FEATURING PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER PHIL SHARP

Today’s guest is Phil Sharp, a portrait photographer whose work has been on my radar for a while, and who was brought back into focus for me through a couple of prompts and a short film made by Sean Tucker, which I’ll link to in the video library below. Phil’s approach is considered, patient and personal. He creates a setting where people are given time, often during longer sessions in his London studio, to settle rather than perform. Music often plays a part in that process, helping to establish a mood that is very evident throughout his portfolio. This conversation isn’t about cameras or lighting setups. It’s about how you create the conditions for someone to feel comfortable enough to show whatever emotion arrives, whether that’s openness, uncertainty, or anything in between. It’s about trust, presence, and what can happen when a photographer is willing to slow things down, away from the watchful eyes of publicists in the corner of the room. If you’re interested in portrait photography, there’s plenty here. But if you’re interested in how time, attention, and thoughtfulness affect the way people appear in photographs, a human approach, I think you’ll find a lot to sit with in this one.

From the mailbag, Phil Ferris clears up a curious fascination with bottoms, and no, it’s not quite what it sounds like. There’s a long service award for Morris Haggerty, a sunnier than usual update from Jack Antal in San Diego with a nudge towards making books, and Per Birkhaug checks in from the Norwegian mountains with a few thoughts about age and perspective. There are some thoughts about the end of the year as we look ahead to the show in 2026, and an invitation to come to Scotland in 2026 as we meditate a little in the middle of today’s edition.

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MORE ABOUT names, words, THE MUSIC and places FROM TODAY’S SHOW

Join us on the Black Isle near Inverness, for the Scotland ‘26 retreat, staying on a working soft-fruit farm with Highland views. The retreat includes small creative workshops, from photogravure printing to sound and writing sessions, plus plenty of time to walk, talk and make photographs together.

Ernie Buttons’ new series, Vanishing Spirits, looks closely at the dried remains of single malt whisky, turning what’s left in the glass into strange, almost planetary little worlds, and quietly reminding you that even an empty dram still has a story to tell.

See Jack Antal’s journal and his book Depth of Feel.

Doing a 365 project is where a photographer commits to making at least one photograph every day for a year. Some days it’s thoughtful, some days it’s rushed, but over time it sharpens how you see, builds discipline, and leaves you with an honest visual record of a year spent paying attention.

Bergtagen is an old Swedish word that means being completely ‘taken by the mountains, ’ that feeling of awe, peace, and total immersion you get when the peaks pull you in and don’t let go.

Robert Capa’s famous maxim, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough”, sums up his belief that great photography comes from getting right into the moment and really engaging with your subject, not just standing back.

Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a 1964 black-comedy satire about Cold War fears, where a rogue U.S. general orders a nuclear strike and politicians and generals scramble to stop global annihilation, all played out with sharp humour and absurdity.

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

MUSIC LINKS: Ian Post wrote today's playout song Wings of Imagination. 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.