A Photographic Life

A Photographic Life

"To take a photograph is to align the head, the eye and the heart. It's a way of life." Henri Cartier-Bresson. Whatever your level of engagement with photography The Photographic Life Podcast explains the realities of working with and learning about the medium. Each week photographer, writer, lecturer, filmmaker, and BBC Radio contributor Dr. Grant Scott reflects on news, discussions, themes and issues surrounding the photographic community. This is a podcast for those who do not want kit reviews, photoshop techniques, marketing babble or camera talk. It is for those who want informed conversation about photography and life. Grant Scott is the founder/curator of www.unitednationsofphotography.com, a Senior Lecturer in Photography at Oxford Brookes University, UK, a working photographer, and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained, The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography and New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography. His documentary film, Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay has been screened across the UK, and in Canada and the US. Podcast music: Written and performed by Laura Ritchie.

Episodes

A Photographic Life-400: 'Special Anniversary Episode'

January 6, 2026 • 24 mins
In this special 400th episode UNP founder and curator Grant Scott looks back over the podcast's evolution from idea to reality, from shed to garage and from one man talking into a microphone to live events. Engaging in trans-Atlantic conversations and building an incredible archive of photographers thoughts on photography. Contributors to the mega mix in order of appearance: Tom Stoddart Daniel Meadows Alys Tomlinson Ilona Langbro...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-399: New Year's Eve Special with Bill Shapiro and Fiona Hayes

December 30, 2025 • 58 mins
In this special episode, editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro, art director, creative director and lecturer Fiona Hayes and UNP founder and curator Grant Scott look back on 2025 and forward to 2026 reflecting on photo exhibitions, books, social media, publishing and the expectations of the Twenty First Century photographer. Bill Shapiro Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of LIFE, the legendary photo magaz...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-398: 'APL LIVE 2025' with Historian Dr Michael Pritchard 'Photo Archives'

December 23, 2025 • 46 mins
In this special episode recorded at our A Photographic Life Live 2025 event at Oxford Brookes University Grant speaks with photographic historian Dr Michael Pritchard concerning the importance of creating an organised archive, making money from an archive and how to leave your archive for those who will inherit it. Dr Michael Pritchard Dr Michael Pritchard has a practical knowledge of studio and location photography, darkroom proc...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-397: 'APL LIVE 2025' with Photographer and Filmmaker Chris Floyd

December 16, 2025 • 47 mins
In this special episode recorded at our A Photographic Life Live 2025 event at Oxford Brookes University Grant speaks with photographer and filmmaker Chris Floyd focusing on his approach to the photographic portrait, and the physical, spiritual and mental requirements of photographing celebrities. Chris Floyd Chris Floyd is a British photographer and film maker.  His photographic work has appeared in some of the world’s most highl...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-396: 'APL LIVE 2025' with Photographer and Filmmaker Alys Tomlinson

December 9, 2025 • 47 mins
In this special episode recorded at our A Photographic Life Live 2025 event at Oxford Brookes University Grant speaks with photographer and filmmaker focusing on her dedication to the long form project, her film Mother Vera and the the need for dedicated research when building a body of work. Alys Tomlinson Tomlinson was born and grew up in Brighton, UK and studied English, literature and communications at the University of Leeds....
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-395.5: 'Martin Parr 1952-2025: "Okay. Next Photo. Which One?"'

December 8, 2025 • 14 mins
In this special episode Grant shares his personal memories of photographer Martin Parr and reflects on his influence on contemporary documentary photography. Martin Parr Born in Epsom, Surrey, Parr wanted to become a documentary photographer from the age of fourteen and cited his grandfather, George Parr, an amateur photographer and fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, as an early influence. However, it was not until he was i...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-395: 'Bill Goes to Paris Photo, AI Disagreement and Listening to Experts'

December 2, 2025 • 45 mins
In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Bill comment on the photographic environment as they see it. This month Bill reflects on his recent trip to Paris Photo, whilst he and Grant lock horns over AI and agree about the importance of experts. Mentioned in this episode: Jack Davison www.jackdavison.co.uk Mari...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-394: ‘Jeanloup Sieff, Corinne Day, Rankin and Listeners Letters'

