A SHOT podcast

A SHOT podcast previews the start of its second season, asks for donations and revisits Ep 016, in which photographer Gioncarlo Valentine speaks about his photo of a woman and her family in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Donate to help keep A SHOT podcast going.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Chris Buck about a photo he took in 1998 of Jay Z outside Marcy projects, where the rapper grew up. In the conversation, Chris considers the nature of the portrait as a self-portrait; reflects on his own “aggressive” approach; and weighs the value of making work that's interesting, rather than work that's flattering, as he wrestles with his feelings that this image of Jay Z might not actually be a successful one. See Chris' photo here.Donate to help keep A SHOT podcast going.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Jingyu Lin about a photo she took of Linda Zhang, chief engineer of the Ford F-150 electric truck, for the cover of Time magazine. In the conversation, Jingyu examines being pressed to work outside her comfort zone, details her decision-making when faced with technical difficulties and considers the ways in which her years as a full-time New York photo assistant inform her creative approach today.See Jingyu's photo here.Donate to help keep A SHOT podcast going.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Pat Martin about a photo he took of his biological father after not speaking to him for 10 years. In the conversation, Pat examines his fears and anxieties around making this image, explores the power dynamic inherent in taking someone's picture and considers whether a photo can be enough.See Pat's photo here.Donate to help keep A SHOT podcast going.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Josefina Santos about a photo she took of a man jumping into a body of water in Colombia. In the conversation, Josefina examines the drive behind her ongoing personal project exploring her mother's hometown, explores the role of memory in how a story can be told visually and considers the benefit of feeling like an outsider when taking photos.See Josefina's photo here.Donate to help keep A SHOT podcast going.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Valerie Chiang about a photo she took of a young woman in the backseat of a New York taxi. In the conversation, Valerie examines how a photograph can elevate the ordinariness of reality, details her process of executing a very specific idea for an image and considers why she's largely abandoned color.See Valerie's photo here.Donate to help keep A SHOT podcast going.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Maximilian Virgili about his portrait of a nonna in Tuscany, Italy, for a Zeit magazine story about wild boar as a culinary delicacy. In the conversation, Maximilian considers how travel helped unlock what he was interested in photographically, reflects on what it means to take a picture of someone that they might not want you to take, and examines why his images so often return to tabletop scenes of dining and drinking.See Maximilian’s photo here.Donate to help keep A SHOT podcast going.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Elizabeth Weinberg about a photo she took of Sir Patrick Stewart with a pit bull for Playboy magazine. In the conversation, Elizabeth breaks down the importance of maintaining her own lo-fi, spontaneous process on set, examines what an actor can bring to a photo shoot and considers how she’s able to unlock an image by controlling color.See Elizabeth’s photo here.Donate to help keep A SHOT podcast going.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Justin J. Wee about a photo he took for Bloomberg Businessweek's holiday gift guide this past year. In the conversation, Justin breaks down the laborious process of bringing his concept to life, examines the subversive nature of this image and considers the importance of centering queer and Asian bodies in his work.See Justin’s photo here.Donate to help keep A SHOT podcast going.

