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.