Meet Kurt Tong, an award-winning photographer and storyteller who has crafted some of the finest narratives in recent years, blending archival and vernacular photographs with personal storytelling. In our conversation, he gives a very honest account of why he left photojournalism and how to rethink your goals as an artist.

Enjoy this conversation!

Artist website:

Dear Franklin Book

Krampus:

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3 Books That Inspire You Today with Chiara Capodici, who runs Leporello Books in Rome. Chiara brings a deeply philosophical approach to photobooks and bookmaking. Tune in to hear about her two current favorite photobooks and her all-time favorite author.

She recommends the following books and authors

• Tara - Sebastian Bruno
• Silence is a gift - Ciro Battiloro
• Roberto Calasso

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This episode of The Photo Vault accompanies the latest edition of REVU magazine, titled War & Peace. REVU is the Vernacular Social Club’s print outlet, covering a variety of subjects. Although there is much to say on War & Peace, this episode was not easy to create. We decided to touch on a few aspects of War & Peace in photography and in general. The world at this moment, or perhaps at any given moment, is entangled in so many wars that it is almost impossible to know where to begin. Most likely, REVU and its visual investigations in vernacular photography around War & Peace are more successful, as they have no beginning and no end, and the images can be interpreted individually by each reader. So please have a look at it after you listen to the Podcast.

Visit the Vernacular Social Club's website for more information on REVU.

References:

• Nelson Mandela
• TIME Photojournalist Lynsey Addario
• War & Peace by Director Bondarchuk Sergey 1964
• Archive of Modern Conflict
• Soldier Studies book
• War - Edwin Starr

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In this episode, you will follow Lukas as he explores the photobook world at Les Rencontres de la Photographie d'Arles, a fantastic photo festival in the south of France that has been running since 1970. Lukas talks to publishers, artists, fair organizers, and bookshop owners about the festival, the book market, and how the photobook has evolved in a festival environment like Arles. We delve into the thoughts of publishers based in Europe, authors who come all the way from Mexico, and some of the pioneers who started facilitating photobook platforms 20 years ago in festivals such as the one in Arles.

Enjoy this episode with the voices of Salambo Goudal (France Photo Book), Grzegorz Kosmala (Blow Up Press), Matej Sitar (The Angry Bat), Abed Abidat ( Images Plurielles), Benoit Capoddi (Halogenure), Cesar Rodriguez, Zhen Zhi ( La maison Z), Pedro Guimarães (XYZ Books), Frederic Lezmi (The Photobook Museum), Thomas Gust (Buchkunst Berlin), Vincent Van Baar (Royal Academy of Art The Hague), Kalin Kruse (Die Nacht) and Delphine Manjard (Palais du Palais).

Publishers/Bookshops/Books mentioned in the Podcast in order of appearance

• Les Rencontres de la photographie d'Arles
• France Photobook
• Blow Up Press
• The Angry Bat Publishing
• Images Plurielles
• Halogenure
• Benoit Capponi
• César Rodríguez
• KWY Editions
• La Maison Z -
• The Photobook Museum
• XYZ LISBON
• Buchkunst Berlin -
• Vincent van Baar
• Royal Academy of Art The Hague
• Die Nacht Publishing
• Librairie du Palais

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In this episode of The Photo Vault, we receive book recommendations from the Istanbul-based artist Cemre Yeşil Gönenli. Her book choices are varied and full of emotional connections to her own journey of becoming a photo artist. Listen to her colourful stories of how books can inspire and change your perspectives. Listen also to a previous episode where we talk with Cemre in detail about her practice and what it’s like to work as an artist in today's Turkey.

References:

• The Chain Chien-Chi Chang
• Sophie Calle take care of your self
• Alec Soth Niagara Steidl / Mack 2nd Edition
• Elliott Ewitt - Le petit monde

Cemre’s Books:

• Hayal & Hakikat: A Handbook of Forgiveness & A Handbook of Punishment -
• Double Portrait
• For Birds sake

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In this Episode of The Photo Vault we are going to explore a very peculiar Vernacular Photo Festival in Italy.

Gu.Pho. Our host Lukas went South to work on an exhibition of the Vernacular Social Club as well as an installation for his new book “A tiny visual history of the Moustache”. Gu.Pho festival, in the wonderful town of Guigla, about 40 minutes south of Bologna, in a magnificently run-down castle, was full of surprises and insights. Listen in this Episode what the festival is all about, who started it and how. It might inspire you.

References:

Gu.Pho

Gu.Pho Instagram

Max Fisher introduction

The creation - making time

PetriPaselli Artist Duo

Sugar Paper Space Modena

Gu.Pho Visual on the Vernacular Social Club Website

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In this episode of The Photo Vault, we discuss with Dutch artist and editor Erik Kessels why it is important to have an opinion and dislike things, as well as why it is most important that young artists get paid. Erik is a prolific book and exhibition maker, known for his narrative creation through appropriated images.

Take a look as well at Erik’s website and publishing page to gain a deeper understanding of his work and thought process."

Enjoy the conversation:

• Erik Kessels Website
• Instagram
• Kessel Kramer Publishing

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Follow French editor and artist Thomas Sauvin on his journey from a Chinese language student to the collector and editor of an enormous archive that he continually augments from a dumpsite in Beijing. With his project, Beijing Silvermine, he has produced humorous and intelligent publications over the last 10 years, granting us access to a specific period in time in China. Lukas met Thomas in Paris at the Beijing Silvermine studio, and in their conversation, they unravel Thomas’ reflections on his work in the past, present, and future.

Beijing Silvermine
Thomas Sauvin Instagram

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