Episode 100 of The Life of PHYS Podcast is a milestone.

What started as a simple idea, that Photography Heals Your Soul has grown into over one hundred conversations with photographers, filmmakers, artists, and storytellers from around the world.

In this special milestone episode, Tyson Martin sits down with Scott Evans, a photographer, filmmaker, and art director based in the Bay Area of California whose work blends cinematic storytelling with portrait and fashion photography.

Originally from Santa Cruz, Scott studied photography in college and later graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in English. After college he spent several years in Portland, Oregon, working in the restaurant industry while continuing to photograph and refine his creative voice.

Scott’s work is heavily influenced by cinema and classic photographic masters including Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, and Richard Avedon. His approach to photography embraces storytelling, atmosphere, and the idea that photography, like films allows the artist to create a world where imagination and reality blend together.

A dedicated Leica rangefinder shooter, Scott prefers the simplicity and intentional process that the Leica M system offers. For him, the camera should disappear in your hands so the photographer can remain present, connected, and fully engaged with the moment.

In this conversation we discuss:

• The cinematic influence behind Scott’s photography
• Growing up inspired by movies, westerns, and classic storytelling
• Fashion and portrait photography as a narrative art form
• Why the Leica rangefinder experience changes the way photographers shoot
• The importance of slowing down and pre-visualizing an image
• Building a creative career through persistence and curiosity

This episode is a celebration of 100 conversations about photography, creativity, and the human experience behind the lens.

Support the Photography Heals Your Soul Portrait Project

The PHYS Portrait Project is a movement dedicated to photographing the creators behind the camera, the photographers, filmmakers, and artists who spend their lives documenting everyone else.

If you believe in the connection between creativity, storytelling, and mental health, you can support the project through the GoFundMe link in the show notes.

Because at the end of the day:

Photography Heals Your Soul.

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Help Us Reach Our 30K Goal

Visit Scott:

Instagram: @sf.evans

Threads: @sf.evans

Web: www.sfevans.com

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On this episode of The Life of PHYS Podcast, host Tyson Martin sits down with Vancouver, BC–based multidisciplinary artist and photographer Liz Rosa.

Liz is known for creating imagery that feels both modern and timeless. Working with a mix of digital and analog photography, her work draws inspiration from the elegance of the old world, the subtle beauty of nature, and the expressive power of dance and movement.

Movement plays a central role in Liz’s creative direction.

By incorporating her love of dance into her visual storytelling, she creates photographs that feel fluid, emotional, and alive. Her work often carries a sense of timeless femininity, something that has helped her build a distinctive voice within contemporary fashion and editorial photography.

Liz’s work has been internationally recognized and published in Vogue UK, Elle, L’Officiel, Marie Claire, Schön!, Contributor Magazine, Nasty Magazine, and Mother Muse, collaborating with conscious brands and creatives around the world to produce visuals that feel authentic and enduring.

In this conversation, Tyson and Liz explore:

• ​Liz’s journey as a photographer and multidisciplinary artist in Vancouver• Why she blends analog film and digital photography in her work• How dance and movement shape the way she directs subjects• The influence of nature and old-world aesthetics on her visual style• The importance of collaborating with conscious, like-minded creatives• Building work that stands the test of time in a fast-moving creative industry
• ​

Support the PHYS Project

Creators spend their lives capturing everyone else’s stories.

The Photography Heals Your Soul Portrait Project is a traveling portrait movement across Canada and the United States dedicated to turning the lens toward the photographers, filmmakers, and artists who shape our creative communities.

If you would like to support the project and help document the creators behind the camera, you can find the GoFundMe link in the show notes.

Because photography is more than images.

It is community, connection, and healing.

⁠Support The Photography Heals Your Soul⁠⁠

Help Us Reach Our 30K Goal

Visit Liz:

Instagram: @lizrosa

Threads: @lizrosa

Web: www.lizrosa.com

La Arca Studio

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On Episode 98 of The Life of Phys Podcast, host Tyson Martin sits down with Hailey Elise, a professional mountain bike athlete, photographer, and videographer whose life is built around adventure, creativity, and the outdoors.

Raised in the mountains surrounding Vancouver, British Columbia, Hailey developed a deep love for sport, exploration, and pushing her limits. That passion eventually led her to Whistler, one of the world’s most iconic mountain biking destinations, where riding bikes and creating images became the foundation of her creative career.

As both an athlete and an award-winning photographer who has competed in Deep Summer, Dirt Diaries Which she won in 2025 and Red Bull Illume, Hailey brings a rare perspective to action sports photography. She understands the terrain, timing, and risk behind the moments she captures because she lives them herself.

