Photo Country - Inspiring Stories of Photographers Around the World Rajeev Nedumaran

Rediscovering Joy Through Photography: Sandra Cattaneo Adorno's Journey
In this 50th episode of Photo Country, host Rajeev interviews Brazilian street photographer Sandra Cattaneo Adorno, who discusses her late bloom into photography at sixty and celebrates her 10th anniversary in the field with a new book and an exhibition at the Venice Biennale. Sandra shares her unique experience with photography, emphasizing the joy and childlike wonder it brings her. She talks about her book's innovative accordion format, her fascination with gold hues in her images, and the positive responses her work has received. Sandra also delves into her passion for travel, the role of spontaneity in her photography, and the importance of staying curious and physically active. The episode concludes with Sandra encouraging aspiring photographers to embrace photography as a means to rediscover the world and maintain happiness and health.
Important Linkshttps://www.sandracattaneoadorno.com/
https://www.radiusbooks.org/all-books/p/sandra-cattaneo-adorno-ten-years
Magic Mind - Thank you for sponsoring this episodehttps://www.magicmind.com/photocountry
00:00 Discovering Joy Through Photography
00:38 Celebrating 50 Episodes with a Special Guest
01:40 A Deep Dive into Sandra's Unique Photobook
04:59 The Artistic Process and Inspiration Behind the Gold
06:56 Exhibition Success and Unintended Magic at the Venice Biennale
10:25 Transitioning to Photography: A Late Bloomer's Tale
12:31 The Thrill of Street Photography and Embracing New Experiences
16:27 Globetrotting for the Perfect Shot: A Photographer's Journey
18:57 Embracing Global Citizenship Through Travel
19:29 A Life of Adventure: From Boarding School to Global Travels
19:51 The Impact of Culture on Personal Growth and Photography
20:19 Finding Beauty in the World Through the Lens
22:39 The Journey to Publishing Four Photography Books
25:32 Embracing Photography as a New Craft at 60
30:43 The Evolution of a Photographer's Eye
31:45 Photography: A Joyful Pursuit Beyond Rules
33:26 Rediscovering Childhood Through Photography
34:31 Advice for Aspiring Photographers and the Importance of Staying Curious
36:36 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Sandra's Work


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The Entrepreneurial Journey of Justin Castles and Lucky Straps
In episode 49 of Photo Country, host Rajeev interviews Justin Castles, the photographer and entrepreneur behind Lucky Straps, renowned for their comfortable, handmade camera straps. Justin shares his transition from photography to entrepreneurship, detailing the inception of Lucky Straps, its growth, and its unique selling points like personalization and international shipping. The episode explores challenges and strategies in product development, marketing, and expanding product lines. The conversation also dives into user-generated content, the importance of starting small in business, and the potential for collaboration. Additionally, Rajeev discusses his podcast journey, touching on the challenges of hosting a photography-focused podcast and the effectiveness of leveraging multiple mediums to enhance audience engagement.
00:00 Welcome to Photo Country: Meet Justin Castles
00:21 Discovering the Comfort of Lucky Straps
02:04 Sponsor Spotlight: Magic Mind's Boost for Creatives
03:10 Deep Dive into Justin's Journey: From Photography to Entrepreneurship
04:44 The Evolution of a Photography Career and Lucky Straps
05:00 Navigating the Challenges of a Dual Career and Business Growth
13:23 The Art of Personalization and Global Reach of Lucky Straps
16:24 Scaling Handmade Products and Marketing Strategies
19:32 Exploring User-Generated Content and Community Engagement
28:22 Justin's Passion for Action Photography and Wedding Photography Insights
33:38 Exploring New Product Lines: Gloves and Beyond
34:41 Collaboration and Expansion: A New Direction for Lucky Straps
36:15 The Moment Brand Evolution: A Case Study for Growth
40:01 Designing the Ideal Camera Bag: Challenges and Aspirations
44:06 Innovating Quick Release Straps: The Journey and Challenges
51:31 Navigating Online Sales and Brand Focus
54:49 Podcasting Passion: From Photography to Politics
You can check out the straps on www.luckystraps.com
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Don't forget to check out www.magicmind.com - Sponsor for this episode. The energy drink that keeps me productive and focused. use www.magicmind.co/photocountry with discount code RAJEEV20 for up to 56% off your subscription. I'd get the 30-pack if I was you It is the best value. So go check it out and thanks Magic Mind for sponsoring this video.


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A Journey into the World of Wildlife Photography with Dev Anand Paul - Ep. 48
In this episode of the Photo Country podcast, host Rajeev speaks to wildlife photographer Devanand Paul. Devanand had a successful corporate career, before switching to his passion, wildlife photography. He shares his experiences of traveling the globe from the Himalayas to the savannas of Africa, documenting the planet's flora and fauna. The podcast covers various topics including tracking and capturing rare bird species in their natural habitats successfully, handling low light situations, effective camera settings, and processing images properly. Devanand also highlights the importance of knowing the subject, understanding your camera, post-processing, and sharing photos with others for learning and inspiration.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:11 Meet Devanand Paul: From Corporate to Wildlife Photography
01:11 The Journey of a Wildlife Photographer
02:43 Getting Started in Birding and Wildlife Photography
05:17 The Art of Wildlife Photography: Equipment and Techniques
09:57 The Challenges and Rewards of Wildlife Photography
18:37 The Future of Wildlife Photography: Plans and Aspirations
23:53 Advice for Aspiring Wildlife Photographers
25:43 Closing Remarks and Farewell
A word about our sponsor for this episode - www.magicmind.comI have a very special sponsor for this episode - it’s called Magic Mind. Its seriously a magic elixir. So, when you are working, when it’s around 2 in the afternoon, your energy levels drop. drinking endless cups of tea was not really cutting it. So instead of that, I tried this little drink and man it packs a punch, I should say. big things come in small packages, they say and this is really it.You can get it at: www.magicmind.co/photocountry and with the discount code RAJEEV20, you also get up to 56% off your first subscription or 20% off your one-time purchase. If you’re already a subscriber, you save on your next subscription payment


