The Image File Photography Podcast: Joe Chowaniec on how photographing abandoned buildings landed him a book deal

Joe Chowaniec on how photographing abandoned buildings landed him a book deal

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

Edmonton Journal

CBC

Interesting stuff mentioned in podcast

Eaton's - the company that sold the kit house

Norwegians settling in Alberta

Alberta trespassing law information (for entertainment purposes only! Does not replace actual legal advice. May cause dizziness, diarrhea, and such.)

One photographer's perspective on keeping locations secret