Foto Podcast

In this episode, Michael sits down with filmmakers Ken Hanson, Jack Davidson, and Dave Myszewski to discuss their upcoming documentary about legendary photographer Art Shay.
Over a career that spanned more than seven decades, Art Shay photographed everyone from Martin Luther King Jr., Ernest Hemingway, Muhammad Ali, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Algren to people living on the margins of American life. He covered the 1968 Democratic Convention, the aftermath of MLK’s assassination, organized crime, street life in Chicago, war, politics, and everyday people trying to survive.
The conversation explores how Shay developed his eye during World War II, how he hustled his way into rooms nobody else could access, and why his work feels like a visual history of America itself. The filmmakers also discuss digging through his enormous archive, the emotional complexity of his later life, and why they believe Art Shay deserves far greater recognition in the history of photography.



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Michael talks with photographer, author, and educator Elizabeth Messina about building a long, values-driven career in photography. They trace her path from the darkroom at San Francisco Art Institute to a 6 month-long trip in India and an early museum solo show, then into client work, books, and education. Elizabeth shares practical thoughts on trust, privacy, and respectful collaboration; working with high-profile clients, balancing film instincts with digital workflows; and why community and consistency matter more than hype.Elizabeth just launched her new course 'The Arte Of Maternity' on Feb 14th, 2026. It's available now at The Arte Dept website.
Website: https://www.elizabethmessina.comThe ARTE Dept (courses): https://theartedept.com
The ARTE Society (membership): https://theartesociety.com
Book — The Luminous Portrait: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/210741/the-luminous-portrait-by-elizabeth-messina-with-jacqueline-tobin/
Book — The Silver Lining: https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Lining-Supportive-Insightful-Breast/dp/1476743711



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Michael talks with North London–based photographer Phil Sharp about transforming a studio session into a collaborative experience. Phil traces his path from assisting and high-street portrait studios to scrappy New York musician shoots, then back to London, where actor headshots became a place to make pictures that feel alive. He breaks down his sessions, featuring natural light, bold colors, and playing music, so the sitter can stop overthinking. He also explains why he works until the image is genuinely there. They dig into trust, vulnerability, and why “do nothing” can be the most human direction of all.
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS
* 🌐 philsharp-photo.com
* 📸 Instagram: @philsharp
* 📸 Foto: @philsharp
Thank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you’re in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.
Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co



Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Michael talks with Ed Templeton about the through-line from 1990s skate culture to a lifetime of painting and photography: DIY zines, doing your own board graphics, and learning to work with chance. Ed traces his path from Orange County/Huntington Beach to turning pro by 1990, discovering photobooks (Nan Goldin, Larry Clark), and realizing he had insider access to a tour-bus world most photographers never see. They dig into failure, risk, and why he prefers to shoot candidly while walking instead of stopping to ask.
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS
* 🌐 ed-templeton.com
* 📸 Instagram: @ed.templeton
* 📸 Foto: @edtempleton
Thank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you’re in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.
Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co



Get full access to Foto at fotoapp.substack.com/subscribe

Michael talks with editor and writer Bill Shapiro about leading LIFE magazine, launching LIFE.com, and what the internet has done to curation, attention, and trust in images. They cover the craft of photo essays, the changing business models behind visual journalism, how archives and sequencing shape meaning, the risks and realities of AI imagery, and Bill’s ongoing work championing photographers and helping them make books.
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS
* 🌐 Blue Photo Collective: BluePhoto.co
* 📸 Instagram: @billshapiro
* 📸 Foto: @billshapiro
* 🌐 Article by Bill on Alex Harris - Alex Harris Returns to New Mexico
* 🌐 Article by Bill on Richard Sharum - To Live and Die in Dallas
Thank you to our sponsor State Film Lab! If you’re in the US, consider State Film Lab for your film processing and scanning needs.
Reminder: We’d love for you to join us on Foto as we publicly build a new photo-sharing app for the world. Foto is available on Apple and Android. Direct links are on our website fotoapp.co
Below are some projects for which Bill served as an editor.



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