Nov 7, 2020
Welcome back to the Image File Podcast. A big thanks to everyone who has listened and shared the show! It's growing quickly and you can help me build on this momentum by subscribing to the podcast on your favorite platform and leaving a review.
My guest almost deleted his opportunity to publish a Canadian best seller when an agent inquired about his work featuring old barns and other ruins scattered throughout Alberta, Canada.
Photographer Joe Chowaniec was convinced the agent's email was a scam, so like any sensible person he ignored it. It wasn't until months later that he ended up speaking to the publisher and began work on what would become "Abandoned Alberta."
Joe has driven thousands of kilometres along lonely range roads in search of forgotten places. I talk with him about documenting them with photography, discovering the history behind them and seeing them remembered in his new book.
I also learn that Joe might have stumbled upon a terrific formula for photographers who are interested in a book deal of their own. We dig into that and I hope it inspires someone to follow their own publishing dreams.
Abandoned Alberta is climbing Canadian best seller lists, and Joe is busy signing and delivering copies to bookstores around the province. I'm sure he's taking the time to snap a few pics in between delivery runs!
Thanks for listening.
SHOW NOTES:
About Joe
Chowaniec
Twitter - https://twitter.com/joeiscranky
Abandoned Alberta Facebook page -
https://www.facebook.com/albertaabandoned/
Publisher site
profile
Where to buy Abandoned Alberta
Amazon
From the publisher Macintyre Purcell
Inc.
Joe in the
media
Interesting stuff mentioned
in podcast
Eaton's - the company that sold the kit house
Norwegians settling in Alberta
One photographer's perspective on keeping locations secret
Some tips for photogtraphing abandoned buildings
The ethics of exploring abandoned places
Dixie Chicks Silent House on Spotify
Wikipedia's International Harvester company entry
Chris Doering has a photo in the book
Adobe Lightroom - Joe's photo software of choice
Skylum Luminar, makers of that detestable automatic sky replacement feature
Link to previous episode with landscape photographer Adam Gibbs
Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park Alberta
Canon 7D - Joe's current camera
Big Valley concrete roundhouse ruins
Forgotten Saskatchewan - Chris Attrell
Joe's wildlife Facebook page Alberta Fur and Feathers
Road
music!
The
Garth Brooks channel on SiriusXM