Just The Photographer with David Swanson

David Swanson & Alan Katz
  • 5.0 (17)
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For over 40 years, Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist David Swanson has covered war zones (from Bosnia to Afghanistan to Iraq), natural disasters (the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, the LA Fires) and even red carpets. But, while David's photos can tell you what it looked like standing where he stood in order to take those news photos, they can't tell you what it felt like standing there. Those are the stories this podcast will tell! Journalism doesn't get any more personal than this. Or more compelling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. S1E1 Stories My Photos CAN'T Tell

    EPISODE 1

    S1E1 Stories My Photos CAN'T Tell

    THE BLURB: Meet David Swanson, Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist. In this thumbnail introduction to the real world of photojournalism, David tells the stories of how he became a photojournalist and how being one has impacted every facet of his life. It's impossible to see and photograph wars, natural disasters and life's strange twists and turns without getting impacted in return. But, as crazy and chaotic as war zones can be, they can be surprisingly life-affirming, too. SHOW NOTES Over the course of his 40+ year Pulitzer Prize winning career, David Swanson has pointed his cameras at everything from wars (Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq) to natural disasters (Hurricane Katrina, the Earthquake in Haiti) to Red Carpet Events like the Oscars. Of course, in order to point his camera at those events, David had to be in all those places confronting wars, natural disasters and red carpet events. David cut his photojournalism teeth covering local news around York, PA where he grew up. He began his career interning at newspapers like The Los Angeles Times before settling in for the long haul at The Philadelphia Inquirer for whom David covered Bosnia, Katrina, Iraq and Afghanistan (among other news events). SOCIAL MEDIA INSTAGRAM: @costardandtouchstone FACEBOOK: COSTARD & TOUCHSTONE OUR WEBSITE - If you enjoy this podcast, please check out the rest of Costard & Touchstone's growing lineup of story podcasts at https://costardandtouchstone.com! If you enjoy this podcast, please check out the rest of Costard & Touchstone's growing stable of podcasts. You can find them here: Costard & Touchstone Productions – Costard & Touchstone Productions – Great Podcasts, No Foolin'! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  2. S1E2 In Country

    EPISODE 2

    S1E2 In Country

    THE BLURB: In this episode, David takes you "In Country" with him - right to the middle of war, chaos and danger. He shares the surprising joys and camaraderie that spring from war zones and the strangely disconnected experience of being shot in battle. In war zones, all normal rules of civility vanish. Normalcy itself vanishes. That's what makes being in country such an unpredictable, terrifying yet exhilarating experience. Show Notes Being “in country” means literally being there. In the middle of whatever you were assigned to cover. Since we’re talking about war zones (in this episode), we’re talking about how being in places where death happens all around you changes you. Here's a link to the book referenced regarding chickens, Delcorso's Gallery - https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/philip-caputo/del-corso-s-gallery.htm You can find this episode’s photos ON INSTAGRAM – @just_the_photographer_podcast https://www.instagram.com/just_the_photographer_podcast If you are enjoying “Just The Photographer with David Swanson”, please like us, rate us and leave a comment! That really does help a bigger audience find us! Even better, please recommend us to your friends! And check out the other podcasts in the COSTARD & TOUCHSTONE family at https://costardandtouchstonecom. https://costardandtouchstone.com/ If you enjoy this podcast, please check out the rest of Costard & Touchstone's growing stable of podcasts. You can find them here: Costard & Touchstone Productions – Costard & Touchstone Productions – Great Podcasts, No Foolin'! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  3. S1E3 When A War Comes To You

    EPISODE 3

    S1E3 When A War Comes To You

    THE BLURB: In his new book "UNREMITTING", former USA Today journalist and editorial page writer GREGG ZOROYA tells the story of The Battle of Ramadi - the battle where David got shot in the arm. In fact, David is one of the characters in Gregg's amazing book. What's especially ironic - because David and a German photographer were the only journalists covering the story in real time, David didn't know many of the details of the battle until he read Gregg's compelling, moment-to-moment account of it. SHOW NOTES Gregg Zoroya worked as a journalist with USA Today from 1998-2022, moving from human interest features and general assignment reporting to war coverage and finally to a beat assignment specially created for his talents that focused on the impact of combat on troops and their families. He completed his career with the paper as a member of the editorial board and an editorial writer. You can find Gregg Zoroya's's "UNREMITTING" at Amazon, Goodreads or Barnes & Noble. You can also find it at most independent book stores. Please support them! You can find this episode’s photos - and lots more at our INSTAGRAM – @just_the_photographer_podcast https://www.instagram.com/just_the_photographer_podcast If you are enjoying “Just The Photographer with David Swanson”, please like us, rate us and leave a comment! That really does help a bigger audience find us! Even better, please recommend us to your friends! And check out the other podcasts in the COSTARD & TOUCHSTONE family at https://costardandtouchstone.com/ If you enjoy this podcast, please check out the rest of Costard & Touchstone's growing stable of podcasts. You can find them here: Costard & Touchstone Productions – Costard & Touchstone Productions – Great Podcasts, No Foolin'! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  4. S1E4 Battle Of Los Angeles

