A Small Voice: Conversations with photographers and filmmakers

2d ago

Rachel Elizabeth Seed is a Brooklyn and Los Angeles-based nonfiction storyteller working in film, photography, and writing. In 2025, she won the Truer Than Fiction Spirit Award for her debut feature film, A Photographic Memory, which is also a New York Times Critics Pick . Rachel’s work has received support from the Sundance Institute, Chicken + Egg Films, the Jewish Film Institute, the California Film Institute, Jewish Story Partners, NYFA, Field of Vision, the Jerome Foundation, NYSCA, the Maine Media Workshops, the Roy W. Dean grant, the National Arts Club, IFP, and many others. Formerly a photo editor at New York Magazine, her photography has been exhibited worldwide, including at the International Center of Photography, and she was a cameraperson on several award-winning feature documentaries. Rachel’s writing has been published by No Film School, the Sundance Institute, and Talkhouse and she is Executive Director / Co-founder of the Brooklyn Documentary Club, a NYC-based filmmaker collective with 250+ members. In episode 271, Rachel discusses, among other things: A summary of her mum’s character nature vs. nurture Her mum’s Images of Man interviews for ICP/Scholastic What inspired her to make a film How her own story became interwined with her mum’s Discovering a family archive of super 8 footage How she recreated the interviews using actors The importance of working with good editors The challenge of funding and financing Key advice for anyone wanting to make a personal documentary The fine balance between collaboration and having the courage of your convitions as director Writing for narration as opposed to for reading Sharing her personal stories as the film evolved over a ten year period - How to balance life and art ‘Selling the film’ and what that means in practice The Brooklyn Documentary Club Moving to L.A. Projects she has in development Website | Instagram Become a A Small Voice podcast member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of 200+ previous episodes for £5 per month. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides. Follow me on Instagram here . Build Yourself a Squarespace Website video course here .

Dec 7

Martin Parr (born 23 May 1952), the man who the Daily Telegraph declared to be, “arguably Britain’s greatest living photographer” is known for his photographic projects that take an intimate, satirical and anthropological look at aspects of modern life, in particular documenting the social classes of England, and more broadly the wealth of the Western world. His major projects have been rural communities (1975–1982), The Last Resort (1983–1985), The Cost of Living (1987–1989), Small World (1987–1994) and Common Sense (1995–1999). Since 1994, Martin has been a member of Magnum Photos, where he scraped in by one vote and where between 2013 and 2017 he served as President. His work has been published in numerous photobooks, over 120 of his own, and he has exhibited prolifically throughout his career. In 2017 the Martin Parr Foundation was opened in Bristol. The MPF is as a gallery and archive and research resource dedicated to both preserving the Martin’s photographic legacy and to supporting emerging, established and overlooked photographers who have made and continue to make work focused on the British Isles. Since his first A Small Voice appearance on Episode 91 of the podcast in October 2018, Martin has had a major exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery which opened in March 2019. Entitled Only Human , the show included portraits from around the world, with a special focus on Britishness, explored through a series of projects that investigated British identity. Also since that episode Martin was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours in June, 2021. Martin’s latest book, A Year in the Life of Chew Stoke Village was released in September 2022 by RRB Books . On episode 197, Martin discusses, among other things: Influence of his methodist grandfather… and peers at Manchester Early experiences in Hebdon Bridge The move to Ireland - From the Pope to a Flat White Liverpool and the controversy around The Last Resort work Bristol and Bath - The Cost of Living Being blown away by his first experience of Arles Joining Magnum amidst disapproval from the old guard Small World A Year in the Life of Chew Stoke Village Signs of the Times Common Sense The work of the Martin Parr Foundation Good work and bad work Referenced: Robert Doisneau Bill Brandt Robert Frank Garry Winogrand Alan Murgatroyd Brian Griffin Daniel Meadows Albert Street Workshop Fintan O’Toole Peter Fraser Peter Mitchell Tom Wood Anna Fox Ken Grant David Moore John Hinde Philip Jones Griffiths Henri Cartier-Bresson Boris Mikhailov Krass Clement Martin: Website | Instagram | Episode 91 | Chew Stoke book MPF: Website | Instagram “Most of the pictures I take are very bad, because to get the good pictures is almost impossible. If you went out in the morning and said ‘today I’m only gonna take good pictures’ you wouldn’t get anywhere. You wouldn’t even start. So you’ve got to have that momentum of shooting, and you’ve got to have found the right subject, the right place, the right time, and then things will start to happen.” Become a A Small Voice podcast member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of 200+ previous episodes for £5 per month. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides. Follow me on Instagram here . Build Yourself a Squarespace Website video course here .

