On Taking Pictures

This week, we talk about leaping into the unknown and how empowering it can be to make the transition from “whether to move” into “how to move.” Also, how much editorial control would you give up for money? Monster celebrity shooter Sam Jones is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we wrestle with confidence, momentum and the differences between passion and curiosity. We also talk about finding the stuff that fills your cup, regardless of whether or not it happens to be your full time job. He documented WWI and was aboard the Endurance - Frank Hurley is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we talk about when to begin and when it might be time to throw in the towel and move on to something else. Also, we discuss Seth Godin’s idea of living somewhere between comfort and danger and ask, “where do you live?” User-suggested Jon Wyatt is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we discuss the terrific documentary on the life and work of Dorothea Lange. Topics include getting lost in your work and questions like is art an act of total attention? Also, Bill raises the question of whether models should have a say as to how they are treated in post. Howard Schatz is our Photographer of the Week.

If this week’s show has a theme, it’s change. Try as you might, you can’t avoid it forever and even if you could, sometimes it’s exactly what you need. We also discuss censorship and intent in a couple recent news articles. David Bailey is our Photographer of the week.

Do you find yourself looking for signs? Not Stop or Yield, but signs from God, the Universe, or what have you telling you what to do? This week, we talk about signs and how waiting for them can often be an excuse for not taking action. We also talk about memories, specifically how bad humans are at remembering details and how photographs can uncover or even rewrite what you previously believed to be the truth. Plus, fantastic fashion photographer Elizaveta Porodina is our Photographer of the Week.

This week’s show is a bit of a monster. We do our best to answer your questions and there were tons of them - some on gear, others on process and technique. There’s a little something for everyone, but you had best grab a bottle of water and some snacks ‘cause this one clocks in at over two hours. Michel Tcherevkoff is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, for some people making lists and setting goals are the only way to feel like progress is being made. For others, “goal” is just a four letter word. How do you gauge your creative progress? Inspired by last week’s discussion, paparazzi photographer Ron Galella is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we talk about photographs as a sort of time machine and how often embarrassing snapshots over time become the things you treasure most. Also, should the arts be co-opted by academia or is getting out and doing the work the way to go? How would you feel being famous for only shooting one person? It’s something we discuss around our Photographer of the Week, Milton Greene.

This week, using Garry Winogrand’s current retrospective as an example, we discuss what happens when practice means different, not necessarily better. Also, in a submission from a listener, we look at a list of 10 ways we may be making our lives harder than they have to be. How many are you guilty of? Plus, Magnum photographer Gueorgui Pinkhassov is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we begin with a follow up to last week’s discussion about direction and confidence (or lack thereof, as the case may be). All you really control is when you begin and when you ship. Recognizing those things that truly are beyond your control (and letting go of them) can be liberating and just the fuel you need to move forward. Todd Hido is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, interviews with Bob Dylan and Frank Zappa beg the question, is there such a thing as being past your creative prime? Also, where do the great ideas come from and what do you do when they stop? Daido Moriyama is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we’re discussing the difficulties in making decisions - creative or otherwise - without first knowing the outcome. Also, beyond likes and hit counters, what’s the real value in going viral? Plus, Apple’s recent announcement about the future of Aperture has us musing on our reliance on software and what to do when the tool(s) you love are no longer available. Conceptual fine art photographer Brooke Shaden is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we begin with a discussion about gear - specifically how newer crop-sensor cameras compare to full frame and why more megapixels leads to bigger, but not always better images. Plus Tom Cruise as a metaphor for refining yourself away from a borrowed life. This week we’ve got two Photographers of the Week - Robb Kendrick and David Stoecklein - both shoot similar subject matter, yet their results are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

This week, what happens when creativity doesn’t go the way you want it to? Sometimes there’s “good enough,” while other times, you get the opportunity to take another pass at it. How do you know when to choose one over the other? Also, we talk about fear as not only an obstacle, but also as a motivator to get you “living above the 45.” Randy Scott Slavin is our Photographer of the Week. Oh, and happy 71st birthday to The Man Who Writes the Songs (even though he didn’t write that one), Barry Manilow.

This week, you’ve got questions and we do our best to answer them on topics ranging from choosing to shoot in color or black & white and best practices for deliverables to getting your work in front of art buyers and whether or not a signature “look” to your work is important. Someone even asked for our desert island book choices. Listener-suggested Australian Magnum photographer Trent Parke is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, Bill’s recent viewing of Tim’s Vermeer inspires a discussion around the technical nature of creating art. If we allow the process to be augmented by technology, at what point is the art in the making and not in the end result? Also, we discuss an interview with Cartier-Bresson and wonder if he would embrace modern changes in photography such as Instagram. Andreas Gursky (Rhein II) is our Photographer of the Week.

This week we’re talking about intent. Whether how you shoot, how you practice or what tools you use, intent seems to be directly proportional to outcome. Also, what makes a curator? Does accreditation automatically mean better or more valid or can you just have great taste? Former Look and Life shooter Douglas Kirkland is our Photographer of the Week.

A big discussion on the differences between art and craft lead off this week’s show, inspired in part by a listener email. We also talk about obstacles, both personal and professional and how they can sometimes relegate Making Things to the back burner, if only for a while. Larry Fink is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, a big discussion about creativity - how sometimes you need to put down the todo list and just focus on making the work that makes you happy and let the chips fall where they may. Also, some thoughts from Picasso on why you shouldn’t compromise in your art. Diane Arbus is our Photographer of the Week.