F-stop Collaborate And Listen

Photography can be one of the most powerful story-telling mediums that exists. Empowering at-risk or under-served youth to utilize this tool to tell their stories can result in uplifting and life-changing results. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Kirsten Elstner is the founder and director of National Geographic Photo Camp, whose mission is to work with youth from diverse communities worldwide, guiding them as they use photography to tell their own stories and develop meaningful connections with others. Since 2003, she has worked in over 35 countries and designed over 145 programs, with the intention of inspiring and encouraging young people to see the power of their own voices. On this week's episode, we discuss: What National Geographic Photo Camp is, how it was started, and what impacts it is making across the globe. How Photo Camp operates, including the selection process and funding. Advice for capturing more meaningful stories of our own. How Photo Camp looks to evolve in the

As photographers we are often trying to figure out what we should do with our photographs. Of late, it has become more popular to produce a coffee table style book to showcase our work; however, not all photography books of this style are created equal. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Alex Nail, is one of my absolute favorite landscape photographers. He authored and produced one of my favorite photography books a few years back and now he's getting ready to release his second book, The Great Wilderness. His second book was a massive undertaking involving hundreds of miles of hiking over more than four years. Alex's dedication to the craft of landscape photography is nearly unparalleled in today's environment where editing used to make up for a lack of amazing conditions has become commonplace. On this week's episode, we discuss: How Alex's opinions have gotten him into hot water over the years and how he's adapted over time. Why Alex got involved as a co-founder of the Natural Land

I recently embarked on a 35-day journey to hike the entire Colorado Trail, starting in Denver and ending in my home town of Durango. I embarked on this journey as a full-time professional landscape photographer with the hopes of capturing some incredible images and to have a transformative experience. Since returning, I've been bombarded with amazing questions about my experience and I figured why not turn this into a podcast episode!? Today's episode of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast is a little bit different! We have Brie Stockwell hosting the show and I'm in the hot seat! We collected all of your burning questions about what it was like to thru-hike all 491-miles of the Colorado Trail (via the Collegiate West route of course) as a photographer. On this week's episode, we discuss: What is the Colorado Trail and what is involved in thru-hiking it. Gear considerations for the Colorado Trail. Check out my Colorado Trail Gear Guide! Training and logistical preparation needed to do the Colorado Trail.

For many photographers, planning our photography trips can be a chore or can feel like a waste of time. That resonates with me and I rarely spend a lot of time planning my adventures because I personally have not found it to be very helpful in my success as a photographer; however, I see great value in the process and appreciate those who dedicate themselves to doing it well. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Chris Saunders, is well-respected by his peers in Australia and is producing some of the most evocative aerial work that can be found. One of the keys to his success revolves around meticulous planning and an attention to detail - something he has developed as an engineer. On this week's episode, we discuss: Chris' journey as a photographer and engineer. Starting with the end in mind before setting out to create work. Finding ways to make the mundane aspects of photography more fun. Approaches to planning photography projects. The benefits and challenges of collaboration. How to

Most photographers, including myself, only think to print on photographic paper or other traditional mediums; however, countless other mediums and formats for printing can ultimately elevate the presentation of your work. This is known as alternative printmaking and is one way in which photographers can embrace and leverage the physical attributes that prints can possess to stand out or just have fun. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Eileen Rafferty, is known as one of the leaders in the alternative printmaking world and has carved out a very cool niche for herself by teaching other photographers all about it. She's also an industry leader in creativity and has many thoughts about how photographers can get more in touch with their creative side. On this week's episode, we discuss: Eileen's journey as a photographer and artist. Getting more in touch with the creative process. Elevating your photography by focusing on ideas and the process of making images. Paths to get out of creativ

Our lives can change in the blink of an eye. One moment, we are sitting on top of the world - the best in our industry; the next - we are facing some of the most challenging times of our lives. Such is the case of this week's guest on the podcast. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Anders Spetz, found himself the victim of an excruciating car accident, having been hit by a car traveling 175 miles per hour. Anders awoke from this accident nearly unscathed physically; however, it profoundly impacted his mental health and state of mind. Through therapy and by rediscovering the power of photography, Anders made monumental changes to his life and resigned as the CEO of a chemical company. He now focuses on his family, friends, photography, and small consulting business and has a newfound appreciation for life. On this week's episode, we discuss: Anders' journey from CEO to photographer. How photography changed Anders' life. Focusing on the photographic process rather than the outcome. Usin

A lot can be gleaned by studying the photographs of the masters who came before us. After all, we are all standing on the shoulders of giants and so paying homage to those giants and recognizing their impact on our work is an important step to becoming a better photographer. As such, getting this week's guest on the podcast was an absolute honor. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Clyde Butcher, a large format black and white photographer who has made it his living photographing the chaotic swamps of the Florida Everglades. Clyde has been called the next Ansel Adams by Popular Photography magazine, awarded as a humanitarian for acting for the betterment of his community, and recognized as a conservationist for bringing issues to the forefront of public consciousness through his art. His long and illustrious career is nicely outlined over on his website. On this week's episode, we discuss: Clyde's journey as a photographer, Methods for photographing chaotic areas like the swamp, Clyde'

