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. He also asks a photographer to supply him with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which they answer the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ 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. A book of the podcast contributions to What Does Photography Mean to You? is available now from www.bluecoatpress.co.uk price £9.99 plus p&p. 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
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 where the magazine industry and editorial photography are today from the photographer’s perspective.
Bill Shapiro
Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of LIFE, the legendary p...
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April 24, 2024 • 19 mins
In episode 311 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on looking back and looking forward, the failure of AI photography and the importance of visiting local photography exhibitions.
Plus this week, photographer Chantel King takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which she answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’
London-based Chan...
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April 17, 2024 • 21 mins
In episode 310 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the need to regularly replenish your cretivity and inspiration source and he reads from his new book Inside Vogue House: One building, seven magazines, sixty years of stories.
Plus this week, photographer Kyle McDougall takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which she answer’s the question ‘Wh...
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April 10, 2024 • 20 mins
In episode 309 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the universal availability of post-production software, the siloed nature of photography and the continued thinning out of experience amongst photography commissioners.
Plus this week, photographer Mandy Williams takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which she answer’s the question ‘What Does...
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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 where the magazine industry and editorial photography are today from the photographer's perspective.
Bill Shapiro
Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of LIFE, the legendary p...
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March 27, 2024 • 21 mins
In episode 307 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on photography and the 1990s, keeping ethemera that may or may not be important and the importance of making mistakes to creative success.
Plus this week, photographer Michael Robinson Chávez takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?...
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March 20, 2024 • 19 mins
In episode 306 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the royal family and image manipulation, why you should undertake an MA in photography and he reads a listener's email!
Plus this week, photographer Xavi Bou takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’
Xavi Bou was born in Barcelo...
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March 13, 2024 • 19 mins
In episode 305 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the democratization of photography preventing the challenge of the new, the process being less important than the outcome and he reads some listeners letters. This episode is dedicated to the memory of photographer Stuart Pilkington.
Plus this week, writer, editor and curator Deborah Dash Moore takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio fi...
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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 the death of the magazine industry and editorial photography.
Bill Shapiro
Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of LIFE, the legendary photo magazine; LIFE’s relaunch in 2004 ...
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February 28, 2024 • 54 mins
In episode 304 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed speaking with master printer Bob Tursack about all aspects of photographic printing including photo books, fine art printing, digital, analogue and lithographic. They also discuss photographer expectations, good practice and the photographer/printer relationship.
Bob Tursack, is the CEO of the high-end printing company Brilliant Graphics. He is a third-generation pr...
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February 21, 2024 • 20 mins
In episode 303 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on confusion between post-production and AI, professionalism and creativity and accepting that old labels are no longer relevant.
Plus this week, photographer Mark Chapman takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’
Mark Chapman is a...
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February 14, 2024 • 20 mins
In episode 302 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on selling houses with a smartphone, whether a there is such a thing as a 'real' photograph and more concerning the long form photographic project.
Plus this week, photographer Michael Robert Williams takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mea...
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February 7, 2024 • 50 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 the long-form photographic project.
Bill Shapiro
Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of LIFE, the legendary photo magazine; LIFE’s relaunch in 2004 was the largest in Time In...
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January 31, 2024 • 25 mins
In this special 300th Episode UNP Founder and Curator Grant Scott reflects upon the contributors to the podcast over the past five years who have attempted to answer the question 'What Does Photography Mean to Me?' He identifies themes, and attitudes that have been addressed in those contributions and what the majority of photographers find most important to them in making work.
Grant began the podcast with the simple intention ...
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January 24, 2024 • 20 mins
In episode 299 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on photographers as brands, stock photography embracing AI, cardboard rats in photographs, and advice on writing for photographers.
Plus this week, photographer Morganna Magee takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which she answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’
You can regi...
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January 17, 2024 • 21 mins
In episode 298 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the importance of the 'why' over the 'how' in photography, avoiding the need for a 'style' and why subject matter should be based on your passions and interests.
Plus this week, photographer Virginia Turbett takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which she answer’s the question ‘What Does Phot...
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January 10, 2024 • 20 mins
In episode 297 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on the relationship between photographer, client and publisher, photography as history and he reads some listeners letters!
Plus this week, photographer David Vintiner takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’
David Vintiner is a L...
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January 1, 2024 • 51 mins
In this extended episode, editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro and UNP founder and curator Grant Scott suggest some photographic wishes for 2024 reflecting on AI, documenting conflict, the future of editorial photography, and new social media.
Bill Shapiro
Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of LIFE, the legendary photo magazine; LIFE’s relaunch in 2004 was the largest in Time Inc. history. Later, he was t...
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December 27, 2023 • 57 mins
In this ‘AI/Copyright’ episode UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed connecting with Nick Dunmur from the Association of Photographers to discuss all aspects of AI and its impact on photography and photographers. You may be surprised and relieved to hear that the future may not be as dark as some believe.
Nick Dunmur was born in Oxford, in the UK and grew up in Sheffield. He moved to Nottingham in 1985 and completed a...
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December 20, 2023 • 52 mins
In this special extended episode UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed talking with photographer and festival creator Jeff Dunas about photo festivals, publishing photography, being an entreprenour and the importance of a love for photography.
Jeff Dunas was born in 1954 in Los Angeles, California. His work spans five decades and has appeared in hundreds of magazines, album covers, books and calendars. Dunas' principa...
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