Finding our people is something I think we all strive for. For some of us, this is easy and for others, it can be quite difficult. In the landscape and nature photography community, there are well-established cliques of people who photograph together frequently, often comprised of white men. Why this is the case has always been a mystery to me; however, I genuinely always want to put myself in the shoes of others who are not like me to understand what it is like to live like them.

This week I had the pleasure of hanging out and chatting with Angela Ledyard. Angela is a landscape photographer living in Texas, originally from Ohio. She recently created a group called the Black Female Landscape & Nature Photographers, which has become a prominent community and beacon for African American nature photographers. It was awesome hearing her story and to hear about why and how she created the group. I think you'll enjoy our chat.

On this week's episode, we discuss:

• Angela's journey into photography.
• Why Angela has chosen nature photography as her medium.
• Why and how Angela created the Black Female Landscape & Nature Photographers community.
• The challenges of being a black female in the landscape photography realm.
• What Angela's goals are with her photography.
• How moving from Ohio to California changed how she saw nature as a photographer.
• Angela's 5-day trip to Peru and what it was like for her to photograph there.
• And a lot more!

Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week:

• Support the podcast on Patreon.
• Join me over on Nature Photographer's Network and use the code "FSTOP10" for a 10% discount!
• Watch podcast episodes on YouTube.

Here is who Angela recommended on the podcast this week:

• Keisha Holmes.
• David Greaves.
• Allison Holmes.
• James Bland.

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!

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 Angela's photography.

Using 2019 data, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 14.2 million adults over the age of 18 had a severe depressive episode in the past year, and 14.4 million struggled with alcohol abuse disorder in the past year. Clearly, both alcoholism and depression are quite prevalent in our society and it is something a lot of people struggle with. Finding ways to cope with these ubiquitous challenges can be crucial for the survival of so many of us, and nature photography is one such way that has been shown to help. 

As such, it was a real honor recording a podcast with TJ Thorne, who first joined us way back on Episode 22! TJ has been battling both depression and alcoholism for quite a long time and he has found nature photography to be one way that he is able to fight back. In this episode, TJ and I talk about this journey and his relationship with the subject of water specifically, which is the focus of his new book.

On this week's episode, we discuss:

• TJ's journey into photography.
• How working in the food industry began to shape TJ's struggles with addiction.
• TJ's struggles with addiction and depression and how nature photography has helped him.
• TJ's inaugural book, Ebb & Flow.
• The role that water has played in TJ's photographic journey.
• TJ's search for emotional and mental freedom through photography.
• How TJ's friendships with other photographers have aided him.
• TJ's process for curating images for his book.
• How tangible photography projects like a book differ from digital formats.
• Using photography as a tool to intimately explore the world instead of using it to "take photographs."
• How and why TJ has made the switch over to photographing more abstract subjects as opposed to grand scenic images.
• And a lot more!

If you enjoyed our conversation, you can catch our bonus episode on Patreon where TJ and I discuss his struggles having photography be his main way of making money when it is so intertwined with his mental health. 

Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week:

• Support the podcast on Patreon.
• Join me over on Nature Photographer's Network and use the code "FSTOP10" for a 10% discount!
• The Invisible Gorilla Experiment.
• Watch podcast episodes on YouTube.

Here is who TJ recommended on the podcast this week:

• Juame Llorens.
• Jo Stephen.
• Nel Talen.
• Mike DiMeola.
• Cesar Llaneza.
• Michele Sons (we recorded on E306).

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!

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.

One of the best ways to differentiate ourselves as photographers is to fully engage in the creative process. As such, one sure-fire path to making more creative work is to experiment. Experimentation can help to unlock creativity and help us create more interesting work. 

Since experimentation is something I think we can all learn more about, I was excited to record a podcast with one of my favorite photographers here in Colorado, Alfredo Mora. Alfredo works full-time supporting the NASA program and takes some absolutely splendid images, largely using experimental techniques. He placed third in the 2nd year of the Natural Landscape Photography Awards and has always impressed me with his modesty and level-headedness.

