The continuation of our last chat. Recorded at the Calgary Central Library podcast recording studio. Edited with help from the AI Transcribe function of Adobe Premiere Pro. Brought to you by Alvin and my disdain for any rules, planning, or structure. We'll be sure to ask Chat GPT to give us a script for the next episode.…

Another long break and another catch up episode. This time Alvin and I find ourselves in the recording booth at the Calgary Central Library. The summer's been busy. And we have put together two conversations for you. This first is just a reflection on... well... a summer of actually making photographs... Imagine that.…

What happens when 2 guests can't make it and Alvin and I are left on the mics with no direction? What happens when life prevents a quick post-process turn around? This. This is what happens. We're going to talk about Diane Arbus and Contemporary Calgary. We're going to talk exploitation and purer pursuits. We're going to explore what about Calgary …

We are joined by Danny Luong award-winning photographer here in Calgary. Just because we can, we focus on what we know about fine art commerce and inevitably about our communist-leaning sense that there's just something off about capitalist speculation in art. And in general. Did we solve free market capitalism? You're f'ing right we did! We have a…

David went to Toronto for his grandmother's funeral. As a photographer. Alvin was a photographer for his uncle's funeral a few years back. How does one separate themselves as a process and as a family member. And when our family isn't doing well, are we one or the other first? Or both? This week's episode is the two of us trying to figure that out.…

So after a long break we're back. This season's goal: bring on co-host Alvin Paringit, build a Discord channel, and just riff on Photography in general. Where do we start? How about the realization that both of us aren't sure we actually LIKE photography in the first place. No sponsors (for now) so let's get into it! If you're still on this channel…

Here's a 52 episode conclusion. We'll call this Season 1. With it I'm going to take a hiatus to reassess how to continue this project. I've learned a great deal from all my guests. The main take away here is that I probably think too much and that I need to get out more. It's a meandering final 15 minutes but if you're still out there this is the e…

This week's guest is Soloman Chiniquay documentarian photographer, film maker, and as I'm about to learn, a very wise young man. He lets me into his experiences growing up in a reserve in Morley and how hard it was to get out and build himself as an artist. He had great role models in his mother and grandfather which is reflected in his work to bri…

This week's guest is Soloman Chiniquay documentarian photographer, film maker, and as I'm about to learn, a very wise young man. He lets me into his experiences growing up in a reserve in Morley and how hard it was to get out and build himself as an artist. He had great role models in his mother and grandfather which is reflected in his work to bri…

This week I sit down with Ashley Nixon. We close out our chat with some final insights from Ashley. His approach is not about taking pictures. It’s about putting together stories and narratives that reflect his social principals. Heritage and community. Across cultures. Across generations. Here’s the conclusion of my chat with Ashely Nixon. *** My …

This week I sit down with Ashley Nixon. Ashley holds a PhD in Ecology and has worked in education, research, as well as in the private sector. More relevant to us, he has been working a camera since his youth - primarily focusing on building narratives about the environment, culture and social change. His work brought him around the world where he …

Last week we met Stefan Strangman and learned about how his focus and work in photo journalism comes with awareness of both the positive and negative impacts images have on the public discourse. This week we wrap up our talk with some musings of his personal projects and staying passionate in a field that can be pretty draining. Frankly I don’t thi…

This week I sit down with Stefan Strangman, writer and freelance photojournalist. I wanted to find out how journalism is taught and practiced, You know, to challenge my own cynical bias that it’s twisted in its nature. Stefan shares with me his own journey becoming a journalist and how his own practice centres around a strong sense of ethics and pe…

Here in the second part of my talk with Jennifer Sanford we talk about art’s role in politics and directing the public’s attention to important issues. I also yell a lot about Meaghan Markle. But I think it’s an interesting juxtaposition. The media has the power to make any story a focal point. Add on the wide reaching power of social media without…

This week I’ve asked Jennifer Sanford to join me. While not a professional photographer, Jennifer is a political and PR consultant with her own podcast called Conservative Like Me. I asked her to talk to me because a) she’s been a guest and collaborator on my other podcast Kyle and Dave vs The Machine and she’s smart and well read; and b) because s…

This week we meet Angela Boehm. Angela is a documentarian photographer based here in Calgary who started with building a photography project at home with her teenage kids which then evolved into projects documenting different cultures and most recently a project documenting the forests around us. How do we know if we’re building images that show ou…

This week we meet Angela Boehm. Angela is a documentarian photographer based here in Calgary who started with building a photography project at home with her teenage kids which then evolved into projects documenting different cultures and most recently a project documenting the forests around us. How did she start her journey? Has she been taking p…

