Shifter Media

Hello, my darlings. Did you miss me? We have a full stack this week. Our hero and goat are secured. We dance from the Japan Workshop to the promise of the M3 iPad Pro. We swoon through guns at parades, SORA taking down entire industries, and the power of a rock back from 1970s Seattle. Don't miss the National Geographic photographer series, UFC results, the Canadian border, and more. If you are sensitive and easily triggered by math, science, truth, or even opinion, it is better if you stay away.

It's been a while, but back by popular demand. For What It's Worth Podcast. For those of you new the cast, we start with who the program is for, our hero of the week and our goat of the week. After the niceties, we move forward with topics like the podcast revolution, my new Nikon Z8, grift on YouTube, my future online plans including the newsletter, and more. We round out with my upcoming schedule, rucking vs going to the gym, and my overall self-grade for my trip to Antarctica.

It's been a while. But I'm back with a stellar yet random list of things to discuss. As always, we begin with who this is for followed by the hero and goat of the week. We hit war in the Middle East, travel to India, my Royal Enfield Himalayan, photography conformity, wokeism, and the complete failure of the Democratic party. Wait, there's more? Birding, workshops, my X100V impression, and more.

"Dispatches" is an in-depth look at those living artistic lives. Each episode will feature photographs and audio interviews with narrative pioneers who have taken creativity and publishing into their own hands. From artists to authors, photographers to philosophers, Dispatches will reveal the faces and foundations of those who lead the creative way. Jesse Freidin (b. 1981) was America's leading fine art dog photographer for the past 15 years, and now focuses his attention on elevating the experience of the trans/tgnc community through portraiture and interviews. His photography is part of over 150 private collections and has been exhibited in galleries from coast to coast. His current series entitled “Are You OK?” addresses the dangers of the current wave of anti-trans legislation sweeping the country in a passionate attempt to erase stigma and elevate the voices of those most affected. He identifies as a queer human. Jesse’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, The Huffington Post, Them, Poz Magazine, Yahoo!, MTV, Live! with Regis and Kelly, Inside Edition, The Bark Magazine, Dogster, Garden and Gun Magazine, The New York Post, Four and Sons Magazine and many more. He is also the creator of three viral photography series: The Doggie Gaga Project (2010), When Dogs Heal: Powerful Stories of People Living with HIV and the Dogs That Saved Them (published by Lerner Books 2020, #1 New Release on Amazon), and Finding Shelter: Portraits of Love, Healing and Survival (published by Lyons Press 2017).

Back to the sound of my voice. Welcome to the latest episode of For What It's Worth Podcast, the audio orgasm that nobody asked for. This week we talk Supreme Court lunacy, the Fuji x100V, sport and those who detest sport, the availability of "dumb" in American society, and my plans for future online endeavors. I also recap the first two months of my ongoing road trip, including flights. And much, much more.

I know that many of you have led interesting, adventurous lives, so I know you will enjoy this interview with Monique Stauder. Monique is an old friend who inspires through her work and her lifestyle. There isn't a region in the world that Monique hasn't visited, and her projects and artistic undertakings are commendable. From journalism to fine art, from photographing female Tamil Tiger fighters to metalworking in Kinshasa, Monique has made the rounds and lived a life that many of us can only dream of.

Welcome back to the "Conversation Series" with this week's guest photojournalist David Butow. David and I met several decades ago and I've followed his career ever since. Photojournalism is a semi-misunderstood field but still serves as one of the most critical functions of photography, at least in my opinion. Working as a photojournalist involves training, a vetting process, and a serious responsibility. I've always viewed David as one of the "good guys" in this industry. His skill and commitment behind the camera are revealed by both his coverage and his awards. David worked in locations like Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iraq, Peru, and others. He covered stories on post 9/11 New York, the Palestine/Israeli Intifada, the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the China earthquake in 2008, the funeral of Nelson Mandela, the Hong Kong protests of 2019, and spent the last five years covering politics in Washington. His list of awards includes World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year International, Photo District News, National Press Photographers Association, White House News Photographers' Association, Communication Arts, and more. David and I discuss his photographic origin story, his early training, his rise through the newspaper and magazine worlds, his work with US News and World Report Magazine, personal vs professional projects, the arrival and impact of the Internet and social media, and his incredible experience covering the events of January 6th, 2021. We also discuss his book "Brink," which details the entire arc of American politics from late 2015 to early 2021. As important as what we discussed is what we did not get to discuss due to time restraints. This is good news for all of you because it means there will be a second episode of my conversation with David. My goal with these talks is to introduce you to working photographers. Their life, their story, their training, their experience, and their understanding of what it means to dedicate your life to photography. In a world of influence, these are the folks that are actually rising at dawn to bake the bread. Photo: Roman Cho https://www.davidbutow.com/

Once again, the world tilts on its axis as For What It's Worth Podcast comes alive. We hit who the podcast is for, the hero of the week, and the worst of the worst from the world at large. New camera kit, FIFA and the World Cup, the FTX scandal, and what it actually means to get involved. We also cover the status of my beloved Salsa Fargo Ti and how the money savings of using a bike vs a car have panned out. What else? The death of Twitter, COP27 and what is happening with my current bookmaking endeavors.