    EPISODE 4

    S1E4 Battle Of Los Angeles

    THE BLURB: In June 2025, a war zone came to Los Angeles, the place David now calls home. Marines, ICE agents, LAPD and other law enforcement started grabbing people off LA's streets and the people of LA resisted and spoke up about it. What happens when your home town becomes a war zone and your job is covering it? SHOW NOTES: The journalist wounded on camera during the Battle Of LA is the US correspondent for Nine News Australia, Lauren Tomasi. The footage heard here is from their live coverage of the event. In the aftermath, Tomasi reported that she was sore but otherwise unharmed. The event was condemned by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who called the footage "horrific".  You can find this episode’s photos - and lots more at our INSTAGRAM – @just_the_photographer_podcast https://www.instagram.com/just_the_photographer_podcast If you are enjoying “Just The Photographer with David Swanson”, please like us, rate us and leave a comment! That really does help a bigger audience find us! Better still, please recommend us to your friends! And check out the other podcasts in the COSTARD & TOUCHSTONE family at https://costardandtouchstone.com/ If you enjoy this podcast, please check out the rest of Costard & Touchstone's growing stable of podcasts. You can find them here: Costard & Touchstone Productions – Costard & Touchstone Productions – Great Podcasts, No Foolin'! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  5. S1E5 City On Fire

    EPISODE 5

    S1E5 City On Fire

    THE BLURB: In January 2025, two massive wildfires devastated two different Los Angeles neighborhoods - Pacific Palisades on the west side and Altadena on the east side, just above Pasadena. In this episode David describes the differences and similarities between covering a fire and covering a firefight. How exactly does a journalist go about covering a natural disaster like a wild fire without becoming the wild fire's victim? SHOW NOTES: We recommend checking out the WATCH DUTY APP. Especially if you live anywhere near a possible wild fire area - which, these days, is more and more of the country (and, unfortunately the world). https://app.watchduty.org/ You can find this episode’s photos - and lots more at our INSTAGRAM – @just_the_photographer_podcast https://www.instagram.com/just_the_photographer_podcast If you are enjoying “Just The Photographer with David Swanson”, please like us, rate us and leave a comment! That really does help a bigger audience find us! Better still, please recommend us to your friends! And check out the other podcasts in the COSTARD & TOUCHSTONE family at https://costardandtouchstone.com/ If you enjoy this podcast, please check out the rest of Costard & Touchstone's growing stable of podcasts. You can find them here: Costard & Touchstone Productions – Costard & Touchstone Productions – Great Podcasts, No Foolin'! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
  6. S1E6 In The Line Of Fire

    EPISODE 6

    S1E6 In The Line Of Fire

    THE BLURB: Always a dangerous job, photojournalism (journalism period!) has become exponentially more dangerous. In this episode, David discusses the newest danger - law enforcement and its confusion over who exactly IS a journalist these days. Joining David in the discussion are multimedia journalists Chelsea Lauren, Sean Beckner-Carmitchel, Mel Buer and Sergio Olmos. SHOW NOTES Our guests: SEAN BECKNER-CARMITCHEL has spent the last several years filming protests, counter-protests, rallies, sweeps, protests about sweeps, and rallies about counter-protests. His video work has been seen on Good Morning America, NBC, ABC, and other national and international outlets. Though CHELSEA LAUREN wanted to be a plastic surgeon when she was a kid, Chelsea eventually turned her photographic hobby into her life. A seasoned celebrity photographer, who works for wire agency, Chelsea recently began branching out – covering riots, protests and unrest in addition to red carpet events An independent journalist, MEL BUER's newsletter Words About Work covers labor and social justice movements. Her work’s been featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation and other major outlets. In addition to his terrific investigative reporting for CalMatters, SERGIO OLMOS has freelanced for The New York Times, NPR, Oregon Public Broadcasting and The Guardian among others, reporting from both the US and from the war in Ukraine. Sergio also created the Dying For A Fight podcast series for Oregon Public Broadcasting. That led directly to the arrest and successful prosecution of the killer of a well-kown Portland activist. Don’t mess with Sergio. You can find this episode’s photos - and lots more at our INSTAGRAM – @just_the_photographer_podcast https://www.instagram.com/just_the_photographer_podcast If you are enjoying “Just The Photographer with David Swanson”, please like us, rate us and leave a comment! That really does help a bigger audience find us! Better still, please recommend us to your friends! And check out the other podcasts in the COSTARD & TOUCHSTONE family at https://costardandtouchstone.com/ If you enjoy this podcast, please check out the rest of Costard & Touchstone's growing stable of podcasts. You can find them here: Costard & Touchstone Productions – Costard & Touchstone Productions – Great Podcasts, No Foolin'! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  7. S1E7 They Looked Like Ghosts

