The F-Stop Collaborate and Listen podcast celebrates 350 episodes of meaningful and intimate conversations with photographers, industry insiders, and other artists passionate about nature and landscape photography. The highly-rated podcast continues to serve as an essential avenue for experienced photographers, novices under the radar, and even mere enthusiasts to share their knowledge, experiences, and profound love for photography with a broader audience.
Matt Payne, the host and creative mind behind F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, aims to provide photographers, irrespective of their expertise, a platform where they can offer and receive insight into various aspects of photography. This initiative is a product of Matt's journey from being a skilled non-profit and healthcare leader to a full-time professional landscape and nature photographer at Muench Workshops where he leads workshops to nurture the skills of aspiring photographers.
As a fifth-generation native of Colorado, Matt's early days were spent climbing the vast mountains of his homeland. Immersed in breathtaking landscapes, he taught himself photography and has documented his journey ever since. In 2011, Matt decided to delve deeper into the art of photography, getting his hands on every resource he could to learn how to better capture nature and landscape photographs. He has been traveling around the world since then, from the United States’ natural parks and remote terrains to Antarctica's icebergs, penguins, and stunning landscapes.
Unsatisfied with simply emulating the techniques of other photographers, Matt realized that the best way to improve his craft is to approach photography on a deeper, more personal level. This realization gave birth to the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen podcast, an avenue where photographers can talk about their journeys and, at the same time, learn from other's experiences.
Recognizing the importance of seeking people's opinions to view subject matters from different lenses, the podcast host shared, "We tackle various topics and cover as many angles we can. We had a panel discussion on women in landscape photography. A previous episode focused on how to market one's work through print-making. Some of our guests talk about the impact of AI [artificial intelligence] on their business and how they leverage it for scalability. Others talk about their struggle with mental health and how photography has become an avenue to navigate it."
F-Stop Collaborate and Listen spotlights the human side of photography. Aside from diving deep into the technical aspects of photography (e.g., equipment, techniques, processes used in production, etc.) and its intricacies, the podcast highlights the guests' journeys, including the things they have accomplished while pursuing the art and how it became a vehicle for self-expression and processing emotions, such as awe, excitement, and grief.
With a master's degree in Clinical Psychology, Matt made it his mission to initiate intimate conversations with guests to illustrate how photography is more than a visual art form. It can also become a vital tool for self-expression, healing, and personal growth. This holistic approach makes F-Stop Collaborate and Listen stand out.
Ultimately, the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen podcast stands as a welcoming platform where photographers and enthusiasts can leverage the wisdom and experiences of the collective to obtain valuable insight and improve their craft. It continues to promote nature and landscape photography as a medium for both artistic and self-expression.
Aside from the podcast, Matt shows his passion for authentic photography by co-founding the Natural Landscape Photography Awards, a competition created to find the best landscape and nature photography. It is open to all digital and film photographers who value realism in their craft. In addition, as the podcast commemorates its 350th episode, Matt intends to publish a book encompassing similar themes. This venture showcases the professional photographer's dedication to continued exploration and growth.
Media Contact
Name: Matt Payne
Email: [email protected]
