What does it take to be a full-time landscape photographer? According to Matt Payne, it involves a love for adventure, a ridiculous amount of hiking, and, surprisingly, a good amount of frustration. In this episode, we chat with Matt about his journey from climbing Colorado’s highest peaks to capturing jaw-dropping landscapes and co-founding the Natural Landscape Photography Awards. He shares his thoughts on finding unique compositions, why smaller scenes have started to fascinate him, and the ethical responsibility of nature photographers.
But that’s just part of the story. Matt is also the host of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen", one of the top landscape photography podcasts out there. We dive into the behind-the-scenes work of producing a weekly show, the joys (and struggles) of scheduling photographers, and why adding video made his life even more complicated.
Oh, and did we mention we also get into baseball, spicy food, and what superpower would help him take the ultimate landscape shot? Yeah, this one’s a fun ride.
📌 Listen now and discover:
✔️ How Matt transitioned from mountain climber to full-time photographer
✔️ The shift from grand scenic landscapes to more intimate compositions
✔️ Why conservation is a key part of his photography mission
✔️ The reality of running a photography podcast (hint: it’s a LOT of work)
✔️ A few unexpected surprises—including a hilarious story about falling into the ocean with a backpack full of gear!
📸 Check out Matt’s work: https://www.mattpaynephotography.com/
🎙️ Listen to his podcast: https://www.mattpaynephotography.com/page/f-stop-collaborate-and-listen/
Got any questions? Email us: hello@thecameracafeshow.com
Thanks for listening and look out for our next episode!
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