Podcast: "Under Every Yard of Sky" – Sebastian Meyer and Iraq's First Photo Agency

03/11/2020Link1
Record

It’s easy to admire Sebastian Meyer, not simply because he’s a talented photographer who also co-founded the first photojournalism agency in Iraq, but because he is confident enough to speak of his shortcomings, his naiveté, and of tragedy.

On this week’s episode of the B&H Photography Podcast, we welcome Meyer to discuss his “love at first sight” for photojournalism, the Metrography photo agency he opened in Iraqi Kurdistan, and how he lost a colleague and friend to the violence of the war against ISIS.

We also laugh a bunch during this episode and talk about being an “arrogant white guy,” how research can create preconceived ideas, the tropes of war photography, a bit about gear, and about the conditional nature of journalistic standards and freedom of the press.

After a short break, we learn of Meyer’s involvement in a prolonged hostage situation, his return to photojournalism, and how his new book, Under Every Yard of Sky, is not only a beautiful chronicle of modern Iraqi Kurdistan, in war and in peace, but is also a tribute to a friend taken too soon.

Join us for this wonderful conversation that touches on so many important issues of the contemporary documentary and photojournalism.

Guest: Sebastian Meyer

Manchester, United Kingdom 2005. Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
Manchester, United Kingdom 2005. Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
Manchester, United Kingdom 2005. Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
Manchester, United Kingdom 2005. Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
cover of Under Every Yard of Sky by Sebastian Meyer, 2019
cover of Under Every Yard of Sky by Sebastian Meyer, 2019
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
Friends and family of Kamaran grieve after hearing the news of his death, 2014. Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
Friends and family of Kamaran grieve after hearing the news of his death, 2014. Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
Sebastian and Kamaran, Photograph courtesy Sebastian Meyer
Sebastian and Kamaran, Photograph courtesy Sebastian Meyer
Allan Weitz and Sebastian Meyer, 2020. Photograph © John Harris
Allan Weitz and Sebastian Meyer, 2020. Photograph © John Harris
Sebastian Meyer on the B&H Photography Podcast, 2020. Photograph © John Harris
Sebastian Meyer on the B&H Photography Podcast, 2020. Photograph © John Harris
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Manchester, United Kingdom 2005. Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
Manchester, United Kingdom 2005. Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
cover of Under Every Yard of Sky by Sebastian Meyer, 2019
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
from Under Every Yard of Sky, Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
Friends and family of Kamaran grieve after hearing the news of his death, 2014. Photograph © Sebastian Meyer
Sebastian and Kamaran, Photograph courtesy Sebastian Meyer
Allan Weitz and Sebastian Meyer, 2020. Photograph © John Harris
Sebastian Meyer on the B&H Photography Podcast, 2020. Photograph © John Harris

Host: Allan Weitz
Senior Creative Producer: John Harris
Senior Producer: Jason Tables
Executive Producer: Lawrence Neves

1 Comment

Hugo B.
3 years ago

Excellent. Excellet. Excellent. I've been listening all sort of podcasts for 15 yrs or so, and can't recall even one as good as this one. Well done guys; excellent job Sebastian.