Photography Masterclasses



In this episode, Jack and John discuss the concept of photography Masterclasses and how they differ from tours and workshops and how both Jack and John lead masterclasses at very select locations for those folks who want to bring their creativity to the next level.  Masterclasses are a wonderful opportunity for those who are already comfortable with basic and intermediate photography concepts to push themselves creatively in the field and the classroom.  With more focused feedback and instruction, these classes are a chance to stretch yourself as an artist.

Johns Palouse Harvest Master Class


Interview with Brooks Jensen



What can we say about Brooks Jensen….wow.  Jack and John are very honored to have Brooks on our show in this episode.  If you don’t know about Brooks, he is the creator and creative engine behind Lenswork “magazine” and multi-media platforms devoted to fine art photography.  Lenswork has been the preeminent photographic periodical for decades and Brooks has been the mastermind to pull it together and publish it.

The premise of LensWork is that photography is more than mere craft. Photography is, or can be, a way of life. Beyond cameras and equipment, beyond film and chemistry, beyond pixels and technology lie the mysteries of the creative life shared by those who strive to communicate and express themselves clearly – fine art photographers, commercial photographers, amateurs and professionals. LensWork is an exploration of the path of creative photography. Through an exchange of ideas, insight, personal experience, and opinions, it is hoped LensWork will inspire photographic artists to create work which truly bears their signature.

Brooks Jensen is a fine-art photographer, publisher, workshop teacher, and writer. In his personal work he specializes in small prints, handmade artist books, and digital media publications.

Brooks is the owner, co-founder (in 1993, with his late wife, Maureen), editor, and publisher of the award winning LensWork, one of today’s most respected and important periodicals in fine art photography. With subscribers in more than 70 countries, Brooks’ impact on fine art photography is truly worldwide. His long-running weekly podcasts on art and photography are heard over the Internet by thousands every day. All 1,200+ podcasts are available at LensWork Online, the LensWork membership website. He also publishes a daily Here’s a Thought… video with short inspiration for creative photographers.

LensWork Publishing is also at the leading edge in multimedia and digital media publishing with the LensWork Tablet Edtion, and LensWork Extended — a PDF-based, media-rich expanded version of the magazine.

Brooks is the author of thirteen books about photography and creativity: Photography, Art, & Media (2016); The Creative Life in Photography (2013); Letting Go of the Camera(2004); Single Brooks Jensen ProjectExposures (3 books in a series, random observations on art, photography and creativity); Looking at Images (2014); The Best of the LensWork Interviews (2016); Seeing in SIXES (2016); Seeing in SIXES (2017); Seeing in SIXES (2018); Seeing in SIXES (2019); and Our Magnificent Planet (2020).

Lenswork Website:  http://www.lenswork.com

Brooks Website:  http://brooksjensenarts.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.


Interview with Huntington Witherill



Huntington Witherill is our guest on this episode of We Talk Photo.  Jack and John explore a diverse range of topics with Huntington, spanning his career and varied photographic interests across five decades of his passionate pursuit in photography.

Having studied photography in the early 1970’s with such notables as Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, Steve Crouch and Al Weber, Witherill has remained faithful to his classical roots while progressively transitioning toward a more contemporary approach to the medium. Over the past fifty years, his work has been featured in more than one hundred individual and group exhibitions in museums and galleries throughout the world.

Indicative of a diverse approach to the medium, Witherill works in both black & white, and color, and his subjects include classic landscapes, studies of pop-art, botanical still-life, urban architecture, classic and exotic automobiles, cultural icons, and other assorted visual anomalies and curiosities. More recently, Witherill has developed a form of digital collage involving a combination of sketching, drawing, and photography, through an imaginative series of abstract images titled: Enigmata.

Witherill’s photographs have been the subject of three award winning hardcover monographs titled: Orchestrating Icons(2000), Botanical Dances (2001), and Photo Synthesis (2010) and in 1999, he was the recipient of the “Artist of the Year” award presented by the Center for Photographic Art, Carmel, California.

Witherill’s work is also maintained in numerous distinguished public art collections including; the United States Department of State: Art in the Embassies, Fundacióe Van Gogh d’Arles, Arles, France, the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Japan, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA, and the Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, CA, among others.

Since 1975, Witherill has also continued to teach photography for a variety of institutions and workshop programs throughout the United States, including the University of California, the Friends of Photography, the Center for Photographic Art, the Oklahoma Arts Institute, and the Ansel Adams Gallery, among others.

Huntingtons Website:  https://huntingtonwitherill.com

Enigmata Series:  https://huntingtonwitherill.com/enigmata

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.


Happy Holidays 2021



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.


Interview with Peter Lerro



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

 

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.


Interview with Billy Weeks



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

 

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.


Interview with Kevin McNeal



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 pictureCapturing 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

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.


Interview with Alister Benn



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.


Interview with Cody Schultz



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 Websitewww.codyschultz.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.


Interview with Colleen Miniuk



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 HighwaysAAA VIA, On LandscapeNational Parks TravelerExtraordinary VisionThe 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

 

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.