November 25, 2025 • 20 mins
In episode 394 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Mentioned in this episode: https://jeanloupsieff.com www.corinneday.com www.rankinphoto.co.uk Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of adver...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-393: See/Saw with Fiona Hayes 'Cecil Beaton, Boris Mikhailov and Futurespective'

November 18, 2025 • 46 mins
In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the photographic environment as they see it through the exhibitions, magazines, talks and events that Fiona has seen over the previous weeks. Mentioned in this episode: https://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/whats-on/boris-mikhailov-ukrainian-diary w...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-392: 'Dissapearing Photographers, Social Media Confusion and Big Screens'

November 11, 2025 • 20 mins
In episode 392 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Mentioned in this episode: Huger Foote https://hugerfoote.com Gille Tapie www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/photographers/gilles-tapie/ Dewey Nicks https://deweynicks.com Javier Vallonrat www.mfilomeno.com/artist/javier-vallhonrat/gallery/commercial-2/ Michel Momy...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-391: The Conversation with Bill Shapiro 'Photo Quote Tennis is Born!'

November 4, 2025 • 40 mins
In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Bill comment on the photographic environment as they see it. This month they throw quotes from famous photographers at each other and reflect on the meanings of those quotes. Bill Shapiro Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of LIFE, the legendary photo magazine;...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-390: 'Making Money, Specializing and William Klein'

October 29, 2025 • 19 mins
In episode 390 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed ...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-389: See/Saw with Fiona Hayes 'Lee Miller, Joy Gregory and Mark Steinmetz'

October 21, 2025 • 50 mins
Mentioned in this episode: Lee Miller www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/lee-miller Joy Goodman www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/joy-gregory-fierce-and-fearless/ Mark Steinmetz https://davidhillgallery.net/artists/mark-steinmetz-taken-from-light Fiona Hayes Fiona Hayes is an art director, designer, consultant and lecturer with over 30 years’ experience in publishing, fashion and the art world. She has been a magazine art ...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-388: 'Lady GaGa, The Most Ridiculous Shoot and Fun Photography'

October 14, 2025 • 20 mins
In episode 388 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. https://www.artsy.net/article/addicted-art-gallery-markus-klinko-lady-gaga-hello-kitty Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising ...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-387: 'Cheap Cameras, Autobiographies and APL Live 2025'

October 7, 2025 • 20 mins
In episode 387 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his garage reflecting on the small and big things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-photographic-live-live-2025-tickets-1693780716719?aff=oddtdtcreator Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-386: The Conversation with Bill Shapiro 'Can You Teach Photography?'

September 30, 2025 • 62 mins
In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Bill comment on the photographic environment as they see it. This month they reflect on teaching photography and the role of the teacher. Bill Shapiro Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of LIFE, the legendary photo magazine; LIFE’s relaunch in 2004 was the larg...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-385: 'Documentaries, Photographing Artists and Man Ray'

September 23, 2025 • 20 mins
In episode 385 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the big and small things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Mentioned in this episode: www.motherverafilm.co.uk https://releasing.dogwoof.com/i-am-martin-parr Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of ...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-384: 'Special Episode, A Conversation with Photographer Jim Mortram'

September 16, 2025 • 60 mins
In this special episode UNP Founder and Curator Grant Scott speaks with documentary photographer Jim Mortram about long form projects, empathy, collaboration, community and social media. Jim Mortram Jim Mortram is a British social documentary photographer and writer, based in Dereham, Norfolk in the East of England. His ongoing project, Small Town Inertia, records the lives of a number of disadvantaged and marginalised people livi...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-383: 'Nick Knight, Garry Winogrand and Listeners Letters'

September 9, 2025 • 20 mins
In episode 383 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his garage reflecting on the small and big things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directe...
Mark as Played

A Photographic Life-382: Special Conversation 'Photography Take's Control with Photographers Simon Roberts and Nina Emett'

September 2, 2025 • 53 mins
In this episode UNP Founder and Curator Grant Scott speaks with photographers Simon Roberts and Nina Emett about their project to establish an artist led collaborative space for photography on the South coast of England. Simon Roberts Robert's is based in Brighton, UK, and recognised for his large-format, tableaux photographs exploring the socio-political fabric of Britain. His practice also encompasses video, text and installatio...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics

    Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics

    Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Mobile

Wearables

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.