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 , 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!

Episodes

Latest Episodes

5 days ago

1 hr 1 min

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articulating screen and L-bracket problem, and why the old advice to turn off stabilization on a tripod might be outdated.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

5 days ago

1 hr 1 min

Sep 2, 2026

1 hr 5 min

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
 

Sep 2, 2026

1 hr 5 min

Aug 19, 2026

58 min

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

Aug 19, 2026

58 min

Aug 4, 2026

1 hr 12 min

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

Aug 4, 2026

1 hr 12 min