The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography

When photographer Shivam Pandey first began working as a fixer for visiting photographers in India, he was positioned on the edges of other people's stories—helping shape access, logistics, and connection without yet fully claiming his own photographic voice. Over time, that proximity to image-making became a catalyst for his own practice. Based in Kolkata, Pandey has since developed a distinctive photographic approach rooted in observation, street-based storytelling, and a deep sensitivity to the rhythms of daily life in India. What makes his journey especially compelling is how organically it has unfolded—from supporting international workshops to building his own voice as a photographer and educator. His work reflects an insider's understanding of place while also carrying the curiosity of someone still discovering it through the camera. In recent years, he has expanded his practice into leading photographic workshops through Kolkata Photo Tours, sharing both his knowledge of the city and his perspective on how to see it more deeply. Our conversation explores that evolution—how teaching, photographing, and living within the dense visual landscape of Kolkata continue to shape his work and identity as a photographer. Resources Shivam Pandey https://www.kolkataphototours.com/about Raghu Rai https://raghuraifoundation.org Raghubir Singh https://www.raghubirsingh.com/ Vineet Vohra https://www.instagram.com/vineetvohra/ Matt Brandon https://mattbrandonphoto.com/ Altadena Photographers https://www.altadenaphotographers.org/ Workshops & Upcoming Education with Ibarionex PerelloX-Pedition Hanoi A destination workshop centered on street photography, culture, and daily life in Hanoi, Vietnam. https://www.f8photographicworkshops.com/x-pedition-hanoi Websites The Candid Frame Support Page https://www.ibarionex.net/support Sponsors Charcoal Book Club https://charcoalbookclub.com Frames Magazine https://readframes.com Education Resources Momenta Photographic Workshops https://momentaworkshops.com/workshops/ Candid Frame Resources The Candid Frame Newsletter & Substack Blog http://ibarionex.substack.com/welcome You can follow Ibarionex on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ibarionex/

Mike Giannattasio is the current President of Leica Camera USA, and we sat down with him to discuss the history, philosophy, and values that have allowed Leica to remain one of the most respected names in photography for more than a century. Rather than focusing on the latest camera releases, our conversation explores the company's enduring commitment to craftsmanship, design, and a way of seeing that has inspired generations of photographers. A significant part of our discussion centers on Leica's network of galleries, which have evolved into much more than exhibition spaces or retail showrooms. Through exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, and community events, Leica Galleries have become creative hubs that bring photographers together around a shared appreciation for the medium. We talk about the importance of fostering these communities, the role they play in Leica's identity, and the recent opening of Leica Gallery Chicago, the newest addition to Leica's growing gallery system. Resources Mike Giannattasio https://leica-camera.com Henri-Cartier Bresson https://www.henricartierbresson.org/en/ Leica Gallery Chicago https://leica-camera.com/en-US/stores-dealers/leica-gallery-chicago Altadena Photographers https://www.altadenaphotographers.org/ Workshops & Upcoming Education with Ibarionex Perello X-Pedition Hanoi A destination workshop centered on street photography, culture, and daily life in Hanoi, Vietnam. https://www.f8photographicworkshops.com/x-pedition-hanoi Websites The Candid Frame Support Page https://www.ibarionex.net/support Sponsors Charcoal Book Club https://charcoalbookclub.com Frames Magazine https://readframes.com Education Resources Momenta Photographic Workshops https://momentaworkshops.com/workshops/ Candid Frame Resources The Candid Frame Newsletter & Substack Blog http://ibarionex.substack.com/welcome Support the work at The Candid Frame: https://www.ibarionex.net/support You can follow Ibarionex on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ibarionex/

A year after the Eaton Fire in Altadena upended our lives, I found myself sitting down with photographer, writer, and educator Jeffery Saddoris for a conversation that was less about photography and more about what happens when life forces you to reconsider where—and how—you want to live. Recorded in February, just before our move to Bordeaux, France, this episode reflects on the long emotional aftermath of loss, displacement, and uncertainty, as well as the difficult decisions that followed in the wake of the fire. What emerged from our conversation was not simply a discussion about relocation or starting over abroad. It became an honest reflection on identity, community, work, and the search for stability after a period of profound disruption. We talk about the realities of rebuilding, the emotional weight of leaving Southern California, and the hope that comes with embracing change, even when it arrives unexpectedly. For those who have experienced upheaval in their own lives, this conversation may feel especially familiar—a reminder that sometimes the path forward only becomes visible once everything familiar has been stripped away. Resources Jeffery Saddoris https://www.jefferysaddoris.com Altadena Photographers https://www.altadenaphotographers.org/ Workshops & Upcoming Education with Ibarionex Perello X-Pedition Hanoi A destination workshop centered on street photography, culture, and daily life in Hanoi, Vietnam. https://www.f8photographicworkshops.com/x-pedition-hanoi Support Ibarionex & The Candid Frame GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/perello-familys-journey-to-re-establish-our-life eBook Purchases https://www.ibarionex.net/ebooks Websites The Candid Frame PayPal Contribution Link https://www.ibarionex.net/support Sponsors Charcoal Book Club https://charcoalbookclub.com Frames Magazine https://readframes.com Education Resources Momenta Photographic Workshops https://momentaworkshops.com/workshops/ Candid Frame Resources The Candid Frame Newsletter & Substack Blog http://ibarionex.substack.com/welcome Support the work at The Candid Frame by contributing via PayPal: https://www.ibarionex.net/support You can follow Ibarionex on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ibarionex/?hl=en and Twitter https://twitter.com/Ibarionex?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