How can you live without this podcast? A feisty week, but for the love of God, someone has to say these things. Let's talk Leica rerelease, NFL update, UFC 280, and the current crisis in the professional camera field where NOBODY makes one camera do all. How about the failure of our Supreme Court and how this might impact things like Americans paying taxes? Analog Albania, YouTube success, and the rebuilding of the best bike in the world.

I wedged this one in just as Ron DeSantis was running for cover as the CAT4 beast that is Ian came to visit. One blowhard to another. Just as it should be. What a week. I feel like the kid in the dodgeball game who ends up alone against a full team on the other side winging those pain-inflicting red balls at his head. "Hey, can you kill this mouse, set up a satellite dish, teach an 87-year-old how to use Facetime, critique this PDF, write a quote, make this book, find this part, review these samples, drill this hole, and talk your mother off the ledge of running out of coffee." And that before 10 AM. Thank God I'm so intelligent. Who is this week's episode for? Anyone saying, "Me and my kids are riding this thing out." Then, when the reporter returns the next day the only thing left is a slab. THAT is my kind of adventurer. Who is our hero of the week? Our GOAT? Tune in and find out. This week we cover the departure of my drone, my experience with Starlink, Salsa Cycles coming through in a major way, my return to El Paso, and how much I miss Albania. In addition, we talk new laptops, horrible morning rituals, and the strange, fantastic world of letters, pens, and mysterious correspondence.

Heroes and goats. Heroes and goats. Who is this for? Well, I'll tell you. We say goodbye to Roger Federer, discuss the snowflake outrage at having U2 songs embedded on your iPhone, and the new depths of the GOP. We talk hipster love of psychedelics, Casey's big move, and my distaste for concerts and Burning Man. Also on tap is the hypocrisy of the Drug War when combined with American sport and why pickleball should be banned forever. And for you camera geeks, I'll explain my time with the Fuji XH2s. And this, friends, is just the tip of the iceberg. Strap in and gear up.

Sarah Leen is a mentor, editor, consultant, board member, advisory council member, director of photography, founder, and a very, very accomplished photographer. She is also a pioneer. First female winner of the College Photographer of the Year, sixteen assignments for National Geographic--including five covers--and titles of editor and director of photography at National Geographic where she was the first female to attain this position. You could say she owns a resume made of stone. Her insight into the life of a working pro, the amount of research done on stories and the beauty of the edit and sequence of photography books are all on tap.

Lori Grinker has been a working photographer for over three decades. Long-from storytelling, photojournalism, collage, illustration, and installation provide the foundation for her process and career. Grinker has published several monographs and will soon release her book on Mike Tyson, a project that required nine years of principal photography. With numerous awards to her name, Grinker's work is in the collections of museums worldwide.

For the love of crap people, we MUST begin by agreeing there IS such a thing as fact. Not yours or mine, just fact. Inert. Plain and simple. How about a softball? Are we on Earth? You and I? Unless you are in orbit the answer would be a resounding yes. Fact should be the baseline for all we do and yet we have found a way to muddy the factual water like idiots on the bow of the boat as it heads into a CAT 5 gale. But I digress. We have a lot to cover this week. I'll update you on my workshop situation, the books I'm reading and express to you the importance of knowing that we live in a country that loves nothing more than trucker movies. What camera will I stick with? Is the Uni-Jetstream the most complete pen ever manufactured? Why am I still wearing a mask and what will actually come from the raid of Mar-a-Lago? I finally found a YouTube photography channel I like and why moose meat is a hidden gem of the meat world. And more!

These are a lot of fun. I love to hit serious topics and topics that really have little relevance to anyone outside of twisted self. Politics, a potential new motorcycle, camera issues, camera hunts, camera confusion. Shark week, New Mexico, the illusion of IBIS, and what an Instagram couple looks like on the beach. (Not good.)

Well, back with a vengeance. Outside, 90s, noise, family interruption. Nothing will stop me. Topics? Trump did it, the averageness of the AR-15, why the XT4 is FAR superior to the X100 series, the Tour de France, and how easily I could win but how impactful COVID has become on the race, my fastest 40k ever, how I read tea leaves in the field, the loveliness of the status quo and how I'm going to establish a precrime unit to solve a public woe. Just start listening.

Back by popular demand although it never really went anywhere, "For What It's Worth" rockets back with fresh, and enlightening content sure to make you question your family, your beliefs, and the future of humanity. Let's talk hero and GOAT, a plan for a smartphone-free world, AG23, Albania, mental health, and why not add in a birding update? In addition, did I mention my camera crisis? Ya, it' real. Strap in.

I met Stuart Isett in 1999 while attending the Visa Pour L'Image photojournalism festival in Southern France. Still friends to this day and it's been a joy and wonder watching his career. Drop him anywhere and he will get pictures. This might seem simple but it is far from it and to get to this stage it takes a lot of work, trial, error, dedication, professionalism, and luck. We talk early education, family, travel, Asian studies, community, competition, getting work, keeping work, and many, many things in between.

Okay, here is the full interview with Elena about the Albania workshop program. https://www.wideanglephototours.com/

I know, you just can't stay away from my nonsensical ramblings. It's natural. Don't fight it. This week we have a wide array of strange ideologies partnered with little to no research. This is about wild theories and passion only. Like my recent near breakdown when it comes to photography equipment. What about the fact we have ZERO chance to solve climate issues? Do you want more? Okay, how about bodybuilding culture, Shifter.media update, birding, stargazing, and bike over Tesla? Finally, I'm sorry Svalbard.