The Journey of the Emerging Professional Photographer | Ben Maze & Murray Livingston

In episode 480 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, Matt Payne is joined by photographers Ben Maze and Murray Livingston, who share their journeys in landscape photography, growing up during the rise of social media and how it has influenced their artistic development for better and worse. The discussion covers their approach to intentional image-making, the importance of seeking inspiration beyond Instagram and learning from photographic history, and how they balance the pressure to produce with the creative rewards of slowing down. They explore the realities of building sustainable careers through education and workshops, especially running workshops in Scotland together, and reflect on the challenges and benefits of being younger professionals in the field. Throughout, they emphasize maintaining authenticity amidst commercial and algorithmic pressures, advocating for deep engagement with nature and diverse artistic influences over chasing trends for quick attention.

Links and Resources Mentioned:

1. Ben Maze & Murray Livingston
2. Muench Workshops Giveaway
3. Support the show on Patreon
4. The Colorado Way (Matt Payne's Book)
5. Peter Dombrovskis, Joe Cornish, Clark Little, Ray Collins, William Neill, Alex Noriega, Ken Duncan, Heesoo Chung, Andrea Celli, Andrea Pozzi, Luis Afonso
6. Looking at Photographs by John Szarkowski
7. Photography in Print by Vicki Goldberg
8. Photographers on Photography by Nathan Lyons
9. NLPA (Natural Landscape Photography Awards)
10. Discord Server for Landscape Photographers