Dec 7

The man who the Daily Telegraph declared to be, “arguably Britain’s greatest living photographer” had a suburban childhood in the provincial county of Surrey, England, where his budding interest in the medium of photography was encouraged by his grandfather George Parr, himself a keen amateur photographer. Martin went on to study photography at Manchester Polytechnic in the early 70s and since that time has worked on many, many photographic projects, publishing over 100 books of his own work and editing another 30. He has developed an international reputation for his innovative imagery, his oblique approach to social documentary, and his input to photographic culture within the UK and abroad. In 1994 Martin became a full member of Magnum Photos , scraping in by a single vote, in the face of strong opposition to his inclusion from some of the old guard, including Philip Jones Griffiths and Henri Cartier Bresson himself. He has since become an important and influential Magnum Member where he served as President between 2013 and 2017. Martin has also developed an interest in filmmaking, and has started to use his photography within different genres, such as fashion and advertising. In 2002 the Barbican Art Gallery and the National Media Museum initiated a large retrospective of Martin’s work and this exhibition toured Europe for the next 5 years. Martin was Professor of Photography at The University of Wales Newport campus from 2004 to 2012 and Guest Artistic Director for the Arles photo festival in 2004. In 2006 he was awarded the Erich Salomon Prize and the resulting Assorted Cocktail show opened at Photokina and in 2008 was guest curator at New York Photo Festival . Parrworld opened at Haus de Kunst, Munich, in 2008. The show exhibited Martin’s own collection of objects, postcards, photography prints by both British and International photographers, photo books and a new project from Parr entitled Luxury. The exhibition toured Europe for the following 2 years. At PhotoEspana in 2008, Martin won the Baume et Mercier Award in recognition of his professional career and contributions to contemporary photography. He is co-author with Gerry Badger of the exhuastive three volume series The Photobook: A History . In March 2016 Strange and Familiar, curated by Parr, opened at the Barbican, London. The show examines how international photographers from 1930s onwards have photographed in the UK. Martin was awarded the Sony World Photography Award for Outstanding Contribution to Photography in April 2017. In Autumn 2017 the Martin Parr Foundation - which is a gallery and archive dedicated to supporting and preserving the photographic legacy of not only Martin himself but also of photographers who made, and continue to make, important work focused on the British Isles - opened in Bristol. Martin is currently working on an exhibition for the National Portrait Gallery which opens in March 2019. In episode 091, Martin discusses, among other things: The Foundation The UK’s attitude towards photography How his suburban childhood influenced his photography Tony Ray Jones Developing his distinctive colour style The Last Resort Being described as ‘an alien’ by Heni Cartier Bresson Passing on 12,000 photobooks to Tate Modern The health and future of Magnum Photos Referenced: Roger Mayne David Hoffman Hans Bellmer Don McCullin Paul Trevor Tony Ray Jones Peter Mitchell Chris Killip Daido Moriyama Simon Roberts Niall McDiarmid Chloe Dewe Matthews Clementine Schneidermann John Myers Sergio Larrain Robert Frank Paul Graham Tom Wood John Hinde Martin: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter MPF: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter “I’m pretty happy with the way it’s turned out, to be honest. I have to kick myself sometimes to realise I’m still earning a living from my hobby.” Become a A Small Voice podcast member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of 200+ previous episodes for £5 per month. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides. Follow me on Instagram here . Build Yourself a Squarespace Website video course here .

