Street Photography Magazine Podcast

Documentary photographer and filmmaker Nagamitsu Endo joins us to talk about storytelling, street photography, and the patience required to document real life honestly. Raised between Japan, New York, India, and Pakistan, Naga shares how growing up across cultures shaped his perspective as both an observer and storyteller. We discuss his years working in documentary television alongside Brent and Craig Renaud, the emotional process of editing documentary work, and why trust and empathy matter when photographing people. Naga also reflects on being mentored by renowned photographer Philip Perkis, shooting with a single lens, and the importance of persistence in both street...

In this episode of the Street Photography Magazine podcast, Bob Patterson talks with documentary photographer, educator, and National Geographic contributor Michael O. Snyder. Michael shares how street photography became the foundation for his larger documentary practice, why place matters just as much as people in storytelling, and how photographers can pitch their work more effectively to editors and publications. They discuss the relationship between street photography and documentary photography, building long-term projects, photographing cultural heritage sites affected by climate change, and Michael’s new book Alleghenia: A Central Appalachian Folklore Anthology, a fourteen-year project preserving stories and traditions from Central Ap...

Listening to Bethany Jacobson talk about NYC in the 80s in our last episode was absolutely fascinating, but it was an unfamiliar world for me. This week, we relived a little 90s nostalgia with Kai Diaz, and I have to say, it took me back to my own teenage years, albeit an East Coast version.

Kai grew up on MTV, skate videos, and surf magazines and it was that kind of visual culture that shaped the way he sees, even now. As a kid, he became the unofficial documentarian of his friend group, filming skate sessions and...

In this episode of the Street Photography Magazine podcast, Bob Patterson and Ashley Riffo sit down with photographer, filmmaker, and educator Bethany Eden Jacobson for a conversation that was part time capsule and part behind-the-scenes look at a creative life.

Bethany takes us back to the gritty, electric energy of 1980s downtown New York, which was an era where art, music, and rebellion collided. From photographing icons like Iggy Pop to documenting the underground scene shaped by figures like Jean-Michel Basquiat, her work captures a moment that was raw and unfiltered, and though she didn’t realize it...

Several months ago, after an editorial meeting with Bob, which was packed with beautiful and meaningful projects, I admitted that I often feel like I don’t know what I want to say with my camera.

I did not share this with Jorge Delgado-Ureña, photographer, writer, educator, and co-founder of The Raw Society, but it goes without saying that our conversation hit home for me personally.

In this episode, Jorge and I talked, among other things, about intention in photography. Why it’s so hard to nail down, and why it matters more than we mi...

In this episode of the Street Photography Magazine podcast, Bob and I had the chance to sit down with photographer Doug Bruns. And the conversation we had was the kind that sticks with you long after it’s over.

We talked about how growing up around cameras and photographers shaped his path, and how a formative trip abroad set him on a lifelong journey of travel and image-making. But this episode goes way beyond origin stories.

We talked about what it means to photograph for yourself instead of for validation, how stepping away from social me...

Street photography often begins with curiosity. For Carmina Ripolles, it also began with a moment in life when creativity became a necessity.

In this episode of the Street Photography Magazine podcast, Bob Patterson and Ashley Riffo talk with Carmina, a street photographer and English teacher whose work celebrates what she calls the “beautifully ordinary.” Her journey into photography began during the lockdown, a time when the world slowed down and many people found themselves searching for new ways to express and understand their experiences.

What started as a creative outlet soon became something deeper. Inspired by p...

In this episode of the Street Photography Magazine podcast, Bob Patterson sits down with Swiss photographer Michael Eugster. Though relatively new to the street photography scene, his photos are incredibly good, and have garnered him quite a bit of recognition in festivals and exhibits around the world.

When Michael began experimenting more seriously with photography, he first focused on landscapes. (I mean, how could you not if you lived in Switzerland?) But when he started photographing in Zurich, something shifted. As people entered the frame, the images felt more alive.

“Suddenly, people came into the pi...

In this episode, Bob and I had the chance to talk with photographer Xiomaro about a creative path that definitely didn’t start with photography.

Before he ever picked up a camera, Xiomaro’s world revolved around music and law. He performed, managed artists, and built a legal career working with musicians. Photography really only entered the picture after a prostate cancer diagnosis forced him to slow down and rethink what he wanted his life to look like moving forward.

What followed wasn’t some dramatic overnight pivot. It started quietly, with travel and time spent...

In the latest episode of the Street Photography Magazine Podcast, Bob Patterson shares an important update about the future of the magazine, and about his own next chapter.

After more than 13 years as publisher, Bob is stepping back from day-to-day leadership and passing the reins to me, Ashley Riffo. This transition has been thoughtful, intentional, and in the works for a while now. The heart and mission of the magazine aren’t changing.

