The Tripod Podcast - A Photography Show

About The Tripod Podcast - A Photography Show

The Tripod is a photography podcast where Matt Payne, Talor Stone, and David Thompson dig into photography news and hot takes. Each episode, they cover the topics that really matter: emerging trends, industry controversy, gear developments, and the conversations photographers are actually having while out in the field. Matt brings a background in clinical psychology and a decade of experience hosting one of photography's longest-running podcasts, F-Stop Collaborate and Listen (https://www.mattpaynephotography.com/page/f-stop-collaborate-and-listen/), to shape a meaningful dialogue that offers listeners clear takeaways to shape their own photography journey. He specializes in Colorado's high country as well as small scene and abstract landscape photography. Talor brings the rigor of a Ph.D. scholar and a focus on visual storytelling to challenge status quo approaches and offer perspectives about how photography can do far more than just create beautiful images. She specializes in the polar regions and underwater photography with a diverse focus on landscapes, wildlife, and indigenous communities. David brings his mastery of composition and technique, paired with his deep roots in the American Southwest, to highlight the subtle but powerful artistry of a craft-first approach to photography. David specializes in desert landscapes and bayou landscapes with a focus on quiet, overlooked scenes shaped by light, form, and natural design. The result of this diverse blend is an exciting conversation that's well-informed without taking itself too seriously, offering depth and nuance punctuated by jokes and hilarious stories from the field. New episodes drop bi-monthly. If you have a question or your own hot take, we want to hear it!

Publisher

The Tripod Podcast

Category

arts · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

4 Aug 2026

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

3 of 6 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Getty, What's Real, and Gatekeeping

   Host Talor Smith and Hosts DT and Matt explore Getty Images' bankruptcy, Apple's photo authenticity tech, and a "Made in USA" drone, offering insights on prints, gatekeeping, and focus techniques in this interview.

2. 

   30 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Losing the Roadless Rule, Bay Photo Truths, & Why the Sky Is NOT Your Subject

   Matt and Talor are joined by guest host Wayne Suggs, filling in for DT, for a wide-ranging episode covering public lands policy, gear rumors, and three spicy hot takes on workshops, sky as subject, and crop mode. NEWS TOPICS Talor breaks down what's at stake in the USDA and Forest Service's proposal to rescind the 25 year old Roadless Rule, which protects 44.7 million acres of national forest from road construction and timber harvesting, and what it could mean for wildlife corridors, water quality, and public land access. Matt covers a wedding photographer whose $250 in Kodak Portra film, bought as backup stock on Amazon, turned out to be cartridges filled with rocks, and the online pile on that followed. Wayne asks whether DJI's ownership of Hasselblad and its drone imaging tech could eventually push the company into the full frame and crop sensor camera market, and what that would mean for Sony, Nikon, and Canon. HOT TAKES Bay Photo doesn't live up to its reputation as the internet's go to print lab, and boutique labs are worth a look instead. The sky is never the subject of a great photo. It's a supporting element, not the main event. Crop sensor mode on a full frame body trades away resolution and framing flexibility you can't get back later. A revisit of last episode's tripod stabilization take, with some nuance added for super telephoto and astro work. LINKS/RESOURCES There Are 3,824 Comments on the FCC's Latest Drone Ban; Nearly 99% of Them Oppose It Roads and wildfire risk correlation study Roadless Rule protected areas map Submit a comment on the Roadless Rule rescission Wedding Photographer Buys $250 Worth of Film From Amazon, Receives Rocks Instead TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Intro, Wayne Suggs guest hosting for DT01:19 — Top listener comment: pushback on the DJI drone segment from a past episode05:14 — Wayne's take on the podcast as a listener, and DT's spikes rebuttal video08:32 — News: The Roadless Rule rescission and what it means for photographers25:14 — News: Wedding photographer's Amazon film order comes back full of rocks31:08 — News: Could DJI/Hasselblad push into the full frame camera market?38:23 — Hot takes intro38:52 — Hot take: Bay Photo's reputation doesn't match its quality control47:04 — Hot take: the sky is never the subject of a photo57:01 — Hot take: crop sensor mode on a full frame camera1:06:26 — Revisiting the tripod stabilization hot take with new nuance1:13:29 — What's next for the hosts and wrap-up

3. 

