Episode #177: Albert Watson / Photographer

Renowned mountain bike photographer Sven Martin joins the podcast to talk about the journey from his early days as a pro skateboarder, to racing downhill mountain bikes, to transitioning into a full time photographer and all the adventures in between.  Growing up in South Africa, Sven's father had a camera in his hand at an early age and helped him develop a skillset, along with his mother's keen eye for composition, that would serve him well as he moved through his own passion for surfing, skateboarding, and eventually mountain biking.  During our conversation Sven tells stories of skateboarding with Tony Hawk and Ed Templeton, as well as his early photography work for Thrasher Magazine and how his girlfriend (now wife) Anka would eventually lead him towards the mountain bike world, what his schedule is like covering the world cup race circuit, how things have changed over the years with the advent of new technology and so many more shooters on the scene, how he has managed to stay so stoked on the sport after all these years, and the advice he gives to others rising up through the ranks of actions sports photography.   To Learn More About Sven Martin Visit: https://www.instagram.com/svenmartinphoto/ To Watch the Short Film About Sven Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d0lBJiowAY To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: https://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/

Filmmaker and artist David Donnelly joins the podcast to talk about his newest documentary film "The Cost of Convenience" that sheds light on the pervasive impact of surveillance capitalism on our privacy, autonomy, and democracy.  David has spent many years creating documentary films in the classical music realm, but when Covid came along and shut down the live performance spaces he was so accustomed to, he found himself exploring the exponential rise in the dependence of social media platforms and other spaces that exploded during the pandemic. When he set out with a goal of documenting our addiction to this technology, he had no idea of the massive story that would begin to unfold of the other nefarious aspects hiding in plane site, and how his film would adapt to try and tell a much broader story over years of work and countless days of travel.  During our conversation we discuss the last analog generation that we both come from, the inability for people to just be bored and how that is affecting creativity, the conversation that needs to be had about the future of social media, and so much more.   To Learn More About David Donnelly Visit: https://theculturemonster.com To Learn More About the Film "The Cost of Convenience" Visit: https://costofconvenience.film To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: https://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/ And YouTube At: www.youtube.com/@visualrevolutionary

Photographer and Fujifilm Ambassador Alison Conklin joins the show to tell her inspiring story of perseverance after a doctor gave her the news that she had 6 months to live if she didn't get a new heart, and the transplant surgery that would soon follow and give her a new lease on life and a new appreciation for the selfless kindness of strangers.  During our conversation Alison tells me how the tragic death of her mom at age 14 would end up leading her into a love of photography that she shared with her father, how she built her career as an amazing wedding photographer, how all the challenging events in her life have given her a true appreciation for the present moment, and the advice she gives to others trying to find their own path.  It's a beautiful story that will inspire you to appreciate all the things you already have.   To Learn More About Alison Conklin Visit: https://www.alisonconklin.com And Follow Her On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/alisonconklin/ To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: https://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/  

Photographer, journalist, trauma nurse, wildland firefighter, and all around badass Alex Pottter joins the podcast to talk about her journey from growing up in a small town in the midwest to living and working in Yemen and throughout the middle east as a photojournalist, to working as a trauma nurse on the front lines of the war in Mosul, to her years as a wildland firefighter and all the adventures in between.  During our conversation Alex tells me what it was like traveling through the middle east as a young woman and the purpose she found in the region, the tragic loss of her husband Pete Reed who she met and worked alongside in Mosul, the importance of being present with the ones you love, and the advice she gives to others looking to find their own purpose and adventure.  To Learn More About Alex Potter Visit: https://www.alexkaypotter.com/#1 And Follow Her On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/alexkpotter/ To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: https://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/ And YouTube At: www.youtube.com/@visualrevolutionary    

Photographer/Director Krystle Wright returns to the podcast to talk about the new National Geographic series "Photographer" premiering on March 18th where she is featured alongside an amazing list of other photographers.  We also catch up on what she's been up to since she was last on the show, talk honestly and openly about her financial struggles in the last year and how that had her questioning her future in photography, why she is so drawn to storm chasing, what was behind her award winning photo for the Red Bull Illume contest, her thoughts towards AI and social media, and so much more.   To Learn More About Krystle Wright Visit: https://www.krystlewright.com And Follow Her On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/krystlejwright/ To Watch Her Short Film for Leica Visit: https://vimeo.com/815244399 To Learn More About National Geographic's "Photographer" Visit: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/shows/photographer To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: https://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/ And YouTube At: www.youtube.com/@visualrevolutionary  