In this episode, Bob reflects on how what started as a six-month experiment turned into the longest role he has ever held. Ov...

James Hazelwood is a Rhode Island-based photographer who recently embraced retirement as an opportunity to pursue photography full-time. Since retiring, he’s launched an ambitious publishing schedule on Substack, where he shares photo stories that blend his street photography aesthetic with personal narratives from his travels and everyday experiences. His work can be found at jameshazelwoodphoto.com, and he’s active on the new photography app Foto.

James has a refreshing approach to street photography—one that extends beyond traditional boundaries to embrace storytelling both in photographs and in written form. Rather than debating what qualifies as “street p...

Gear discussion alert!

While we rarely discuss camera gear on this show, I made an exception with Matt because…well because it’s the beginning of the year and for some reason we both started using the same camera at the same time. So why not? It’s probably the last time you hear us discuss it on the show during the remainder of 2026.

Matt’s approach to street photography is different because he’s adapted his photography to social media while maintaining his personal photographic vision. He explains, “The truth is there’s an awful lot o...

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Each year, we publish hundreds of street and documentary photographs in Street Photography Magazine. Some hit right away. Others stick with us long after we’ve closed the issue.

In this episode, Ashley and I look back at 2025 and share 10 images (plus a few others) we keep coming back to. These are a few of the photographs that held our attention, raised questions, or felt worth spending more time with.

Below, you’ll find each image with our thoughts on what drew us to it, along with the full...

Sharon LaCour is a pianist, piano teacher, and author living in Lafayette, Louisiana. After growing up in New Orleans in a Cajun family and spending years up north, she returned to Louisiana where she has published over a dozen short stories in literary journals. Her debut novel, The Meeting of Air and Water, explores the connections between photography, identity, and Cajun culture across two generations of women photographers.

After 216 episodes of interviewing photographers, I never expected episode 217 would feature someone who isn’t a photographer at all. But Sharon LaCour’s story illustrates how photography can inspire crea...

France Leclerc is a former professor turned full-time photographer based in Chicago, originally from Montreal. Her work centers on what she calls “life photography,” capturing authentic moments during her extensive travels across Asia, Africa, and beyond. Featured in the December issue of Street Photography Magazine, France brings a unique perspective shaped by years of teaching and a deep commitment to cultural understanding.

The Secret of Patience

For France, travel and photography are inseparable. What began as a way to share experiences from distant places has evolved into a practice of storytelling thro...

Jason Rice is a street photographer whose work bridges the gap between personal history and urban observation. A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Jason balances his career in the book publishing industry with a devoted practice of street photography, particularly in New York City. His recently published book, Overseas, collects images from a 25-year archive of work created during his early years in Europe.

For Jason Rice, photography was never really a choice—it was an inheritance. Raised by art school parents in Rhode Island, with his father working as a photographer and his mo...

Hillary Greene-Pae is a clinical social worker, real estate investor, and accomplished photographer based in Calabasas, California. Her work spans multiple genres, but it’s her street photography that has captured attention for its emotional depth and unique perspective. As the featured photographer in the November 2025 issue of Street Photography Magazine, Hillary brings a distinctive approach to capturing life up close.

Hillary stands apart in the crowded world of street photography through her ability to see people not just as subjects, but as storytellers. “I’m always looking for how do I see the people, what are they s...

Barry Ashenhurst is a retired photojournalist based in Newcastle, Australia, who worked for some of the country’s premier sporting and lifestyle magazines. After decades of professional work—from motocross tracks to caravan publications—Barry transitioned to street photography, trading his heavy camera bags for a single Sony A7 and 35mm lens. His article “Feeding the Fire” will be published November 5th in Street Photography Magazine.

Barry’s journey into photography began in his family bathroom darkroom, eventually moving to his parents’ dog kennel when his mother tired of the smell of chemicals. His approach to breaking into magazine...

I’d like to tell you about someone who’s become both a friend and a photographer I admire. His name is Pat Callahan, and he’s our featured photographer in the October 2025 issue of Street Photography Magazine.

Here’s the funny thing about how we met: I’d known Pat for over two years at our gym here in Charlottesville, Virginia. We’d play pickleball together, exchange pleasantries, the usual gym-friend routine. Then one day while waiting for a game to start, we had a casual conversation and he asked what I did for a living. When I told...

In this episode I speak with Alan Wieder, a street photographer, oral historian, and author whose book We Will Not Be Removed: The People of King School Park documents four years spent photographing at a park in Portland, Oregon. The book captures the daily lives of a predominantly African American community in a gentrified neighborhood.

Alan’s journey into this project began in July 2020 during a political protest when he encountered a group of men at King School Park. After asking permission to photograph them and returning the next day with prints, he became a daily presence at...

