When is the last time you, as a photographer, had a picture make itself in front of you? I know that sounds a little bit philosophical, but stay with me, it’s way more practical than you might think. I’m talking about the level of work and care that go into creating a photograph before the shutter ever clicks – Researching your location before you arrive to know the environs, determining the impact what time of day it is and how that shapes your image, just walking around in the space (with or without the subject of the photograph) to just take in the possible composition options. And then, after all of that, having the dedicated patience to just simply wait for the right decisive moment, peak action, or perfect emotion in the person you’re photographing to create that image (that might take hours of not-taking photos to capture that one ideal moment). That level of dedication to the craft is exactly what we’re talking about today with legendary Minnesota photojournalist Brian Peterson.

Brian Peterson was born in Duluth, Minnesota, and has enjoyed a 35-year career as a photojournalist covering stories he cares most about in his home state of Minnesota and around the world. He's best known for his work since 1987 for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, but his photographs have also been published in National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, and the New York Times.

Brian has been honored nine times as Minnesota News Photographer of the Year and has been recognized nationally and internationally for his documentary photojournalism, including a Robert F. Kennedy Award, NPPA's Canon Photo Essay Award, and three regional Emmys for his video work. He has photographed the Winter and Summer Olympic Games five times and his sports photography has been honored by the national baseball and football Halls of Fame and the National Press Photographers Association.

Peterson is the author of two books, Minnesota State of Wonders (www.stateofwonders.com) and “Voices for the Land”, and the winner of three Minnesota Book Awards.

www.brianmarkpeterson.com

In today’s episode with Brian Peterson, we touch on the importance of connecting with your environment (on and off assignment), changes he’s experienced in the newspaper photography industry over the past three decades, and why so often the time we spend not taking photos with the people around us can lead to the greatest images in the long run.