In this episode, Hailey shares her journey from shooting Fashion and running a fashion blog during university to building a career documenting mountain biking, adventure, and outdoor culture through photography and film.

Tyson and Hailey also discuss the collaborative nature of photography, the creative energy found in outdoor environments, and why chasing adventure and creativity does not have an age limit.

If you’re interested in mountain bike photography, action sports storytelling, outdoor adventure, and the mindset behind pushing creative and athletic limits, this episode offers an inspiring conversation with one of the rising voices in adventure photography.

The Life of Phys Podcast explores the deeper stories behind photographers, filmmakers, artists, athletes, and creatives who believe in the idea that Photography Heals Your Soul.

#communityovercompetition

Support The Photography Heals Your Soul⁠

Help Us Reach Our 30K Goal

Visit Hailey:

Instagram: @haileyelisee

Web: www.haileyelise.ca

2025 Dirt Diaries Winning Film

PayDirt

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On this episode of The Life of Phys Podcast, Tyson Martin sits down with Ben Horton, a National Geographic Explorer, photographer, and director whose career has been built on one core belief, a photograph can change the world.

With over 16 years working with National Geographic, Ben has documented stories across Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand, China, the Canadian Arctic, Haiti, and coastlines throughout the Pacific and Central America. His work sits at the intersection of adventure photography, conservation, and high-level commercial production, making him one of the most versatile storytellers working today.

But what truly sets Ben apart is impact.

Early in his career, Ben led a powerful photojournalism investigation on Cocos Island, exposing illegal shark poaching operations and tracing the trade across international markets. That work was presented to the President of Costa Rica and directly contributed to the expansion of two national parks and the protection of critical marine ecosystems.

From there, his journey has taken him into some of the most extreme environments on earth, including a 60-day dogsled expedition across Ellesmere Island with polar explorer Will Steger, documenting climate change in the Arctic.

Ben’s work spans multiple worlds.

From photographing the search for Genghis Khan’s tomb in Mongolia, to hosting National Geographic’s Extreme China, to producing large-scale commercial campaigns like the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue featuring Olympic and professional athletes. Ben's ability to move between documentary, adventure, and commercial storytelling is unmatched.

Now based between Park City, Utah and Baja California Sur, Ben continues to explore and document the world through both client work and personal projects, including his fine art book Baja Bound and his latest exhibition, The Art of the Unseen.

In this conversation we talk about:

• ​ What it takes to build a career with National Geographic• Using photography as a tool for real-world conservation impact• Working in extreme environments and high-risk situations• Balancing commercial work with meaningful storytelling• Why the best photographs come from full immersion in the moment

Ben Horton’s work is a reminder that photography is not just about capturing what we see, it is about stepping into the story and creating images that matter.

This is a conversation about adventure, purpose, and the responsibility that comes with holding a camera in places that matter.

Support The Photography Heals Your Soul

Help Us Reach Our 30K Goal

Visit Ben:

Instagram: @benhortonphoto

Web: www.benhorton.biz

Buy Baja Bound

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On this episode of The Life of Phys Podcast, Tyson Martin sits down with Portland, Oregon–based photographer Ryan Aanderud, a street photographer whose work reminds us that photography is about far more than just making images. It is about connection, trust, and service to the communities around us.

Tyson was introduced to Ryan through his childhood friend Ben Tobin, known for his work supporting communities in and around Spokane, Washington. Ben has a way of bringing good people together, and Ryan is absolutely one of those people.

Ryan has carried a camera with him since he was young, but over time photography evolved into something deeper. Today his work blends street photography with community care. When Ryan walks the streets with his Leica Q2 Monochrom, he is not just carrying a camera. In his bag you will often find food, clothing, medical kits, Narcan, and printed photographs that he returns to the people who trusted him enough to collaborate in a portrait.

Shooting exclusively with a 28mm lens, Ryan works extremely close to his subjects. That physical closeness requires honesty, respect, and genuine human connection. The result is powerful black and white photography that highlights the dignity and humanity of people often overlooked.

In this conversation we talk about:

• Using photography as a tool for connection• How street photography can intersect with community service• Why trust matters more than the photograph itself• Working close with a 28mm lens and the Leica Q2 Monochrom• The importance of giving back to the people you photograph

Ryan’s work is a powerful reminder that when photography is approached with humility and compassion, the camera becomes more than a tool. It becomes a bridge between people.

