StreetSnappers - The Street Photography Podcast

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A grey, damp morning in Liverpool turned into a turning point. Over a coffee, we opened an old Lightroom archive and spotted a pattern hiding in plain sight—enough images from Ropewalks to seed a real project. That small reframing changed the day, the week, and the way we hunt for ideas. Instead of waiting for inspiration, we named what we already had and set a plan to grow it. If you’ve ever felt stuck, this is your blueprint for moving again.

From there we get practical. After losing film archives in a flood, storage became a lingering blind spot, until a six‑bay NAS arrived and forced action. We talk through why centralised, redundant backups matter for photographers, how to approach setup without fear, and the peace of mind that follows. We also field a listener’s gear dilemma with straight answers: the Fujifilm X100VI for elegant simplicity, the XE5 for flexibility with small primes, and the Ricoh GR series for pocketable stealth and snap focus. The theme is the same across choices—choose the tool that disappears in your hand so you can see more and fiddle less.

Mid‑career study comes up too: is a photography degree worth it at 44? We unpack motives, costs, and outcomes, and outline when a conceptual programme at places like Falmouth or UAL can deepen your voice—and when targeted mentorship, rigorous self‑projects, and strong editing might be smarter. Then we head to Venice, our favourite proving ground for street work. Fog, rain, and winter light make the city a shape‑shifter, perfect for observational, documentary, and lyrical approaches. We share fresh stories from Carnival, a new 52‑page zine capturing the absurd beauty of masks and alleys, and why winter dates are gold for quieter frames.

Finally, a quick grenade lobbed at “multi‑award winning” posturing and a warm invite into the Street Snappers Collective and Community for critique, learning, and meetups.
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Got a question? Record it on your phone and email it to [email protected]. If this resonated, follow, rate, and share with a friend who needs a nudge back into their archive—what hidden project is waiting for a name?
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The Street Photography Collective on facebook (workshop attendees only)
The Street Photography Community on facebook (open to all!)
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My YouTube channel
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Forthcoming workshops in Venice
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My latest zine is available here
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Grey skies, empty streets, and flat light can wreck a shooting day—unless you change the rules. I open with a simple pivot for winter: treat colour as a subject, lean into graphic shapes, and shift from pure observation to small documentary stories that ignore the weather. From there we get practical about the tool that shapes every outing: the camera bag. I weigh the charm and risks of a Billingham, the low‑key utility of Domke and Lowepro, and why the Wotancraft Pilot has quietly become my daily driver for comfort, capacity, weather resistance, and staying off a thief’s radar.

Listener questions push the conversation beyond gear. The most valuable non‑photo tool? A notebook—because ideas land at awkward times and projects need a place to grow. I also talk boundaries with an Apple Watch that tracks without nagging when the camera is in hand. Then I tackle the age‑old frustration of barren streets: projects over wandering. Define a theme and you’ll start noticing frames you used to walk past, even when the city feels asleep.

For a dose of joy, I cue up one of photography’s best sounds: the Pentax 67 shutter. Medium format’s weight comes with reward—tonality, presence, and negatives that sing. I share favourite lenses for the 67, a surprisingly good experience buying from Japan on eBay, and a reality check on airline scales. My weekly hand‑grenade lands on sharpness: useful, yes, but not the grail. Blur, grain, and near‑miss focus can bring breath and urgency when content leads. Finally, I flag what to see and read next: Martin Parr’s early Irish work at The Photographers’ Gallery, LensCulture Street Photography Award winners, Mark Cohen’s Tall Socks, plus a Soho pit stop at Bar Bruno for the best bacon butty and a front‑row seat to the street.

Enjoy the ride, steal the tactics, and tell me how you keep momentum on dull days. If this sparked ideas, subscribe, share with a friend who shoots, and leave a quick review so more street photographers can find us.
LINKS:
My street photography newsletter - sign up here: https://streetsnappers.com/street-photography-newsletter/
Wotancraft Bags: https://www.wotancraft.tw/en/
My workshops: https://streetsnappers.com

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Street photography doesn’t get better by accident; it gets better by intention. I kick off the Street Photography Podcast with a few ideas for a stronger creative year: study one great photo book each week, finish the projects that keep drifting, and lock down an archive strategy that actually protects your work. From a decade-long black-and-white Venice project to a living zine series on London streets, I share the real timelines and choices behind sustaining momentum without losing heart.

The Q&A digs into a key gear question. If you’re weighing autofocus modes on a Leica Q3 (or any 28 mm setup), hear why simple Field AF and classic zone focus still win on the street, and why a Leica Q3 a firmware update is essential. Then we go straight at a thorny craft topic: is photographing the backs of people a lazy dodge or a legitimate tool for mystery? Drawing on Joel Meyerowitz and Saul Leiter, we show how ambiguity can hand the story to the viewer - if intent leads the frame.

We toss a “hand grenade” at overused street tropes - spiral staircases, umbrellas, silhouettes, misted bus windows - and offer practical ways to step out of the echo chamber. To ground it, we bring you a quick Street Session from Liverpool with Robin, a colour-driven eye balancing lunchtime walks, a pocket Ricoh and a 100-year-old film project. Then it’s time to build your desert island bookshelf: Sergio Larrain’s London 1959, Eggleston’s Guide, Fred Herzog’s Modern Color, Chris Killip’s 'best', and more, each a masterclass in seeing.

We close with scene-wide updates: platform shifts toward “authentic” imagery, a new GR4 Monochrome announcement, festival calls, and exhibitions worth your time. If you want to sharpen your vision, finish the work that matters, and break free of copycat frames, you’re in the right place. 
Subscribe, download, and share your thoughts with me - what cliché are you quitting this year, and which book is shaping your eye?
For my workshop information, including the Venice workshops I mentioned, please visit www.streetsnappers.com

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Welcome to the first episode of 'StreetSnappers' - the Street Photography Podcast with Brian Lloyd Duckett.
This is a short trailer and a taste of what's to come. In future episodes there will be interviews, tips, techniques, Q&A and news and insights from the world of street photography.
If you have a question for the show, please record a brief audio clip on your phone and email it to me at [email protected]. Please include your Instagram handle if you would like a mention.
Join the StreetSnappers Community on Facebook - just click here.