, a Facebook Page, and a Facebook Group - so don't be shy! Did you also know we have listener after-parties on Twitter Spaces? This is a great opportunity to interact with other listeners, guests, and the host (when I can) regarding your thoughts on the episode. We also have a searchable transcript of every episode! Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week. P.S. you can also support the podcast by purchasing items through our B+H affiliate link. Scroll down to see more of Simon's excellent photographs!

How we choose to share our work with the public for maximum impact is a topic of great interest to me.  This week on E264 of the podcast, I was joined by a photographer living in Germany, Holger Mischke.   Holger and I had what I would call a wide-ranging fire-side chat that touched on a lot of topics, including his ideas for combining music, photography, and writing in how he presents his work. I hope you enjoy this week's episode.   On this week's episode, we discuss: How music principles apply to photography, How and why Holger pairs his photography with music and writing, Holger's process for self-evaluation in the field, Printing at smaller sizes, Emotional response from our viewers,  And a lot more! Over on Patreon for our bonus episode, Holger and I talk about practicing photography without a camera - something he does every day. Other items mentioned on the show this week: 1. Join Nature Photographer's Network. 2. Support the podcast on Patreon. 3. Podcast t-shirts. Here is who Holger recommended on the podcast this week: Harold David. Michael Newler. Jeff Schwe. Huntington Witherill. I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about. We also have an Instagram page, a Facebook Page, and a Facebook Group - so don't be shy! Did you also know we have listener after-parties on Twitter Spaces? This is a great opportunity to interact with other listeners, guests, and the host (when I can) regarding your thoughts on the episode. We also have a searchable transcript of every episode! Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week. P.S. you can also support the podcast by purchasing items through our B+H affiliate link.

Curating your photography is one of the most important skills you can develop as a nature and landscape photographer. This skill helps you narrow down your work so that only the best of the best images are showcased, and helps you to develop your skills as you grow as a photographer. This week on episode 263 of the podcast, I was joined by Brent Clark, a nature photographer living in Madison, Wisconsin. We talk all about curation of your photography, including tips and tricks Brent uses to do this for his own work.  On this week's episode, we also discuss: Brent's journey into photography,  The advantages of being an amateur, The shift to more personal, intimate nature photography, Photographing in the mid-west, How to reach your audience, Stories behind two of Brent's images, And a lot more! Other topics discussed on the podcast this week: Support the show on Patreon. Podcast t-shirts. Mentoring with Matt Payne. Scientific evidence supporting that making photos strengthens our memories. Here is who Brent recommended on the podcast this week: Floris Van Breugel. Theo Bosboom. QT Luong. John Mumaw.  If you enjoyed our conversation, you can listen to 20 more minutes on our Patreon bonus episode. Brent and I talk about our strategies for trip planning and we tell some stories about things that have happened to us in the field, including a time I was shot at by someone. If you want to check that out, can you support the podcast on Patreon for $5/mo or $50 per year. I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about. We also have an Instagram page, a Facebook Page, and a Facebook Group - so don't be shy! Did you also know we have listener after-parties on Twitter Spaces? This is a great opportunity to interact with other listeners, guests, and the host (when I can) regarding your thoughts on the episode. We also have a searchable transcript of every episode! Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week. P.S. you can also support the podcast by purchasing items through our B+H affiliate link.

Photography can be a life-long pursuit that takes many shapes, sizes, and paths. On today's podcast episode, we explore the path of David Southern, a photographer living on the coast of northeast United Kingdom. David's voyage of discovery through photography started a long time ago on a trip to Chile and through a career in Information Technology with the World Wildlife Fund. Ever since I saw the images he submitted in the Natural Landscape Photography Awards, I knew David Southern would make for an interesting guest here on the podcast. On this week's episode, we discuss: David's photography journey - a voyage of discovery. David's adventures into South America. How David balanced his career in IT and his passion for photography. How David transitioned into doing photography full-time. Exploring themes in David's work. And a lot more! Other topics discussed on the podcast this week: Support the show on Patreon. The Parhelion Collective. David's book, Shoreline. Here is who David recommended on the podcast this week: Sarah Medway. Matthew Cattell. Over on Patreon, David and I have a discussion about the nuts and bolts of how he is able to get into the zone to make personally meaningful work on the coast close to home - so if you're not supporting the podcast on Patreon, and this topic is of interest to you, you might want to check it out. For just $5/mo, you can support the podcast on Patreon and gain access to hundreds of hours of bonus content. I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about. We also have an Instagram page, a Facebook Page, and a Facebook Group - so don't be shy! Did you also know we have listener after-parties on Twitter Spaces? This is a great opportunity to interact with other listeners, guests, and the host (when I can) regarding your thoughts on the episode. We also have a searchable transcript of every episode! Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week. P.S. you can also support the podcast by purchasing items through our B+H affiliate link.

