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Artwork for A Small Voice: Conversations with photographers and filmmakers

A Small Voice: Conversations with photographers and filmmakers

Ben Smith
Photography
Documentary Photography
Identity
Paris Photo
Ukraine
Photo London
Brexit
Documentary Filmmaking
Environmental Issues
Mental Health
Climate Change
Max Pam
Travel and Leisure
Photojournalism
Community Building
Street Photography
Immigration
American Politics
Subcultures
British Culture

Fortnightly in-depth interviews featuring a diverse range of talented, innovative, world-class photographers from established, award-winning and internationally exhibited stars to young and emerging talents discussing their lives, work and process with fellow photographer, Ben Smith. The most recent 50 episodes are on this free feed, 200+ more are in the archive! TO ACCESS THE FULL ARCHIVE OF PAST... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes212Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Visual ArtsArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for A Small Voice: Conversations with photographers and filmmakers

Latest Episodes

Born in Sofia (Bulgaria), Vladimir Karamazov graduated classical drama theatre at the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts. He has a 25 years career as a professional actor and part of the company of the Bulgarian National Theater “Ivan Vazov”. ... more

Christina Assi is a Lebanese photojournalist and photo editor. After losing a leg in an Israeli tank attack in southern Lebanon in October 2023, she began campaigning for journalists' safety.

Christina was born in Lebanon. Growing up there in the 19... more

Reuben Wu is a multidisciplinary artist who explores new ways of telling compelling stories about the world we inhabit.

His work with aerial lighting and long-exposure photography has defined a singular style in contemporary landscape photography a... more

Iva Sidash is an independent documentary photographer and visual storyteller from Ukraine. Born in 1995, she focuses on deeply personal narratives shaped by the realities of war. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she has documented int... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Vladimir Karamazov
Bulgarian photographer and actor, and author of the photobook For the Grace of God
Bulgarian National Theatre Ivan Vazov
Episode: 294 - Vladimir Karamazov
Christina Assi
Lebanese photojournalist and photo editor who campaigns for journalists' safety
Agence France-Presse
Episode: 293 - Christina Assi
Reuben Wu
Multidisciplinary artist focusing on aerial lighting and long-exposure photography
Independent artist
Episode: 292 - Reuben wu
Iva Sidash
Independent documentary photographer and visual storyteller from Ukraine
Independent photographer
Episode: 291 - Iva Sidash
Ian Berry
Magnum legend, photographer and author of Water
Magnum Photos
Episode: 213 - Ian Berry
Richard Sharum
Editorial and documentary photographer focused on social justice and public interest topics
Independent photographer, works with GOST for photobooks
Episode: 290 - Richard Sharum
Clémentine Schneidermann
French photographer specializing in social documentary and community-focused projects
Bleak Fabulous (co-founder)
Episode: 289 - Clémentine Schneidermann
Aria Shahrokhshahi
British-Iranian multidisciplinary artist and photographer specializing in social structures and human experience
Episode: 288 - Aria Shahrokhshahi
Lorenzo Meloni
Italian photographer known for conflict reportage and documentary projects
Magnum Photos
Episode: 287 - Lorenzo Meloni

Host

Ben Smith
Host of A Small Voice: Conversations with photographers and filmmakers

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 840 ratings
  • Fortnightly photo inspiration

    This is hands down the best photography podcast out there. Ben Smith chats with a diverse mix of amazing photographers, blending sympathetic questioning with his very British humour.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JD tog
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Hugely informative

    Ben has built up an important collection of chats and discussions with a huge range of photographers. This is a massively important resource and a really good listen. The podcast has introduced me to lots of photographers I’d never heard of - TIP: Don’t just listen to episodes featuring the photographers you know. There’s gold here so make sure you did for it :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nath_74
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Untitled

    A really amazing podcast with interesting guests. I just wish Ben would let the guests finish their sentences and pause for a second. It feels like he’s getting a bit ahead of the conversation and cuts off the guests sometimes. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    АннаМаленкова
    Russiaa year ago
  • Insightful

    Ben Smith’s podcast is one of the best on photography. I especially like that he focuses on the photographer rather than foolishly trying to make it a conversation between two equals. Two pet peeves: first, he is at times too intimidated by the photographers to push back or probe further when necessary (Ian Barry’s offensive comments re sexual harassment, Chris Anderson’s perennial evasiveness about his post-processing, etc). Second, he doesn’t own up to it in subsequent episodes after listeners... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Drawgrlfan
    United States3 years ago
  • I’m glad.

    That the millionth episode didn’t have any yucky girls on it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bigbabygenius
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many find the conversations inspiring, with broad coverage of photographers from around the world.
The show's interviews are seen as a valuable archival resource for learning about career paths and creative processes.
Listeners appreciate the breadth of guests, from war photographers to documentary filmmakers, and the balance between craft and ethics.
Listeners praise the host for thoughtful, in-depth questioning and a focus on the guest's life and work.
Some critiques note the host occasionally cuts guests off or dominates pace, but the overall quality and depth remain highly valued.
The tone is generally respectful and insightful, though a few listeners wish for more probing in certain episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#73
United States/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#18
United Kingdom/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#87
Canada/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#213
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#39
Italy/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#63
Germany/Arts/Visual Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

294 - Vladimir Karamazov
Q: What were you trying to convey in your images of the prisoners?
He wanted to show the inmates' humanity rather than focus on prison stereotypes, and to draw attention to childhood experiences such as neglect and lack of love that can contribute to criminality.
294 - Vladimir Karamazov
Q: How did acting help you develop your photography and tell stories through images?
Karamazov says his acting education taught him to identify characters and shape narrative. In photography, he creates a story through the sequence and contrast of individual frames.
293 - Christina Assi
Q: What can one do? I mean, in kind of very practical terms, what would you like to see happen for a start?
Assi says international laws already prohibit targeting journalists who are clearly marked as press, but the urgent need is accountability. She wants evidence documented and preserved so it can be used in legal proceedings and to seek justice.
293 - Christina Assi
Q: What are your memories of that time, early years in Lebanon?
Assi recalls the 2005 assassination of Rafi Hariri, her family's move to Qatar, and being caught in the 2006 Lebanon war while visiting relatives in southern Lebanon. Those childhood experiences helped shape her interest in understanding the world and later reporting on it.
292 - Reuben wu
Q: John McCormack described you as hard to categorize. How do you define yourself?
He explains that after coming into photography later in life across multiple mediums, he prefers to call himself a visual artist rather than a traditional photographer, embracing a broader, cross-disciplinary identity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A candid, in-depth interview series centered on leading and emerging photographers and filmmaker-creators, with conversations often tracing career paths, ethical considerations in documentary work, and the evolving landscape of photography in the AI era. Guests span war reportage, long-form documentary projects, archival and archival-inspired practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration, offering practical career guidance, insights into funding, publishing, and platforming work, and reflections on memory, truth, and storytelling. A notable throughline is a focus on human stories behind image-making, the tension between art and journalism, and a commitment to social impact through projects and advocacy. Listeners are likely drawn to authent... more

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this podcast launched 11 years ago and published 212 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Vladimir Karamazov
2. Christina Assi
3. Reuben Wu
4. Iva Sidash
5. Ian Berry
6. Richard Sharum
7. Clémentine Schneidermann
8. Aria Shahrokhshahi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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