Jack and John talk with our good friend Dimitri Vasileiou, the founder and publisher of Landscape Photography Magazine.   Listen in as we talk about the photo magazine business as well as many photo related topics.  A lively discussion amidst the pandemic and how that has impact photography in general as well as the popularity of Landscape Photography Magazine as people are home much more than usual.

Dimitris Bio

I was born in Greece but moved to Scotland in 1997. Coming from a warm climate, my first impressions were how wet this country was! Needless to say that my first impression of Scotland simply being one big puddle of dampness evaporated like dew drops in the morning sun, as soon as I started visiting the highlands. I was totally overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of Northern Scotland and this, in return, led me to rediscover my fascination with photography.

Like many other photographers I realised that, after starting a family I no longer had the time needed to devote to photography, but this eventually began to change as my children grew up. After falling in love with the Scottish countryside, I bought myself my first SLR film camera and this is where it all began.

What is it that I like so much about taking pictures of natural landscapes? I like the feeling of being humbled by the beauty and majesty of locations. I also love the quality of natural light as it touches every part of a scene, especially during the so called ‘Golden hours’ and the challenge Scotland’s weather can throw by my feet. Do I have a favourite location? Not really; I am happy to be wherever there is beauty and beauty can be found all around me.

In 2011 I founded Landscape Photography Magazine. I am the editor and currently writing articles every month for the publication.

Website: https://landscapephotographymagazine.com

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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Jack and John welcome Justin Black to the program.  Listen in as they discuss photography, conservation and a few funny stories along the way.

Justin Black is a photographer, writer, and explorer from Washington, DC. A leader in his field, his photographs of the world’s high and wild places have been published widely and featured in numerous exhibitions around the U.S. and abroad, from the UK and Germany to Los Angeles and the United States Capitol. Several exhibitions of his work have been hosted at Mountain Light Gallery in California, founded by world-renowned adventure photographer Galen Rowell. A Fellow of the International League of Conservation Writers (ILCW), and formerly executive director of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), Black has contributed photography and writing in support of conservation campaigns to protect threatened landscapes and ecosystems from British Columbia to Brazil, and from California’s Sierra Nevada to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, in collaboration with leading conservation organizations.

Artist Statement

My photography is all about looking into the world, honoring, and sharing; recognizing the importance of or assigning importance to the content that I choose to place within the frame, and sharing my personal experience, vision, and perspective with other humans. I am interested in the interconnectedness, and ultimately the inseparability, of wild nature and that minuscule, almost insignificant portion of the universe that has experienced the presence of humanity, and is therefore variously considered altered, civilized, degraded, developed, exploited, monetized, and transformed. Its profound importance stems from the fact that it is likely to be the only home that we as a species, and all the rest of life on Earth, will ever have.

The human factor is critically important to me. In this age of drones, camera traps, and other remote imaging devices, my job as a photographer behind the camera is, in part, to give a picture soul. That is to say, “I’m like you, I was there, and this is my personal experience.” As today’s ubiquitous digital media feeds us images at a breakneck pace, with the expectation that we will ingest innumerable small, low-quality images and quickly move on, I have intentionally made pictures that invite the viewer to slow down and spend time with them, discovering unexpected elements that reveal themselves only in due course. As such, I have used large format film and high resolution digital cameras to produce finely detailed photographs, printed at a large scale using museum-grade techniques and materials. This approach leverages photography’s greatest strengths: to permit over time the inspection and interrogation of frozen fleeting moments in our world, and to enable us to explore the passage of time within a static image.

I invite the viewer to join me on a journey of exploration at scales large and small, in an effort to share unique ways of looking at landscapes, ecosystems, animals, natural phenomena, human activity, and aesthetic relationships in the world, whether or not the viewer has the opportunity, or indeed the inclination, to experience them on their own. If my work opens anyone’s eyes, then I consider it to have succeeded.

