The Photowalk

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we often discuss on Fridays, including perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence, and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, providing a creative reset to start the week. From Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, is it ageing, or maturity? Either way, I don't know if I like it! My sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

Today, I walk in London with the philosophical YouTuber Sean Tucker, who shares his thoughts on what makes great street photography and the deeper philosophies behind the genre. Along the way, he talks about what he’s learned from years of making pictures and teaching others to see more clearly. Also joining us is Valérie Jardin, street photographer and mentor, in Teach Me Street. She answers questions about the art of candid photography and offers practical advice on how to approach it with confidence. Also from the mailbag, Michael Mixon reflects on the future while photographing in his parents’ home, and Phil Paine shares a newly self-published photographic journal after a career spent in television. Mark Mackay experiments with seeing the world as if through a camera without ever lifting one, while Mike Miller explores the surprising similarities between streets photographed with people and those without. There’s news of our new end-of-year competition, and we have a fresh one-word assignment. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we often discuss on Fridays, including perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence, and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, providing a creative reset to start the week. From Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Photographing with the eyes, who'd have thought it? My sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

On the show today: Brad Carr’s photography isn’t just about making beautiful landscape pictures and being out in nature, it’s about a sense of catharsis, healing and even survival. Growing up in a violent, abusive home left scars that still echo today, but the camera became his way back to himself. What started with borrowing his sister’s camera has grown into a profession and, more importantly, a lifeline. In this episode, Brad shares how landscapes, ancient oaks, and the act of making photographs have helped him create, steadying a life once marked by turmoil. In today’s mailbag: a letter from Patrick Gerke with poetry and reflections on photography as pure escapism, plus street photographer Ann Luu-Trong shares her “why.” Complaints Corner is open again, and this time it’s my maths under fire (nobody told me adding up was part of the job description!) There’s news of a brand-new end-of-year competition, and it’s the final call to take part in Ibarionex’s September One Word Assignment. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we often discuss on Fridays, including perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence, and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, providing a creative reset to start the week. From Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, the rain falls gently on my window (thanks to YouTube) to remind me of the importance of sound. My sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

The 500th episode! I'm joined by our community, walkers from across the UK, to walk across an open common that used to be one of the most feared nuclear airbases in the UK, which these days is often the muse for the Photowalk. Grab your camera and a good pair of walking shoes, we're going on a very special walk together! Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we often discuss on Fridays, including perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence, and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, providing a creative reset to start the week. From Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, the way we talk to ourselves, the words we choose to use. My sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

It’s a street-focused week in terms of our guests, as Street Photography Magazine’s creator Bob Patterson, and candid street photographer Valérie Jardin join me. More than ten years ago, Bob took a chance on an idea: a digital magazine dedicated to street photography. What began as an experiment on Apple’s Newsstand is still here today, Street Photography Magazine. In this episode, we hear how it grew from a simple start into a space where photographers from around the world share work, ideas, and community. And Valérie is back to answer more of your questions in TEACH ME STREET. From the mailbag, Axel Trapp shares his new postcard project, Hannah Gimblett reflects on the strength of photography in the face of personal adversity, and Robin Chun talks of self-publishing. Plus, Jason Burton brings a story of patience, tying neatly into this month’s One Word Assignment set by Ibarionex Perello. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we often discuss on Fridays, including perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence, and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, providing a creative reset to start the week. From Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, rain. Does it stop photographic play, or is it a wonderful tool from which to make even more expressive photographs? My sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

In this episode, I sit down with Dewitt Jones, one of America’s most respected photographers and storytellers. A former National Geographic shooter and sought-after keynote speaker, Dewitt has spent a lifetime turning his lens toward creativity, vision, and the pursuit of possibility. At a time when the world feels unsettled, his words and images carry a message of hope and perspective that couldn’t be more timely. We discuss what photography has taught him about seeing the world differently and how choosing to look for the best in life can be a daily act of courage. From the mailbag, John Kenny reflects on change, Christopher Parsons shares a brilliant year-end feature idea, Adriano Henney is avoiding cappucino after 11am, there’s news on Fujikina tickets in London, and we reveal both the winner of last month’s One Word Assignment and the new word set by former guest Ibarionex Perello. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we often discuss on Fridays, including perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence, and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, providing a creative reset to start the week. From Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, expertise. Has it replaced good 'ole-fashioned expertise? My sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

Former guest, photojournalist Claire Thomas, joins me to talk about her first monograph, Altai: Hunters and Herders of Mongolia. Her book captures life in the remote mountains of western Mongolia, where Kazakh families train golden eagles, herd animals across vast plains, and balance centuries-old traditions with the realities of modern change. Then, in a complete change of direction for the second part of our chat, Claire speaks about her documentary and advocacy work in northern Ghana, documenting women accused of witchcraft who are forced into bleak camps, and her fundraiser to provide mattresses for those who currently sleep on bare ground. From the mailbag today, Adriano Henney writes about publishing your work and why it matters, Bob of the desert dodges those jumping cholla in Arizona while sending in one of the most honest letters I’ve read in a long while, and Gavin Perry heads for Complaints Corner, or at least he would, if we hadn’t effectively cancelled his flight. All will be revealed. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we so often talk about on Fridays: perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, like a creative reset to start the week, and from Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, travelling light with your kit: one camera, one notepad and a sound recorder thingie. All links will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