Dec 3

Featuring: Yasuhiro Ogawa Marshall To Lua Ribeira Gianluca Gamberini (L'artiere books) Eleonora Agostini Pia-Paulina Guilmoth Aletheia Casey Books/Projects mentioned: Lost in Kyoto , Yasuhiro Ogawa Blank Notes , Marshall To 44 Irvine Street 1970-1971 , Susan Meiselas Agony In The Garden , Lua Ribeira Calling The Bird Home , Cheryl St. Onge Another England , Phil Toledano A Study On Waitressing , Eleonora Agostini Flowers Drink The River , Pia Paulina Guilmoth Fishworm , Pia Paulina Guilmoth & Jesse B. Saffire A Lost Place , Aletheia Casey Become a A Small Voice podcast member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of 200+ previous episodes for £5 per month. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides. Follow me on Instagram here . Build Yourself a Squarespace Website video course here .

Nov 19

Ed Kashi is a renowned photojournalist, filmmaker, speaker and educator who has been making images and telling stories for 40 years. His restless creativity has continually placed him at the forefront of new approaches to visual storytelling. Dedicated to documenting the social and political issues that define our times, a sensitive eye and an intimate and compassionate relationship to his subjects are signatures of his intense and unsparing work. As a member of VII Photo, Ed has been recognized for his complex imagery and its compelling rendering of the human condition. Ed’s innovative approach to photography and filmmaking has produced a number of influential short films and earned recognition by the POYi Awards as 2015’s Multimedia Photographer of the Year. Ed’s embrace of technology has led to creative social media projects for clients including National Geographic, The New Yorker, and MSNBC. From implementing a unique approach to photography and filmmaking in his 2006 Iraqi Kurdistan Flipbook, to paradigm shifting coverage of Hurricane Sandy for TIME in 2012, Ed continues to create compelling imagery and engage with the world in new ways. Along with numerous awards from World Press Photo, POYi, CommArts and American Photography, Ed’s images have been published and exhibited worldwide. His editorial assignments and personal projects have generated fourteen books. In 2002, Ed in partnership with his wife, writer + filmmaker Julie Winokur, founded Talking Eyes Media. The non-profit company has produced numerous award-winning short films, exhibits, books, and multimedia pieces that explore significant social issues. In 2019, The Enigma Room, an immersive installation, premiered at NYC’s Photoville festival, and has since been seen in Israel, the Netherlands, South Korea, and New Mexico, USA. HIs new book is, A Period In Time: Looking Back While Moving Forward, 1977 - 2022. In episode 269, Ed discusses, among other things: Wanting to contribute to positive change Donating his archive and why A lesson learned on being assertive His new book A Period In Time Publishing extracts from his journal entries Editing language in response to modern sensibilities Seeing the impact of identity politics in the USA His book project with his wife, Julie, American Sketches America being less divided than we are being led to believe His interest in ‘advocacy journalism’ Website | Instagram Become a A Small Voice podcast member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of 200+ previous episodes for £5 per month. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides. Follow me on Instagram here . Build Yourself a Squarespace Website video course here .

Nov 5

Paul Sng is a bi-racial British Chinese filmmaker based in Edinburgh, Scotland whose work focuses on people who challenge the status quo. He has directed six feature documentaries, including Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche (winner of BIFA 2021 Best Documentary, BIFA 2021 Raindance Discovery Award), Tish (Sheffield DocFest 2023 Opening Gala film) and Reality Is Not Enough (Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025 Closing Gala film). Paul strives to make bold and creatively ambitious films that connect emotionally with audiences, working collaboratively with great teams to tell stories about outsiders and amplify rebellious voices. In 2022 he was named as a BAFTA Breakthrough Artist and directed Folding , his first short drama film, funded by Screen Scotland and BFI Network. In episode 268, Paul discusses, among other things: Growing up in London with a single mum Having outsider syndrome… and imposter syndrome, and using that to your advantage His educational history, including a couple of false starts Making a feature as his first ever film with the ‘confidence of ignorance’ The importance of finding a good Producer (and what their job involves) The important questions he asks himself in considering whether to make a film Structure and working with an editor Applying the same narrative principles to documentary as are prevalent in fiction The creative treatment of actuality Finding an audience Currently in production, Little Warrior Referenced: Trainspotting Symposium , Plato Bruce Lee Jackie Chan David Yip John Woo Wong Kar-Wai Colin McArthur Sleaford Mods Nathan Hannawin Bruce Robinson Orson Welles Rebecca Mark-Lawson Jennifer Corcoran Moonage Daydream The Atrocity Exhibition, JG Ballard The Man In The White Suit Emma Butt Website | IMDB page | Instagram Episode sponsor: Aftershoot . Your complete AI workflow: Streamline photo culling, editing, and retouching so you can create stunning images, grow your business, and save 18+ hours every month. Try it completely free for a 30 day trial and get a 15% discount at checkout once you sign up with the code SMALLVOICEPOD. Become a A Small Voice podcast member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of 200+ previous episodes for £5 per month. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides. Follow me on Instagram here . Build Yourself a Squarespace Website video course here .

