🎙️ Welcome to Ep. #62 of The Urbanaut Podcast, presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com.

In this captivating episode, we sit down with Aleksey Kondratyev, an artist-photographer whose work explores the intersections of globalization, labor, and identity. From the frozen landscapes of Kazakhstan’s ice fishers to the hidden labor force of American construction workers, Aleksey’s photography brings attention to unseen worlds.

About Our Guest: Aleksey Kondratyev

Born in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and later immigrating to Detroit, Aleksey’s work is shaped by his personal history of migration and cultural hybridity. He holds an MFA from UCLA and has exhibited internationally at venues like the Museum of Contemporary Art Rome, the Benaki Museum in Athens, and the Berlin Center for Contemporary Art. His projects, including Ice Fishers, Auto, and Worker, have been featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, and The Financial Times.

Tune in to this episode to:

- Explore Aleksey’s journey in photography and how he found his artistic voice.

- Learn about the Ice Fishers project, which documents Kazakh fishers using discarded plastic materials as makeshift survival shelters.

- Understand the economic and social dynamics behind the global trade of used cars in the Auto project.

- Discuss the invisible workforce behind modern cities in his Worker series.

- Hear insights on balancing research and intuition in creative work.

Don't forget to:
- Subscribe to our channel for more episodes diving into the world of art and photography.
- Like & Share this episode to support independent photography storytelling.
- Follow us on social media for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

EPISODE LINKS

Website: alekseykondratyev.com | Instagram: @aleksey.kondratyev

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Coming Up..

2:21 - Introduction to Aleksey Kondratyev

25:37 - Discovering the Ice Fishers project

28:30 - The extreme conditions of ice fishing

1:13:28 - Transition to Auto: A personal connection

1:15:26 - The global trade of wrecked cars

1:31:19 - The Worker series: Capturing invisible labor

1:33:40 - The role of anonymity in photography

1:24:11 - The future of auto shops & changing labor markets

1:54:55 - Trusting intuition over research

1:53:41 - Final thoughts & advice for young photographers

SOCIAL LINKS:

🔹 Twitter: /UrbanautPodcast
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🔹 Instagram: /TheUrbanautPodcast
🔹 Support us on Patreon: /TheUrbanautPodcast

#AlekseyKondratyev #TheUrbanautPodcast #Photography #DocumentaryPhotography #CentralAsia #PostSovietIdentity #LaborPhotography #ArtisticExploration #Urbanautica #SteveBisson #PatrickLeeHubbard

🎙️ Welcome to Ep. #61 of The Urbanaut Podcast, presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com. In this compelling episode, we delve into the nuanced world of Italian photographer Pierfrancesco Celada. His extensive work offers a chronological exploration of his photography, from his doctoral research in biomechanics to his impactful long-term projects documenting urban life in cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo.

About Our Guest: Pierfrancesco Celada

Pierfrancesco Celada's work poignantly captures the essence of metropolitan living and its impact on individual and collective consciousness. Known for his incisive use of visual metaphors, Celada's projects like "When I feel down I take the train," and "Instagram Pier," explore themes of isolation, connectivity, and the personal vs. public spheres in urban environments. His photographs have been showcased in major venues such as Les Rencontres d’Arles and the Nobel Peace Center, reflecting his critical acclaim in the field. Dive deeper into his work at www.pierfrancescocelada.com and follow his visual journey on Instagram: @fotografante.

Tune in to this episode to:

• Traverse Pierfrancesco's photographic career, from its inception in the scientific field to the extensive urban studies in his latest projects.
• Unpack the narratives and artistic processes behind his major works.
• Understand the influence of rapid urbanization and digital social spaces on contemporary life.

