All posts by John Pedersen

Happy Holidays 2021

December 21, 2021PhotographyJohn Pedersen

Here is the holiday edition of We Talk Photo. No big guests, no hot topics….just a little time by the fire with Jack and John talking about the year just past, what we’re grateful for, some last minute gift ideas as well as a reminder about some exciting workshops they have together in 2022 and 2023. Grab a glass of your favorite beverage and sit down with Jack and John to have a cozy conversation.

From everyone at the We Talk Photo family, we would like to wish you and yours a very Happy Holidays for 2021 and a Happy New Year. Thank you for tuning in to the podcast and supporting it with your ideas and energy.

Jack graham and john pedersen in the forest

The We Talk Photo podcast is dedicated to being an entertaining, informative and lighthearted discussion about a wide range of photographic topics centered around landscape and nature photography. Hosted by Jack Graham and John Pedersen, long time industry professionals, they will bring you in to their conversations about gear, recent trends, insightful interviews with industry leaders as well as entertaining stories from their collective experience in the photography business.

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Interview with Peter Lerro

December 13, 2021UncategorizedJohn Pedersen

Jack and John welcome Peter Lerro to the show. Peter is an fantastic workshop experience leader who is known for his thorough preparation and execution on the photo experiences he organizes. Steam locomotives, WWII, lighthouses and even air to air photo shoots, Peter aims to set the stage for realistic period correct photos for his clients.

Pete Lerro III is a college graduate of Temple University in Pennsylvania where he studied video audio and photography. Lerro is currently a full-time professional photographer and owner at Lerro Photography. When Lerro is not on assignment, he organizes photo workshops across the country and more. His photography expertise includes family, portraits, commercials, products, landscapes, wedding and sports. Throughout his career he has shot for many major establishments including the Department of Homeland Security, NFL, NBA, NHL, USA Gymnastics, IRL and Spartan Race.

Lerro’s photo workshops offer a wide variety of informative experience. With these unique kinds of workshops, guests can expect special access, private photo sessions, and a night of professional photography seminars. Imagine sitting in a guided tour dated back to the early 1940’s, World War II props and actors surrounding you, watching photographers capture the enlightened pioneer era specializing in portraits and human interests.

Peters Website: https://www.lerrophotography.com

Air to Air Photo Shoot Video: WATCH HERE

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Interview with Billy Weeks

November 23, 2021PhotographyJohn Pedersen

Jack and John welcome Billy Weeks to the show. Billy is best known as a documentary photographer and is currently a Lecturer of photojournalism at the University of Tennesee at Chattanooga. Billy has had a long career observing and capturing the world around us and bringing his unique vision to his viewers. Join us as we discuss his career and what it is like being a documentary photographer.

Billys Website: https://www.billyweeks.com/index

Tedx Talk with Billy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecTqOVfKkk

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Interview with Kevin McNeal

November 9, 2021UncategorizedJohn Pedersen

Jack and John welcome Kevin McNeal to the show. Kevin is known for his dramatic landscapes, use of color and never-stop attitude for pursuing compelling images. Listen in as we talk with Kevin about his recent travels around the globe and his philosophy for how he approaches his art.

Kevin McNeal is a Washington St. photographer focusing on grand colorful landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Kevin McNeal bio picture Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this on print, images behold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture the images in ways unseen before. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey. Traveling all over North America with his wife by his side, shooting diverse landscapes and finding remote places to bring the message to the public that this Earth is worth saving. His award winning images can be seen in galleries and showings across the United States, and was recently selected to the Art Wolfe Art Gallery for the Environmental Photography Invitational. As well Kevin was the grand winner of the Landscape category for the Natures Best Magazine and was selected for the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington D.C..

Artist Statement

“ I believe that the Earth shares secrets with us that only can be discovered by trying to understand our position on this planet. We are never fully intimate with the planet but are given brief moments that make our souls want more. These glimpses of nature’s power are fleeting and never the same twice. I also believe it is important to share with those who want it. The treasures that await us given the patience that is out there. What I try to do is bring some of that magic to my images to share with the rest of the world. Each of my images tells a story that everyone can relate to in some way whether is was success, fear, or challenging oneself to overcome obstacles

Kevins Website: https://www.kevinmcnealphotography.com

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Interview with Alister Benn

October 18, 2021UncategorizedJohn Pedersen

Jack and John are honored to welcome Alister Benn to the show. Alister is regarded as one of the leaders in the landscape photography genre with his expressive and introspective work. His latest efforts have been focused around teaching others via videos and book. He was recently named a Fellow at the Royal Photographic Society, which is quite an honor and puts him in the company of many photographic luminaries.

Alisters Bio:

Scottish born Alister Benn is an award winning Landscape Photographer and founder of Expressive Photography Limited.

His passion for individual creativity and expression make him an enthusiastic instructor and someone who wants everyone to have the confidence to express their own unique voice.

“It is unfortunate that in these days of popularity and social media, that many of us have lost the pure basic reason why we started making landscape photographs in the first place – to be outside, engaging with nature.”

Alister is a strong advocate of engaging with the landscape in an organic way, unrestrained by conventions, rules or the pressure of external validation.

Alisters Website: https://alisterbenn.com

Expressive Photography Website: https://expressive.photography

Outofdarkness Website: https://outofdarkness.co.uk

We Talk Photo Listener Discount Code: WETALK25

(Enter during checkout on Alisters site)

The We Talk Photo podcast is dedicated to being an entertaining, informative and lighthearted discussion about a wide range of photographic topics centered around landscape and nature photography. Hosted by Jack Graham and John Pedersen, long time industry professionals, they will bring you in to their conversations about the creative process and mindsets of those artists who are pursuing their passion for visual imagery.

