The Eyeshot Podcast on Street & Documentary Photography

Phil Penman sits down with Eyeshot 50mm to talk about street photography, photojournalism, paparazzi culture, and building a 30-year career in New York City. From 9/11 to celebrity chaos, from ethics to AI, this is a raw conversation about what it really takes to survive as a professional photographer. In this episode, Phil reflects on growing up with a news photographer father, working as chief photographer for newspapers, surviving the high-pressure world of paparazzi photography, and eventually returning to personal street work in NYC. We discuss speed, instinct, consent, privacy, social media algorithms, AI, technical perfection vs emotion, and why real photography still matters.

A Brazilian documentary photographer working across Latin America and beyond, Adriana Zehbrauskas from the VII Foundation joins Eyeshot 50mm to discuss documentary photography, photojournalism, ethics, trust, AI, migration, Mexico, and her new Eyeshot book “Alma”. In this conversation, she reflects on what it means to photograph real life without staging, manipulation, or excuses.In this episode, we talk about the discipline of newspaper work, why “we do not publish excuses,” the obsession with gear, women in photojournalism, the responsibility of photographing vulnerable communities, and why trust has become even more fragile in the age of AI-generated images. Adriana is also the author of “Alma”, a limited-edition photobook published by Eyeshot, rooted in Mexico and shaped by attention, dignity, and social reality.

Colombian photojournalist and Pulitzer finalist Federico Rios Escobar joins Eyeshot 50mm to discuss documentary photography, the war on drugs, and his new monograph “White Line”. In this Eyeshot 50mm interview, Colombian photojournalist Federico Rios Escobar refuses the aura of the unique photographer. Best known for his five-year coverage of the Darien Gap for the New York Times, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Rios calls himself "one more photographer". He thinks of photography as a pizza, his work as one slice of a wider conversation that takes shape only when many voices look at the same situation. We talk about documenting three sides of the same Colombian conflict, the army's, the farmer's, the rebel group's, on three consecutive days. He discusses Leica primes, manual focus as slow practice, and documentary photography as a jam session.

Paul Russell joins Eyeshot 50mm to talk about street photography, humor, gear culture, social media, and his new Eyeshot book The Secret Lives of Humans. In this conversation, he questions the rise of mediocre street photography online, defends the value of candid public moments in the age of AI.Paul Russell reflects on what makes a street photograph meaningful: not obvious irony, not gear obsession, not social media visibility, but timing, observation, subtle humor, and the ability to recognize the unusual within everyday life. His work looks at people almost like a form of natural history — a study of humans in public space, caught in gestures, rituals, habits, and strange social choreography."The Secret Lives of Humans", his new monograph with Eyeshot, reads like a BBC nature documentary where the species on screen is our own. Pre-order open until 30 June 2026.

In this episode of Eyeshot 50mm, Australian photographer Markus Andersen talks about why he rejects the label “street photography,” why analogue still matters, how Instagram changed photographic culture, and why editing needs time. A sharp conversation on photographing life, not categories. We discuss post-production, sequencing, creative parameters, and why complex photography often struggles in today’s fast social media economy. Markus Andersen is also the author of Eyeshot’s limited edition book “The Grey Hours” (available until June 30th). He reflects on quiet images, atmosphere, light, human presence, and the difference between shooting for visibility and building long-term work.

In this episode of Eyeshot 50mm, we sit down with Margarita Mavromichalis to talk about street photography, documentary photography, visual education, social media, and why the quietest images are often the ones that matter most. Margarita is the author of Street Weather, her limited-edition book with Eyeshot. From her sharp take on gear culture to the pressure of instant gratification on Instagram, Margarita reflects on what shapes a photographic language today: observation, editing, influence, travel, and the refusal to reduce photography to labels. Her work moves across cities, cultures, and public spaces while staying deeply rooted in human presence, ambiguity, and timing.

Street photographer Aaron Berger discuss his journey from Thailand to New York, building a voice in color photography, and capturing what he calls the “micro-dramas” of everyday life. Known for his obsessive daily practice, Berger shares how being self-taught shaped his vision, the influence of Garry Winogrand, and the delicate balance between luck, instinct, and structure in street photography. In this interview, Aaron reflects on editing choices, photographing families, diversity without clichés, and his relationship with film vs. digital. As a member of UP Photographers and the author of sold-out Eyeshot limited edition book ”Same Time Tomorrow”, Berger explores how to turn routine into ritual and passersby into protagonists.

Sandra Hernández, Mexican photographer, founder of Observadores Urbanos, and an active voice in Latin American, reflects on street photography, documentary photography, the female gaze, everyday life, intention, and human connection. Her work moves between urban life, memory, visibility, and the relationship between people and place. She is also connected to platforms including Women Street Photographers, Women Photograph, and The Raw Society. In the conversation, we talk about the blurred line between street photography and documentary photography, photographing the ordinary with intention, why the “invisible photographer” is a myth, women’s visibility in photography, Latin American representation, community-building, and what it really takes to make a living from photography today.

In this episode, we sit down with Don Hudson, a master of street and documentary photography with over 40 years of experience. Don is the author of Eyeshot's sold out edition “Can I Get a Witness?” that collects his most iconic images—a raw and authentic journey into the heart of the American Midwest in the ’70s and ’80s. During the interview, Don shares anecdotes about creating this project and discusses how his photographs narrate the culture and daily life of that era. The conversation touches on many exciting and current themes: from consent and ethics in photographing strangers on the street, to the differences between analog and digital photography, up to the impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) on modern photography. We discuss the cultural impact of street photography—how images can bear witness to social changes and influence our perception of reality. Don offers his sincere perspective on how photography, both analog and digital, can serve as a witness of our times and on the photographer’s role in society.