This episode is a conversation about humanity, empathy, and the quiet power of simply showing up with a camera and an open heart.
Photography Heals Your Soul

#communityovercompetition

Visit Ryan:

Instagram: @portrait_project.17

Web: www.1studio7.com

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On this episode of The Life of PHYS Podcast, I’m sitting down with photographer, traveler, and wave chaser Daniel Alberdeston.

Daniel’s story is one I really connect with. At the center of it all is something simple, a camera that has always been there. From disposable film cameras to digital systems, Daniel has carried a camera with him for as long as he can remember. For him, it’s never really been about the gear. It’s about capturing the moment before it’s gone.

Alongside photography, Daniel has spent much of his life in the ocean as a dedicated bodyboarder, and that deep connection to the water naturally evolved into a passion for surf photography.

Anyone who has ever tried to photograph the ocean knows it’s not easy. Timing, patience, and a deep respect for the power of the water all come into play.

His work has connected with brands and publications across the surf world, including Wave Riding Vehicles, WAXD Magazine, and most recently Session Magazine Issue No. 10, Summer 2025. He also works closely with tools made for photographers who are willing to step directly into the action, including SPL Water Housings in San Diego.

In this conversation we talk about travel, chasing waves, photography, and the mindset it takes to keep creating over the long haul. We also talk about the connection between the ocean and creativity, and why some photographers are always pulled back to the water with a camera in hand.

Because at the end of the day, photography and wave riding share something in common.You can’t force it.

You have to be patient.You have to be present.And when the moment comes… you have to be ready.

This is The Life of PHYS Podcast.

Photography Heals Your Soul.

Visit Daniel:

Instagram: @daniel.alberdeston.photography

Threads: @daniel.alberdeston.photography

Web: ⁠www.danielalberdestonphotography.com

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What happens when twenty years of cinematic storytelling meets the real, unscripted human experience?

In this episode of The Life of Phys Podcast, Tyson sits down with Los Angeles–based portrait and documentary photographer Afonso Salcedo. Before stepping into still photography, Afonso spent two decades as a Lighting and Compositing Artist at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, helping craft the emotional atmosphere behind films like Toy Story 3, WALL-E, Encanto, and Moana 2. Today, he brings that same cinematic mindset into the world of portraiture and documentary storytelling.

Afonso’s philosophy, which he calls “The Architecture of Light,” is rooted in the belief that light is more than a technical tool. It is where emotion lives inside the frame. His work focuses on making the technical invisible so the human story can lead.

In this conversation, we explore the transition from Hollywood to still photography, how cinematic lighting shapes emotional storytelling, and why connection matters more than perfection. Afonso shares powerful insights on building trust with subjects, creating intentional portraits, and documenting real stories—from the 545-mile AIDS/LifeCycle journey to recovery efforts in Haiti and life across Portugal.

This episode is about presence, craft, curiosity, and the deeper purpose behind photography. If you’ve ever wondered how light, storytelling, and human connection intersect, this conversation will change how you see both your work and the people in front of your lens.

Photography Heals Your Soul.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Transitioning from Pixar and Disney animation to still photography
• The emotional power of cinematic lighting
• Portraits with intention and creating space for authenticity
• Documentary storytelling with curiosity and respect
• Building trust and connection with subjects
• The role of light in shaping emotion
• Finding purpose and meaning through photography

This episode is a reminder that photography is not just about capturing people. It is about revealing them.

Visit Afonso:

Instagram: @afonso.salcedo

Threads: @afonso.salcedo

Web: www.afonso.me

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On this very special episode of The Life of Phys Podcast, I sit down with photographer Jens Ochlich to celebrate two years of this show, this community, and the incredible journey we’ve built together.

Episode 93 marks a huge milestone. What started as a simple idea rooted in the belief that photography heals your soul has grown into something far greater than I ever imagined. Over the past two years, this podcast has become a platform for honest conversations, deep storytelling, and meaningful connections with creatives, entrepreneurs, and individuals from all walks of life who share a common thread of resilience, purpose, and passion.

And it feels only right to mark this moment with a conversation that embodies everything this show stands for.

Growing up in West Germany and now calling California home for the past sixteen years, Jens brings a perspective shaped by two very different worlds. Coming from Central Europe, where cities and settlements often date back hundreds or even thousands of years, he developed a deep appreciation for history, permanence, and the slow evolution of place. His hometown, now officially over 750 years old, stands in stark contrast to the rapidly expanding and constantly shifting environments of the American West.

That contrast has become the foundation of his creative voice.