In this episode, I revisit conversations with two remarkable photographers whose work and generosity have left lasting impressions. Steve Shipman, who we lost in 2018, built a career capturing portraits for newspapers, magazines, and leading corporate clients, later turning his lens toward weddings, social photography, street photography and legacy family projects. His archive reads like an A-to-Z of notable figures, with some of his portraits now held in the National Portrait Gallery’s archive in London. Charlie Waite has spent decades shaping how we see the British and international landscape, his work marked by a painter’s eye for light, form, and balance. Through books, exhibitions, and teaching, he has encouraged countless photographers to truly observe. Charlie’s warmth and openness have made him a guiding presence for many in the photographic community, with an influence that goes well beyond his own work. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we so often talk about on Fridays: perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, like a creative reset to start the week, and from Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, I reflect upon those places I'd like to photograph, one in particular, that is certainly off the menu. All links will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

In this episode, I walk with woodland and street photographer Mali Davies through the winding paths of Savernake Forest, a place steeped in centuries of history. Beneath the canopy of ancient oaks and beeches, we talk about the role forests have played in Britain’s story, and why their protection has never been more important. Mali shares the practical kit he relies on for photographing in woodland, his thoughts on composition, and the small details that bring these vast, living spaces to life in an image. It’s a conversation about history, craft, and the quiet beauty of trees that have stood watch for hundreds of years. We also talk about the importance of family, a special pilgrimage to the top of a mountain fell in the Lake District and how street photography is becoming an important outlet to him too. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we so often talk about on Fridays: perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, like a creative reset to start the week, and from Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, I reflect upon advice given by the late portrait and social photographer, Steve Shipman. Further thoughts on the subject from Paul Hutson. All links will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

I was walking along a stretch of my favourite canal path about a month ago with the barking machine and my good friend, documentary photographer Giles Penfound, when we encountered Dale Thomas running toward us. Usually, runners are reasonably head-down and on a mission, except Dale wasn’t.  He wore a running top promoting the Ollie Young Foundation and was happy to stop briefly to talk about the cause. What came from our ten-minute chat convinced me that he had several human stories to share. And while he’s not a photographer, Dale is certainly an encounter, and I’m always championing encounters as those magic, serendipitous moments where we connect, maybe make a portrait, and talk about life. So, Dale is today’s guest, with a story about community, a race across the desert that, in many ways, saved his life, and an outlook shaped not by medals or miles, but by a belief that life is for living, fully, curiously, and with your family never far from your heart. Also from the mailbag, Johann van der Walt, artisan camera bag maker and, frankly, my new best friend, and like London buses, another Johan appears! Johan Rispling is here to ask whether photographers are secretly moonlighting as painters, poets, or pianists, and Andrew Scriven checks in from Andalusia via Covent Garden. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

Today’s Photowalk show guest is Ibarionex Perello, a photographer, writer, educator, and the long-standing host of The Candid Frame podcast, one of the most respected and enduring shows in photography. With over 25 years in the photographic industry and more than 600 episodes under his belt, he’s interviewed legends like Jay Maisel, Mary Ellen Mark, and Joel Meyerowitz. In this conversation, we talk about his thoughtful approach to podcasting, what he listens for in a guest, and why the best conversations don’t follow scripts. We also discuss life after loss, as he reflects on the devastating LA fires that destroyed his family's home and studio. And, of course, we talk photography, the way he sees, the way he teaches, and the very personal reasons he still makes pictures. Also on the show and from the mailbag, Matthies Wesche is about to dangle precariously from his seat, photographing people who believe it’s more fun to jump out of aeroplanes than sit back and enjoy the complimentary wine and molten-hot Thermo Lasagne Surprise, and Chris Articulate returns with thoughts on one YouTube channel, Sony cameras, and this podcast! We’ve got news about a rustic workshop, so brush off your tents, shake out the spiders, and mark some dates in your diary, plus Gary Ramage invites you to take part in the One Word Assignment. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

In this episode, recorded in London, I meet up with friend and photojournalist Marissa Roth, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer whose career spans decades of visual storytelling. We talk about what might be a photographer’s greatest superpower: vulnerability. From her early days at the LA Times to her long-form global project One Person Crying: Women and War, Marissa shares how empathy, courage, and an open heart have shaped her work in conflict zones and beyond. Now building a new life in Europe, she reflects on what it means to start again, to carry stories across borders, and to stay true to the deeper reasons we pick up a camera in the first place. Also, today, Gary Ramage invites you to take part in the One Word Assignment for July. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.