One of the great mysteries for artists is monetization. Two paths of monetization often overlooked include print on demand services and art licensing. Each can represent a large amount of income if leveraged well, yet so many of us have not cracked the code to be able to do so. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Cat Coquillette, has mastered the art of art licensing and selling via print on demand. While Cat's not a landscape photographer, she has invaluable wisdom and provides us with a huge amount of information and inspiration to go forth and prosper. Her artwork is on products in Target, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and more. On this week's episode, we discuss: Cat's journey as an artist what led her to where she's at now. Transitioning from a full-time job into a full-time hustle. Print on demand platforms and how to use them. Making a living by licensing artwork. The nuts and bolts of art licensing. What inspires Cat's artwork. Artist retreats. Cat's online classes for creat

Cape Cod isn't exactly known as a landscape photography destination, at least not in the circles I run in; however, I do think that it has incredible photographic potential. This potential is best tapped into by a local expert; someone with extensive knowledge of place with a real connection to the area. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Betty Wiley is perhaps the single photographer people think of when it comes to being an expert on Cape Cod. She has been photographing it extensively since 2006 when she moved there and hasn't looked back. Her images are used by several local publications, where she has found a great deal of success. On this week's episode, we discuss: How Betty got into photography and how her love affair with Cape Cod developed. Including man-made objects and people in our landscape photographs. Why Betty has become so in love with photographing lighthouses. How and why editing is important in our landscape photography. Managing expectations in the field. Planning

The importance of developing a cohesive portfolio cannot be understated for landscape photography. It is quite possible one of the most challenging things we face in order to showcase our work and to develop as artists. It can lead to better presentation of our work and a more well-rounded collection of images. Additionally, it is the corner-stone for the development of any print or book project. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, William Neill, is a legend in the landscape photography world. Having worked worked at the Ansel Adams Gallery in the 1980's, William's work is prolific. He has been a writer for Outdoor Photography Magazine for over 20 years, he has published over 10 books, and is widely seen as one of the foremost experts on photographing Yosemite National Park. On this week's episode, we discuss: How working for Ansel Adams influenced William's career. Minor White's influence on William's approach to making images. The impetus behind William's new book, Yosemite: Sanctuar

Telling important stories about the struggles that occur through the coexistence of wildlife and humanity is no easy task, yet it is of tremendous importance, especially today. Telling the stories can bridge the gaps between groups that disagree on handling these delicate situations while shedding light on potential solutions that may meet the values that coexist in both groups of people. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Morgan Heim, is a master at telling such stories about wildlife and human interaction. She founded Neon Raven Story Labs, a storytelling and strategy platform for conservation, and in 2020 co-launched Her Wild Vision Initiative to raise the voices of diverse women in the craft of conservation visual storytelling. On this week's episode, we discuss: How Morgan got into conservation photography and wildlife photojournalism. Telling the stories about conservation that are close to home. The coexistence of wildlife and man and telling the stories about those intersectio

For some photographers, the goal of photography transcends capturing pretty moments of pretty things. While there's nothing wrong with this approach, it can begin to feel repetitive and lacking purpose for some. As such, finding ways to have our photography be about more, have more impact, and ultimately make the world a better place is the next step in the journey. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Paul Hoelen, is well known for his evocative and beautiful aerial photography from Australia and Tasmania, having won the inaugural Natural Landscape Photography Awards Aerial Prize. What's not as well known about Paul are his incredible personal projects that he focuses a lot of energy and passion into.  On this week's episode, we discuss: How Paul got his start in photography. How Paul's background in wilderness therapy informed his photography journey. Instilling meaning and purpose into our photography pursuits. Making the world a better place through photography. Paul's Men With Hear

There are many parallels between the photographic journey and psychology. In college, one of my favorite books was "Man's Search for Meaning," by Viktor Frankl. In this book, Frankl outlines the horrors of living in a Nazi concentration camp, but most notably he showcases how he was able to find meaning even through that existence. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Sean Tucker, is well-known for his thought-provoking YouTube videos that take on a more philosophical approach with the goal of helping creatives find meaning through their work. Sean blends his passion for the creative arts and photography with psychological research and philosophy to help provide viewers with fantastic insight into the creative journey, ultimately leading to a better experience behind the lens. On this week's episode, we discuss: How Sean got started making his inspirational videos. Sean's video, The Two Halves of the Creative Journey. Sean's video, Creating Space for New Ideas. Sean's book The Meaning i

