474: Ulana Switucha - Capturing Japan's Spiritual Landscapes

In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne chats with photographer Ulana Switucha about her deeply intentional, minimalist landscape photography and her decade-long project photographing Torii gates across Japan’s spiritual and geographic landscapes. Ulana Switucha shares how living in Asia and practicing long exposure photography has shaped her contemplative approach, blending meditation, yoga philosophy, and presence in nature. The episode covers her photographic journey from childhood, her involvement in documentary street photography projects, the creative process behind her new book, and the technical and emotional challenges of sequencing and publishing a cohesive body of work.

Listeners get tips on curating projects, insight into Japan’s geography and spiritual traditions, and recommendations for other inspiring photographers to follow.

Links and Resources:

1. Ulana Switucha
2. Ulana Switucha’s Book, Torii
3. Muench Workshops
4. Support the show on Patreon
5. Michael Kenna Photography
6. Olivier Robert Photography
7. Kino Seido
8. Yukari Chikura
9. Gui Christ
10. Mark Kogel
11. Austin Bell
12. Matt Payne's Book, The Colorado Way