FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHER JON CARMICHAEL

Following this week’s solar eclipse, which brought a partial eclipse to the UK, much of Europe and parts of North America, we return to The Photowalk archive for one of the most extraordinary stories ever told on the show.

Photographer Jon Carmichael wanted to photograph a total solar eclipse from 39,000 feet aboard a commercial airliner. That meant calculating where the Moon’s shadow would fall, finding a flight capable of meeting it, and somehow securing exactly the right seat.

What followed is a remarkable story of planning, persuasion, good fortune and photography, beginning with the influence of a geography teacher and eventually leading to an image bought by Elton John. Even if you’ve heard Jon tell parts of this story elsewhere, including in his TED Talk, this is one worth pulling up an imaginary bar stool for and hearing again. It’s a genuine dine-out-on-it-for-the-rest-of-your-life story about being in precisely the right place, several miles above the Earth, at precisely the right moment.

Also today, from our Facebook community, Pascal Bernandon shares Shared Loneliness. Over in the mailbag, Per Birkhaug finds his photographic ‘why’ with a little help from three reindeer, while Gert Van Cole wonders why so many photographers stray into other creative pursuits. Plus, our new feature Moments officially begins, with next week’s guest, travel photographer Ewen Bell.

Email your stories, thoughts, and pictures to the show. If you can optimise/resize photos to 2,500 pixels wide, that’s always much appreciated. If you’d like to support this show and have access to further content and the midweek Extra Mile show, we’d welcome you as an EXTRA MILER. There’s also our Facebook group, a safe place to meet and talk with photographers of all interests, the Photowalk YouTube channel, plus the show is featured on Instagram and Substack.

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This episode is also supported by SILVERGRAIN PRESS. If you have photographs sitting on a hard drive that deserve a life beyond a screen, Silvergrain Press creates beautifully made photo books, fine art prints and handcrafted frames. Visit silvergrainpress.com/photowalk and use the code PHOTOWALK for 15% off your first order.

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Join us in Venice for the Venice ‘26 retreat, photographing a city built on water, light, and ritual as winter settles across the lagoon. Together we’ll wander through early-morning markets, quiet canal edges, hidden monasteries, and the weathered backstreets of Castello and Cannaregio, with time to slow down, take photographs, and build creative confidence in a city that reveals itself gently when the crowds disappear. Places limited.

In episode 494, a chance encounter on a canal path leads to Dale Thomas and an extraordinary story of family, community, a life-changing race across the desert and a determination to live life fully.

Paul Sanders discusses solace in photography and his new work and book in episode 532.

Paul Sanders photography.

If this week’s eclipse has given you the bug, you won’t have long to wait for another. On 2 August 2027, a total solar eclipse will cross southern Spain, North Africa and parts of the Middle East, with a partial eclipse visible from the UK. For totality from the UK itself, however, there’s a rather longer wait: the next one is in 2090.

MUSIC LINKS: Space Doves wrote today's playout song Moon. Music on the show is sourced primarily from Artlist and also features in Michael Brennan’s Spotify playlist GoFoto. For Apple Music users, follow this playlist.

Kelvin Brown’s flickr Photowalk inspired group - join by invite by clicking on to THIS LINK.