F-Stop Collaborate and Listen - A Photography Podcast

For episode 496 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne welcomes Scotland-based landscape photographer Adam Bulley for a conversation about embracing presence in the field, the power of local exploration, and how Scotland’s moody light influences creative process. Adam Bulley shares insights from a decade photographing Edinburgh and surrounding landscapes, stressing the value of knowing your local terrain intimately in all weather conditions and avoiding creative frustration by responding to what draws your attention rather than chasing preconceived ideas. The discussion covers transitioning from rigid visualization to improvisational shooting, using detail and storytelling to build a robust portfolio, and addressing common workshop challenges—such as overthinking and self-doubt—with mindset shifts and playful experimentation. Together, Matt Payne and Adam Bulley recount on-the-ground anecdotes, from amusing Star Wars cosplay photo sessions to unexpected inspiration along Scottish roadsides. They offer strategies for nurturing creativity, learning to see in challenging light, overcoming expectation-driven disappointment, growing through mistakes, and leading supportive workshops. The episode closes with guidance for enjoying the photographic journey, building confidence, and workshop recommendations for aspiring photographers.

Links:

Get a copy of the Muench Workshops Destinations Magazine

Adam Bulley

James McCormack

Archie MacFarlane

Somhairle MacDonald

Matt Payne's Book, The Colorado Way

Support the show on Patreon

The Tripod Podcast

Scotland Workshop

00:00 Show Intro, Meet Adam Bulley
01:36 Edinburgh and Local Photography Philosophy
05:08 Intimacy with Place and Iconic Locations
11:31 Storytelling through Detail
13:31 Workshop Experiences and Learning to See
20:29 Creative Muscle and Constraints
35:13 Planning vs. Reacting in Fieldwork
45:53 Workshop Mindset and Growth
49:03 Learning Light and Woodland Photography
58:02 Building Fun and Community through Workshops
65:05 Guest Recommendations, Closing Remarks

For episode 495 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, Matt Payne welcomes Bill Fox, poet, author of 16 nonfiction books, and founder of the Institute for Art and Environment at the Nevada Museum of Art. Bill Fox, whose wide-ranging work explores how humans transform space into place, shares decades of insight from documenting and collaborating with photographers, artists, and scientists in extreme environments like Antarctica, the Atacama Desert, and the Arctic.

Fox describes the neurologically rich processes behind how we perceive new landscapes, and how our evolved cognitive patterns both serve and limit us. He introduces the concept of “cultural prosthesis”—tools, art, and narrative—as means humans use to adapt when faced with environments beyond our biology’s capacities. They discuss the impact of interdisciplinary curiosity, the value of collaborating with experts from outside photography, and how knowledge from climbing, surfing, or urban life reshapes the way we observe and photograph the world.

Bill Fox also explores idea-driven photographers, innovative projects using natural materials, and photography as an agent of nature picturing itself. He offers reading, research, and collaborative strategies for photographers who want to deepen their creative process.

Resources and Links:

Get a copy of the Muench Workshops Destinations Magazine

Bill Fox

Center for Art + Environment, Nevada Museum of Art

Marc Klett

Radius Books

Michael Light

Tristan Duke

Metabolic Studio

Museum of Jurassic Technology

Kim Stanley Robinson

Kim Stanley Robinson's Ministry for the Future

Kim Stanley Robinson's The High Sierra

Victoria Sambunaris

Rebecca Solnit's Wanderlust

William Fox's The Void, The Grid, and the Sign

William Fox's Aeriality

Support the show on Patreon

Matt Payne's Book, The Colorado Way

00:10 Episode Intro
01:09 Meet Bill Fox
02:30 Early Encounters with Art
04:16 “Second View” Photography History
07:26 Space into Place
12:24 Building Photographic Knowledge
17:10 Value of Interdisciplinary Learning
25:00 Cultural Prosthesis Explained
43:04 Photography Documents Nature's Self-Awareness
50:46 Reinventing the Photographic Medium
58:44 Expanding Photographers’ Perspectives

For episode 494 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with Roxanne Bouché Overton, a Pacific Northwest–based photographer known for her imaginative approach to creativity through intentional camera movement (ICM), multiple exposures, and unconventional ways of seeing. Overton reveals her origin story—starting with a film SLR and a curiosity about multiple exposures—before delving into the neuroscience of perception, how our brains filter visual information for survival, and why breaking from this default allows for greater artistic vision.

Together, they unpack actionable strategies for cultivating creativity, such as seeking details rather than subjects, training your awareness for shifts in light and shadow, letting go of rigid photographic “rules,” and embracing unique viewpoints—even with simple gear or an iPhone. Overton shares philosophies like working in “liminal time” (always shooting toward the future) and reframing negative self-talk with positive, exploratory language. She highlights workshops, community, and varied education as keys to unlocking your own voice—not just copying others. The episode closes with Overton’s book and Substack newsletter recommendations, plus names four inspiring photographers for future interviews.