   16 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Drone Bans, Photo Competitions, & Leave That Stabilization ON!

   Matt, DT, and Talor kick off with a laugh-out-loud listener comment and DT's string of workshop mishaps in Ireland before diving into the news: the FCC's proposed ban on foreign-made drones and who actually benefits from it, how to evaluate photography competitions without getting scammed, and why AI's appetite for memory chips is driving up camera prices. Then the hot takes: why workshops should teach craft and vision instead of just delivering you to a pretty location, Canon's articulating screen and L-bracket problem, and why the old advice to turn off stabilization on a tripod might be outdated. We wrap up by revisiting last episode's Peak Design tripod take after some pushback from listeners. In this episode: FCC's proposed foreign drone ban and the national security case against it How to pick the right photography competition and avoid getting scammed (NLPA;) (Ocean Photography of the Year) Why AI demand is pushing camera and memory prices higher Why workshops should teach craft, vision, and voice, not just location Canon's L-bracket and articulating screen design flaw Why turning off stabilization on a tripod may be outdated advice Revisiting the Peak Design tripod hot take from last episode If you think you have what it takes to change our minds on one of this week's hot takes, send your rebuttals through our form at thetripodpodcast.com. Timestamps 00:00 — Intro and hosts checking in from Nevada, Spain, and Colorado00:50 — Favorite listener comment from last episode01:49 — DT's slip-and-fall story from an Ireland workshop06:22 — News: FCC's proposed foreign drone ban and its broad "military grade" definition14:45 — News: How to evaluate photography competitions and avoid scams28:46 — News: AI demand driving up camera and memory prices35:50 — Hot takes intro36:05 — Hot take: workshops should teach craft, vision, and voice, not just location43:31 — Hot take: Canon's articulating screen and L-bracket design flaw49:37 — Hot take: you don't need to turn off stabilization on a tripod57:12 — Revisiting last episode's Peak Design tripod hot take1:03:28 — What's next for the hosts and wrap-up

4. 

   2 Sept 2026

   Meta is Addictive, Olympus Goes Indy, & We Have BEEF with Peak Design Tripods

   In episode 3, we explore the latest trends in photography gear, social media's impact on photographers, and practical tips for shooting in challenging conditions. Our guests share insights on equipment, industry shifts, and personal experiences to help photographers navigate the evolving landscape. News Stories 1. Olympus's independence and market strategy 2. Impact of social media addiction lawsuits on photographers 3. Photoshop's new non-destructive light adjustment layer Hot Takes 1. Evaluation of Peak Design tripods 2. Use of High ISO 3. The Perfect Camera Bag

5. 

   19 Aug 2026

   News on VSCO, Canon, & Nikon and Why Grad Filters are DEAD!

   Matt, DT, and Talor open episode two with the funniest listener reaction from episode one, courtesy of Gary Randall, before Matt recaps a backpacking trip into Colorado's Needle Mountains. From there the crew works through the news: VSCO's "The 50" billboard campaign and its vague compensation language, Canon's move to a fluorine-free, PFAS-free lens coating, and Nikon's surprise firmware updates for the aging D6 and D780. Hot takes cover why grad ND filters are obsolete in the age of luminosity masking, the rubber-feet-versus-spikes tripod debate, and whether photos need titles at all. They close by revisiting listener pushback on last episode's camera strap take. Links/Resources VSCO "The 50" billboard campaign Canon fluorine-free PFAS-free coating story Nikon D6/D780 firmware update story Brooks Jensen on Beyond the Lens Chapters 00:00 — Intro and recap of episode one's best listener feedback 01:11 — Gary Randall's bowling-ball-on-a-tripod comment 04:02 — Matt's backpacking and climbing story in the Needle Mountains 05:52 — News: VSCO's "The 50" billboard campaign and its compensation red flags 13:38 — News: Canon's fluorine-free, PFAS-free lens coating 22:24 — News: Nikon firmware updates for the D6 and D780 33:00 — Hot takes intro 33:31 — Hot take: grad ND filters are obsolete 41:38 — Hot take: tripod feet, rubber versus spikes 46:13 — Hot take: photos don't need titles 54:14 — Concession confession: revisiting the camera strap hot take from episode one 58:43 — Wrap-up

6. 