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Interview with Cody Schultz

October 4, 2021PhotographyJohn Pedersen

Jack and John kick off a new series on We Talk Photo where we bring on guests who you may have not heard of, and introduce them to our audience. Meant as a way to bring some exposure to up and coming artists, we hope that this feature episode will bring some interest as well as creative sparks to you, our faithful listener.

On this episode, we bring Cody Schultz to the program. Cody is a 23 year old college senior studying Elementary Education. When he picked up a camera, he quickly learned the technical aspects of photography and then went in search of more satisfying methods for creating art. He is currently pursuing monochrome photographs using a 4×5 film camera.

Artist Statement

I believe my work was best described by a fellow photographer when he called it, “poetry for the soul.” Over the course of my career as an artist, I have tried my best to reveal to my audience a side of nature that may often be ignored, that is not typically photographed by the masses. Intimacies found in nature tend to tell the best stories and, as my personal taste in art has evolved, I have begun trying to find these stories more and more. Stories of isolation, of perseverance, all found in nature. These are what speak to me as an artist, and I strive to reveal them with my own twist. Not only are my pieces meant to tell a story, they are also meant to be printed large and shown in galleries, homes, and offices alike. For this reason, I spend countless hours with each piece, making sure it is exactly how it is meant to be, of the highest quality, before releasing it to the public.

Codys Website: www.codyschultz.com

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Interview with Colleen Miniuk

September 15, 2021PhotographyJohn Pedersen

Jack and John welcome Colleen Miniuk to the show. High energy and outstanding creativity are the hallmarks of Colleen. She is first and foremost a fantastic photographer, plus an incredible educator and well published author. She joins the guys on the program to talk about her recently updated book, Photographing Acadia National Park. Give this upbeat and engaging podcast a listen!

Colleen Bio:

I’m a Corporate-America-escapee turned full-time freelance outdoor photographer, writer, publisher, instructor, and motivational speaker, supporting a wide range of assignments for editorial and commercial clients. Specializing in nature and outdoor recreation, my purpose as an outdoor communicator is to inspire and help others enjoy the Great Outdoors.

My publication credits include National Geographic calendars, Arizona Highways, AAA VIA, On Landscape, National Parks Traveler, Extraordinary Vision, The Smoky Mountain Journal of Photography, Smith-Southwestern calendars, and a broad variety of other publications.

In hopes of encouraging others to enjoy the Great Outdoors, I have authored the award-winning guidebooks, Wild in Arizona: Photographing Arizona’s Wildflowers, A Guide to When, Where, & How (1st and 2nd editions). I also authored the instructional eBook, Seeing the Light in Outdoor Photography and acted as the publisher and editor for Wild in Arizona: Photographing Arizona’s Wildlife, A Guide to When, Where, & How. I hope to publish my first memoir/travel adventure story, Going with the Flow, in addition to other photography-related titles, in 2020.

I have also served three times as an Artist-in-Residence with Acadia National Park (November 2010, October 2011, and January 2013) which enabled me to author the award-winning guidebook, Photographing Acadia National Park: The Essential Guide to When, Where, and How.

Colleens Website: http://www.cms-photo.com

Dear Bubbles Blog: http://dearbubbles.com

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Interview with Guy Tal

August 31, 2021PhotographyJohn Pedersen

Jack & John welcome one of the most exciting and insightful creators, artist, photographer and writers today, Guy Tal. Guy has produced an incredibly amazing body of work, both visually and written about photography and life. Guy is one of the most vivid and introspective thinkers who has an innate ability to transfer his thoughts to the photograph or written page.

Guy recently released his latest book, titled Another Day Not Wasted.In this latest podcast, we discuss this book with Guy as well as his philosophy on many different subjects. It’s an always-engaging discussion when Guy visits the show!

Book by Guy Tal

Reflecting on his years after leaving a lucrative but unsatisfying career to become a full-time creative photographer, writer, and wilderness explorer, Guy Tal shares with readers some of the experiences and lessons that marked his journey. Building on the success of his earlier book, More Than A Rock, Guy offers readers yet deeper insights into his life as an independent artist, his thoughts about photography as a form of art and as a means to a richer and more rewarding life, and his intimate relationship with nature and with his beloved desert – The Colorado Plateau.

Visit Guys Website – www.guytal.com

Purchase Another Day Not Wasted

On Guys Site: HERE

On Amazon: HERE

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Drone Photography

August 23, 2021PhotographyJohn Pedersen

Jack and John welcome Bill Fortney to the show to talk about drones and drone photography. They have been exploring the use of drones for the past several months/years in their photography and in this episode talk about how the use of an aerial platform has increased their range of photographic possibilities as well as how drone photography has influenced their land-based photography.

Bill/Jack Drone Article: https://jackgrahamphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/DRONES_FINALv4.pdf

Bills Website: https://billfortney.com

Jacks Website: https://jackgrahamphoto.com

Johns Website: https://johnpedersenphoto.com

FROM BILL: “This tree was a special circumstance; I was out after a pretty snow and saw a tree way out in a field and wanted to shoot it, but it was behind a fence and way out in the field. I did not have my longer telephoto lens with me and then it dawned on me I could fly out to it!!! I flew the drone out across the field and then adjusted my altitude to get the composition and background I wanted and then shot it! I converted the shot to monochrome in post and my feet were dry! I didn’t have to climb the fence and then walk onto private property, and I got the shot!!!”

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Jack and John are Back

August 10, 2021UncategorizedJohn Pedersen

It had been a while since Jack and John recorded a podcast….from their busy schedules to a tree demolishing Johns house, it has been a bit of a journey since they last recorded. In this episode they discuss topics related to photography, life and just “being”. Check out the episode to learn what has been going on with them and what they have coming up in the future.