On Taking Pictures

This week, Bill’s recent musical interlude inspires a discussion around how embarrassment and fear can paralyze us, more than just creatively. Also, the practice of practice and who owns your likeness and for how long? Iconic fashion shooter Mario Testino is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we talk about projects, specifically long-term projects and how the full value of them (on both sides) often isn’t fully realized until you’re well down the timeline. Also, who decides what art is important, or even good for that matter? Should “good art” (whatever that means) define the current culture or reflect it? Plus, 19th century French photographer Charles Marville is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we remember icon Saul Leiter and discuss not only legacy but intent and what it means to live and create with purpose. Who gets to decide what work (if any) is important? Plus, we talk a little about tools, including the new crop of 4K displays on the horizon. Ethnologist and photographer of the American West and of Native American peoples Edward Curtis is our PotW.

This week, we gear out a little (just a little) and talk about light, specifically the subtleties and how much they may or may not affect your end product. Also, we talk about funding projects. Should you pony up the cash, or is crowd-funding a possible solution? Plus, user-suggested Photographer of the Week, portrait shooter Martin Schoeller.

This week, should exceptional talent be a gift or a chore? Does what you do have to feed your soul to be important, or is just doing the work enough? Also, when are too many options not a good thing? Plus, we discuss the new documentary “Everybody Street” and Tim Flach is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, thank yous and follow up to last week’s episode. How do we decide what we do and don’t want creatively? Is a hard-coded trajectory helpful, or merely another distraction you need to adhere to? Also, we talk about an interesting article by Kirk Tuck and a really great interview with our Photographer of the Week, Walker Evans.

This week, synchronicity and the beauty of moments. Bill recaps his whirlwind trip to Italy and we discuss why seeing art in person is better than seeing it through a viewfinder. Model turned photographer, Lee Miller is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, the importance of heroes and how being inspired by one can make you feel like a kid again. Also, are you shooting for the present or for posterity? Plus, we talk about an interesting performance art piece and the intention behind it. Greg Heisler’s former boss, Arnold Newman, is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we tackle some great questions from you, the listeners, about topics ranging from personal and professional goals to social media and where we find inspiration outside of photography. We also try to find the line between art and porn. Plus, National Geographic wildlife photographer Paul Nicklen is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we talk about the creative work we do and why we do it. What draws you to the art you make: love or fear? Where does social media fit into the new “sharing” (read:free) economy? Plus, iconic photojournalist W. Eugene Smith is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we discuss mentors and community. Whatever happened to someone taking you under their wing? Is learning from one person different, or better, than learning from a collective? Also, we talk a little about some of the fantastic projects you are posting to the Google+ group. Plus, as a nod to Bill’s new Fuji x100s, Henri Cartier-Bresson is our Photographer of the Week.

We’ve got a big show this week, beginning with a little follow up on last week’s discussion about branding and websites, specifically writing. We also talk about practice...does practice really make perfect or just better? Plus, we answer several of your emails and questions from the G+ Community. Edward Burtynsky is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we’re chewing on the the idea of you as your brand and we’re talking blogs, logos, portfolios and more. What do you expect from your online presence and how do you know when you’ve got it right? We also gear out a little as Bill considers a new camera for his upcoming vacation. Plus, brilliant portrait photographer Nigel Parry is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we wrestle with creativity; is making something “good” a struggle? If it’s not, are you doing something wrong? Plus a listener sends in a great list of things to help you find your purpose. We also walk the line between art and pornography (and wonder whether the government should pay for it) with our Photographer of the Week, Robert Mapplethorpe.

This week, we follow up on our previous discussion about location. We also look at making art (or content) as a lifestyle, rather than an end game. Plus, we tackle a great question for a listener: How do you know when to go pro and what does that really mean anyway? Dramatic black & white street photography, courtesy of Ray Metzger, our Photographer of the Week.

Are you following a straight line or tacking an irregular course? Is one more effective than the other, providing you can see True North? What is the real value in a life spent making art? Plus, Russian photographer and graphic designer, Alexander Rodchenko is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we’re talking film; both the technical side and the aesthetics. Is film as close as we’ll get to alchemy, or is it merely a placebo to look back on happier times? Also, cameras are better than they’ve ever been, so why isn’t there more great work? If you’re a fan of Art Deco and Fritz Lang, you’re going to love the work of our Photographer of the Week, Czech shooter, Frantisek Drtikol.

The week, who are you presenting to the world, you, or a manufactured version of you? Also, all roads lead to film when Bill borrows a Leica M7. Plus, what’s the difference between collecting and curating? Artist-slash-photographer, Vic Muniz sparks some interesting discussion on the nature of art as our Photographer of the Week.

This week, we celebrate looking at work through the eyes of an amateur. Also towards the end of the show, we hit upon a somewhat profound revelation about art and bicycling. Plus, Art Streiber is our Photographer of the Week.

This week, how do you gauge whether or not the work you do is authentic? What do you do when good isn’t good enough or how much to you chalk up to timing? Also, should you be held accountable for the consistency of the art you create? Plus, brilliant fashion and fine art photographer, Lillian Bassman is our Photographer of the Week.