In this episode, we sit down with Australian street photographer Julia Coddington to talk about intimacy in street photography, color, crowded frames, Instagram, consent, and the place of women in contemporary photography. A sharp conversation on how photographs are made, shared, and understood today. Julia reflects on how she moves inside a scene rather than observing it from a distance, why light comes before subject and composition, why she is drawn to dense and layered frames, and why getting the image right in-camera still matters. The conversation also opens up bigger questions around street photography vs documentary photography, aesthetic trends shaped by social media, women in photography, confidence, collectives and the structural undervaluation of women’s work.

In this raw and unfiltered 50mm interview, Blake Andrews dismantles the clichés of street photography. He talks about shooting in rural alleys instead of bustling cities, embracing imperfection, and rejecting labels altogether. With an unconventional and ironic eye, he explains how mistakes, chance, and confusion make his photos unforgettable.We dive into his darkroom process, analog gear, and obsession with black-and-white. Blake also opens up about ethical boundaries, what makes a photo truly successful—and why photography should never be too perfect.This insightful interview explores his journey, influences, and philosophy.

In this episode of Eyeshot 50mm, we sit down with Siegfried Hansen, one of the most influential voices in contemporary street photography, to explore how seeing comes before shooting. Hansen talks about geometry as a visual language, street photography beyond faces and gestures, and why the obsession with the decisive moment often limits how we read the street. Drawing from painters, jazz musicians, and photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson, he reflects on intuition versus intention, editing as distance rather than control, and why coincidence is never truly accidental when your way of seeing is trained.

In this episode, we meet Bouwe Brouwer, Dutch street photographer and member of the UP Collective, to explore what street photography becomes when it moves away from spectacle and toward quiet precision. Bouwe approaches photography as an act of subtraction rather than accumulation. In this conversation, we talk about origins and photographic identity, black and white as both a conceptual and emotional choice, as well as failure, and the fine line between street photography and narrative documentation. We also discuss photographic collectives, online popularity, and the myths and distortions of contemporary photography.

Mike Miller talks about photographing Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Eazy-E, and the rise of West Coast hip hop from the inside. Miller reflects on growing up in Los Angeles, discovering photography through skateboarding and music, and building trust with artists at the center of a cultural shift. We talk about hip hop imagery, access, instinct, iconic album covers, the difference between commercial work and cultural documentation, and why some photographs outlive the industries that commissioned them. From analog process and Polaroids to social media, overproduction, and the future of music photography, this is a conversation about staying true to your eye while history is unfolding in front of you.

In this episode of The Eyeshot Podcast on Street & Documentary Photography, we speak with Belgian photographer Nick Hannes about his long-term approach to documenting contemporary society. His work explores globalization, consumerism, and the construction of neoliberal cities, focusing on the tension between individuals and the systems they inhabit. Through a combination of research and chance, Hannes builds layered images that balance technical precision with ambiguity. The conversation also introduces "Mirage", his upcoming book with Eyeshot available until March 31st— a reflection on urban illusion, control, and the social and ecological consequences of contemporary development.

From early street photography to a more painterly, surreal black-and-white language, Alison McCauley breaks down what makes her raise the camera: beauty, oddness, reflections, soft focus, and the freedom of the street’s unpredictability. We also go deep on editing and sequencing, subtle post-production, ethics, the value of imperfection, and why DIY camera filters became part of her signature look. She talks about “Beyond Here”, her limited edition book and ongoing visual search for belonging, home, and the feeling of being “anywhere but here.”

French documentary photographer Nicolas Castermans reflects on the long process behind Breath of Modernity, his project developed over years in the highlands of Cusco. From guiding treks above 4,000 meters to building trust with local families, he shares how photography became a way to witness cultural change, disappearing traditions, and the tension between tourism, survival, and identity. We talk about long-term documentary work, spontaneity and why strong photography takes time. Castermans also speaks about photographing with respect, avoiding cliché and building a body of work that goes beyond single images.

In this episode, Magnum Photos legend and Eyeshot Open Call 2025 juror Richard Kalvar reflects on his journey through photography, from fashion shoots in New York to theatrical scenes on the streets of Paris. Known for his dry humor, sharp eye, and philosophical take on reality, Kalvar discusses ambiguity, instinct, black and white aesthetics, and what truly makes a photograph stand the test of time. Kalvar shares stories behind his iconic images, talks about “Earthlings” and its long evolution, and offers candid insights on judging photography competitions, working within Magnum, and finding unexpected moments in everyday life.

In this episode of Eyeshot 50mm, street photographer Graciela Magnoni joins us for a deep conversation on what street photography really means today as a method of seeing.From meeting Sebastião Salgado at 17 to developing a journalist’s press-pass mindset, Graciela reflects on how access shapes confidence, how freedom can turn into entitlement, and why photographing cultures that aren’t your own demands more than curiosity. We discuss the female gaze, representation, stereotypes, and the responsibility of visual storytelling in contemporary photography. We also unpack serendipity in street photography as well as on the uncomfortable realities of today’s photography landscape: social media algorithms, iPhone culture, virality vs. quality.