REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we so often talk about on Fridays: perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, like a creative reset to start the week, and from Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, travelling light with your kit: one camera, one notepad and a sound recorder thingie. All links will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

In this episode, I revisit conversations with two remarkable photographers whose work and generosity have left lasting impressions. Steve Shipman, who we lost in 2018, built a career capturing portraits for newspapers, magazines, and leading corporate clients, later turning his lens toward weddings, social photography, street photography and legacy family projects. His archive reads like an A-to-Z of notable figures, with some of his portraits now held in the National Portrait Gallery’s archive in London. Charlie Waite has spent decades shaping how we see the British and international landscape, his work marked by a painter’s eye for light, form, and balance. Through books, exhibitions, and teaching, he has encouraged countless photographers to truly observe. Charlie’s warmth and openness have made him a guiding presence for many in the photographic community, with an influence that goes well beyond his own work. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we so often talk about on Fridays: perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, like a creative reset to start the week, and from Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, I reflect upon those places I'd like to photograph, one in particular, that is certainly off the menu. All links will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

In this episode, I walk with woodland and street photographer Mali Davies through the winding paths of Savernake Forest, a place steeped in centuries of history. Beneath the canopy of ancient oaks and beeches, we talk about the role forests have played in Britain’s story, and why their protection has never been more important. Mali shares the practical kit he relies on for photographing in woodland, his thoughts on composition, and the small details that bring these vast, living spaces to life in an image. It’s a conversation about history, craft, and the quiet beauty of trees that have stood watch for hundreds of years. We also talk about the importance of family, a special pilgrimage to the top of a mountain fell in the Lake District and how street photography is becoming an important outlet to him too. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

REFLECTIONS is a short-form feature within The Photowalk podcast, offering thoughtful observations on a creative life and the themes that we so often talk about on Fridays: perfectionism, impostor syndrome, comparison, confidence and more. It’s a pause at the start of the week to recalibrate, recorded in the studio between the walks. Each Monday, you’ll find Reflections on The Photowalk podcast feed, like a creative reset to start the week, and from Tuesday to Friday, it continues exclusively on our member-supported channel, The Extra Mile, for those who walk a little further with us. Today, I reflect upon advice given by the late portrait and social photographer, Steve Shipman. Further thoughts on the subject from Paul Hutson. All links will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

I was walking along a stretch of my favourite canal path about a month ago with the barking machine and my good friend, documentary photographer Giles Penfound, when we encountered Dale Thomas running toward us. Usually, runners are reasonably head-down and on a mission, except Dale wasn’t.  He wore a running top promoting the Ollie Young Foundation and was happy to stop briefly to talk about the cause. What came from our ten-minute chat convinced me that he had several human stories to share. And while he’s not a photographer, Dale is certainly an encounter, and I’m always championing encounters as those magic, serendipitous moments where we connect, maybe make a portrait, and talk about life. So, Dale is today’s guest, with a story about community, a race across the desert that, in many ways, saved his life, and an outlook shaped not by medals or miles, but by a belief that life is for living, fully, curiously, and with your family never far from your heart. Also from the mailbag, Johann van der Walt, artisan camera bag maker and, frankly, my new best friend, and like London buses, another Johan appears! Johan Rispling is here to ask whether photographers are secretly moonlighting as painters, poets, or pianists, and Andrew Scriven checks in from Andalusia via Covent Garden. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

Today’s Photowalk show guest is Ibarionex Perello, a photographer, writer, educator, and the long-standing host of The Candid Frame podcast, one of the most respected and enduring shows in photography. With over 25 years in the photographic industry and more than 600 episodes under his belt, he’s interviewed legends like Jay Maisel, Mary Ellen Mark, and Joel Meyerowitz. In this conversation, we talk about his thoughtful approach to podcasting, what he listens for in a guest, and why the best conversations don’t follow scripts. We also discuss life after loss, as he reflects on the devastating LA fires that destroyed his family's home and studio. And, of course, we talk photography, the way he sees, the way he teaches, and the very personal reasons he still makes pictures. Also on the show and from the mailbag, Matthies Wesche is about to dangle precariously from his seat, photographing people who believe it’s more fun to jump out of aeroplanes than sit back and enjoy the complimentary wine and molten-hot Thermo Lasagne Surprise, and Chris Articulate returns with thoughts on one YouTube channel, Sony cameras, and this podcast! We’ve got news about a rustic workshop, so brush off your tents, shake out the spiders, and mark some dates in your diary, plus Gary Ramage invites you to take part in the One Word Assignment. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

In this episode, recorded in London, I meet up with friend and photojournalist Marissa Roth, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer whose career spans decades of visual storytelling. We talk about what might be a photographer’s greatest superpower: vulnerability. From her early days at the LA Times to her long-form global project One Person Crying: Women and War, Marissa shares how empathy, courage, and an open heart have shaped her work in conflict zones and beyond. Now building a new life in Europe, she reflects on what it means to start again, to carry stories across borders, and to stay true to the deeper reasons we pick up a camera in the first place. Also, today, Gary Ramage invites you to take part in the One Word Assignment for July. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

In this special edition of The Photowalk, we’re in Paris, exploring the city through the eyes of celebrated street photographer and regular contributor to the show Valérie Jardin. With her as our guide, we visit places that hold a special photographic charm, not just some of the landmarks, but the quieter, less-travelled streets and corners. It’s a street photography walking workshop, and we learn not just how to make better pictures, but how to truly see opportunities and moments. Along the way, we’ll meet others on the same path, fellow photographers from around the world, brought together by a shared curiosity and the joy of photographing life as it happens. Valérie shares her deep knowledge of the city, its history and visual language, offering practical guidance and insight, plus there are some surprises as we walk. Whether you’re carrying a camera or simply walking with your ears, this episode invites you to pause, notice, and feel part of something creative in one of the World’s most vibrant photographic cities. Also, today, Gary Ramage invites you to take part in the One Word Assignment for July. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

Quintin Lake is my guest today, sharing stories from the literal edges. From 2015 to 2021, he walked the entire coastline of mainland Britain, covering all 11,000 km of it, creating The Perimeter, a six-year photographic journey that explores light, isolation, design, and the quiet drama of the country's outermost margins. A fine art and architectural photographer, Quintin’s eye has always been drawn to form and structure. We also talk about his personal work, including Absent Pyramid, a study of Chernobyl 21 years later, and Cold War Spaces of Fear. Quintin’s work is marked by precision, stillness, and a deep attentiveness to place. In this conversation, we explore endurance and creativity, the solitude of long walks, and what it means to photograph with intention.  Also on the show today from the mailbag: Jade Lee has an idea for our 500th episode that allows you to participate, wherever you are in this world. Christopher Parsons shares how sneaking into the right place led to the shot, Bill Frische gifts us a new word you’ll want to make your own, and Reed Gidez explores an abandoned hospital with a camera in hand. Also, today, Gary Ramage invites you to take part in the new One Word Assignment for July. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to Arthelper, who sponsor this show, plus our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.