Staying In Focus Photography Podcast

Behold the power of the internet and technology! After a myriad of technical issues, super star mobile photographer Star Rush and I FINALLY get to chat about a myriad of subjects, ranging from what has brought on her signature photographic style, the state of photography today, and why she prefers black and white over color. We also get into her online photography magazine, Lys Foto, and what caused her to leave the highly influential Mobile Photo Group. This episode is brought to you by Manfrotto! Click the banner ad on my website to get 10% off your next order at Manfrotto!

What ever would possess a man to leave the thrilling life of an accountant to become a fulltime photographer? Beats me, but that's what I find out from my conversation with Glenn Orion. We chat about going from a business degree in the States turned into the junior editor and in-house photographer in the Philippines, as well as developing your own style and what it's like to shoot Filipino A-listers. All while at a movie theater. So bring your popcorn and enjoy the show!

A funny thing happened on my way to the email. I received one from one Robb Hohmann, talented photo enthusiast, who was just laid off from his job. Amidst much consideration, he's looking for a career - and life - change, and is contemplating pursuing photography as a fulltime gig. He asked for my advice, and I said under one condition: we record a show. And because he's an extremely nice and upstanding fellow, he agreed.

One year! 50 episodes! Holy crap! Who knew I'd be able to keep this thing up and running for over 365 days?! (I certainly didn't) Noe Todorovich guest hosts my 50th Episode/One-Year Anniversary show, as I catch up with some of the podcast alumni, answer a few questions, philosophize and hypothesize about photography, and figure out where the hell I'm going from here. Happy day!

It's a brand new year of podcasting for your ears! And with the recent announcement of the DCist Exposed winners, what better way to start the year off than a chat with Heather Goss, former Managing and Arts Editor of DCist and founder of DCist Exposed. We get down and dirty about how the DCist Exposed show came about and this year's winning entries, as well as how blogging led her away from a life in a law firm to being a major player in promoting art in DC.

From the other side of the globe, I meet up with Mobile Photo Group founder and world-renowned mobile photographer activist Misho Baranovic (through the powers of Skype, that is). I find out how he got involved in commercial work, the beginnings of the Mobile Photo Group, and what "Misho" is all about. I also learn about his recently-released iPhone Photography e-book and his experiences with World Vision: India. Meanwhile, "it's time to evolve," I say in my opening rant.

Twelve twelve twelve! The episode so nice, the date arrived thrice! Washington, D.C., wedding photographer extraordinaire Moshe Zusman invites me to his studio to talk about how a dog got him into photography, life from Israel to the States, lighting in a wedding, and the business side of photography (and how he was able to figure it all out). Meanwhile, I plead with you all to stop being safe and be interesting.

Aloha from the island of Oahu! Ok, that was kitschy... let's try this again: Marita Hodges joins me by the beach as we talk about how she ended up living in Hawaii after growing up in Oregon, what island life is like, how she's able to stand out from the overdone postcard images and create nothing but awesome, and what her fears are about street and wedding photography. Plus, does she get island fever? And will she ever leave paradise? Meanwhile, I suggest - nay, command! - you try out mobile photography.

Turkey, football, and podcasts! World-renowned and award-winning photojournalist Ed Kashi takes a time out from his visit to DC to chat. We get into how he got started in photography after initially pursuing a writing career, as well as the life of a photojournalist, his latest project, ​Photojournalisms​, and how he finds captivating stories to tell. Plus, what does it take to get magazines like National Geographic, New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, and Time to accept your story proposal? Meanwhile, I figure out what I'm thankful for in a year worthy of a lot of thanks.

It's a very zen-like episode this week as I chat with Washington, D.C., landscape photographer Navin Sarma. I find out what his obsession is with nature and how he feels in touch with his surroundings, as well as getting into more about shooting what makes you feel something and expressing yourself through photography. We also get into what his insightfulness is all about and battling the market to create and sell your images in unique and imaginative ways. Meanwhile, I give a shout out to the bullies.

Trying to cure my election hangover, I sit down with freelance, editorial, and political photographer Messay Shoakena. I discover how he got picked up by the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, and posts and tons of posts. I learn about how he grew up in countries like Ethiopia, Madagascar, Kenya, and Cameroon, and he shares stories and from his street shoots. Meanwhile, I distract myself from the nerve-wracking election results by venting about FotoWeek DC.

I return from San Francisco with a lot on my mind, and because I have a microphone and a radio show, I get to let it all out in this week's episode. I discuss my love for San Francisco and how reserved I am about that love for San Francisco, the next best thing for the photography business, and I begin my search for the film camera of my dreams. Plus, I respond to an email from a quitter, and InstantDC + FotoWeek DC = Controversy?

Film buff (well, in the sense that she's phenomenal at the film medium) Angela Kleis rocks the mic and chats about writing for the Smithsonian Studio Arts blog while schooling me in the world of film. We also discuss why she likes her photos to make the viewer "uncomfortable" and the trending sensation of making digital images "film-like". Meanwhile, I get excited about VSCO Keys as I surface from beneath the rock I was living under and talk all about it!

I took a trip in the way back machine to… well, just about a year ago. But nonetheless, I was very excited I got to reunite with one of my Union 206 buddies, Arnold Barr. I find out what he's been up to lately while we chat about his travels to Europe and South Korea and photography philosophy, which makes me question my own views on the industry. Meanwhile, I reflect on the importance of having a photography community.

Friend of the podcast James Campbell hangs out to chat with me again, but this time, he says he's got some questions he wants to ask me. Oh really? I'm not sure what he's going to ask, but... well, let's see what he's got in store! We can maybe discuss more about the upcoming InstantDC event for Foto Week DC, or maybe delve into his organized, motivated, determined mind. Or perhaps we can get into more personal matters this times. Meanwhile, I gloat about winning a bet that benefits one of my lucky winners. Maybe.