On this week's episode, we discuss:

• How Alfredo got into photography.
• How Alfredo's background in architectural photography has helped him as a nature photographer.
• How Alfredo's cultural background has influenced his path and approach to making images.
• How Alfredo is able to balance a full-time job supporting NASA launches, a family, and his photographic pursuits.
• The importance of taking risks as a photographer.
• How Alfredo experiments with Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), multiple exposures, and Photoshop blend modes to create unique images.
• How Alfredo's approach to making images has shifted from results-driven to experience-driven.
• The differences between being inspired and copying other people's photographs.
• Processes for releasing images to the public.
• Photography competitions.
• Writing and moderating the critique group for Nature Photographer's Network (NPN).
• And a lot more!

Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week:

• Support the podcast on Patreon.
• Join me over on Nature Photographer's Network and use the code "FSTOP10" for a 10% discount!
• Alfredo's article on his ICM blending techniques.
• Jon Norris - Joshua Tree workshops.
• Emily McCulliss' Storyboard.
• Watch podcast episodes on YouTube.

Here is who Alfredo recommended on the podcast this week:

• David Ward.
• Michael Frye.
• Kevin Monahan.
• Klaus Axelsen.
• Jason Pettit.
• Kristin Weinhold.
• Elvis Dallie.

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!

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.

Living close to our favorite photography destinations is a luxury that not everyone can afford; however, it has become a big part of my success in my own photography and I know it contributes to the success of others' work as well. Our relationship to place and how that connection fuels us and energizes our creativity can have a huge impact on the quality of our work.

This week I had the pleasure of speaking to United Kingdom photographer, Matt Oliver. Matt makes his living as a commercial photographer but his true passion lies in landscape and nature photography. I have always been a big fan of his quiet work from the Peak District in the United Kingdom, so I was excited to talk to him about his connection to that place and how it was forged. 

On this week's episode, we discuss:

• How Matt got into photography.
• How Matt juggles his commercial photography with his landscape photography.
• How important it has been for Matt to live close to the Peak District.
• Advice for photographers that don't live close to their favorite areas.
• The role of curiosity in Matt's photography.
• The role of style in Matt's photography.
• Chasing the light versus photographing smaller scenes.
• What to do when the conditions are not ideal.
• The impact of AI on Matt's commercial photography.
• The differences between the UK and the USA in terms of how photography is monetized.
• And a lot more!

Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week:

• Support the podcast on Patreon.
• Matt's commercial photography site.
• My article on NPN about AI and photography.
• Join me over on Nature Photographer's Network and use the code "FSTOP10" for a 10% discount!
• Natural Landscape Photography Awards.

Here is who Matt recommended on the podcast this week:

• Angelo Jesus.
• Vanda Ralevska.
• Lizzie Shepherd.

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!

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 Matt's photography.

Moving to a new country can be an incredibly daunting proposition, especially in the current geo-political environment; however, it can also open up doors to new experiences, cultures, and landscapes. 

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Julien Parrot - a photographer from France now living in Australia. Julien and I talked about how moving to a new country has completely changed his outlook and approach to photography.

On this week's episode, we discuss:

• How Julien got into photography.
• How moving to a new country has re-shaped his photography.
• How he has adapted to living abroad as a photographer.
• How not doubting his photographer stunted his growth as an artist.
• How confidence can be a double-edged sword.
• How to objectively critique our own work.
• How photography competitions have helped him in his growth as a photographer.
• His approach to photographing fireflies.
• And a lot more!

Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week:

• Support the podcast on Patreon.
• Join me over on Nature Photographer's Network and use the code "FSTOP10" for a 10% discount!
• Natural Landscape Photography Awards.

Here is who Julien recommended on the podcast this week:

• Michael Ciccone.
• Anton Gorlin.
• Sylvain Lepoutre.

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!

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.

Most photographers are given the advice to specialize in something in order to make it as a photographer. On the surface, this seems to make sense as it allows one to become an expert and to become known for one thing; however, it might not be the best advice to follow, especially if you live in a smaller town.