Justins Website:  https://justinblackphoto.com/

Visionary Wild Website:  https://visionarywild.com

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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Jack and John talk with Josh Lutz, President of Magnachrome Inc, one of the leading manufacturers of metal prints.  Magnachrome is very unique in that besides printing images on metal, they also offer an outstanding selection of metal frames to mount the metal prints in.  If you haven’t seen one of these metal frames, you owe it to yourself.   Listen in as we dive in to the hows and whys of metal printing technologiy.

We Talk Photo Listener Discounts / Offers

20% Discount Code: 20Graham

Website: https://magnachrome.com

josh@magnachrome.com

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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John and Jack welcome back Chris Klapheke, owner, of Outdoorphotogear.com.  In this episode Chris shares some of his insights as a retailer during the pandemic and gives some thoughtful insight around photography.

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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John and Jack welcome Marc Sadowski from the Fujilove Podcast.  Marc is an accomplished photographer, focusing on weddings and couples for much of his creative work, and, he also enjoys getting outside to photograph the landscape and nature whenever possible.

If you are into Fujifilm X / GFX cameras and lenses, make sure you are subscribed to the FujiLove Podcast for interviews with Fujifilm X-Photographers, photography discussions, assignments, Fujifilm related news and more.

Fujilove Podcast: https://fujilove.com/fuji-love-podcast/

Fujilove Magazine: http://www.fujilovemag.com/

IG: marcsadowski

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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Jack and John welcome an accomplished photographer, musician, artist and all-around great guy to the program, John Barclay.  John leads workshops in the US and abroad and has new-found inspiration practicing mindful photography to capture more of what he feels in each image.  Listen to this engaging and though provoking podcast.

Johns Artist Statement

I always created images, but I was never “a photographer.”  I told myself I wasn’t creative.  I wasn’t artistic.  My stick figures were failures.  But I had this new camera and I wanted to learn how to use it.  On the first night of my first photo workshop, I stared in awe at the images shared by the group.  The dream of being a “good” photographer was born.  I sought out great photographers like Dan Sniffin, Tony Sweet and Nancy Rotenberg and I emulated them, listened to them, and learned from them.  But I became a photographer in my own right when Nancy forbade me to look through anyone else’s viewfinder for the entire duration of an epic trip to Africa.  “Follow YOUR vision,” she said, “and make the pictures that only you can see.”  Doubtful, but willing, I began looking for the images that spoke directly to me, that pulled my eye or aroused my imagination.  I looked for connection, and found my photographer self.

I created my program “Dream • Believe • Create” to reflect my artistic journey.  I began my journey with few skills, but aspired to be better.  I watched and learned, gained a bit of confidence, and then began to see photography not only as a reflection of the world around me, but also as the representation of the reality inside me. My photographic journey freed me to create what was uniquely mine. Being genuinely aware of the beauty around me as I look through my lens feeds my soul and brings me great joy.  I encourage the participants in my workshops to share that journey and discover the artist residing inside each of them.

Johns Website:  https://johnbarclayphotography.com

Article Jack mentioned about “Knowing your Ax”  https://jackgrahamphoto.com/2011/06/20/practicing-know-your-ax-perfecting-your-skills-never-stop-fine-tuning/

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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It is once again our pleasure to welcome Guy Tal to the show.  Guy continues to challenge himself and others in how we approach our craft of photography, or artwork in general.   Guy if one of the best photographers and writers in our field today as well as being one of the most well-versed people you will ever have the pleasure of listening to.  And, he is one heck of a nice guy!

Guy has recently released a 2nd edition of his fantastic book, More Than A Rock and he discusses the new content as well as the underlying premises for the book in this podcast episode.  We touch on each of the 4 sections of this book as well as having Guy read excerpts from the new content.

If you haven’t read this book yet, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy and read it several times.  There is so much good content and intricate thinking that you’ll probably need to read it 2-3 times to feel the full weight of his writings.

