PHYS Podcast

NEW EPISODE ALERT Episode 105 is Live! Photography, identity, ancestry, storytelling, and the wild beauty of Vancouver Island. On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with photographer Kimberley Kufaas @westcoastlife - a lifestyle and adventure photographer whose work is deeply connected to the rugged coastlines, storms, culture, and communities that shaped her. Born and raised on northern Vancouver Island, Kimberley brings her First Nations, Métis, and Scandinavian roots into the way she documents people, place, and emotion. Her photography feels raw, honest, cinematic, and alive. We talk about: • Growing up in Kwakiutl territory • How environment shapes artistic vision • Adventure and lifestyle photography • Storytelling through weather, landscape, and emotion • Photographing real human connection • The beauty of imperfect moments • Why authenticity matters more than perfection This conversation is a powerful reminder that photography is not just about taking pictures. It’s about connection. It’s about identity. It’s about feeling something real. Watch / Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Follow @phys_podcast for more conversations exploring photography, creativity, storytelling, and the human experience behind the lens.

Episode 104 of The PHYS Podcast is live. On this episode, I sit down with Chicago photographer @nolis for a conversation about creativity, risk, purpose, and what it means to fully commit to your vision. Before photography became his career, Nolis earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Chicago State University and worked in medicine for two years before making the decision to walk away from stability and dedicate himself completely to photography. More than a decade later, that leap of faith has led to work with brands and publications including Nike, Apple, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and many more. We talk about: • Leaving a secure career path behind • Building a voice through photography • Documenting culture and real human moments • Photographing Barack Obama’s farewell speech in Chicago • Creative risk, identity, and trusting your instincts This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the biggest risk is ignoring the thing you know you are meant to do. Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Episode 103 marks the beginning of a new chapter. After years of conversations under The Life of PHYS, the show evolves into The P.H.Y.S Podcast. The Life of PHYS has always been about my personal journey as an artist—the struggles, the growth, and the people I’ve met along the way. But as the show grew and listeners began tuning in from all over the world, something became very clear… These conversations were never just about my story. They were about the photographers, filmmakers, artists, and storytellers who share their experiences, philosophies, and creative journeys through this platform. PHYS stands for Photography Heals Your Soul, and that idea has always been the heart of everything I do. Moving forward, The P.H.Y.S Podcast will continue exploring the people, stories, and creative philosophies that shape photography and visual storytelling. And I couldn’t think of a better guest to launch this new chapter. Today’s guest is @dan_tamarkin , owner of @tamarkin_camera and the Rangefinder Gallery in Chicago. If you know the Leica world, you know the Tamarkin name. Dan grew up around cameras. His father, Stan Tamarkin, founded Tamarkin Camera in 1971 in their family home in New Haven, Connecticut. Dan eventually took over the family business in 2010 and moved it to Chicago, where he created a hub for photographers, collectors, and Leica enthusiasts from around the world. Dan shoots both film and digital, often with a Leica M7 or Leica M Monochrom paired with a 50mm lens, and has a deep love for vintage Leica cameras like the Leica M2 and Leica Standard. In this conversation we talk about Leica history, collecting cameras, photography culture, and building community around photography. This is The P.H.Y.S Podcast. Because Photography Heals Your Soul. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

I sit down with Los Angeles based photographer and filmmaker @calebknueven , a storyteller whose creative path started the same way many great visual journeys do: with skateboarding and a video camera. When Caleb was about twelve years old trying to learn how to skateboard, he quickly realized he wasn’t going to keep up with some of his friends on a board. Instead of stepping away from the scene, he found another way to stay part of it. He asked his parents for a video camera. The official reason was filming his little brother’s soccer games, but the real plan was making skate videos with his friends. Those early skate videos eventually turned into something bigger: a fascination with filmmaking and storytelling through moving images. As a teenager, Caleb was already storyboarding and creating his own short films, experimenting with ways to build stories through light, motion, and the camera. That curiosity led him to study Film and Theatre at the University of Kansas, before eventually making his way into the professional film industry. Today Caleb works in Los Angeles, where he has developed his craft in visual effects, working at Stargate Studios and gaining experience on set as an On-Set VFX Supervisor. Along the way he also developed a deep obsession with film photography and shooting on celluloid. What started as curiosity quickly became a passion for cameras, lenses, and the tactile experience of shooting film. That passion eventually led him to launch his YouTube channel Bad Flashes, where he explores cameras, film photography, filmmaking tools, and the creative process behind visual storytelling. In this conversation we talk about skate culture, filmmaking, visual effects, film photography, and how creative curiosity can shape an entire career behind the camera. Listen now to The P.H.Y.S Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

I’m joined by Canadian documentary photographer @jillianabrownphotography , whose story is one of resilience, adventure, and the healing power of the natural world. Jillian is someone who truly lives the stories she shares. Her work takes her deep into wild places, often pushing herself to the edge physically and mentally, all in pursuit of documenting the connection between humans, nature, and the quiet power that emerges when we slow down enough to listen to the world around us. Her journey with photography began on a small island in Northwestern Ontario, where she grew up surrounded by wildlife and the natural world. After receiving her first camera as a young girl, she began documenting the landscapes and animals around her. That early connection to nature would go on to shape the path of her life. After studying Fine Arts and Photography in university, Jillian eventually made her way west to British Columbia, chasing both adventure and a creative life. But the journey was not easy. After leaving an abusive relationship, she found herself homeless, living in a tent in the woods while navigating a diagnosis of PTSD. And it was there, back in nature that something began to shift. The same wilderness that inspired her photography as a child became a place of healing, a place to rebuild and reconnect. That transformation pushed Jillian to pursue incredible adventures, including becoming the first Canadian woman to paddle across America and completing a world-first expedition paddling a tandem sea kayak down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Her work and story have reached people around the world through publications, speaking engagements, outdoor organizations, and the Bell Let’s Talk national mental health campaign. Today Jillian continues to use photography and storytelling to inspire others to reconnect with nature, themselves, and the idea that healing can sometimes begin with something as simple as stepping outside. This is a conversation about resilience, creativity, adventure, and the powerful relationship between the natural world and our inner lives. Listen now to The P.H.Y.S Podcast.

Episode 100 of The Life of PHYS Podcast is a milestone. What started with one simple belief—that Photography Heals Your Soul—has grown into more than one hundred conversations with photographers, filmmakers, artists, and storytellers from around the world. This community now spans more than 80 countries and continues to grow through the shared belief that creativity, storytelling, and human connection still matter. For this special episode, I sit down with @sf.evans , a photographer, filmmaker, and art director based in the Bay Area of California whose work blends cinematic storytelling with portrait and fashion photography. Originally from Santa Cruz, Scott studied photography before graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in English. After college he spent several years living in Portland, Oregon, working in the restaurant industry while continuing to photograph and refine his creative voice. Scott’s work is deeply influenced by cinema and classic photographic masters such as Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, and Richard Avedon. His photography embraces atmosphere, narrative, and the idea that images like films can create worlds where imagination and reality blend together. A dedicated Leica rangefinder shooter, Scott prefers the intentional and simplified process that the Leica M system offers. For him, the camera should disappear in your hands so the photographer can remain present and fully engaged with the moment. In this conversation we talk about cinematic influences in photography, growing up inspired by film and storytelling, fashion and portrait photography as narrative art, and why slowing down and pre-visualizing an image changes the way we create. Episode 100 is also a celebration of the community that has made this podcast possible, everyone who has listened, shared, supported, and believed in the idea that creativity can bring people together. Photography Heals Your Soul. Listen now to The P.H.Y.S Podcast.

I sit down with Vancouver, British Columbia based multidisciplinary artist and photographer @lizrosa . Liz is known for creating imagery that feels both modern and timeless. Working across digital and analog photography, her work draws inspiration from old-world elegance, the quiet beauty of nature, and the expressive power of dance and movement. Movement sits at the center of Liz’s creative direction. By incorporating her love of dance into the way she photographs and directs her subjects, Liz creates images that feel fluid, emotional, and alive. Her work carries a sense of timeless femininity that has helped her develop a distinctive voice within contemporary fashion and editorial photography. Her photographs have been internationally recognized and published in Vogue UK, Elle, L’Officiel, Marie Claire, Schön!, Contributor Magazine, Nasty Magazine, and Mother Muse. Through collaborations with conscious brands and creatives around the world, Liz continues to produce visual work that feels authentic, intentional, and enduring. In this conversation we explore Liz’s journey as a photographer and multidisciplinary artist in Vancouver, why she blends analog film and digital photography in her process, and how dance and movement shape the way she directs and connects with her subjects. We also talk about the influence of nature and old-world aesthetics on her visual style, the importance of collaborating with like-minded creatives, and what it takes to build work that stands the test of time in a fast-moving creative industry. If you’re passionate about fashion photography, film photography, creative direction, and visual storytelling, this episode offers a thoughtful look into the artistic process behind Liz Rosa’s work. Listen now to The P.H.Y.S Podcast.

I sit down with @haileyelisee , a professional mountain bike athlete, photographer, and videographer whose life revolves around adventure, creativity, and the outdoors. Raised in the mountains surrounding Vancouver, British Columbia, Hailey developed a deep connection to sport, exploration, and pushing her limits. That passion eventually led her to Whistler, one of the most iconic mountain biking destinations in the world, where riding bikes and creating images became the foundation of her creative life. Hailey brings a rare perspective to action sports photography. As both an athlete and an award-winning photographer who has competed in Deep Summer, Dirt Diaries, and Red Bull Illume, she understands the terrain, timing, and risk behind the moments she captures because she lives them herself. In 2025, Hailey won the Dirt Diaries competition at Crankworx Whistler, one of the most respected storytelling competitions in mountain biking. In this episode we talk about her journey from studying fashion and running a fashion blog during university to building a career documenting mountain biking, outdoor culture, and adventure through photography and film. Hailey also shares insights into the collaborative nature of action sports photography, the creative energy found in outdoor environments, and why pursuing adventure and creativity does not come with an age limit. If you’re interested in mountain bike photography, action sports storytelling, outdoor adventure, and the mindset required to push both athletic and creative limits, this is an inspiring conversation with one of the rising voices in adventure photography. The P.H.Y.S Podcast explores the deeper stories behind photographers, filmmakers, athletes, and creatives who believe in the idea that Photography Heals Your Soul. Listen now.

I sit down with @benhortonphoto , a National Geographic Explorer, photographer, and director whose career has been built around one powerful belief: a photograph can change the world. For more than 16 years, Ben has worked with National Geographic documenting stories across Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand, China, the Canadian Arctic, Haiti, and coastlines throughout the Pacific and Central America. His work lives at the intersection of adventure photography, conservation, and high level commercial storytelling, making him one of the most versatile visual storytellers working today. But what truly sets Ben apart is impact. Early in his career, Ben led a powerful photojournalism investigation on Cocos Island, exposing illegal shark poaching operations and tracing the trade across international markets. That work was presented to the President of Costa Rica and directly contributed to the expansion of two national parks and the protection of critical marine ecosystems. From there his journey has taken him into some of the most extreme environments on earth, including a 60-day dogsled expedition across Ellesmere Island with legendary polar explorer Will Steger, documenting the realities of climate change in the Arctic. Ben’s work moves between many worlds. From photographing the search for Genghis Khan’s tomb in Mongolia, to hosting National Geographic’s Extreme China, to producing large scale commercial campaigns like the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue featuring Olympic and professional athletes. Now based between Park City, Utah and Baja California Sur, Ben continues to explore and document the world through both client work and personal projects, including his fine art book Baja Bound and his latest exhibition The Art of the Unseen. In this conversation we talk about building a career with National Geographic, using photography as a tool for conservation impact, working in extreme environments, and balancing commercial work with meaningful storytelling. Ben’s work is a reminder that photography isn’t just about capturing what we see. It’s about stepping into the story and creating images that matter. Listen now to The P.H.Y.S Podcast.

I sit down with Portland, Oregon based street photographer @portrait_project.17 , whose work is a powerful reminder that photography is about far more than making images. It’s about connection, trust, and service to the community around you. I was introduced to Ryan through my childhood friend Ben Tobin, known for his work supporting communities in and around Spokane, Washington. Ben has a way of bringing good people together, and Ryan is absolutely one of those people. Ryan has carried a camera since he was young, but over time photography evolved into something much deeper. Today his work blends street photography with community care. When Ryan walks the streets with his Leica Q2 Monochrom, he’s not just carrying a camera. In his bag you’ll often find food, clothing, medical kits, Narcan, and printed photographs that he returns to the people who trusted him enough to collaborate in a portrait. Shooting exclusively with a 28mm lens, Ryan works extremely close to his subjects. That physical closeness requires honesty, respect, and genuine human connection. The result is powerful black and white photography that highlights the dignity and humanity of people who are often overlooked. In this conversation we talk about using photography as a tool for connection, how street photography can intersect with community service, and why trust matters more than the photograph itself. Ryan also shares his approach to working close with a 28mm lens and why giving back to the people you photograph is an essential part of the process. Ryan’s work reminds us that when photography is approached with humility and compassion, the camera becomes more than a tool. It becomes a bridge between people. This episode is about empathy, humanity, and the quiet power of simply showing up with a camera and an open heart. Photography Heals Your Soul. Listen now to The P.H.Y.S Podcast.

I sit down with photographer, traveler, and wave chaser @daniel.alberdeston.photography . Daniel’s story is one I really connect with. At the center of it all is something simple: a camera that has always been there. From disposable film cameras to modern digital systems, Daniel has carried a camera with him for as long as he can remember. For him, it has never really been about the gear. It is about capturing the moment before it disappears. Alongside photography, Daniel has spent much of his life in the ocean as a dedicated bodyboarder. That deep connection to the water naturally evolved into a passion for surf photography. Anyone who has ever tried photographing the ocean knows it is not easy. Timing, patience, and respect for the power of the water all come into play. Daniel’s work has connected with brands and publications across the surf world including Wave Riding Vehicles, WAXD Magazine, and most recently Session Magazine Issue No. 10 (Summer 2025). He also works closely with tools designed for photographers willing to step directly into the action, including SPL Water Housings in San Diego. In this conversation we talk about travel, chasing waves, photography, and the mindset required to keep creating over the long haul. We also explore the connection between the ocean and creativity, and why some photographers always feel pulled back to the water with a camera in hand. Because photography and wave riding share something in common. You cannot force it. You have to be patient. You have to be present. And when the moment comes… you have to be ready. Listen now to The P.H.Y.S Podcast.

I sit down with Los Angeles based portrait and documentary photographer @afonso.salcedo . Before stepping into still photography, Afonso spent two decades at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios as a Lighting and Compositing Artist. His work helped shape the emotional atmosphere behind films like Toy Story 3, WALL-E, Encanto, and Moana 2. Today, he brings that same cinematic mindset into portrait and documentary photography. Afonso’s philosophy, which he calls The Architecture of Light, is built on the belief that light is far more than a technical tool. Light is where emotion lives inside the frame. His goal is to make the technical invisible so the human story can take center stage. In this conversation we explore his transition from Hollywood animation to still photography and how cinematic lighting can shape emotional storytelling. Afonso shares insights on building trust with subjects, creating portraits with intention, and documenting real stories with curiosity and respect. We also talk about the deeper projects that have shaped his work, including documenting the 545-mile AIDS/LifeCycle journey, recovery efforts in Haiti, and everyday life across Portugal. This episode is about presence, craft, curiosity, and the deeper purpose behind photography. If you’ve ever wondered how light, storytelling, and human connection intersect, this conversation will change how you see both your work and the people in front of your lens. Photography Heals Your Soul. Listen now to The P.H.Y.S Podcast.