Ed Templeton joins the podcast to talk about how he went from being one of the most influential street skaters of his generation to showcasing his paintings and photography in highly respected galleries and collections.  Although Ed's story has been told many times in some great interviews and documentaries, I get the chance to trace his history of growing up in Orange County in a fairly tough family situation and how that eventually led him to skateboarding.  For those who aren't familiar with Ed Templeton, his influence to the world of skateboarding is undeniable and in 2016 he was inducted into the skateboarding hall of fame.  But this conversation dives into how his skate career led him into the world of painting and photography and some of the early relationships with people like Aaron Rose and Alleged Gallery that would help push him into the national spotlight as an artist.  During our talk I get the chance to ask Ed what attracts him so much to the daily habit of street photography and constantly chasing another image, what he's learned about the human condition after years of closely observing others, what it is about skateboarding that leads so many to a creative life, and the advice he gives to those out there chasing their own dreams of living creatively. So sit back and enjoy this conversation with one of the most requested guests I've had.   To Learn More About Ed Templeton Visit: http://ed-templeton.com And Follow Him on Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/ed.templeton/ To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: http://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/  

Commercial photographer/director Kevin Zacher returns to the podcast to catch up on how life and business have changed since we last talked during Covid, how the industry is bouncing back and the changes that have come with it, how he approached some of his personal projects like "Dirt Football" that was recently published, how he manages to keep such a youthful vibe to his work as he gets older, what it's like working with high school athletes for a commercial campaign, how having a son changed him as a photographer and a person, his feelings towards new gear and film photography, and how going through his old snowboard archive in preperation for a book has made him reflect on his own evolution as an artist.  We also discuss his newest offering as a mentor and consultant, working closely with other photographers and directors in order to try and help them realize their own goals.   To Learn More About Kevin Zacher Visit: https://www.kevinzacher.com And Follow Him On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/kevinzacher/ To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: https://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/ And YouTube At: www.youtube.com/@visualrevolutionary  

Commercial and adventure photographer, director, and writer Jeff Johnson returns to the podcast to talk about all the changes that have happened in his life and career since he was last on the show in 2017, his beautiful new film that he co-directed with Keith Malloy for Yeti Presents "Beyond Sunset", what it was like to leave Patagonia after years of employment and venture back out into the freelance world, how his book "Way High Kick Turn" that chronicled the 80s skate scene of the east bay came to fruition, getting to help create his own signature shoe with SeaVees, working with brands like Yeti and Roark to help create organic storytelling that helps to market a brand and a vibe, how having a family later in life has helped him as a husband and a father, and what's next on his wish list of travel and work.   To Learn More About Jeff Johnson Visit: http://www.jeffjohnsonstories.com And Follow Him On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/jeffjohnson_beyondandback/ To Watch Beyond Sunset Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrJz_nkXxnw To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: https://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/ And YouTube At: www.youtube.com/@visualrevolutionary  

Photographer and host of The Photo Banter podcast Alex Gagne returns for round two of "Visual Banter" where we catch up on what we've been up to since we spoke last year, some of the podcasts we've been listening to, the challenges of trying to maintain a weekly show while also making a living as a working photographer, new technology that both frightens and excites us, how meditation can help creativity, and what's in store for the new year.   To Learn More About Alex Gagne Visit: https://www.alexgagnephoto.com And Follow Him On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/alexgagnephoto/ To Listen to The Photo Banter Visit: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-photo-banter/id1315846850 And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/thephotobanter/ To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: https://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/  

Scott Ballew joins the podcast to talk about his inspiring creative evolution.  From his early days on the football fields of Texas that would ultimately lead to a Rose Bowl appearance, to working his way up from PA to Executive Producer on the commercial and film sets of LA, to returning to Austin to help create beautiful films for Yeti in his role as head of content, to directing his own documentaries and short films, to recording multiple albums and joining the amazing roster at La Honda Records, and how all the life experience in between continues to help feed his desire to never stop creating.  During our conversation we talk about his battle with drug and alcohol addiction and how sobriety and an amazing mentor in legendary musician Terry Allen would convince him to start putting his stories to music and, at the age of 37, become such a prolific songwriter that 3 albums would follow over the next 3 years on top of the whirlwind schedule of filmmaking that continues to this day.  We also discuss our shared experience of trying to fill the spiritual void after getting clean from opiates, the daily practice of creation he learned from Terry and how he goes about trying to connect with "The Muse", what he's learned from years of pointing the camera at so many inspiring characters, and the advice he gives to others on their own creative journey.  To Learn More About Scott Ballew Visit: https://www.leisurerodeo.com And Follow Him On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/irish_goodbye/ To Watch The Film "Leisure Rodeo" Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65vd-PjEBnY To Watch The Film "Can You See Me Smiling" Visit: https://youtu.be/pEkWxtLjD-4?si=STapuHWFnhdQ5MVX To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit: https://www.visualrevolutionary.com And Follow On Instagram At: https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/ And YouTube At: http://www.youtube.com/@visualrevolutionary