The book is available through Rocky Nook HERE

For the podcast listeners, Rocky Nook has offered a 35% discount.  Simply enter the code GUYTAL35 at checkout.

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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On this episode we have one of the hardest working guys in the photo biz, Mr Michael Gordon.  Michael joins Jack and John to talk about his photographic journey and his approach to photography today.   Give a listen and check out Michaels website and photo workshops.

Michaels Bio

Michael E. Gordon is an award-winning fine art landscape photographer best known for his black and white impressions of California’s deserts which, said Broughton Quarterly, portrays “stunning ethereal beauty from terrain where others see only a bleak landscape.” A lifelong student of nature and wilderness, Michael’s intimate relationship with the natural world yields quiet images of depth and discovery.

Michael’s photographs have been published in and on the covers of numerous magazines, web publications, calendars, and academic textbooks. His fine art prints are held internationally in the private collections of the United States Embassy, Kaiser Permanente; Milken Family Foundation; The Wilderness Society, and many others. Publications and clients include Medium Format magazine; On Landscape; SHOTS magazine; Arte Fotográfico; Backpacker; B+W Photography (UK); View Cameramagazine; Rangefinder magazine; Broughton Quarterly; Defenders magazine; The Wilderness Society; Campaign for America’s Wilderness; USDA Forest Service; Brooks/Cole Publishing; and many more. Awards and recognition include International Photography Awards, Prix de la Photographie, Paris, and Black & White Spider Awards. In early 2015, Michael was a featured on-camera Death Valley expert in an NHK Japan full-length documentary film

The landscape came before the camera. I am a lifelong student of nature and wilderness and my beliefs were shaped early in life by the words of John Muir, Aldo Leopold, and Wallace Stegner long before I considered photography or making a life with it. I’ve long considered myself a naturalist first and artist second. Nature and wilderness are significantly more meaningful than beautiful places to make photographs; they are integral to my personal well-being and creativity.

The intimate and easy-to-overlook is the focus of my work. I am compelled by texture and form; the organic and the unnatural; and the unusual and ephemeral. My goal is to portray a personal communion I share with the land as well as the rare and transcendental moments it shares with me.

Michaels Website:  https://www.michael-gordon.com

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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One of the most amazing skilled and thoughtful photographers joins our podcast today.  We welcome Cole Thompson to our show to talk about his passion for photography, why black and white images and his thought processes around creating art.  Please tune in to this must-listen episode.

At 14 years of age, I knew I was destined to be a fine art photographer.While hiking in Rochester, NY I stumbled across the ruin of an old home that George Eastman had once owned. This piqued my interest and I read his biography. I was fascinated with photography and before I had completed the book, before I had even taken a photograph or seen a print develop in the darkroom, I knew that I was going to be a photographer. For the next 10 years photography was my complete existence, if I wasn’t taking pictures or working in the darkroom, I was reading every book and looking at every image I could find. There was nothing in my life but photography.

Even at this early age I found myself drawn to a particular style of image, one that would literally cause a physical reaction in me. They were dark images created by Adams, Weston, Bullock and others. I knew that I was destined to create such images.

I am often asked, “Why black and white?” I think it’s because I grew up in a black-and-white world. Television, movies and the news were all in black and white. My heroes were in black and white and even the nation was segregated into black and white. My images are an extension of the world in which I grew up.

For me color records the image, but black and white captures the feelings that lie beneath the surface. My art has appeared in many exhibitions, publications and has received numerous awards. And yet my resume does not list those accomplishments, why?

In the past I’ve considered those accolades as the evidence of my success, but I now think differently. My success is no longer measured by the length of my resume, but rather by how I feel about the art that I create. While I do enjoy exhibiting, seeing my work published and meeting people who appreciate my art, this is an extra benefit of creating, but not success itself.

I believe that the best success is achieved internally, not externally.

Some have asked about my qualifications given my non-traditional resume and I answer: “My images are my qualifications, nothing else matters.”

Coles Website:  https://colethompsonphotography.com

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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