Art is often associated with mental health. Usually in some dramatic and brutal way. Think of the phrase: suffering for one’s art. Part 2 of my talk with Kristofer Schofield focuses on his relationship with the prairies; how his photographs become self portraits of his mental health; how seeking help through art, therapy, or medication is not a cur…

Art is often associated with mental health. Usually in some dramatic and brutal way. Think of the phrase: suffering for one’s art. But sometimes it’s related in a sense of therapy, coping, self discovery. Today I sit down with Kristofer Schofield to talk about the latter. And perhaps the first one too. We discuss how his struggles with his mental h…

Rocio Graham is a Mexican /Canadian multidisciplinary artist based in Mohkinstsis/Calgary. Her work is influenced by her cultural heritage, personal experience with trauma and reflections on life cycles. She explores the landscape from a body engagement perspective where labour, mysticism, and temporality merge. She is currently a peer residency co…

Rocio Graham is a Mexican /Canadian multidisciplinary artist based in Mohkinstsis/Calgary. Her work is influenced by her cultural heritage, personal experience with trauma and reflections on life cycles. She explores the landscape from a body engagement perspective where labour, mysticism, and temporality merge. She is currently a peer residency co…

This week I had the pleasure of talking to Greg Gerla. In this episode Greg explains what he believes is a crucial relationship for a photographer. There are three pieces. The photographer themselves. The subject. And the viewer. He explains that once art is put into a public place, the artist bears the responsibility to hear and be open to it's af…

This week I had the pleasure of talking to Greg Gerla. Greg is a commercial and fine art photographer here in Calgary. I met Greg a few times over the last few years at several of his shows but this is the first time we’ve been able to sit down and actually meet. And what a conversation we had! In this, the first part of our conversation, I learn o…

Today’s guest is Eric Donovan - Professor of Astrophysics at University of Calgary and photographer! In today’s episode I continue my chat with Eric Donovan. As a scientist, Eric’s had a variety of life experiences that have framed a pretty interesting relationship with the world. We’ll discuss how humans interact with each other through social fic…

Today’s guest is Eric Donovan - Professor of Astrophysics at University of Calgary and photographer! In this, the first part of 2 talks, we’re going to talk about the intersection between art and science and how creativity is required. There’s a thought that science and math are cold, calculating, and robotic. Eric believes the opposite is true - t…

This week's talk is with Ryan Wilkes. Ryan has an adventurous journey into the wildlife photographer he is today. We talk about being raised in Calgary with dreams of being a professional athlete. His move from sports to engineering. His decision to leave engineering to pursue a PHD in medical sciences. And then how he connected with nature and wit…

This week's talk is with Ryan Wilkes. Ryan has an adventurous journey into the wildlife photographer he is today. We talk about being raised in Calgary with dreams of being a professional athlete. His move from sports to engineering. His decision to leave engineering to pursue a PHD in medical sciences. And then how he connected with nature and wit…

Today I sit down with Dona Schwartz. Dona is a professor of photography here at the University of Calgary and the President and Chair of the Exposure Photography Festival. I learn about her personal photographic process and the influence of her career as an Ethnographic researcher. A scientific approach that informs her art practice and inspires us…

Today I sit down with Dona Schwartz. Dona is a professor of photography here at the University of Calgary and the President and Chair of the Exposure Photography Festival. I learn about her personal photographic process and the influence of her career as an Ethnographic researcher. A scientific approach that informs her art practice and inspires us…

In today’s episode I speak with Mecoh Bain, portrait photographer, mother, and woman of colour. We explore her roots as a biracial child, growing up in rural BC and how that’s informed her practice in searching for soul through photography. Her portrait work focuses on representation and personal truths so that she can exemplify the spiritual power…

In today’s episode I speak with Mecoh Bain, portrait photographer, mother, and woman of colour. We explore her roots as a biracial child, growing up in rural BC and how that’s informed her practice in searching for soul through photography. Her portrait work focuses on representation and personal truths so that she can exemplify the spiritual power…

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Julya Hajnoczky to talk about her practice. She's a visual artist here in Calgary who uses photography as a part of a mixed media approach to express themes of nature, sustainability, and forest undergrowth. Julya shares her experiences learning about the art world - applying for exhibitions; developing a spe…

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Julya Hajnoczky to talk about her practice. She's a visual artist here in Calgary who uses photography as a part of a mixed media approach to express themes of nature, sustainability, and forest undergrowth. We have a great chat about her upbringing and experience as a teacher and her journey into the world o…