A SHOT podcast speaks with fashion photographer Alexander Saladrigas about a photo he took of a model flying a newspaper kite indoors for the luxury department store Nordstrom. In the conversation, Alexander explores conceptualizing and executing an advertising campaign, details the process of how he discovers an image on set and reflects on his ongoing creative collaboration with model and production designer Taja Feistner.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Gioncarlo Valentine about an image he took of a mother surrounded by her sons in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In the conversation, Gioncarlo examines the role of death in his work, reflects on his responsibility toward legacy and honor, and considers the impact of creating confrontational images.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photojournalist Natalie Keyssar about an image she took of two young dancers jumping a fence in Caracas, Venezuela. In the conversation, Natalie reflects on the balance between covering history and conveying context, considers the impact that ambiguity can have on how you tell a story and examines the journalistic reckoning that led her to dedicate herself to exploring Venezuela as a long-term project.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Todd Cole about a photo he took of his friend Ryan skateboarding in front of an outer-space background. In the conversation, Todd details his interest in creating a sublime representation of his friend, examines his own turn away from documentation and toward chasing a feeling, and considers the effect of the subconscious mind on photography.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Kennedi Carter about a photo she took of a couple in embrace in Hackensack, New Jersey. In the conversation, Kennedi explores her desire to create images of love in the aftermath of a relationship, discusses the importance of capturing moments of rest in her work and considers how photographing Beyoncé for the cover of British Vogue affects how she reflects on her personal projects.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Heather Hazzan about a photo she took of Riverdale star Cole Sprouse for Variety magazine. In the conversation, Heather breaks down her search for the "humanness" of her subjects, considers the struggle to maintain her own creative vision when working within a celebrity's existing brand, and examines how she balances imperfection, even as she continues to hone her craft and learn more as a photographer.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Jake Michaels about a photo he took of a group of Mennonite children in Belize. In the conversation, Jake considers his role in engaging with the community and subjects he photographs, reflects on the importance of observation and breaks down how he discovered the project for himself via Google-assisted online research.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Meredith Jenks about a photo she took of a model gazing out of a car window. In the conversation, Meredith reflects on how personal work feeds her career as a commercial artist, breaks down her in-the-moment decision-making and considers her desire for originality in an online world filled with imagery.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Grace Rivera about a photo she took of a man dressed in all red running through a desert in southeastern Oregon. In the conversation, Grace reflects on the importance of collaboration and creating photos during a transitional time in her career, considers the process of revisiting past work and breaks down how color informs her storytelling.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Miranda Barnes about a image she took of a young couple in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. In the conversation, Miranda examines the importance of creating work in her community, details how her camera of choice arose out of necessity, and recalls how she had to overcome her own hesitations and shyness to take this photo.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Daniel Dorsa about a portrait he took of US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2019. In the conversation, Daniel recalls the details of traveling to DC for the Rolling Stone magazine commission, examines how he was able to connect with the rising political star during their brief 20-minute shoot and reflects on how he balances intention when working in elements of chance.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Magdalena Wosinska about a self-portrait she took with her mom. In the conversation, Magda considers the value of impulse to creating an image, reflects on why she chooses to step in front of the camera in the pictures she makes and uncovers how being a photo subject has helped her mother express herself.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Ryan Pfluger about an image he took of a dog in a car outside an Oregon hot springs. In the conversation, Ryan examines this photo as a part of his road-trip series "The Passage," ponders the complex nature of loneliness in his work and considers what it means to take a photo of a dog in a car when you're a artist known for taking photos of people.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Kyle Johnson about an image he took of a mountain range near Bristol Bay, Alaska, while on assignment for Bloomberg Pursuits magazine. In the conversation, Kyle breaks down the ways in which tiny details can help create the narrative of a travel story, examines his use of scale as a way to hold a viewer's attention and reveals how his camera helped calm his nerves aboard a bumpy Alaskan flight.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Brad Ogbonna about an image he took of a group of children on the beach in Lomé, Togo. In the conversation, Brad discusses his travels throughout the countries of West Africa, considers the nature of vulnerability and joy in his work, and reflects on his need to document the world around him.

A SHOT podcast speaks with photographer Katie McCurdy about an image she took 12 years ago of her father during a visit to her grandmother's assisted-living facility. In the conversation, Katie recalls her love for her first camera, reflects on the power of photos as keepsakes and reveals how she found herself in the role of her father in this image.

A SHOT podcast speaks with LA-based photographer Erik Carter about his portrait of Layla James, taken at "Jolene," the non-binary, trans-inclusive strip night at Cheetah's in Los Angeles. Erik breaks down his documentary process, discusses the importance of eye contact and reveals how he finds inspiration in stillness.