Great photographs are hiding in plain sight everywhere. Often, we limit ourselves to only making photographs of the literal or obvious; however, there are techniques that exist such as Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) that can help us uncover more while invigorating our photographic journey. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Kaisa Siren, is a photojournalist by day and an ICM expert as her passion. We explore how ICM can help photographers "Visualize the Unseen." On this week's episode, we discuss: How Kaisa got into photography. What it is like being a photographer at the arctic circle. Kaisa's freelance journalism. Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) techniques. Comparing and contrasting ICM with photojournalism. How to make better ICM images. And a lot more! Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week: Join me on Nature Photographer's Network and use the code FSTOP10 for a 10% discount. Support the podcast on Patreon. ICM Photo Magazine. ICM PhotoMag Network. Watch podca

As photographers, we learn a lot from graphic designers and those trained formally in the visual arts. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Hans Gunnar Aslaksen, has such training and uses it to create incredibly interesting and visually pleasing photographs of nature and the landscape. On this week's episode, we discuss: How Hans got into photography. How Hans leverages his background in visual communication and design to improve his photography. The key principles of design you can use to improve your nature and landscape photography, including color theory, the use of complimentary colors, and more. Using negative space in your images. Ways to improve composition. Processing tips. Transitioning to smaller scenes for a more personal journey. Infusing our personality into our photography. And a lot more! If you enjoyed our conversation, you can listen to our bonus episode on Patreon where Hans and I discuss the challenges of creating your own unique work without copying others. Other

Mixing family and photography isn't always easy.  Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Dorin Bofan, recently became a new father and has been grappling with the realities of spending less time in the field as a landscape photographer. Dorin is based in Romania, deep in the heart of Transylvania, and makes personally-expressive images of his home country.  On this week's episode, we discuss: How Dorin got into photography. What it is like living in Transylvania as a landscape photographer. Dorin's approach to making more personally-expressive images. The differences between documentary photography and nature photography. Why Dorin makes photographs. Balancing family and photography. Living a more sustainable lifestyle as a photographer. The way in which Dorin organizes his work on his website. And a lot more! If you enjoyed our conversation, you can listen to our bonus episode on Patreon where Dorin and I discuss his adventure of running an entire mountain range in 25 hours. Other topic

Legacy. Meaning. Fulfillment. In the end, these are all things most artists seek. When I think about my own photography, I would happily trade all the likes and follows on social media to be known for something I'm proud of.  Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Bruce Barnbaum, has over fifty years of photography under his belt and has recently undertook the process of revisiting his legacy and his work in the hopes of producing a book showcasing never-before seen images captured along his illustrious career. Having studied under Ansel Adams himself, Bruce is a well-known print-maker and book author, having sold over 100,000 copies of his book, The Art of Photography. On this week's episode, we discuss: How Bruce began his journey in photography all the way back in the 1960's. The importance of conservation efforts and how they have guided Bruce's work. How Bruce incorporated music into his early books. Bruce's approach to composition. Bruce's upcoming book project which will be a retro

For many, a trip to Antarctica is at the top of our bucket lists. For nature and landscape photographers, Antarctica is a dream destination. Images of blizzards, icebergs, penguins, whales, seals, and incredibly landscapes are conjured; however, planning a trip there can be quite challenging and daunting. This week on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, I sat down with two Muench Workshops Pros, including Richard Bernabe and Marc Muench to talk all about our experiences in getting to and photographing the incredible continent of Antarctica.  On this week's episode, we discuss: What the experience of Antarctica is like for a nature and landscape photographer. What to expect from a trip to Antarctica. How to get to Antarctica. What it is like to cross the Drake Passage on a boat. How to make good photographs in Antarctica. How to deal with cold weather in Antarctica. What kind of wildlife one can expect while in Antarctica. Pro tips on making the most of your trip to Antarctica. And a lot more! Other to

Photography has the ability to heal. It can help us process grief, learn to be better humans, and grow a wonderful relationship with nature. Mentorship with a caring mentor can help us to develop these benefits, and this one of the reasons this week's guest of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Xuan-Hui Ng, has been able to make such evocative and interesting work. On this week's episode, we discuss: How Xuan got her start in photography. How Xuan has rediscovered herself by photographing the landscapes of Japan. How photography has become a vehicle to help her process grief. How she is able to photograph ephemeral moments. Learning about the landscapes of Japan. Xuan's secrets to launching her successful career in photography. How nature photography has enhanced her life. How Xuan works in projects. The power of mentorship and how it helped her elevate her work. And a lot more! Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week: Support the podcast on Patreon. My article about Xuan in On Landscap

Chasing the Aurora Borealis is a dream for many photographers and a dream come true for those who can successfully do it. Of course, not all of us have the luxury of living in an area where it can be done with relative ease, so when we travel to locations where it is possible, we want to maximize our chances at seeing and photographing incredible solar storms. Today's guest on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Adrien Mauduit, has become an expert at chasing the Aurora and joined us to talk all about his workflows for maximizing success and fully understanding all of the variables that go into a successful Aurora chase. On this week's episode, we discuss: How Adrien got obsessed with photographing and filming the Aurora. Adrien's Aurora chasing workflow. Planning trips to photograph the Aurora. Debunking common myths and misconceptions about the Aurora, including the KP Index. Running a business solely dedicated to photographing and filming the Aurora. Advice for young photographers looking to make