Today I’m joined Garrett Strang, an American photographer who has made Paris his creative home. Garrett’s journey from documentary filmmaker in Washington D.C. to street photographer in Paris is one of creative evolution and bold reinvention. For 20 years, he created documentaries on health issues, population studies, and social conflicts, where he developed an eye for human emotion and storytelling that would later drive his photographic work.

His transition to photography began with a series called “America on the Edge” during the 2016 election cycle, where he captured the tension and uncertainty in people’s faces usin...

Today we’re joined by Raymond Thompson Jr., an assistant professor in the College of Communications at the University of Texas and a photographer whose work defies easy categorization.

Originally from Virginia, Raymond has spent years documenting stories that others have forgotten or even worse, deliberately erased. His approach blends documentary photography, fine art, and archival research to uncover hidden histories. From his powerful “Justice Undone” project photographing juvenile detention facilities to “Appalachian Ghost,” which reveals the tragic silicosis disaster at Hawks Nest in 1930s West Virginia, Raymond’s work serves as both witness and memory keeper.

What...

This week we’re joined by our friend Virginia Hines. She’s a photographer and former publishing industry professional who has traveled extensively to document street life around the world and learn from masters of the genre. She wrote the foreword to Street Photography Magazine’s book “Where the Streets Lead” and has been featured multiple times in our podcast and magazine, sharing her insights into street photography. And she is a frequent contributor to Street Photography Magazine.

Fresh off circling the globe in just a few weeks, Virginia joins Ashley and me to share stories from her whirlw...

What happens when two artists choose to show up for each other—week after week, year after year—for over three decades? In this episode, Ashley Riffo talked to photographer Gigi Stoll about her extraordinary friendship with the late Flo Fox: a street photographer, advocate, and firecracker of a human being who never let MS (and the blindness and paralysis that came with it) stop her from creating.

Their bond was intentional and powerful, to say the least. And not just for their art, but for their lives. Flo’s influence didn’t end with her passing either...

I’m pleased to have Mark Seymour back on the podcast. It’s been too long since we last connected, because Mark’s been busier than ever. He’s based in the UK, and when we spoke, he mentioned watching foxes playing in his garden. But don’t let that peaceful scene fool you—Mark’s constantly traveling, teaching workshops around the world.

In addition to his own workshops Mark also works with Light and Land. The clientele is different for each. Light and Land attracts older folks with disposable income who see photography as a hobby. Mark’s indepen...

Today we’re joined by John M Simpson, a photographer whose unique background brings a perspective to documentary work that deserves our attention.

John’s journey spans multiple careers that have shaped his approach to visual storytelling. As a former military officer he later transistion to academia as a history professor. This foundation in historical analysis would prove invaluable when he later became a photojournalist. This role led him to embed with US forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan on multiple deployments, experiences that taught him to navigate challenging environments.

Today, John work...

Alon Goldsmith is a Los Angeles-based street photographer and copywriter whose mobile photography has earned him recognition in numerous international contests. A longtime member of Julia Dean’s photography collective, he has become known for his creative approach to iPhone photography and his documentation of Venice Beach’s vibrant street life. His work appears in the new book “[Where the Streets Lead]” and he is the featured photographer in the July 2025 issue of Street Photography Magazine.

While many photographers dismiss mobile phone cameras as inferior tools, Alon Goldsmith has built his entire street photography practice around his iPhone...

Brad Jones, the featured photographer in the June 2025 issue of Street Photography Magazine, is a Brooklyn-based forensic photographer. Originally trained as a painter and illustrator, Brad discovered photography in college and spent 15 years building a successful commercial career shooting for magazines and advertising clients. However, his transition to forensic photography a decade ago, documenting scenes for insurance companies and legal proceedings, is the tipping point that led  to his passion for street photography.

Photographing destruction and tragedy in his professional work, Brad turned to street photography as what he calls an “antidote” – a way to seek...

What makes a street photograph truly stand out? Is it the decisive moment, the composition, or the story it tells? In today’s episode, our guest David Herman and I explore these questions and more. David brings a unique perspective shaped by his background as a former professional photographer and his instinctive understanding of human interaction.

David shares insights on how he finds connections in everyday scenes. As a top-level competitive tennis player, he reflexively anticipates moments before they happen to create powerful, storytelling images.

David is drawn to street photography by the uniqueness of ea...

Many of you probably already know Larry Racioppo from his thoughtful column in our monthly newsletter, where he shares his unique perspective on photography. As a lifelong photographer, Larry has published several books, both independently and through established publishers.

We’re excited to feature Larry as our featured photographer in the May 2025 issue of Street Photography Magazine. Our editor Ashley Riffo and I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Larry to discuss his personal work and how it culminated in the publication of his magnum opus.