   4 Aug 2026

   News on Tamron, Drones, & Compact Cameras and Why Camera Straps Suck

   Talor recounts a shark diving trip off the Azores. DT follows with a tense encounter at Boulder Beach, South Africa, and what it taught him about situational awareness while traveling abroad. From there the crew turns to gear and industry: Sony's reported offer to acquire Tamron outright and what it could mean for the E-mount lens lineup, the resurgence of compact cameras among casual shooters, and federal drone enforcement stemming from World Cup airspace restrictions, including a Houston videographer now facing a felony charge for a two-minute flight near his own church. They close out with hot takes on camera straps, tripod-mounted bags, and whether L-brackets should be considered mandatory gear. Links/Resources PetaPixel, "Sony Is Officially Trying to Buy Tamron" PetaPixel, "Videographer is Facing One Year in Jail for Flying Drone to Film Church During World Cup" Reuters, drone seizure reporting CIPA 2026 forecast, via Digital Camera World and Yahoo Finance; Fstoppers, "Retro Cameras: The Industry's Smartest Pivot" Gear and Product Moments Tamron lenses generally, plus the teased 12-20mm for Sony e-mount and Nikon Z-mount Sony's new 100-400mm (announced day-of, roughly 23 oz) Sony A7CR paired with a Voigtländer 21mm f/3.5 lens (Matt's compact combo, roughly $400 for the lens) Fuji X100VI (Talor's compact, fixed 23mm lens) Canon RF 100-500mm (Talor's reference point for comparison) Canon R5 with Nauticam underwater housing (Talor's shark diving setup) Camp Snap camera (Matt's stripped-down digital "disposable," sent by National Geographic) Peak Design strap/clip system (Talor's setup, referenced by DT and Matt) Black Rapid strap (Matt's boat/water setup) L-brackets: Really Right Stuff (Matt's setup), Kirk, and Sunway Photo ($30 to $35 range, Talor and DT's setup) Nikon Z8 (DT's camera, referenced in the strap logo joke) Workshop Shout-Outs Muench Workshops (Matt, Talor, and DT are all full-time instructors) Talor's upcoming Iceland and Greenland workshops DT's upcoming Ireland, Sweden, and Spain workshops Matt's Colorado Fall Colors workshop Matt's platinum palladium and silver gelatin printing workshop at Michael Strickland's lab, Liberal, Kansas Matt's southeast Utah drone workshop Contact: thetripodpodcastshow@gmail.com Chapters 00:01 — Welcome to The Tripod Podcast and meet the hosts 03:12 — Talor's Azores shark-diving story 06:00 — DT's unsettling encounter while photographing in South Africa 15:14 — Matt's camping story and a dangerous encounter at a trailhead 19:00 — Photography news: Sony's reported Tamron acquisition 25:57 — Are compact cameras making a comeback? 40:19 — Drone restrictions, enforcement, and responsible flying 52:53 — Hot takes: camera straps, tripod bags, and L-brackets 68:22 — Wrap-up and what's coming up for the hosts

Inside a recent episode

Getty, What's Real, and Gatekeeping

Published 14 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] My question for you guys is this. What kind of authentication would give you the comp to trust that an image or video is real. And without some type of international leadership on this issue, how are we ever going to come up with a global trusted standard? So I can jump in first. So I actually recently recorded a podcast for F-Stop with a dude by the name of Franz Xavier Bayerl. And he created a company called Lumethic. And he was trying to solve this problem from the image side of things as well. So what I learned in talking to him is that the content authentication thing is basically something that gets injected into the metadata through a certificate, like you were describing, Taylor. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

3.9 / 5

27 ratings

Spotify

4.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact The Tripod Podcast - A Photography Show

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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