The Talking Pictures Podcast

The Twitter storm

It was a week that started with a fatal fire and ended with 6 high school football players taking a knee during the National Anthem. Our photos from both events garnered reaction on Twitter. In this week’s edition of the Talking Pictures Podcast we talk about what makes people react passionately on Social Media? We also discuss our reaction to people’s personal and professional attacks on our character and our images.

Kimmell comes home

Tom Kimmell, one of the paper’s most decorated photographer alumnus returns home for his 40th class reunion and sits down for a chat with Todd and Gary. He worked for The Daily Dispatch from 1980 to 1983 before moving to Colorado where he was as a member of a Pulitzer Prize winning team at The Gazette in Colorado Springs. Tom talks about his most famous photos from his Dispatch days, what it is like to win a Pulitzer prize and his work with Olympic athletes.

Rain delay theater from John Deere Classic

We took the podcast on the road to the John Deere Classic golf tournament and recorded this episode during a rain delay. Our special guest for the second-half of the episode is award winning photojournalist John Schultz. Tune in and see what the photographers talk about when the rain comes down and the golfers run for cover.

A Trump tale in two acts

This week's podcast revolves around our coverage of Donald Trump's first campaign stop in Davenport since accepting the Republican nomination for the presidency. Part 1 - Todd takes the podcast to the streets and interviews a cross section of the people who attended the Trump rally. Part 2 - Meg and Brian talk about their experiences photographing the event, inside and out.

Nikon D500 review

We have been waiting for months to get our hands on the new Nikon D500. Meg jumped into the deep end of the pool and bought one as soon as it was released. Here is our (her) review of her new favorite storytelling tool.

Listening Matters: Reporting on tragedy in the Black community

In this week’s episode of the Talking Pictures Podcast we talk to former Dispatch/Argus reporter, and local African American leader, Brandy Donaldson, about media responsibility when covering tragedy in the black community. We taped this episode the day after the ambush killings of Police officers in Dallas, TX and the officer involved shootings of two black men in Louisiana and Minnesota. We want to encourage everyone to listen to the entire episode. We hope you’ll find our conversation thought provoking and honest.

Oh Steve, you broke our hearts

Todd Welvaert and Paul Colletti return to the podcast to discuss the scandal surrounding famous photographer Steve McCurry his altered images. Steve McCurry is world renowned for his National Geographic cover - 'Afghan Girl’. The three of us had admired McCurry for years so we disappointed to learn but the And it turns out he - or someone who works for him - faked the content of some of his photos. The resulting fallout has sparked a debate on the internet about photo ethics and the wider implications.

The man with seven hats

He says that he is an accidental editor but native Iowa photojournalist Scott Norris is a born leader. 15-years ago Norris left his home state of Iowa to work for Gannett’s original flagship paper, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, in upstate New York as the assistant photo editor. 800 miles from Iowa City and 15 years later he is now the historic newspaper’s Consumer Experience Director. In this week’s Talking Pictures Podcast Todd M sits down with his old friend to discuss the changes in the way newspapers deliver the news to their customers. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle is on the cutting end of digital news delivery and a world away from the world ToddM and Scott worked in back in Iowa City in the 1980’s.

Free cake and 12-year-old scotch

After 23-years at the Dispatch/Argus co-host Todd Welvaert is retiring from the daily grind of newspaper work. Long-time podcast listeners don't worry, he'll still be doing the podcast. ToddW is a born storyteller so sit back and enjoy the show. We also introduce the newest member of the team, Brian Achenbach. The Iowa State grad has big shoes to fill but we think he is more than up to the task.

Funniest story ever

Paul Colletti makes his return to the podcast to talk about sports photography and his budding freelance career. Gary Krambeck, 40-year-veteran of the Dispatch/Argus photo dept. makes his debut on the podcast and tells the funniest story ever about being a photojournalist in the days of flashbulbs.