436: John Noltner - Photography as a Bridge to Empathy
In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne interviews photographer and storyteller John Noltner about his transformative "A Peace of My Mind" project and his experiences living a nomadic life for over two years. John shares how he and his wife sold their house during the pandemic and traveled 93,000 miles across the U.S., gathering hundreds of human stories that explore themes like conflict, empathy, and connection. They dive into the power of storytelling and photography as tools for bridging divides, fostering compassion, and inspiring change, even when tackling tough topics like immigration, racial justice, and homelessness. John discusses the challenges of funding mission-driven creative work, the importance of vulnerability and listening, and how living simply on the road reshaped his outlook on life and art. The episode is full of personal insights, practical advice for storytellers, and inspiration for anyone hoping to use creativity to make a positive impact.
Watch on YouTube.
Resources and Links:
John's new book, Lessons on the Road to Peace
John's project, A Peace of My Mind
Support the podcast on Patreon
Steve Weworka
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435: Klaus Axelsen - Capturing the Artwork of Nature
In this episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne chats with Norwegian photographer Klaus Axelsen about his journey from corporate consultant to passionate nature photographer. Klaus shares how photography and spending time in nature became key tools for managing his mental health, leading him toward creating deeply intimate and expressive images of Norway’s lesser-known natural details. The conversation delves into the evolution of Klaus’ artistic vision, the challenges and rewards of curating his upcoming book "The Artwork of Nature," and the importance of setting creative limitations and embracing solitude. They also discuss the realities of running workshops, breaking free from self-imposed artistic snobbery, and how slowing down and focusing on the small things can transform both photography and personal well-being. Klaus wraps up with book details and recommendations for other inspiring photographers to check out.
Watch on YouTube
Resources and Links:
Klaus Axelsen’s Book & Website
Lofoten Tours
Natural Landscape Photography Awards
On Landscape Magazine
Be Extraordinary by Guy Tal
FLM Tripods (Use the code HOUSEOFPAYNE for 10% off through Nov. 1, 2025)
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Sign up to Matt's Newsletter
Bill Ferngren, Elvis Dallie, Arild Heitmann, Stian Klo
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434: Nico Trinkhaus - The Reality of Image Theft and Copyright
In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne chats with Nico Trinkhaus, a fine art travel photographer and founder of PhotoClaim, about the pervasive problem of image theft and the realities of copyright protection. Nico shares his personal journey from hobbyist to professional, including the eye-opening moment when he discovered his photos being widely stolen and sold as souvenirs without his permission. The conversation explores the differences between copyright laws in the US and Europe, the challenges photographers face in enforcing their rights, and practical advice for those who discover their images have been misused. Nico also highlights how changes in licensing and the prevalence of stock photography have affected the industry, and he offers a glimpse into emerging issues around AI and copyright. As a bonus, listeners get a chance to win a premium subscription to LocationScout, a valuable resource for planning photography shoots.
Watch on YouTube
Resources and Links:
Nico's website
Follow and Message Nico on Instagram
PhotoClaim
Support the Podcast on Patreon
Subscribe to my Mailing List
Location Scout
Manuel Becker
Rafael Pons
Francesco Gola
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433: Steven Adams - The Art of Humanitarian Photography
In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with Steven Adams, a humanitarian photographer with a diverse background in biology, veterinary medicine, and global health. They discuss Steven’s journey from scientific research to international development and how those experiences shape his visual storytelling, especially his focus on hope and agency rather than suffering. Steven shares engaging stories from the field, including work with pastoralist communities in Eastern Africa and youth shelters in India, and dives into the evolving ethics of humanitarian photography. The episode touches on the importance of empowering local storytellers, the practicalities of client collaboration, and Steven’s commitment to enabling NGOs and individuals to better tell their own stories. It’s a thoughtful conversation loaded with insight for anyone interested in purposeful photography or the intersection of compassion and creativity.
Links Mentioned:
Steven's Photo Brief Template
Lion Movie with Dev Patel
Support the Podcast on Patreon
Subscribe to Matt's Mailing List
Xuan Hui-Ng's Podcast Episode
Nevada Wier
Gerald Slota
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432: Eric Bennett - Rethinking Our Approach to Social Media
In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with photographer Eric Bennett for a deep dive into the impact of social media on photographers and their relationship with nature. They discuss the traps of “algorithm-driven culture,” including the pressure to post frequently, follow trends, and cater to platform requirements, often at the cost of authenticity and creativity. Eric explains how he and other photographers recently used social media for a worthwhile cause, organizing a successful print fundraiser to support National Park Service employees affected by layoffs. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the importance of maintaining meaningful connections to nature, curating personal work, and leading audiences toward deeper experiences beyond social media, like curated websites and printed work. The conversation wraps up with advice on how to avoid social media burnout and the encouragement to create and share with intention, rather than chasing fleeting online validation.
Links to items discussed:
Matt's NEW book on Kickstarter!
Eric's website
Eric's National Park Service Print Sale
Eric's blog post on social media
Eric's book, Space, Stillness, and Silence
Eric's Kozu Zine
Michael Strickland: https://www.michaelstricklandimages.com/
FLM Canada (use the code HOUSEOFPAYNE for 10% off entire order)
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This photography podcast takes you well beyond camera gear each week with weekly interviews and panel discussions with professional photographers, industry insiders, enthusiasts, and hobbyists alike. Our candid but laid-back conversations deeply explore the craft of photography and psychological drivers relating to creativity, motivation, inspiration, and workflow. We also discuss social media, photography business practices, marketing, sales, and hot topics impacting photographers from all genres, with a particular focus on landscape, nature, and wildlife photography. The show is hosted by Matt Payne, a professional full-time nature photographer and the co-founder of the internationally renowned photography competition, the Natural Landscape Photography Awards. Matt is also a mountaineer, climbing the highest 100 mountains in Colorado. Matt leverages skills he gained in pursuit of his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology to dig deeply into the hearts and minds of his passionate guests, revealing secrets and inspiration in every episode.