Larry has a remarkable talent for capturing mo...

Ever wonder how some photographers capture those striking, perfectly composed street scenes? It’s not always about luck. Sometimes, it’s about seeing the world through the eyes of a graphic designer.

In this episode of the Street Photography Magazine podcast, I chat with Gavin Libotte, an Australian street photographer and musician with a background in graphic design and fine art. Gavin shares his journey back into photography, his unique perspective on composition, and how he finds inspiration in everyday life.

Gavin’s path to street photography wasn’t a straight line. He initiall...

Update: The podcast link is now working

In this episode I’m excited to introduce you to a photographer with a fascinating perspective on the art of seeing.

Steven Kushner is a retired Reform rabbi from Detroit who now calls New Jersey home. After serving his congregation for nearly four decades, Steven embarked on a creative journey that had always called to him but never had the space to fully explore – photography.

When I discovered Steven had become a subscriber to our magazine and filled out our profile form, I was...

I’m pleased to share my recent chat with Daniel Sakheim. Dan is a television director and producer known for his work on shows like “True Detective,” “The Americans,” and “Better Call Saul” and he is also a very talented street photographer. I’ve been trying to get Dan on the podcast for a while, and I’m glad it finally worked out. We had a great conversation about his journey into photography, how his directing work influences his photographic vision, and his project, “City Unseen.”

Key Takeaways

Dan talked about how LA isn’t really recognized as a s...

In this episode, Ashley Riffo and I welcome back Pia Parolin. We talk about how making your work more personal actually makes it connect with more people on a deeper level. It’s a concept, while is as old as Aristotle, been brewing in my mind for a long time, and we’re excited to explore it with you.

Key Takeaways

Pia shared insights from Susan Sontag and her own experiences, like her series on the Promenade des in Nice after a terrorist used a truck to kill 86 and injure over 400  people celebrating Bastil...

I’m thrilled to share something Ashley Riffo and I have been pouring our hearts into for over a year: our first book, Where the Streets Lead! It’s been a wild ride, full of unexpected turns and steep learning curves. After publishing a digital magazine for 12-years we wanted to create something tangible, a legacy of sorts, to celebrate street photography and the incredible community around it. And we wanted to use this special episode of the podcast to tell the story of our book creation story to help others learn from our experience and avoid the mistakes we m...

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Antonio Pisani. He’s a photographer originally from Italy but now based in the UK, and he has some very interesting insights on street photography. What makes Antonio’s story unique is his journey and perspective. I think you will appreciate his insights.

Key Takeaways

Antonio shared how his father’s profession influenced him. His father used film cameras in the eighties and nineties. Antonio explained the magic of photography and his independent approach. He always had a clear idea of what he wanted. His father’s work had...

Michele Zousmer, the featured photographer in the March 2025 issue of Street Photography Magazine is a San Diego-based humanitarian photographer, has dedicated her photographic work to illuminating overlooked communities and challenging societal perceptions. Starting as a sports photographer capturing her son’s basketball games, Michele’s path led her to document stories ranging from women in prison to homeless choir members, ultimately finding her most profound work among Ireland’s Traveller community.

For the past seven years, Michele has immersed herself in the Traveller culture, gaining unprecedented access through an approach that prioritizes human connection over technical perfection. “I litera...

Eric Turibio, known in the photography community as Ribsy, brings a distinctive approach to street portraiture that emphasizes genuine human connection over technical perfection. Originally starting his photographic journey through food photography, Ribsy has evolved into a committed film photographer who primarily works with medium format cameras to capture compelling portraits of New York City’s inhabitants.

In his conversation with Street Photography Magazine, Ribsy discusses how confidence shapes his street photography practice. Rather than adopting the fly-on-the-wall approach favored by many street photographers, he engages directly with his subjects, often approaching them with straightforward requests like “You...

Our guest tis week is Dean Hinnant, the Street Photography Magazine featured photographer in the January 2024 issue. Dean’s journey as a photographer centers on an intimate, ongoing documentation of his five siblings. The oldest of six children spanning nearly two decades in age, he transforms his role as big brother into a powerful creative force through his project titled “Blood.”

The project gained deeper meaning following his parents’ divorce, which spurred Dean to focus his lens on preserving and exploring the unbreakable bonds between siblings. Armed with his Leica M6 TTL – a camera with its own remarkable...

I recently had a very interesting chat with Jeromie Stephens, a talented photographer who’s been documenting the world of bluegrass for many years. If you love the candid, authentic moments in music or on the streets you need to check out the work of our guest Jeromie Stephens.

In today’s episode Jeromie and I dig into everything from street photography to the art of catching those spontaneous, off-stage moments that capture a musician’s spirit. Jeromie
started off wanting to be a photojournalist, but through his love of music and being inspired by the legend...