I'm David Youn. Thanks for listening to my podcast. Here's my year end wrap up for 2020. I've learned a lot this year from these incredible artists. 2021 looks to be just as great as I have a slew of great artists ready to talk to you each week. Thanks as always to the Alberta Podcast Network for your support. And don't forget to subscribe and rate…

John Goldsmith is a photographer and chemist originally from Chicago and now living and working in Vancouver BC. His latest venture in art is his print shop The Printmaker Studio. We mix up some great conceptual concoctions about art’s beauty and purpose both to the artist and the presumed audience. Our hypothesis? That art helps to reflect what an…

John Goldsmith is a photographer and chemist originally from Chicago and now living and working in Vancouver BC. His latest venture in art is his print shop The Printmaker Studio. We mix up some great conceptual concoctions about art’s beauty and purpose both to the artist and the presumed audience. Our hypothesis? That art helps to reflect what an…

My guest today is Chelsea Yang-Smith. I met Chelsea through the Exposure Studio program and our conversation has given me insight into where she comes from and how she has become a pragmatic commercial photographer and still a champion of the arts! We talk about her experiences in Calgary's professional photography world, her background as a mixed …

My guest today is Chelsea Yang-Smith. I met Chelsea through the Exposure Studio program and our conversation has given me insight into where she comes from and how she has become a pragmatic commercial photographer and still a champion of the arts! We talk about her experiences in Calgary's professional photography world, her background as a mixed …

Do we put images on pedestals? Does art have intellectual influence and what can we do to press this conversation forward? Wilmer Aburto has been building provocative and challenging statements through photography. He asks why we must rely on a single representation of beauty and strength - and he builds images to demonstrate that once we move outs…

Can art help us deal with the stress and even traumas of our day to day existence? My guest believes so. Wilmer Aburto has been building provocative and challenging statements through photography. He asks why we must rely on a single representation of beauty and strength - and he builds images to demonstrate that once we move outside the norm we ca…

How does one define their self. It’s a fascinating question that has troubled philosophers and psychologists for many years. With the influx of photography, imagery, and now social media… this has become more complex than ever. My guest today is my friend Kaitlin Moerman. Two years ago she built a life size self-portrait for a photography show on I…

How does one define their self. It’s a fascinating question that has troubled philosophers and psychologists for many years. With the influx of photography, imagery, and now social media… this has become more complex than ever. My guest today is my friend Kaitlin Moerman. Two years ago she built a life size self-portrait for a photography show on I…

This week I zoom with Louie Villaneuva. Louie is a photographer. And I mean that definitively. As you'll hear, he has committed himself completely to this craft and his passion and dedication shows. He speaks photographically. In this first half we gab a bit about how he got here and what he's looking for. About his love of brutalist architecture. …

This week I zoom with Louie Villaneuva. Louie is a photographer. And I mean that definitively. As you'll hear, he has committed himself completely to this craft and his passion and dedication shows. He speaks photographically. In this first half we gab a bit about how he got here and what he's looking for. About his love of brutalist architecture. …

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Tyler Tanner. Tyler is a local skate board fanatic and photographer and we connected over zoom to chat about the relationship between the two; approaches to life that we can learn from both; and generally the process of photography and its impact all around us. Tyler is a reflection of a genuine and …

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Tyler Tanner. Tyler is a local skate board fanatic and photographer and we connected over zoom to chat about the relationship between the two; approaches to life that we can learn from both; and generally the process of photography and its impact all around us. Tyler is a reflection of a genuine and …

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Twinkle Banerjee. I was introduced to Twinkle through the Exposure Studio project. As part of a select group of photographers here in Calgary, we have created a new community of creativity. I had not yet come across Twinkle's work but what a great discovery! She's amazing. I think I was inspired to s…

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Twinkle Banerjee. I was introduced to Twinkle through the Exposure Studio project. As part of a select group of photographers here in Calgary, we have created a new community of creativity. I had not yet come across Twinkle's work but what a great discovery! She's amazing. I think I was inspired to s…

Welcome! This is David Youn and this podcast is called My View Finder. I’m looking to get to some of the roots questions behind why we photographers do what we do. To start of this second season of weekly episodes I’ve moved completely away from photography. I called my friend Nick Olkovich. Nick and I went to school together many years ago when I …

Welcome! This is David Youn and this podcast is called My View Finder. I’m looking to get to some of the roots questions behind why we photographers do what we do. To start of this second season of weekly episodes I’ve moved completely away from photography. I called my friend Nick Olkovich. Nick and I went to school together many years ago when I …