Get full access to Photo Country: Inspiring Stories of Photographers at photocountry.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 47 of Photo Country Podcast: Exploring the World through Photography with Mr. Vivek Patwardhan
In episode 47 of the Photo Country podcast, the host has an in-depth conversation with guest Mr. Vivek Patwardhan, a guru in the HR and learning profession who also has a passion for photography, writing, and poetry. Mr. Patwardhan shares his journey in photography, which started with capturing images using his phone on Facebook, and the importance of active hobbies like writing and sketching. He talks about the unintended discovery of passion in different fields such as podcasting and provides insightful thoughts about the corporate world's perspective towards imagery and symbolism. The episode ends with a teaser for the next episode featuring a wildlife photographer, Dev Anand Paul.
00:10 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
00:27 Getting to Know Mr. Vivek Patwardhan
00:50 The Art of Photography and Its Importance
01:17 Starting the Conversation with Mr. Vivek Patwardhan
03:57 Exploring Mr. Vivek Patwardhan's Artistic Journey
07:21 The Role of Creativity in Mr. Vivek Patwardhan's Life
10:47 Mr. Vivek Patwardhan's Introduction to Photography
11:56 The Art of Street Photography
15:58 The Intersection of Coaching and Creativity
19:40 The Importance of Having a Hobby
20:30 The Importance of Active Hobbies
20:49 The Constant Pursuit of Perfection
22:02 The Misuse and Abuse of the Word 'Passion'
22:39 Indications of True Passion
23:21 The Power of Spontaneity
27:00 The Joy of Storytelling
27:17 The Discovery of Passion
27:58 The Role of Talent in Passion
28:30 The Journey of Photography
32:06 The Power of Imagery and Symbolism
32:55 The Potential of Podcasting
33:38 Closing Remarks and Future Plans
Don’t forget to check out his blog - www.vivekvsp.com or his Instagram handle - vivekpatwardhan


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Episode 46: The Magic and Future of Analog Photography with Sasikanth Somu
In this episode, Rajeev chats with Sasikanth Somu, a practitioner and teacher of analog photography from Auroville, Pondicherry. Sasikanth shares his journey of discovering photography through an old Kodak box brownie, his passion for analog processes, and how he teaches photography. He discusses the unique aspects of film photography, the effect of digital fatigue, and how analog and digital mediums can coexist. Discussions also touch upon the revival interest in analog photography and experiments within the field, like cyanotype. The future of analog photography and the accessibility and affordability of the medium are among the topics explored in the episode. Finally, Sasikanth advises those interested in exploring analog photography.
00:05 Introduction and Welcome
00:10 Introducing the Guest: Sasikanth Somu
01:15 Beginning the Conversation with Sasikanth
02:31 Sasikanth's Journey into Photography
06:59 Sasikanth's Experience with Analog Photography
07:45 Teaching Photography in Auroville
11:05 The Future of Film Photography
17:23 Sasikanth's Personal Photography Style
24:51 The Relevance of Film in Today's World
31:42 Advice for Aspiring Film Photographers
36:05 Conclusion and Wrap Up
Photographs by Sasi SomuHis Instagram - www.instagram.com/sasisomu/
Tor Eigeland’s Instagram and websitehttps://www.instagram.com/toreigeland/https://www.toreigeland.com/
I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode. Please subscribe and leave a comment to support this podcast or you can buy me a coffee!


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Ep. 45 - Nikki Clendinning: Documenting the Banality of Everyday Life
In this episode of the Photo Country podcast, host Rajeev chats with Nikki Clendinning, an urban and street photographer. Nikki shares her unique approach to photography, finding beauty in everyday scenes that others might overlook. She talks about her experiences and techniques, discussing her journey from analog to digital photography, the influence of lateral architectural studies on her work, and her love for plants and music. Nikki provides valuable tips for budding street photographers and shares her experience using a Fujifilm camera.
01:09 Starting the Band: Struggling Drummer Search
01:37 Dual Instagram Accounts & Nightshade: Landscape Architecture & Photography
03:34 Music, Planting & Photography: Nikki’s Three Hobbies
04:18 Landscape Architecture: Misunderstood Profession
05:21 Urban Photography: Capturing Cities & A Vancouver Experience
06:51 Critical Comparison: Between Vancouver and Auckland City
08:57 Fujifilm & Street Photography: Technique, Challenge, & Camera Settings
09:21 Influences & Homage: Inspired by Vivian Maier and Robert Mapplethorpe
14:31 Digital Practice: Development from connections
25:02 Assumed Identity: Using Initials Instead of Name
08:51 Photography Future: View of Photography Role Post Landscape Architect Training
You can check out Nikki's work on her Instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/njc.photographic/
Do like, share and subscribe to this podcast on Substack or whichever platform you listen to for your podcasts. Till the next episode, stay safe and keep clicking.


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