Finding your why as a photographer is a noble life-long pursuit that can lead to many wonderful and satisfying years of creative exploration and output. On today's podcast, we are joined by nature photographer Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero to discuss her journey as a photographer and her pursuit of finding her why. Jeanie and I get into the weeds a bit on her past evocations, but be sure to stick through our chat as there are some valuable lessons to be gleaned from what she shares. On this week's episode, we discuss: Jeanie's wild journey in life as a software engineer, massage therapist, English teacher, and business owner; How Jeanie suffered from major burn-out in her career and how it has impacted her approach to photography; Jeanie's former business creating software for quilt-makers and how that business informs her views; Jeanie's experiences as an English teacher in Vietnam; How a tragic wild fire inspired Jeanie to work on a photography project; Jeanie's thoughts on Instagram and other social media; And a lot more! Other topics discussed on the podcast this week: Support the show on Patreon. Sign-up for 1:1 Mentoring with Matt. Brene Brown videos. Simon Sinek on Finding Your Why. Here is who Jeanie recommended on the podcast this week: Dave Showalter. Karen Hutton. Kristi Odom. Eileen Rafferty. Sean Tucker. Over on Patreon, Jeanie and I have a deep, candid, and thoughtful conversation about the dangers in comparing ourselves to others in photography including a bit of a rant about a recent article I wrote about deception - so if you're not supporting the podcast on Patreon, and this topic is of interest to you, you might want to check it out. For just $5/mo, you can support the podcast on Patreon and gain access to hundreds of hours of bonus content. I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about. We also have an Instagram page, a Facebook Page, and a Facebook Group - so don't be shy! Did you also know we have listener after-parties on Twitter Spaces? This is a great opportunity to interact with other listeners, guests, and the host (when I can) regarding your thoughts on the episode. We also have a searchable transcript of every episode! Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week. P.S. you can also support the podcast by purchasing items through our B+H affiliate link.

Welcome to episode 260 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen with your host Matt Payne.   This week I was joined by a German nature photographer, Sandra Bartocha. Sandra is the 1st Vice President of the German Society for Nature Photography, otherwise known as the GDT. She is a well-established nature photography judge, having judged several competitions, including our very own Natural Landscape Photography Awards. Sandra's photography has a unique look and feel that is difficult for me to describe to viewers, and as such, she has differentiated herself in our crowded field of nature photography - a topic we cover at great length in today's podcast.   On this week's episode we discuss: Sandra's journey into nature photography and how she has been able to create unique and compelling work, How getting involved in photography organizations can improve your work, What Sandra looks for when she judges nature photography competitions, Why people should or should not enter photography competitions, How to think about entering a photography competition, How we can differentiate ourselves as photographers, Her new book project, Rhythm of Nature (it will be on this page soon). And a lot more! Links to topics discussed on this week's show: Support the show on Patreon. Support Sandra by purchasing her new book, the Rhythm of Nature. Gary Randall & Alyce Bender Caddo Lake Workshop. Here is who Sandra recommended on the podcast this week: Emma Davies. Isabel Diez. Allesandra Meniconzi. Kaisa Siren. Valda Bailey. Over on Patreon, Sandra and I have a wonderful conversation where we examine gender and race equity in nature photography - so if you're not supporting the podcast on Patreon, and this topic is of interest to you, you might want to check it out. For just $5/mo, you can support the podcast on Patreon and gain access to hundreds of hours of bonus content.   I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about. We also have an Instagram page, a Facebook Page, and a Facebook Group - so don't be shy! Did you also know we have listener after-parties on Twitter Spaces? This is a great opportunity to interact with other listeners, guests, and the host (when I can) regarding your thoughts on the episode. We also have a searchable transcript of every episode! Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week. P.S. you can also support the podcast by purchasing items through our B+H affiliate link.

Welcome to episode 259 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen with your host Matt Payne.   This week I was joined by an Aussie landscape and nature photographer, Ben Maze. Ben is quickly becoming one of my favorite photographers as well as one of the most genuine and thoughtful members of our community. I've enjoyed many conversations with Ben on Discord and Instagram and I was so excited to finally get him onto the podcast for a chat.   On this week's episode, we discuss: Ben's introduction into photography and his choice to not attend college. Creating community for landscape photographers on Discord. Ben's shift to project-based work, like his Geomorph project. Entering Flow State in Nature Photography. Ben's thoughts on NFTs as someone who used to do them. Photographers who inspire Ben. Other topics discussed on the podcast this week: Support the podcast on Patreon. Choosing a camera. Line Goes Up - an Examination of Crypto and NFTs. Our episode on NFTs. Here is who Ben recommended on today's show Jeff Freestone. Matt Oliver. Cesar Llaneza Pablo Ruiz Garcia. I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about. We also have an Instagram page, a Facebook Page, and a Facebook Group - so don't be shy! Did you also know we have listener after-parties on Twitter Spaces? This is a great opportunity to interact with other listeners, guests, and the host (when I can) regarding your thoughts on the episode. We also have a searchable transcript of every episode! Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week. P.S. you can also support the podcast by purchasing items through our B+H affiliate link.