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Viktoria Haack - a photographer living in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. Viktoria has chosen not to specialize in any one form of photography and has instead chosen to see herself as a generalist, which has done wonders for her photography career.

On this week's episode of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, we discuss:

• How Viktoria fell in love with photography while living on a 300-acre island for ten years.
• How living on an island helped Viktoria hone in on what types of subjects interest her as a photographer.
• How social media has played a role in her progression as a photographer.
• How Viktoria uses social media now to advance her business offerings.
• How Viktoria has chosen to be a generalist and how that has worked for her.
• How photographing people has helped Viktoria round out her business.
• The idea of not-architecture.html">gardening not architecture.
• Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.
• Viktoria's approach to making photographs.
• And a lot more!

Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week:

• Viktoria's workshop offerings.
• Support the podcast on Patreon.
• Join me over on Nature Photographer's Network and use the code "FSTOP10" for a 10% discount!
• Natural Landscape Photography Awards.

Here is who Viktoria recommended on the podcast this week:

• Jo Stephen.
• Monika Deviat.
• Hans Gunnar Aslaksen.

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!

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.

It is no secret that spending time in nature is good for your mental health. Time and time again, through conversations on my podcast, I learn about the role that nature photography has played in helping people battle depression, anxiety, and life's challenges.  This week I had an amazing time talking about photography with Shane Turgeon, who credits his discovery of nature photography for saving his life. Learn about Shane's journey into photography and the steps he took to leverage it to improve his personal outcomes after a series of unfortunate life events left him reeling. 

On this week's episode, we discuss:

• How Shane discovered his passion for photography.
• How nature photography saved Shane's life.
• How others who are struggling with mental health challenges can leverage nature photography to improve their mental health.
• How curiosity plays a central role in curating personal happiness.
• Shane's strategies for staying happy as a photographer.
• How bringing his dog with him on his photography trips makes them more enjoyable.
• The Light Chasers Photography Conference that Shane has created in Canada.
• The challenges and logistics of creating a photography conference.
• And a lot more!

Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week:

• Support the podcast on Patreon.
• Join me over on Nature Photographer's Network and use the code "FSTOP10" for a 10% discount!
• Natural Landscape Photography Awards.

If you enjoyed our conversation on the podcast, you can listen to a bonus episode on Patreon where Shane and I talk all about time management and our mutual abilities to accomplish a lot on little time.

Here is who Shane recommended on the podcast this week:

• Vickoria Haack.
• Mark Jinks.
• Dave Brosha.
• Curtis Jones.
• Nat Gillis.
• Jason Pettit.
• Richard Martin.

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!

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.

One of the hottest topics to emerge in 2023 as it relates to landscape photography is the advent of Artificial Intelligence or AI. AI has swept the world by storm and is changing so rapidly that the one-month gap between when I recorded this podcast and when it was released probably saw huge shifts in the capabilities of AI and the challenges that have emerged in the U.S. legal system. AI presents photographers with multiple challenges and opportunities and in this panel discussion on the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen podcast, we examine it all in depth.

Meet our panel for AI and Photography:

• Arka Chatterjee - a photographer, artist, and intellectual property lawyer.
• Diana Nicholette Jeon - a photographer and artist using AI as a tool to make art.
• Tim Parkin - Editor of OnLandscape Magazine.
• Bruce Couch - a photographer and outspoken critic of AI.

On this week's episode, we cover a lot of ground about AI and Photography:

• A comprehensive analysis on how AI image creation works and whether or not AI uses our photographs to make new artwork.
• The various types of AI systems, including Generative Adversarial Networks and Stable Diffusion.
• Discovering whether or not your photographs have been used to train AI networks.
• What excites, frustrates, or angers photographers about the emergence of AI in the photography space.
• How photographers can differentiate themselves from AI.
• Ethical considerations for using AI image making systems as a photographer.
• What makes a photograph a photograph and whether or not an AI generated image constitutes a photograph.
• Comprehensive analysis on the legal ramifications of AI and copyright, both relating to the AI creations and the photographs that have been used to generate them.
• And a lot more!

Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week:

• Read Tim Parkin's article on AI in his magazine, OnLandscape. Listeners can get 15% off an OnLandscape subscription by using the code FSTOP15.
• Join me on Nature Photographer's Network for an amazing photography experience. Use the code FSTOP10 for 10% off your membership.
• Support the podcast on Patreon.
• Watch the podcast on YouTube.
• Have I Been Trained website.
• Obama Hope - AP Photographer case.
• Thaler AI case.
• Kashtanova - Zendaya Graphic Novel AI Case.
• Getty Images AI - Stable Diffusion Case.

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!

If you got something from listening to this week's show, please support the podcast in any way you can!

We also have a searchable transcript of every episode!

Thanks for stopping in, collaborating with us, and listening. See you next week.

One of the most under-appreciated photography locations in the United States is Appalachia, a region that stretches from Alabama in the south to New York in the north. Appalachia is not home to towering mountains, arid deserts, or epic displays of geology; however, a skilled photographer who takes care to connect with this place is able to create fantastic photographs that are personally expressive and evocative.

Today's guest on episode 306 of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Michele Sons, is one such photographer. Her attention to detail and personal connection to Appalachia, fog, and geographic peculiarities has given her photography a voice in the crowded space of nature and landscape photography.

Michele has come to specialize in quiet, contemplative images of the Appalachian region and beyond. She has worked with National Geographic for years on their Beautiful Landscapes calendars, and other clients of hers include The Wilderness Society, Great Smoky Mountains Association, Eastern National, Gladstone Media, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

If you want to learn how Michele is able to make stunning images of this seemingly less-than-iconic location, then you have come to the right place.

On this week's episode, we discuss:

• Michele's 111-page e-book, voice-730.myflodesk.com/">Riversong, all about the New River Gorge in Fayetteville, West Virginia (Use the code FSTOP20 for 20% off).
• Michele's personal connection to place and how she goes about making images that are connective in this way.
• Michele's approaches to making images from less than iconic destinations.
• How photography has served Michele in a healing capacity.
• How Michele's mental health has shifted since she took up photography full-time.
• Michele's strategies and challenges for monetization as a full-time photographer.
• How knowing yourself can lead to better photographs.
• Michele's "The Feminine Landscape" project.
• Our mutual obsession with fog.
• And a lot more!

If you enjoyed our conversation, you can catch our bonus episode on Patreon where Michele and I discuss her strategies for using lead magnets to increase her mailing list.

Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week:

• Join me on Nature Photographer's Network for an amazing photography experience. Use the code FSTOP10 for 10% off your membership.
• Support the podcast on Patreon.
• Watch the podcast on YouTube.

Here is who Michele recommended on the podcast this week:

• Derek von Briesen.
• Sam Krisch.

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!

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 Michele's fantastic Appalachia photography!

One of the most frequent question I see other photographers asking is "how much should I charge for my services or prints?" Pricing your photography can be tricky, no matter what genre of photography you are engaged with. As such, it was awesome to have a conversation with this week's guest on Episode 305 of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen podcast. This week I had a blast speaking with Walid Azami. Walid is a photographer and commercial director living in Los Angeles and originally from Kabul, Afghanistan. He photographs celebrities, commercial products, and a lot more while offering his services as a coach and mentor to other photographers relating to business practices and pricing.

On this week's episode, we discuss:

• Similarities between landscape photography and other genres as it relates to pricing and monetization.
• The biggest mistakes photographers make in relation to pricing their photography.
• Determining when monetization is worth pursuing.
• Strategies for pricing your artwork and services.
• Dealing with customers that low-ball you.
• How to differentiate yourself as a photographer in the crowded marketplace we find ourselves in.
• Advice for how to start thinking monetization of your work.
• And a lot more!

Other topics/links discussed on the podcast this week:

• Support the podcast on Patreon.
• AirBnB Experiences.
• Walid's Course.
• Walid's website for photographers.
• Walid on YouTube.

Here is who Walid recommended on the podcast this week:

• Sean Tucker.

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!

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.