    EPISODE 7

    S1E7 They Looked Like Ghosts

    THE BLURB: Even 25 years after it happened, 911 still haunts us. Photos from that day can still take us back to that day and all the complex emotions we felt. In this episode, David and photojournalists SPENCER PLATT and MARIO TAMA will discuss the photos they took that day that became iconic. While others rushed away from the twin towers as they burned and then collapsed, some people - first responders and journalists - ran toward the catastrophe. 911 changed everyone. It changed some people even more. SHOW NOTES You can find this episode’s photos - and lots more at our INSTAGRAM – @just_the_photographer_podcast https://www.instagram.com/just_the_photographer_podcast If you are enjoying “Just The Photographer with David Swanson”, please like us, rate us and leave a comment! That really does help a bigger audience find us! Better still, please recommend us to your friends! And check out the other podcasts in the COSTARD & TOUCHSTONE family at https://costardandtouchstone.com/ If you enjoy this podcast, please check out the rest of Costard & Touchstone's growing stable of podcasts. You can find them here: Costard & Touchstone Productions – Costard & Touchstone Productions – Great Podcasts, No Foolin'! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  8. S1E8 Line Of Fire, Part 2

    EPISODE 8

    S1E8 Line Of Fire, Part 2

    THE BLURB: Journalism requires people willing to run toward danger instead of away from it. In this episode, photojournalists Chelsea Lauren, Sean Beckner-Carmitchel, Mel Buer and Sergio Olmos return to describe the physical threats they face especially when covering civil unrest. That threat, shockingly, is coming from law enforcement. SHOW NOTES Our guests: SEAN BECKNER-CARMITCHEL has spent the last several years filming protests, counter-protests, rallies, sweeps, protests about sweeps, and rallies about counter-protests. His video work has been seen on Good Morning America, NBC, ABC, and other national and international outlets. Though CHELSEA LAUREN wanted to be a plastic surgeon when she was a kid, Chelsea eventually turned her photographic hobby into her life. A seasoned celebrity photographer, who works for wire agency, Chelsea recently began branching out – covering riots, protests and unrest in addition to red carpet events An independent journalist, MEL BUER's newsletter Words About Work covers labor and social justice movements. Her work’s been featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation and other major outlets. In addition to his terrific investigative reporting for CalMatters, SERGIO OLMOS has freelanced for The New York Times, NPR, Oregon Public Broadcasting and The Guardian among others, reporting from both the US and from the war in Ukraine. Sergio also created the Dying For A Fight podcast series for Oregon Public Broadcasting. That led directly to the arrest and successful prosecution of the killer of a well-kown Portland activist. Don’t mess with Sergio. You can find this episode’s photos - and lots more at our INSTAGRAM – @just_the_photographer_podcast https://www.instagram.com/just_the_photographer_podcast If you are enjoying “Just The Photographer with David Swanson”, please like us, rate us and leave a comment! That really does help a bigger audience find us! Better still, please recommend us to your friends! And check out the other podcasts in the COSTARD & TOUCHSTONE family at https://costardandtouchstone.com/ If you enjoy this podcast, please check out the rest of Costard & Touchstone's growing stable of podcasts. You can find them here: Costard & Touchstone Productions – Costard & Touchstone Productions – Great Podcasts, No Foolin'! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
See All Season 1 (16)

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

For over 40 years, Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist David Swanson has covered war zones (from Bosnia to Afghanistan to Iraq), natural disasters (the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, the LA Fires) and even red carpets. But, while David's photos can tell you what it looked like standing where he stood in order to take those news photos, they can't tell you what it felt like standing there. Those are the stories this podcast will tell! Journalism doesn't get any more personal than this. Or more compelling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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