Photo Forward

Photo Forward is MOVING (A Quick Announcement)

Hello everyone and welcome to the Photo Forward Podcast, I’m your host Ben Brewer. Today, as you might have gathered from the title and a bit of irregularity in the schedule recently is more an announcement and some housekeeping than one of our usual deep-dive interviews with photographers, videographers and visual creators.

So, as some of you might have known, for the past 6 years, I’ve been based out of Madison, Wisconsin. And as much as I’ve loved living in the Cheesehead state, sometimes it’s simply the right set of life circumstances at the right moment to make a leap of faith and relocate geographically. So, spoiler alert: I’ve moved!

I’ve made the decision to move back across the border to my home state of Minnesota to continue to grow my freelance work and if I’m being honest, take some steps to grow personally.

So what does that mean for Photo Forward. In short, it’s going to be pretty much business as usual. The Podcast will continue with a renewed focus on bringing on exciting, creative, and inspiring guests...with one caveat. As you all I’m sure are aware: Moving on its own is a long, stressful, and time-consuming process — and adding in relocating a business and home office doesn’t make it much simpler. So for all of you that have been Jonesing for new Photo Forward episodes this last month, I wanted to apologize for the lack of updated content. This podcast project has meant a hell of a lot to me this past year and your support and listenership has been a huge driving force along the way.

So, in short: New Photo Forward episodes are ON THEIR WAY, but you’ll have to be a bit patient. I’ll be giving plenty of updates (be sure to follow @BBrewerPhoto on the socials) as we “re-launch” the podcast in my new state. I can’t wait to keep producing the series and look forward to having you (and all your friends) along for the ride in 2019 and beyond.

So, as always — Keep seeing, keep shooting, and keep putting your best Photo Forward. Cheers everyone.

LISTEN ON APPLE / LISTEN ON STITCHER / LISTEN ON SPOTIFY



SCOTT STRAZZANTE // Shooting from the Hip (#002)

SCOTT STRAZZANTE

Scott Strazzante (@scottstrazzante) is a former POY/NPPA National Newspaper Photographer of the Year, an 11-time Illinois Photographer of the Year and was part of a Chicago Tribune team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for investigative journalism.

You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

After spending the first 27 years of his career at Chicago newspapers, including 13 at the Chicago Tribune, Scott Strazzante joined the photography staff at the San Francisco Chronicle in 2014. Scott’s personal project, Common Ground, has been featured in National Geographic, Mother Jones, New York Times’ Lens Blog and on CBS Sunday Morning. The 23-year-long effort, which has won BOP’s Best Feature Video and POYi’s Community Awareness Award, became his first book with PSG. And, In October 2017, Scott’s second book- “Shooting from the Hip-” was released. The book consists of iPhone Hipstamatic snaps from around the USA.

In this episode, we dive in deep on the practicals of getting started and staying motivated on a VERY long term documentary project, how a kid from the South side of Chicago got connected with some of the greatest photographers out there, and why getting creatively bored is the best way to rethink your photographic style and technique.

Enjoy! 

LISTEN ON APPLE / LISTEN ON STITCHER / LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

WATCH ON YOUTUBE:

PHOTOS FROM THE EPISODE: COMING SOON

QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments!

SHOW NOTES: COMING SOON



JEROME POLLOS // Don't be trendy; Be timeless (#001)

JEROME POLLOS

Jerome Pollos (@TheRomer) is an award-winning Northwest photojournalist specializing in documentary work, weddings and portraits for clients who love timeless, candid moments.

You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

Joining the U.S. Navy right out of high school as a self-described "troublemaker", he was sent to journalism school in Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, studying broadcast journalism, TV and radio; writing, and a two-week course on photojournalism — which he unceremoniously failed. After a deeply emotional photography assignment, while stationed in Washington, D.C., he saw the true power of photography and his love for the craft grew assignment by assignment. Pollos had an illustrious 13-year career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, but searching for greater creative control and financial freedom, took the freelance plunge in 2014. After a rocky start, he has excelled as an award-winning editorial, wedding, and portrait photographer in the Idaho and Northwest. 

When I was thinking of how best to start this weekly series, at first, I gravitated to the idea of interviewing a “big name” photographer, capitalize on their status and get listeners hooked from the get-go. But I realized early on that didn’t jibe with my whole philosophy for undertaking this – I’m in it for the long haul. Obviously I want to connect with incredible photojournalists the world over, but the soul and purpose of this show – educating photographers on the art of visual storytelling, from photographers with stories of their own that fascinate me.

So, when I stepped back to thinking about photographers with fascinating stories, unique philosophies, and with whom I’ve got a personal connection— it was actually pretty obvious who to invite first. My mentor and friend Jerome Pollos – who gave my career a massive kick-start at my first internship at the Coeur d’Alene Press back in 2010.

In this episode we unpack a ton of interesting stories about finding your visual style as a photographer, how to totally screw up a long-term documentary photo project, and making the earth-shattering move from a staff photographer position to a full-time freelancer (and not losing your mind and bank account in the process). I hope you guys get as much out of this listening as I did recording it.

Enjoy! 

LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS / LISTEN ON STITCHER / LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

WATCH ON YOUTUBE:

PHOTOS FROM THE EPISODE:

QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments!

SHOW NOTES

  • COMING SOON!