A Photographic Life

In this week’s episode photographer Lynn Goldsmith takes on our ‘Proust Photo Quiz’… Lynn Goldsmith’s photography has appeared on and between the covers of Life, Newsweek, Time, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, National Geographic Traveler, People, Elle, Interview, and the The New Yorker amongst many others. Her subjects have varied from entertainment personalities to sports stars,...

In episode 413 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Mentioned in this episode: https://fwo3.com www.mattmahurin.com Dr. Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising a...

In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Bill comment on the photographic environment as they see it. This month Bill and Grant take on the photo competition. Bill Shapiro Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of LIFE, the legendary photo magazine; LIFE’s relaunch in 200...

In this week's episode photographer Perry Ogden takes on our 'Proust Photo Quiz'. The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Proust answered the questionnaire in a confession album, a form of parlour game popular at the end of the 1890s. The album, titled An Album to Record Thoughts, Feelings, etc. was found in 1924 and published in the French liter...

In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the photographic environment as they see it through the exhibitions, magazines, talks and events that Fiona has seen over the previous weeks. Mentioned in this episode: Don Mcullin https://holburne.org/opening-in-jan...

In episode 409 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Mentioned in this episode: W. Eugene Smith: Shadow and Substance - The Life and Work of an American Photographer: Jim Hughes, 1989. Gene Smith's Sink: A Wide-Angle View - Sam Stephenson, 2017. Minamata (2020) theatrical trailer https://ww...

In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Bill comment on the photographic environment as they see it. This month Bill and Grant rigorously respond to listeners questions and comments concerning Instagram for photographers. Mentioned in this episode: Ezra Klein podcast https:/...

In this week's episode photographer Pete Souza takes on our 'Proust Photo Quiz'... The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Proust answered the questionnaire in a confession album, a form of parlour game popular at the end of the 1890s. The album, titled An Album to Record Thoughts, Feelings, etc. was found in 1924 and published in the French lite...

In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the photographic environment as they see it through the exhibitions, magazines, talks and events that Fiona has seen over the previous weeks. Mentioned in this episode: https://gagosian.com/exhibitions/2026/nan-goldi...

In episode 405 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Dr. Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career...

In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Bill comment on the photographic environment as they see it. This month Bill and Grant talk about the past present and future of Instgram for photographers. Mentioned in this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DS7pz7-DuZG/?utm_source...

In this weeks episode we launch the new 'Proust Photo Quiz'. Friend of the podcast photographer Harry Borden is the first to take the questions on... The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Proust answered the questionnaire in a confession album, titled An Album to Record Thoughts, Feelings, etc. The album was found in 1924 and published in the F...

In episode 402 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott reflects on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Dr. Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott...

In episode 401 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Dr. Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career...

In this special 400th episode UNP founder and curator Grant Scott looks back over the podcast's evolution from idea to reality, from shed to garage and from one man talking into a microphone to live events. Engaging in trans-Atlantic conversations and building an incredible archive of photographers thoughts on photography. Contributors to the mega mix in order of appearance: Tom Stoddart Daniel Me...

In this special episode, editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro, art director, creative director and lecturer Fiona Hayes and UNP founder and curator Grant Scott look back on 2025 and forward to 2026 reflecting on photo exhibitions, books, social media, publishing and the expectations of the Twenty First Century photographer. Bill Shapiro Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief...

In this special episode recorded at our A Photographic Life Live 2025 event at Oxford Brookes University Grant speaks with photographic historian Dr Michael Pritchard concerning the importance of creating an organised archive, making money from an archive and how to leave your archive for those who will inherit it. Dr Michael Pritchard Dr Michael Pritchard has a practical knowledge of studio and l...

In this special episode recorded at our A Photographic Life Live 2025 event at Oxford Brookes University Grant speaks with photographer and filmmaker Chris Floyd focusing on his approach to the photographic portrait, and the physical, spiritual and mental requirements of photographing celebrities. Chris Floyd Chris Floyd is a British photographer and film maker.  His photographic work has appeared...

In this special episode recorded at our A Photographic Life Live 2025 event at Oxford Brookes University Grant speaks with photographer and filmmaker focusing on her dedication to the long form project, her film Mother Vera and the the need for dedicated research when building a body of work. Alys Tomlinson Tomlinson was born and grew up in Brighton, UK and studied English, literature and communic...

In this special episode Grant shares his personal memories of photographer Martin Parr and reflects on his influence on contemporary documentary photography. Martin Parr Born in Epsom, Surrey, Parr wanted to become a documentary photographer from the age of fourteen and cited his grandfather, George Parr, an amateur photographer and fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, as an early influence....

In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Bill comment on the photographic environment as they see it. This month Bill reflects on his recent trip to Paris Photo, whilst he and Grant lock horns over AI and agree about the importance of experts. Mentioned in this episode: Jack...

In episode 394 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Mentioned in this episode: https://jeanloupsieff.com www.corinneday.com www.rankinphoto.co.uk Dr. Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a...

In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the photographic environment as they see it through the exhibitions, magazines, talks and events that Fiona has seen over the previous weeks. Mentioned in this episode: https://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/whats-on...

In episode 392 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Mentioned in this episode: Huger Foote https://hugerfoote.com Gille Tapie www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/photographers/gilles-tapie/ Dewey Nicks https://deweynicks.com Javier Vallonrat www.mfilomeno.com/artist/javier-vallhonrat...

In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Bill comment on the photographic environment as they see it. This month they throw quotes from famous photographers at each other and reflect on the meanings of those quotes. Bill Shapiro Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of L...