F-Stop Collaborate and Listen - A Photography Podcast

In episode 456 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen is a heartfelt tribute to the podcast's Patreon community , showcasing the collective creativity and passion that fuels the show. Rather than focusing on technical details or individual stories, Matt Payne honors the spirit of collaboration, sharing a diverse range of voices as members talk about their latest projects, personal growth, and unique jou...

In episode 455 of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne sits down with photographer Mark Schumann to discuss his powerful multiyear documentary project capturing homelessness across America. Mark Schumann shares his journey photographing and interviewing hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness in over 70 cities, focusing on portraying them with dignity, humanity, and nuance ra...

In episode 454 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, Matt Payne sits down with mountain photographer Scott Kranz to explore Scott’s dramatic shift from a legal career to full-time outdoor photography in the Cascades. They dive into Scott’s deep connection with Washington’s mountains, especially the North Cascades, and the physical and mental challenges of documenting them. Scott shares insights from h...

In episode 453 of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," UK photographer Tom Dauben joins host Matt Payne to discuss his unique approach to landscape photography: creating completely unedited, in-camera images. Tom Dauben shares how he became disillusioned with heavily manipulated photos and found renewed joy and mindfulness by focusing on authenticity and creative constraints, such as shooting only JPE...

In episode 452 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with macro photographer Dara Ojo to explore the fascinating and often overlooked world of insects and arthropods. Dara Ojo shares how macro photography transformed his perception of these tiny creatures, inspiring empathy and respect for their crucial ecological roles. The conversation delves into his creative journey, the...

In episode 451 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne talks with New England-based photographer and hiker Mike Weinhold about balancing the goals of list hiking with the creative process of nature photography. Mike shares his journey from a casual hiker to completing the New Hampshire 48 (the state’s 48 mountains over 4,000 feet) while always carrying his camera, navigating the tension...

In episode 450 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne talks with Justin Tedford, a combat veteran and photographer, about his unique approach to using photography as a healing tool to combat PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Justin shares his journey from small-town Iowa to working for the Department of Corrections, and describes how creative expression, specifically Polaroid emulsion lift...

In episode 449 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with legendary Australian climbing photographer Simon Carter. Simon shares his journey from a teenage photography enthusiast and avid climber to building a decades-long career capturing some of the most iconic and artistic climbing images in the world. He discusses the challenges and unique techniques of shooting in vertica...

In episode 448 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne talks with Marc Muench and Sara Linssen, co-owners of Muench Workshops, about what it takes to create world-class photography workshops. They dive into the backstory of Muench Workshops, sharing how it all began with a desire to offer immersive, learning-focused experiences rather than conventional tours. The conversation covers the...

In episode 447 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with renowned bird photographer Owen Deutsch to explore his fascinating journey from a 20-year career in fashion photography to a passion-driven life capturing birds in the wild. Owen shares the story of his early love for photography, the creative and technical lessons he carried from fashion to wildlife, and his deep comm...

In episode 446 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne chats with Zimbabwe-born safari guide, conservationist, and wildlife photographer Devon Jenkin. Devon shares stories from his adventurous upbringing in Africa, how a childhood surrounded by nature and camping experiences led him into wildlife photography, and his progression from camp management to guiding photographic safaris in Bot...

In episode 445 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with creative duo Chris Fulcher and Savannah Woods , whose striking photography blends art, storytelling, travel, and editorial imagery. The conversation delves into their evolution from hands-on photographers to creative directors running a full media agency, their dynamic as a couple collaborating on projects, and the inv...

In episode 444 of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne chats with Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove, a Belgian-born, Iceland-based landscape and nature photographer renowned for his dramatic imagery of Iceland's volcanoes and highlands. Jeroen describes how photographing his first volcanic eruption reignited his creative passion and profoundly shaped his approach to storytelling and visual art, e...

In this "Artists Asking Artists" episode (443) of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, hosts Matt Payne and Brie Stockwell sit down with renowned Norwegian landscape photographer Arild Heitmann . Arild discusses his evolution as a photographer, sharing insights into his creative process, the influence of his upbringing in Northern Norway, and his passion for moody, atmospheric imagery. He opens up about...

In episode 442 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with filmmaker and video editor Kalee Isbell to explore how video can be a transformative tool for memory-keeping, creativity, and connection. Kalee shares her journey from using video as a form of self-care during postpartum depression to founding Isbell Family Films , a business devoted to helping people turn their everyd...

In episode 441 of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne sits down with photographer Casey Fatchett , who shares insights from his 25-year career capturing weddings, portraits, and events. Casey reveals how his background in acting and stand-up comedy has influenced his approach to connecting authentically with clients and disarming tense situations, especially as an introvert. He emphas...

In episode 440 of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne talks with Maria Ruggieri , a retired cancer biologist and accomplished photographer with a passion for abstract and detail-oriented nature photography. Maria shares how her scientific background informs her creative vision, and discusses how nature serves as a safe, restorative space—her “church”—especially in retirement. The conv...

In episode 439 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne talks with Lucia Rollow , founder of the Bushwick Community Darkroom in Brooklyn, New York. Lucia shares how her personal need for a darkroom evolved into a thriving communal space that fosters creativity, collaboration, and real-world connection in an increasingly digital world. The conversation explores the therapeutic and social a...

In episode 438 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with photographer Seth Robbins to explore his intimate new photo book, "A Trustworthy Home," which documents Orthodox Jewish weddings from an insider’s perspective. Robbins discusses his approach to avoiding cliched or trophy-driven images, instead emphasizing the power of trust, cultural understanding, and authentic connec...

In episode 437 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with fine art and conservation photographer Jonas Paurell to discuss his Arctic Transcendence series, which explores the fragile beauty of the Arctic region. Jonas shares his journey from human rights lawyer to full-time photographer, recounting the life-changing health scare that prompted him to pursue his passion for phot...

In episode 436 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne interviews photographer and storyteller John Noltner about his transformative " A Peace of My Mind " project and his experiences living a nomadic life for over two years. John shares how he and his wife sold their house during the pandemic and traveled 93,000 miles across the U.S., gathering hundreds of human stories that explore the...

In episode 435 of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne chats with Norwegian photographer Klaus Axelsen about his journey from corporate consultant to passionate nature photographer. Klaus shares how photography and spending time in nature became key tools for managing his mental health, leading him toward creating deeply intimate and expressive images of Norway’s lesser-known natural d...

In episode 434 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne chats with Nico Trinkhaus, a fine art travel photographer and founder of PhotoClaim, about the pervasive problem of image theft and the realities of copyright protection. Nico shares his personal journey from hobbyist to professional, including the eye-opening moment when he discovered his photos being widely stolen and sold as souve...

In episode 433 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with Steven Adams , a humanitarian photographer with a diverse background in biology, veterinary medicine, and global health. They discuss Steven’s journey from scientific research to international development and how those experiences shape his visual storytelling, especially his focus on hope and agency rather than suffer...

In episode 432 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with photographer Eric Bennett for a deep dive into the impact of social media on photographers and their relationship with nature. They discuss the traps of “algorithm-driven culture,” including the pressure to post frequently, follow trends, and cater to platform requirements, often at the cost of authenticity and creativ...