When Michael Robinson Chávez first traveled to Peru with a camera in hand, he couldn't have known it would mark the beginning of a lifelong relationship with photography—and with the country that would become central to his understanding of himself. A native Californian and the son of a Peruvian mother, Chávez has spent decades building a distinguished career as a visual journalist, photographing stories across the globe with a rare combination of rigor, empathy, and clarity. Whether covering war, political upheaval, environmental crisis, or everyday life, his photographs are rooted in a deep respect for the people in front of his lens and a commitment to revealing the emotional truth within complex stories. That same depth of feeling runs through Mestizo, his long-term project on Peru and the subject of our conversation this week. Made over decades, the work is both a portrait of a country shaped by layers of history, culture, and contradiction, and a personal reckoning with heritage, belonging, and identity. These photographs do more than document place—they reflect an ongoing search for connection, a way of understanding how the mixed inheritance of Peru has also shaped the way Chávez sees the world and himself. The result is a body of work that feels both intimate and expansive, deeply personal yet resonant far beyond the boundaries of autobiography. Mestizo will be released as a monograph in early 2026 by Eyeshot. Resources Michael Robinson Chávez https://chavezphoto.com/aboutcontact Mestizo https://www.eyeshotstreetphotography.com/shop/books/mestizo-by-michael-robinson-chavez/ Altadena Photographers https://www.altadenaphotographers.org/ Workshops & Upcoming Education with Ibarionex Perello Japan Spring Workshop 2026 An immersive photographic and cultural experience in Japan, focused on visual storytelling, observation, and creative growth. https://www.nobechicreative.com/ibarionex-perello-spring-workshop-2026-japan X-Pedition Hanoi A destination workshop centered on street photography, culture, and daily life in Hanoi, Vietnam. https://www.f8photographicworkshops.com/x-pedition-hanoi Raw Photo Fest An annual photography festival celebrating emerging and established photographers through exhibitions, talks, and community engagement. https://therawsociety.org/rawphotofest/ Support Ibarionex & The Candid Frame GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/perello-familys-journey-to-re-establish-our-life eBook Purchases https://www.ibarionex.net/ebooks Websites The Candid Frame PayPal Contribution Link https://www.ibarionex.net/support Sponsors Charcoal Book Club https://charcoalbookclub.com Frames Magazine https://readframes.com Education Resources Momenta Photographic Workshops https://momentaworkshops.com/workshops/ Candid Frame Resources The Candid Frame Newsletter & Substack Blog http://ibarionex.substack.com/welcome Support the work at The Candid Frame by contributing via PayPal: https://www.ibarionex.net/support You can follow Ibarionex on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ibarionex/?hl=en and Twitter https://twitter.com/Ibarionex?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

When photographers Ken Browar and Deborah Ory first began collaborating on what would become NYC Dance Project, they set out to create portraits that could honor the athleticism, artistry, and emotional force of dance. Their work has since become synonymous with a style of portraiture that is both elegant and explosive—capturing dancers in motion with a precision that reveals not only physical mastery, but also vulnerability, discipline, and grace. Over the years, their lens has been turned toward some of the world's most accomplished performers, translating movement into still images that pulse with life. That vision continues in their new book, Martha Graham Dance Company at 100, which celebrates one of the most influential institutions in modern dance. Through striking portraits and carefully sequenced images, the book honors the legacy of Martha Graham's groundbreaking choreography while foregrounding the contemporary artists who continue to embody and reinterpret that tradition. Rather than simply documenting performance, Browar and Ory create photographs that feel sculptural, theatrical, and deeply human—offering a tribute not only to dance, but to the enduring power of a company that helped redefine what modern movement could be. Resources Ken Browar & Deborah Ory / NYC Dance Project http://www.nycdanceproject.com/about-1 Martha Graham Dance Company at 100 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0762487445 Altadena Photographers https://www.altadenaphotographers.org/ Workshops & Upcoming Education with Ibarionex Perello Japan Spring Workshop 2026 An immersive photographic and cultural experience in Japan, focused on visual storytelling, observation, and creative growth. https://www.nobechicreative.com/ibarionex-perello-spring-workshop-2026-japan X-Pedition Hanoi A destination workshop centered on street photography, culture, and daily life in Hanoi, Vietnam. https://www.f8photographicworkshops.com/x-pedition-hanoi Raw Photo Fest An annual photography festival celebrating emerging and established photographers through exhibitions, talks, and community engagement. https://therawsociety.org/rawphotofest/ Support Ibarionex & The Candid Frame GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/perello-familys-journey-to-re-establish-our-life eBook Purchases https://www.ibarionex.net/ebooks Websites The Candid Frame PayPal Contribution Link https://www.paypal.com/donate Sponsors Charcoal Book Club https://charcoalbookclub.com Frames Magazine https://readframes.com Education Resources Momenta Photographic Workshops https://momentaworkshops.com/workshops/ Candid Frame Resources The Candid Frame Newsletter & Substack Blog http://ibarionex.substack.com/welcome Support the work at The Candid Frame by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate You can follow Ibarionex on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ibarionex/?hl=en and Twitter https://twitter.com/Ibarionex?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor