TCF Ep. 640 - Matthew Finley
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
Release Date: 05/08/2025
TCF Ep. 652 - Amani Willett
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
When photographer Amani Willett turns his attention to American life, he does so with a quiet precision that reveals both its poetry and its contradictions. Working primarily in black and white, Amani’s photographs explore themes of history, memory, race, and belonging—often focusing on overlooked spaces and moments that carry deep cultural resonance. His work invites viewers to slow down and consider how the past lingers in the present, shaping both personal and collective identity. That approach has defined a career rooted in long-term observation and thoughtful storytelling. Whether...
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TCF Ep. 651 - David Walter Banks
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
Trembling Earth Book Altadena Photographers Support Ibarionex & The Candid Frame Websites Sponsors Charcoal Book Club Frames Magazine Education Resources: Momenta Photographic Workshops Candid Frame Resources Contribute a one-time donation to the show thru Buy Me a Coffee Support the work at The Candid Frame by contributing to our Patreon effort. You can do this by visiting or the website and clicking on the Patreon button. You can also provide a one-time donation via . You can follow Ibarionex on and .
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TCF Ep. 650 - Ben Geier
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
When photographer Ben Geier first began making images, it was his Midwest upbringing and a fascination with abandoned places that set him on a path of visual discovery. Over the past decade, Ben’s work has led him across the United States in search of once-vibrant theatres, roadside restaurants, neon signs, motels, and storefronts—places that carry the texture of America’s cultural and architectural history. What distinguishes his photography is not just what he shoots, but how he sees: with a design-informed eye for composition, color, and the quiet beauty in forgotten spaces. That...
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TCF Ep. 649 - Martyn Goddard
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
When photographer Martyn Goddard began documenting the emerging punk and new wave scene in London during the late 1970s, he was capturing more than a musical movement—he was photographing a cultural revolution. His lens found its way to some of the most influential bands of the era, none more iconic than Blondie. His candid, stylish, and energetic photographs reveal the band’s magnetic presence both on and off stage, chronicling the rise of Debbie Harry and her bandmates at a moment when music, fashion, and attitude collided. That work is now celebrated in his new book, Blondie: In Camera,...
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TCF Ep. 648 - Mark Comon
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
When photographer and educator Mark Comon talks about photography, his passion is unmistakable. As the owner of Paul’s Photo in Torrance, California, and founder of the Creative Photo Academy, Mark has spent decades helping photographers at every level discover their creative potential. Through economic downturns, digital revolutions, and even the pandemic, he has kept Paul’s Photo thriving—one of the rare family-owned camera stores to endure and grow in an industry transformed by change. Mark’s philosophy is rooted in community and education. He believes that photography flourishes...
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TCF Ep. 647 - Frank Jackson
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
When photographer Frank Jackson first picked up a camera, he discovered more than a tool—he found a way to translate how he sees and feels the world. Known for his street photography and portraiture, Frank has built a career rooted in curiosity, observation, and a relentless drive to make work that is true to himself. His images often balance rawness and elegance, revealing moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed. For Frank, photography has always been about more than the subject in front of the lens. It’s about the challenge of pushing beyond comfort zones, whether in the streets of...
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TCF Ep. 646 - Jonas Paurell
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
When photographer Jonas Paurell set out to explore the relationship between humans and the natural world, he embraced a practice that moves fluidly between art, documentary, and environmental storytelling. His images are rooted in a deep engagement with place—whether remote mountain landscapes or fragile ecosystems—and they reflect both an aesthetic sensitivity and an ecological urgency. Jonas’s work doesn’t simply document the environment; it raises questions about belonging, responsibility, and how our presence shapes the land we inhabit. That journey has led to long-term projects...
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TCF Ep. 645 - Dimitri Staszewski
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
When photographer Dimitri Staszewski began his Close to the Bayou project, he was drawn to the layered and deeply personal relationship between people and place in southern Louisiana. His photographs explore the impact of land loss, environmental change, and cultural resilience, capturing stories that exist at the intersection of identity, heritage, and survival. Rather than portraying the region solely through the lens of crisis, Dimitri embraces its complexity—revealing beauty, strength, and an ongoing dialogue between past and present. At its heart, the story also reflects an intimate...
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TCF Ep. 644 - Javiera Estrada
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
When multi-media artist Javiera Estrada speaks about her work, it’s not just about aesthetics or technique—it’s about transformation. Born in Acapulco, Mexico and raised in the United States after emigrating in 1989, Estrada brings a rich cultural memory of vibrant color, ritual, and mysticism into everything she creates. Whether working with photography, photograms, textiles, or mixed media, her art bridges the seen and unseen—merging earthly material with spiritual inquiry. Her work doesn’t divide the physical and metaphysical, the beautiful and the chaotic—it unifies them....
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TCF Ep. 643 - Justin Black
The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography
When photographer Justin Black first picked up a camera, he was drawn not just to the art of image-making but to the power of photography as a tool for exploration, conservation, and connection. Over the years, that passion has evolved into a remarkable career that bridges fine art, environmental advocacy, and education. As a co-founder of Visionary Wild and former executive director of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Justin has helped shape how we think about the relationship between photography and the natural world. In our conversation, we explore Justin’s journey...
info_outlineMatthew Finley (b. 1972) uses his photography to express himself and connect to the world around him. With a variety of photography processes, he explores intimate emotions through gesture and line to communicate his experience.
Growing up queer in an unaccepting environment, Finley felt apart from the world around him. Now, as an adult working through anxiety, the studio is a safe space to create where he can be vulnerable and express his true self. Creating and exhibiting his work is a way to forge relationships with viewers and help those who see themselves reflected in it to feel less alone. Finding inspiration in classic art and statuary, he addresses modern issues such as his coming out story, intimate relationships, and finding peace in our tumultuous world.
Based in Los Angeles, Finley’s work has shown in solo and group shows in multiple galleries across the U.S. Most recently, his work was on the walls of the esteemed Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles with the likes of Herb Ritts and Herbert In 2024 Finley was awarded CENTER Santa Fe’s Personal Award as well as the Center for Photographic Art’s LGBTQ+ Artist Grant for his project An Impossibly Normal Life.
Resources:
Matthew Finley Website
An Impossibly Normal Life Kickstarter Page
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/matthewfinley/an-impossibly-normal-life
Altadena Photographers
https://www.altadenaphotographers.org/
Support Ibarionex & The Candid Frame
Websites
The Candid Frame PayPal Contribution Link
Signed Editions of “Making Photographs: Developing a Personal Visual Workflow.
Photo Workshops & Webinars
Breaking Out of a Rut: Tips for Creating Breakthroughs in Your Photography
Sponsors
Charcoal Book Club
Frames Magazine
FRAMES Magazine | Because Excellent Photography Belongs On Paper (readframes.com)
Education Resources:
Momenta Photographic Workshops
https://momentaworkshops.com/workshops/
Candid Frame Resources
The Candid Frame Newsletter & Substack Blog
Making Photographs: Developing a Personal Visual Workflow
The Candid Frame YouTube Channel
Download the free Candid Frame app for your favorite smart device.
Click here to download it for iOS.
Click here to download it for Android
Contribute a one-time donation to the show thru Buy Me a Coffee
https://buymeacoffee.com/thecandidframe
Support the work at The Candid Frame by contributing to our Patreon effort. You can do this by visiting patreon.com/thecandidframe or the website and clicking on the Patreon button.
You can also provide a one-time donation via PayPal.