Oct 22

Fearturing: Merlin Daleman David O’Mara Jem Southam Martin Parr Christoph Bangert from Photobus Ayesha Jones Mark Power Tom Shaw Become a A Small Voice podcast member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of 200+ previous episodes for £5 per month. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides. Follow me on Instagram here . Build Yourself a Squarespace Website video course here .

Oct 8

Mike Brodie’s first monograph, A Period of Juvenile Prosperity was published by Twin Palms more than a decade ago in 2013, depicting his fellow rail-riders and drifters in a rebellious and wildfire pursuit of adventure and freedom. “Brodie leapt into the life of picture-making as if he was the first to do it,” Danny Lyon wrote about the book in Aperture. Next came Tones of Dirt and Bone , a collection of earlier SX-70 pictures Brodie made when photography first led him to hopping freights, when he was known as “The Polaroid Kidd.” And then Brodie seemed to disappear from the art world as suddenly and mysteriously as he’d first appeared. Maybe his vanishing was another myth. Maybe it was just a necessary retreat. “I was divorcing myself from all that,” he says. “I was growing up. I was pursuing this other life.” In Nashville he became a diesel mechanic. Fell in love. Moved across the country again. Got married. Bought land on the long dusty Winnemucca road Johnny Cash sang about. Started his own business. Built a house. Put down roots. And when that life exploded, the open road called again. Throughout almost all of it, his cameras were with him, and at last those pictures are coming to light. If Michael Brodie’s first monograph was a cinematic dream, his latest, Failing , again published by Twin Palms in 2024, is the awakening and the reckoning, a raw, wounded, and searingly honest photographic diary of a decade marked by love and heartbreak, loss and grief — biblical in its scope, and in its search for truth and meaning. Here is the flip side of the American dream, seen from within; here is bearing close witness to the brutal chaos of addiction and death; here are front-seat encounters with hitchhikers and kindred wanderers on society’s edges, sustained by the ragtag community of the road. Failing often exists in darkness but is tuned to grace. Brodie’s eye stays forever open to the strange and fleeting beauty that exists in forgotten places — the open country and the lost horizons that sweep past dust-spattered windows in a spectral blur. Mike worked on and features in a recently released hour long documentary eponymously entitled Slack , the nickname of his one time girlfriend, Mia Justice Smith , who sadly died of a drug overdose, and to whom the film is dedicated. The film, which is directed by Mike’s friend and collaborator Cyrill Lachauer ., revisits the freighthopping years and delves into Mike's creative collaboration with Mia. In episode 266, Mike discusses, among other things: The documentary he helped to make about his freighthopping years - Slack How train hopping and photography went hand in hand Romanticism vs. misery Train hopping as a performance Losing his girlfriend, Mia Justice Smith , to a drug overdose His attempt at a ‘normal’ life and how that impacts his creativity The success of A Period of Juvenile Prosperity and its downside How the title came about The darkness of the pictures in latest book, Failing Tussling with the question of exploitation and ethical responsibility Ambitions to make a feature film one day The ongoing push/pull of art v. home life The desire to photograph machines and ways of life and ways of working that are passing away Next steps in the USA - projects vs. photographing life Website | Instagram Become a A Small Voice podcast member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of 200+ previous episodes for £5 per month. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides. Follow me on Instagram here . Build Yourself a Squarespace Website video course here .