Rather than focusing on iconic skylines or postcard locations, Jens is drawn to the fringes of cities—the in-between spaces where civilization meets open land. He is fascinated by the strict demarcation lines between order and chaos, permanence and impermanence. From forgotten alleyways and sun-baked asphalt to discarded furniture and the flotsam of a consuming society, his images capture a visual archaeology of modern life. These environments, bleached by the relentless Southern California sun, become both subject and metaphor, revealing the quiet tension between progress and decay.

A central theme in his work is Americana, often explored through the timeless presence of classic American cars. For Jens, these vehicles are more than objects. They are symbols of a dream, a cultural mythology that shaped his imagination growing up in West Germany through American films and television. His photography reflects both nostalgia and curiosity, documenting the America he once envisioned and the one he now experiences firsthand.

In this conversation, we talk about identity, belonging, and how photography becomes a bridge between past and present. We explore how place shapes perspective, how memory influences creativity, and why the spaces we overlook often hold the deepest stories.

Thank you to every single person who has listened, supported, shared, and believed in this journey over the past two years. This community means more to me than words can express, and this is only the beginning.

If you’ve ever felt drawn to the quiet moments, the overlooked corners, and the deeper meaning behind why we create, this episode is for you.

Visit Jens:

Instagram: @jens_ochlich

Web: www.autobahn66.com

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Nick Spector is a Toronto-based street photographer whose work spans fashion, portraiture, documentary, corporate, and wedding photography, but it’s on the street where his most personal work lives.

After more than a decade working as a semi-professional photographer, Nick’s street photography practice has become a space for self-exploration, challenge, and creative growth. It’s a slower, more intentional way of working and one rooted in observation, patience, and learning how to see more clearly over time.

Nick’s street photography has been exhibited in group shows in Toronto and internationally, including a recent exhibition as part of the inaugural Montreal Street Photography Festival. His work has also been published in Find Rangers Magazine and Low Quality Film Society’s Black & White and Street issues.

In 2025, Nick self-published his first zine, Only Child, marking a meaningful step in taking ownership of his creative voice. In February 2026, he’ll release a new self-published project, Sketchbook: Japan, created from images made during a two-week trip to Japan in October 2025.

This was Nick’s fifth visit to Japan, and Sketchbook: Japan reflects on the power of returning to the same place with new perspective. Rather than documenting a destination, the project explores process and how familiarity can uncover new challenges, deepen intention, and lead to lasting creative growth.

In this episode of The Life of Phys Podcast, I sit down with Nick Spector to talk about street photography as a personal practice, self-publishing zines, revisiting meaningful places, and why staying committed to the process often matters more than chasing outcomes.

Visit Nick:

Instagram: @nickspector

Threads: @nickspector

Buy Only Child

Buy Sketchbook: Japan

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On this episode of The Life of Phys Podcast, I sit down with Matt Day, a photographer and YouTuber whose black-and-white documentary work has inspired a global community of creators.

Matt and I connected instantly through shared loves, skateboarding, creativity, and the realities of loss and over the course of our 90-minute conversation, that connection turned into a genuine friendship. This wasn’t a surface-level discussion. It was an honest, thoughtful exchange about life, work, and the long road of creative practice.

For more than two decades, Matt has built a life around storytelling through his lens. Based in Chillicothe, Ohio, his work focuses on documenting everyday life with intention—quiet moments, familiar places, and the people closest to him. His photography isn’t about trends or algorithms. It’s about paying attention.

Matt began his career photographing weddings, events, and corporate work before intentionally shifting toward a more personal and fulfilling creative path. Today, his focus is almost entirely on documentary and portrait projects, while sharing that journey with his audience through his YouTube channel, now a trusted space for honest conversations about film photography, storytelling, and creative growth.

His collaborations with brands like Leica Camera, Hasselblad, Fujifilm, and Polaroid reflect a craft-first philosophy rooted in process, patience, and purpose.

Chillicothe isn’t just where Matt lives, it’s inseparable from his work. The town, the people, and the rhythms of daily life are woven deeply into his images. He has published several photo books, including Friend of Mine and Surveyor, both exploring memory, time, and human connection through his signature black-and-white imagery.

Beyond photography, Matt is a husband, father, skateboarder, former sandblaster, and current woodworker, proof that creativity doesn’t live in isolation. It lives inside real life.

This conversation isn’t just about photography. It’s about slowing down, honoring the ordinary, and building a creative life rooted in meaning. Matt’s approach is a reminder that some of the most powerful stories are found by staying close to home and paying attention to what’s already there.

Visit Matt:

Instagram: @mattdayphoto

Threads: @mattdayphoto

Web: www.mattdayphoto.com

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