Episodes

Editors Note: On this episode I start a contest with Adam Elmakias’ Music Photography Workshops where I am sponsoring a chance to win one of two entries into the workshops, happening in San Diego on January 7th & 8th, 2019. Details and rules are here. I think I first saw Jaz Meadows’ work on Instagram, or maybe it was through Mattias Hombauer’s Shooting the Rockstars Facebook Group, I don’t remember, but what I do remember perfectly clear was my reaction. “How the hell does this guy get such ama...

This is the first in a series of episodes focusing on the state of photography education, in conjunction with Red River Paper. Red River Paper’s EDU program helps photography students by providing high quality photo papers to photography programs around the US. Once a quarter I will chose a photography student from one of the Red River Paper EDU partner schools to be a guest on the Behind the Shot podcast, with the help of Red River Paper, their professors and their instructors. With each of th...

I have had the pleasure of having The Copyright Zone guys on Behind the Shot twice now, each time I learn something new. The first time Ed Greenberg and Jack Reznicki were on, back in June of 2017, we chatted at length about Copyright for Photographers (here). It was a general conversation on things all photographers should have a better understanding of. The feedback I got back then was amazing, and I had Jack on right afterwards for a normal Behind the Shot show – that show is here. In Februa...

After meeting photographer Josh Sanseri I would say that the future of photography is in good hands. Josh is not only a photographer with over 20 years of professional experience, but he is a tenured professor and department chair of Santa Monica College’s esteemed Photography Department – a program that is a Red River Paper EDU partner which we also talk about during the show. He’s taught courses at UCLA, Art Center College of Design, UCSD, the Santa Fe Workshops in New Mexico, the Julia Dean W...

I have said to many people, many times, that when it comes to Live Music photography British photographer Christie Goodwin is a personal favorite – a hero of sorts. She is a witty, fun, and amazingly talented photographer, that is as humble as she is talented. In fact she was one of the first people I reached out to when I started Behind the Shot, and she ended up being my third guest, way back in 2016 with an amazing image of singer Katy Perry. She is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Ar...

Back in 2017 I was dealing with a Copyright infringement and ended up reaching out to Ed Greenberg, one of the guys behind the great website The Copyright Zone.The phone conversation with Ed turned into one of my most popular shows to date, the original Copyright for Photographers episode from June of 2017. Recording that show with Ed, and his Copyright education partner Jack Reznicki, changed my workflow. From the feedback I got on that show it seems it changed a lot people’s understanding and ...

Rick Sammon is an award winning photographer, and one of the members of the elite Canon Explorer of Light program. A tireless, prolific and inspirational image-maker, Rick, called by many “The Godfather of Photography,” is one of the most active photographers on the planet – dividing his time between creating images, leading photo workshops and seminars, and making personal appearances. His enthusiasm for digital imaging is contagious. He is a man on a mission – a mission to make digital photogr...

Terry Jack comes from a photographic family. I first found out about him through his brother, music photographer Dustin Jack, after recording a Behind the Shot with Dustin years ago – you can find that episode here. Terry isn’t a full time photographer, but his images stand out. His “real job” is being a first responder, as a Firefighter and Paramedic. That says a lot about Terry actually. He is willing to live on the edge, putting himself on the line for others. (Thanks for what you do Terry) ...

It’s hard to know where to begin when trying to write about David Bergman. As a concert photographer myself, David is someone I have looked up to for a long time, and I am hoping to avoid sounding like a fan. That may be tough. David Bergman is, to put it as simple as possible, is a phenomenal talent. Based out of New York, David is a portrait and music photographer, and world class photo educator. Let’s start on the music side of things… David is the official tour photographer for Bon Jovi, d...

When Frederick Van Johnson first introduced me to the work of Gilmar Smith I knew I had to chat with her. Gilmar (pronounced Hil-marrr) is a photographer and Photoshop artist specializing in creative portraiture. While she does create her art with various subjects, the photo in the gallery below of the man walking the phones is of my recent guest Kirk Marsh, she often includes much more familiar subjects in her work – herself and her children. Her style is colorful, energetic and humorous, and ...

Kirk Marsh is a unique photographer, and his images tell a story as good as, if not better than, almost any photographer out there. Kirk is an internationally exhibited fine art photographer and digital artist specializing in portraiture and self portraiture. He shoots for advertising and editorial clients too. Yup, a great working photographer, but that only describes a part of him. There is another side to Kirk that I think is a key part of his art, he is a clown. I don’t mean to say he has a ...

Mobile photography is changing the game, and not just for everyday consumers. Mobile phone cameras have been used for professional photoshoots, for movies, and for journalism. That got me thinking about the path we are on, so I reached out to tech journalist Andy Ihnatko to chat about where the mobile photography world may be headed. Andy was the tech columnist for the Chicago Sun Times, and is a regular podcaster. He’s a co-host of my favorite tech podcast, MacBreak Weekly (which you can find ...

It’s tough to know where to start when talking about Frederick Van Johnson. If you listen Behind the Shot then you are most likely aware of the photography podcast world. He is in my opinion one of the best podcasters out there today. When I was originally looking to start Behind the Shot it was Frederick that invited me to be on the TWiP network, it was Frederick that showed me the ropes, and more importantly to me it was Frederick that became my friend. In fact Frederick was my very first gues...

Don Komarechka is a nature, macro and landscape photographer located in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. From auroras to pollen, insects to infrared, much of Don’s photographic adventures help us to see how the universe works. Exploring a world we cannot see with our own eyes is a common thread in Don’s career as a professional photographer. Always science-minded but never formally trained, Don uses photography as a way to explore and understand the world around him. Photographing something unusual or u...

Sometimes I get to talk to photographers and it feels like I am living my dreams through their lens. Erik Kuna is one of those occasions. Erik is Rocket Photographer… let me just stop there for a second. He photographs rockets. How cool is that! Looking through his portfolio is a pure geek-out moment. Erik photographs launches for NASA, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Orbital ATK from spaceports around the USA. I just used the word “spaceports” in a blog post, there has to be extra points f...

Editors Note: This episode was originally distributed through TWiP – This Week in Photo, and the YouTube Video above is through the TWiP YouTube Page. Please be sure to subscribe to their YouTube page, and visit their site to check out all of the TWiP shows. Bryan Hansel is a Grand Marais, Minnesota based landscape photographer that was suggested by Behind the Shot viewer Robert Ferdinandt, who said: “His work is fantastic and his instagram feed is a must follow for landscape lovers. One of the...

Editors Note: This episode was originally distributed through TWiP – This Week in Photo, and the YouTube Video above is through the TWiP YouTube Page. Please be sure to subscribe to their YouTube page, and visit their site to check out all of the TWiP shows. James Neihouse is a name you need to know. A graduate of the Brooks Institute of Photography, James has done more in the field of photography and videography than I would guess anyone else you have met, ever, anywhere. I know what you’re thi...

Editors Note: This episode was originally distributed through TWiP – This Week in Photo, and the YouTube Video above is through the TWiP YouTube Page. Please be sure to subscribe to their YouTube page, and visit their site to check out all of the TWiP shows. Chris Smith is like very few other photographers I know. A high school physics teacher for 17 years, Chris left the security of that world to teach photography and run Out of Chicago full time. Out of Chicago is one of the things that grew ...

Editors Note: This episode was originally distributed through TWiP – This Week in Photo, and the YouTube Video above is through the TWiP YouTube Page. Please be sure to subscribe to their YouTube page, and visit their site to check out all of the TWiP shows. James Popsys is a UK based photographer with a great sense of humor, and apparently a strong hate for Kale. On his own site he says “Making the ridiculous images you see on this site is what I love to do…”. When was the last time you met a p...

Editors Note: This episode was originally distributed through TWiP – This Week in Photo, and the YouTube Video above is through the TWiP YouTube Page. Please be sure to subscribe to their YouTube page, and visit their site to check out all of the TWiP shows. Erika Thornes is a San Diego based photographer that has found a niche in silhouette beach photography, as well as underwater, and event photography. It is an unusual combo of genres to specialize in, but once you meet her, it makes sense. ...

Editors Note: This episode was originally distributed through TWiP – This Week in Photo, and the YouTube Video above is through the TWiP YouTube Page. Please be sure to subscribe to their YouTube page, and visit their site to check out all of the TWiP shows. Last week in Las Vegas was WPPI 2018, and I had the chance to check out some new software, some new hardware, and to make some new friends. If you have never been to WPPI, it’s a conference in Las Vegas focusing on Wedding & Portrait Photogr...

Editors Note: This episode was originally distributed through TWiP – This Week in Photo, and the YouTube Video above is through the TWiP YouTube Page. Please be sure to subscribe to their YouTube page, and visit their site to check out all of the TWiP shows. Kenna Klosterman is a Seattle-based travel photographer, tour leader, international MC and speaker, educator and say-hi-to-strangers gal. As I wrote that, it hit me that I may not being doing enough things in my life. I first became aware o...

Editors Note: This episode was originally distributed through TWiP – This Week in Photo, and the YouTube Video above is through the TWiP YouTube Page. Please be sure to subscribe to their YouTube page, and visit their site to check out all of the TWiP shows. When I first saw Don Komarechka’s work I felt like I was seeing something special, something I had never seen before. I finally met Don on an episode on the parent TWiP podcast on 2016, and to hear him explain his process was amazing. Part p...

Editors Note: This episode was originally distributed through TWiP – This Week in Photo, and the YouTube Video above is through the TWiP YouTube Page. Please be sure to subscribe to their YouTube page, and visit their site to check out all of the TWiP shows. Valérie Jardin is one of today’s top Street Photographers, and that is saying a lot. The interest in this field is as strong as ever, and she has it covered from almost every angle. She is an author of multiple books, an educator, a workshop...