Foto Podcast

Photographer Shawn Walters spent years working professionally with digital cameras, for commercial clients and tourism boards, and even as a Sony ambassador. But despite having access to the latest technology, something was missing. He found himself drawn to slower, more deliberate ways of making photographs, eventually landing on large-format film photography. In this episode, Shawn discusses his...

In this episode, Michael sits down with filmmakers Ken Hanson, Jack Davidson, and Dave Myszewski to discuss their upcoming documentary about legendary photographer Art Shay . Over a career that spanned more than seven decades, Art Shay photographed everyone from Martin Luther King Jr., Ernest Hemingway, Muhammad Ali, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Algren to people living on the margins of American li...

Michael talks with photographer, author, and educator Elizabeth Messina about building a long, values-driven career in photography. They trace her path from the darkroom at San Francisco Art Institute to a 6 month-long trip in India and an early museum solo show, then into client work, books, and education. Elizabeth shares practical thoughts on trust, privacy, and respectful collaboration; workin...

Michael talks with North London–based photographer  Phil Sharp  about transforming a studio session into a collaborative experience. Phil traces his path from assisting and high-street portrait studios to scrappy New York musician shoots, then back to London, where actor headshots became a place to make pictures that feel alive . He breaks down his sessions, featuring natural light, bold colors, a...

Michael talks with Ed Templeton about the through-line from 1990s skate culture to a lifetime of painting and photography: DIY zines, doing your own board graphics, and learning to work with chance. Ed traces his path from Orange County/Huntington Beach to turning pro by 1990, discovering photobooks (Nan Goldin, Larry Clark), and realizing he had insider access to a tour-bus world most photographe...

Michael talks with editor and writer Bill Shapiro about leading LIFE magazine , launching LIFE.com , and what the internet has done to curation, attention, and trust in images. They cover the craft of photo essays , the changing business models behind visual journalism, how archives and sequencing shape meaning, the risks and realities of AI imagery , and Bill’s ongoing work championing photograph...

Photographer Jon Moore joins Michael to talk about his move from Tennessee to Portland, working across the rural Northwest, and creating images that document human-affected landscapes. We cover his early film studies at Watkins College, work as a studio manager and camera operator, and his weekend photo trips through Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and beyond. Jon shares stories from photographing ghos...

In this episode, Michael talks with photographer, educator, and editor Alex Harris , whose work explores memory, place, and the evolving nature of storytelling. Alex was a founding member of the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University . He’s also the author of 20 books, including River of Traps (a Pulitzer Prize finalist), The Idea of Cuba , and Our Strange New Land — a project exploring...

In this episode, Michael talks with photographer Brian Finke about developing a personal style and sticking to it. Brian is known for his bold, colorful work and for delving deep into specific worlds — from flight attendants and bodybuilders to law enforcement and drag races on the US-Mexico border. They discuss how he finds his projects, what drives his curiosity, and how he balances personal wor...

In this episode, Michael talks with Nina Berman , a documentary photographer, filmmaker, and professor whose work interrogates the relationship between power, militarization, and the American experience. Over a career spanning three decades, Nina has consistently focused her lens on systems of violence and their aftermath, from war zones to police training grounds to the staged patriotism of polit...

In this episode, Michael sits down with photographer Betina La Plante to discuss her instinct-driven approach to portraiture and the significance of connection in her work. Betina shares how she discovered photography, why she avoids overplanning, and how being fully present with her subjects enables her to capture something deeper and more genuine. They discuss her early inspirations, how her bac...

In this episode, Michael sits down with NYC photographer Jean Andre Antoine to talk about his long-running Polaroid portrait series, his start in analog photography, and how the scarcity of instant film has become a constraint that fuels his creativity. They also discuss what it means to be present, how photographing strangers daily has shaped Jean’s understanding of people, and the deep emotional...

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, we sit down with Maine-based photojournalist and documentary photographer Greta Rybus , whose work blends deep observation, human empathy, and a reverence for nature. Greta shares her journey from growing up in Idaho to working as a full-time freelancer in Maine, covering everything from environmental stories to the opioid crisis to long-term projects rooted in...

