#520 Just one shot, part 1

Sometimes the most profound photographs aren't made in an instant, they're cultivated over days, even weeks. In this special two-part episode, I walk with photographer Giles Penfound in Penwood in Berkshire, as he slows down to make a single large-format image of a giant tree, a portrait created in honour of a photographer known to us both. Working with a 5x4 plate camera, Giles has transformed his practice from the fast-paced world of documentary work to something more deliberate, contemplative, and rooted in presence. Across two weeks, we explore what it means to truly slow down: waiting for light, sitting with a 'subject', and navigating the mental space that opens up when you're no longer chasing the next frame. We discuss mental health, the quality of light, and choosing a different pace of life in a world that demands speed. This is photography as meditation, as ritual, as a way of being fully present with the world. Read more about our photographic adventures on our photography travel website, The Journey Beyond . Links to all guests and features will be on the show page , my sincere thanks to our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week and Arthelper.ai , giving photographers smart tools to plan, promote, and manage your creative projects more easily. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here .

You can listen to #520 Just one shot, part 1 online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

#520 Just one shot, part 1 is an episode from Photography Daily by Neale James.

This episode is 01:14:05 long.

This episode was published on Feb 20, 2026.

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