Don't forget to:

• Subscribe to our channel for more episodes that delve into the art of photography.
• Like and share this episode to appreciate the complex interplay of urban environments and photographic expression.
• Follow us on social media for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

EPISODE LINKS:

Pierfrancesco's Contact: www.pierfrancescocelada.com Pierfrancesco’s Instagram: @fotografante

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Coming Up…

1:27 - Introduction and Background

19:32 - Creation of a Publishing House

24:03 - Documenting Urban Isolation in Japan

35:54 - Experiences Documenting Hong Kong Protests

42:29 - Instagram Pier Project

57:43 - Real Estate and Urban Dynamics

1:06:38 - Cultural Phenomenon of Hikikomori

1:17:15 - Ethical Considerations in Documentary Photography

1:23:38 - Photographic Composition and Technique

1:27:44 - Dynamic Use of Instagram Pier

1:35:48 - Adapting to COVID-19 Restrictions

1:43:57 - 'Walking Circles' Project

1:51:53 - Advice to Aspiring Photographers

1:54:40 - Conclusion and Engagement Encouragement

SOCIAL:

• Twitter: /UrbanautPodcast
• Facebook: /TheUrbanautPodcast
• Instagram: /TheUrbanautPodcast
• Support on Patreon: /TheUrbanautPodcast

#PierfrancescoCelada #TheUrbanautPodcast #UrbanPhotography #DocumentaryPhotography #VisualNarrative #ArtisticExploration #Urbanautica #SteveBisson #PatrickLeeHubbard

🎙️ Welcome to Ep. #60 of The Urbanaut Podcast, presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com. In this captivating episode, we sit down with renowned photographer Brian Rose, whose work has chronicled some of the most pivotal urban transformations of the past four decades. From the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the 1980sto the fall of the Berlin Wall and beyond, Brian’s photography is a powerful meditation on time, space, and history. About Our Guest: Brian Rose Born in Virginia, Brian moved to New York City in 1977 to study at Cooper Union, where he learned from legendary photographers Joel Meyerowitz and Larry Fink. His early work documenting the Lower East Side in the 1980s captured a city on the edge—chaotic, yet full of creative energy. Later, he embarked on a long-term project documenting the Iron Curtain and Berlin Wall, culminating in the critically acclaimed book The Lost Border. Brian’s photography has since spanned multiple cities and historical moments, from post-9/11 New York to the removal of Confederate statues in Richmond, Virginia. His images are held in prestigious collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Tune in to this episode to: - Discover Brian's journey from student to one of urban photography’s most compelling voices. - Hear behind-the-scenes stories from photographing New York in the 1980s, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and post-9/11 Lower Manhattan. - Explore his latest project on NYC subway’s last stops and how the city’s outer boroughs tell a deeper story than its landmarks - Gain insight into self-publishing and how Brian successfully sold 1,000 copies of his book with no advertising campaign. - Learn why photography is about more than just capturing an image—it’s about documenting history. EPISODE LINKS: Brian Rose's Website: www.brianrose.com | Instagram: @brianrosenyc3 OUTLINE: 0:00 - Coming Up... 2:11 – Welcome to the show! Brian’s background and introduction 5:59 – The story of secretly buying his first camera at 16 9:30 – The reversal of photography trends: color vs. black-and-white 13:04 – Inside My Own Color Lab, the photography hub of 1980s NYC 16:20 – Moving to NYC in 1977 and experiencing the NYC blackout 21:53 – Documenting the Lower East Side in 1980—a neighborhood at its rawest 23:40 – Photographing the Iron Curtain and Berlin Wall (1985) 32:17 – Witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) 39:09 – The role of photography in social movements 54:22 – Revisiting the Lower East Side after 9/11—capturing gentrification and transformation 1:07:06 – The “Last Stop” project: photographing the NYC subway’s final stations 1:25:27 – The debate: film vs. digital photography and evolving technology 1:34:43 – How Brian sold 1,000 books through self-publishing 1:42:20 – Why he refuses to dwell in nostalgia and continues to photograph the present 1:54:11 – Documenting cultural landscapes—Bangladeshi, Russian, and Orthodox Jewish communities in NYC 1:54:27 – Final reflections and advice for photographers: “Live in the present, photograph in the present.” Don't forget to: - Subscribe to our channel for more in-depth conversations on photography, art, and urban culture. - Like & share this episode to celebrate the rich visual storytelling of urban photography. - Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes content and future episodes! SOCIAL: Twitter: /UrbanautPodcast Facebook: /TheUrbanautPodcast Instagram: /TheUrbanautPodcast Support on Patreon: /TheUrbanautPodcast #BrianRose #TheUrbanautPodcast #Photography #DocumentaryPhotography #UrbanPhotography #LowerEastSide #BerlinWall #NYCPhotography #SelfPublishing #PhotographyHistory #Urbanautica