471: John Welch - What Loons Taught Me About Parenting, Loss, and Getting Outside My Comfort Zone

In this episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," Matt Payne sits down with New Hampshire landscape and wildlife photographer John Welch to discuss his emotionally charged long-term project, "Healing from Loss: A Season with Loons." The conversation follows John Welch's journey of integrating photography with family life, shifting his focus from big bucket-list locations to meaningful local work due to necessity. The project becomes deeply personal after the loss of John Welch's mother, intertwining the life cycle of loons with his process of grieving, healing, and reflection. They also touch on the power of local projects, the importance of curiosity, and how working on a long-term photographic story can offer both creative fulfillment and personal growth. The episode is an inspiring look at how art, nature, and personal challenges can intersect to create meaningful work that resonates deeply with others.

Links:

1. John Welch: Website, Instagram
2. Muench Workshops
3. F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast Patreon
4. Natural Landscape Photography Awards
5. Matt Payne's Book, The Colorado Way
6. John Welch's YouTube Channel, Nature's Stories
7. Loon Preservation Committee
8. Team MooseMan
9. Harry Lichtman Photography
10. Kraig Adams
11. Harmen Hoek
12. Morgan Heim’s Podcast Episode