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, we’re joined by photographer and longform journalist Elliot Ross , whose thoughtful work bridges storytelling, ecology, culture, and human rights across the American West. From growing up on a remote farm in Colorado to assisting legends like Annie Leibovitz and Mark Seliger in New York, Elliot’s journey has taken him from the fashion world to remote caves, whe...

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, we’re joined by New York photographer Angela Cappetta . A lifelong documentarian, Angela Cappetta's work captures the depth and nuance of everyday life with bold honesty and vibrant storytelling. Angela shares the journey from her earliest photos as a child to her years working under icons like Mary Ellen Mark and Arthur Elgort to her celebrated long-term proje...

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, we sit down with Michael Wriston , a Baltimore-based street portrait and long-exposure photographer whose work captures the soul of the city—one person, one building, one streetlight at a time. Michael shares how photography became a grounding force in his life during military night shifts and how it evolved into a way of deeply connecting with the world around...

In this episode of the Foto Podcast, documentary photojournalist  Justin Hamel  shares the incredible stories behind his work on the U.S.–Mexico border. From his early days exploring abandoned buildings in Pennsylvania to documenting the realities of migration, law enforcement, and energy production in Texas, Justin’s photography is grounded in empathy, persistence, and a commitment to truth. We t...

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Gervin , a documentary photographer from Portland, Maine, whose raw and unfiltered work captures the unseen side of city life. Nick shares his journey from overcoming two traumatic brain injuries to using photography as a tool for recovery and self-expression. We dive deep into his decade-long project, Portlanders , his thoughts on documentary photography, th...

In this episode, Michael Howard sits down with renowned large-format photographer and 2024 Guggenheim Fellow Lisa Elmaleh. Lisa shares her journey into large-format photography, her decision to trade Brooklyn for a remote cabin in West Virginia, and her powerful work documenting life along the U.S.-Mexico border. She opens up about the challenges migrants face, the humanity behind immigration, and...

In this episode, we dive deep into the growing discussion about AI and its impact on photography. We cover the potential benefits of AI in visual recognition and image labeling, the ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated images, and the complexities of ensuring creators' rights and consent. With real-world examples and thoughtful analysis, we explore the technical and philosophical nuances of A...

Daniels' Website - https://shifter.media/ Daniel Milnor, the Creative Ambassador for Blurb , delves into his journey from a photographer to his role at Blurb over 13 years. He discusses his unexpected entry into photography and his transition from traditional photography practices to embracing modern challenges and opportunities, such as AI and digital technology. The conversation spans topics fro...

Welcome to the Foto Podcast! I’m thrilled to introduce Margaret Warren as a tech advisor here at Foto. Margaret has an incredible background in metadata, digital innovation, and image management, and today, we’re diving into how her expertise is shaping Foto’s future. We’ll be discussing everything from the role of metadata in preserving image context and discoverability to the importance of user...

This Foto Podcast Episode is an update from Michael Howard on where Foto development stands as of April 2024. Michael discusses Foto's different funding strategies over the next 6-8 months and what new features will be released in the next 1-2 months. Subscribe to the Foto Podcast on Apple and Spotify. Foto Site - https://fotoapp.co Foto Substack - https://fotoapp.substack.com Get full access to F...

Hey Everyone! This is episode 12 of the Foto Podcast. In this episode, I share where progress is at with Foto, what we need to add before we go public, when we plan on launching Foto to the world, and our philosophy for raising capital to help grow the Foto team. Thank you for listening and for supporting what we are building! We are so grateful for your interest and feedback as we continue to mov...

Welcome to the Foto Podcast. This episode features Greg Miller. In this episode, Greg takes us on a mesmerizing journey as he shares his unique experiences and insights into his artistic process. From capturing the essence of New York City streets to the delicate art of connecting with subjects, Greg reveals the stories and emotions that lie beneath the surface of his extraordinary photographs. Li...