Links and Resources:

Get a copy of the Muench Workshops Destinations Magazine

Roxanne Bouche Overton

Support the show on Patreon

Roxanne Bouche Overton's Book, Awaken Creativity

Roxanne Bouche Overton's Creativity Newsletter (Substack)

Bluristic (iPhone app for creative long exposures)

Santa Fe Workshops

Shelly Vandegrift

Michael Clark

Jennifer Spelman

00:00 Podcast Introduction
01:09 Meet Roxanne Bouché Overton
04:11 How Perception Shapes Photography
06:54 Peripheral Vision & ICM
12:31 Community and Creative Kinship
17:43 Technical and Creative Aspects of ICM
22:27 Mobile and iPhone Creative Tools
25:00 Learning to See Creatively
33:02 The Infinite Journey of Creative Work
36:07 Cameras as Recording Devices
41:45 Gear Minimalism for Creative Freedom
43:13 Mindset Shifts for Awareness
52:19 Vocabulary & Positive Framing
65:10 Overton’s Book & Substack
74:33 Guest Recommendations
80:48 Wrap Up

For episode 493 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, Host Matt Payne sits down with David Lloyd, a New Zealand-born wildlife photographer acclaimed for his black and white minimalism and unwavering commitment to ethical, unmanipulated imagery. David Lloyd shares his journey from London’s Richmond Park to world-renowned wildlife destinations, unpacking how years of experience and a background in design shaped his artistic vision (00:10). The episode runs deep into practical and philosophical territory: minimalism in composition, the benefits of returning to the same locations, and developing vision through persistence, not just natural talent (06:03; 11:19).

The conversation tackles the ethical line in post-processing, what honesty in wildlife photography really means, and why digital manipulation and AI-generated images risk undermining public trust (23:28; 33:12). David Lloyd reflects on the pressures of wildlife competitions and what separates exceptional images from the technically perfect but forgettable (37:57), as well as the growing problem of safari overcrowding and impacts on animal behavior (42:52).

Both photographers call for greater transparency and humility in the field, online, and within themselves. They close with insights into what guests underestimate about wildlife safaris and the unpredictable delight of the “one-in-a-decade” photograph (50:46). Don't miss our bonus episode on Patreon where David discusses some absolutely awesome wildlife encounters!

Links and Resources:

Get a copy of the Muench Workshops Destinations Magazine

David Lloyd Wildlife Photography

Support the show on Patreon

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards

Greg du Toit

Richmond Park (London)

Masai Mara National Reserve

00:00 Intro & Meet David Lloyd
06:03 The Giraffe Cover Shot & Minimalism
11:19 Developing Vision and Voice
23:28 Ethics of Editing & Manipulation
33:12 AI, Authenticity, and Competition
37:57 Award-Winning Wildlife Images
42:52 Safari Crowding & Animal Welfare
50:46 Managing Expectations on Safari

For episode 492 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, Host Matt Payne welcomes photographer/director Scott McDermott, a New York City–based professional with 25+ years spanning sports, fitness, celebrity portraiture, commercial campaigns, directing, and fine art. McDermott describes learning through five years assisting across genres, then building a career by pivoting as opportunities changed, including ongoing cityscape images from his Queens window. He contrasts mindsets between commercial photography (client-driven deliverables), directing (big-picture storytelling for the edit), and fine art (freedom without external endpoints). McDermott explains his Backline fine art series, inspired backstage at a Red Hot Chili Peppers show, photographing road-worn instruments and gear as “modern relics,” plus a cassette-tape print project marketed via separate branding, galleries, art fairs, and Instagram. He discusses developing style through experimentation, differentiating over-photographed subjects, pricing uncertainties, balancing personal and commercial work, and sustaining longevity through stubborn persistence, risk tolerance, and adaptability, including surviving a year without work during COVID.

Links and Resources:

Get a copy of the Muench Workshops Destinations Magazine

Scott McDermott Commercial Photography

Scott McDermott Fine Art

The Backline Series

Scott McDermott on Instagram

Support the show on Patreon

Matt Payne's Book, The Colorado Way

Nadav Kander

David Westphal

Reuben Wu Podcast Episode

00:00 Show Intro 

00:51 Meet Scott McDermott

02:09 Career Path NYC

04:47 Queens Skyline Project

08:13 Generalist Skills Lighting

10:41 Photo vs Directing Art

15:10 Backline Origins

18:32 Cassette Tape Prints

21:17 Selling Fine Art Online

24:01 Finding Visual Style

27:21 Experimentation Weird Gear

30:08 Standing Out De Niro

33:32 Eiffel Tower Photo Rights

34:23 Balancing Art and Ads

36:17 Finding Patronage Again

38:12 Pricing and Budget Games

44:29 Commercial Skills to Fine Art

48:07 Landscape Adaptation Tactics

51:42 Authenticity Versus AI

53:54 Staying in the Game

57:42 Making Money in Landscapes

01:01:14 Guest Recommendations

01:04:40 Wrap Up