The Talking Pictures Podcast

When the circus came to Iowa

In this week's podcast we discuss the challenges of photographing the Iowa Caucuses with Des Moines Register photographers Zach Boyden-Homes, Michael Zamora, Kelsey Kremer and Brian Powers. They chased Presidential hopefuls from the Iowa State Fair's Butter Cow, to little coffee shops, hotel ballrooms and every point in-between. We compare notes and swap stories about the candidates. Who was a jerk? Who was good to the media. Who knew a Butter Cow helped pick the next leader of the free world?

Super Bowl bound photo editor

This week’s guest on the Talking Pictures Podcast is Denver Post photo editor Patrick Traylor. Pat is a native of Rock Island, Illinois and a former Dispatch/Argus photo intern. We talk about editing photos of the Super Bowl bound Denver Broncos and his career path from Rock Island High School to the Mile High City. In addition to talking to Pat, Todd and Todd discuss the greatest threat to America’s Freedom of the Press - over zealous political campaign volunteers.

Cold hands, warm podcast

It's cold outside and we are inside discussing the never ending photographer quandary - what gloves to where when you shoot under cold conditions? Todd and Todd also discuss Nikon's release of the much anticipated D5 and D500 and other topics.

Cows are people too and other stories

This week’s episode is a mixed bag of reader complaints and how we dealt with them. Every photojournalist has taken a phone call or received an email complaining about a photo they have taken. Some of the complaints are legitimate but some times they border on the absurd. In this week’s podcast we concentrate on the absurd.

Tim Tai: At the center of the storm

The Talking Pictures podcast talks with University of Missouri photojournalist and student Tim Tai, who, while trying to cover a student protest on campus for ESPN, found himself embroiled in a heated debate about press freedom and public privacy while surrounded by angry, pushing protesters. The event was captured on a now-viral video and has brought accolades and scrutiny to the soft-spoken 20-year-old. Photo of Tim from video by Mark Schierbecker - https://youtu.be/xRlRAyulN4o

Pasties and fur make for a great first day

A two-part episode built around a big surprise and a wild first day on the job for Meg. In part one we surprise young Meg with a chance of a lifetime and in part-two she discusses how to shoot a raunchy burlesque show when your editor accidentally sends you to a raunchy burlesque show.

107-years in the making

The highs and lows of producing a multimedia project about Die Hard Cubs Fans, some of which are over a 100-years-old and hard of hearing. Our thumbnail photo for this week's podcast features Mick Nelsen, 76, East Moline, Ill. who surprised us with his excellent rendition of the 1969 Chicago Cubs fight song "Hey Hey, Holy Mackerel."

Out of Africa with Nick Loomis

Western Africa based freelance multimedia journalist Nick Loomis sits down with us to talk about living and working in Africa and Haiti. Nick is native of Davenport, Iowa and one of our favorite Dispatch/Argus photo dept. alumni. Nick is back in the United States for his annual visit and resupply mission before heading back to work in Dakar, Senegal. To see some of Nick's work from Africa see - www.nickloomis.com

A legendary night in Iowa City

It was an emotional night for everyone in Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City when former player Brett Greenwood, who doctors thought would never walk again, led the Hawkeyes out of the tunnel on Saturday Sept. 19, 2015. Greenwood is currently recovering from serious neurological injuries following his collapse during a routine workout Sept. 9, 2011, at Pleasant Valley High School. University of Iowa Athletic Dept. staff photographer Brian Ray captured a number iconic images Saturday night and we talk to him about the images and lengths he had to go to capture them. To see the images discussed go to - https://theiowahawkeyes.exposure.co/the-iowa-hawkeyes-vs-the-pitt-panthers

Live from the Shanty Boat

We take the podcast on the road (technically the river) to talk with artist, historian and shanty boat captain, Wes Modes. Wes and his dog Hazel, recently docked their shanty boat in the Quad-Cities to collect stories for his project 'A Secret History of American River People'. "Secret History is a journey to discover and collect the lost narratives of people who live and work on the river from the deck of a recreated shantyboat and present these stories through web-based digital archives and a touring art installation," Wes Modes.