🎙️ Welcome to Ep. #48 of The Urbanaut Podcast, presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com. In this insightful episode, we are joined by the visionary Damien Drew—an accomplished production designer and an evocative photographer. Damien’s unique perspective bridges architecture, film, and photography, creating a compelling narrative on the transformation and loss of authentic places across global landscapes.

Damien Drew’s work critically examines the evolving relationship between humans and their built environments. Capturing what he sees as the loss of distinct “place” in favor of homogenized spaces, Drew invites us to consider the beauty of impermanence. His celebrated exhibitions, Everywhere was Wherever and Wabi-Sabi, depict vanishing cultural landscapes, from America’s southern towns to rural Japan. Through his evocative lens, Drew reframes the forgotten or decaying as spaces of quiet reflection, beauty, and introspection.

Tune in to this episode to:

• Journey through Damien’s transition from architecture into film and photography.
• Understand how his architectural training influences his documentary approach to photography.
• Explore his projects, Shikoku Silence and Wabi Sabi, which capture the melancholic beauty of impermanent spaces in rural Japan.
• Gain insight into Damien’s reflections on globalization’s impact on cultural identity and unique environments.
• Discover his role in the art direction and production design for Elvis, where he helped recreate 1950s and 1970s Memphis to tell the story of the iconic musician.

Don't Forget to:

• Subscribe for more in-depth discussions with visionary artists and photographers.
• Like and share this episode to support thoughtful dialogue on visual storytelling and cultural shifts.
• Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Episode links:

• Damien’s Website: damiendrew.com
• Damien’s Photography Portfolio: photography.damiendrew.com
• Damien’s Instagram: @damien_drew

Outline:

0:00 - Introduction to Damien and his Work
3:00 - Discovering Photography as a Teenager
4:26 - Studying Architecture and Its Influence on Visual Storytelling
9:43 - Entering the Film Industry Through Serendipity
17:45 - Cross-Country Motorcycle Journey in the U.S. as Creative Inspiration
24:18 - Observing Homogeneity Across American Small Towns
33:52 - Cultural Loss and the Importance of Architectural Documentation
1:05:22 - Parallel Passion for Photography in Film
1:10:56 - The Decline of Japanese Rural Villages in Shikoku Silence
1:17:33 - Tokyo’s Traditional Markets vs. Modern Consumerism
1:28:07 - Trusting One's Creative Voice Over External Feedback
1:32:29 - Japan’s “Night Movers” Company and Themes of Reinvention
1:40:15 - Production Design Work on Elvis and Recreating 1950s Memphis
1:52:06 - Emotional Connection Through Personal Projects Over Commercial Success
1:55:18 - Solitude in Independent Creative Work
1:56:58 - Advice on Following Your Authentic Voice in Art

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#DamienDrew #TheUrbanautPodcast #Photography #CulturalDocumentation #VisualStorytelling #WabiSabi #ShikokuSilence #UrbanExploration #ElvisMovie #ArtDirection #urbanautica #stevebisson #PatrickLeeHubbard

About Our Guest: Damien DrewTune in to this episode to:Don’t forget to:EPISODE LINKS:OUTLINE:SOCIAL:

🎙️ Welcome to Ep. #47 of The Urbanaut Podcast, presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com. In this intimate and reflective episode, we welcome the inspiring artist-photographer Ruth Lauer Manenti. Ruth’s journey is a profound narrative of resilience, memory, and art, shaped by her family’s legacy and her spiritual practice. Her current projects, Excerpts/I Imagined It Empty and Engravings, explore themes of life’s impermanence and the quiet beauty in everyday moments.

About Our Guest: Ruth Lauer Manenti
Ruth Lauer Manenti received her MFA from Yale in painting and drawing and later transitioned to photography, achieving what she had long sought through drawing and painting. Inspired by her parents’ poetic sensibilities — her father’s reverence for life’s transience and her mother’s gratitude for nature’s simplicity — Ruth’s work captures the fragility and fleeting beauty of life. Currently pursuing her MFA in photography at Hartford University, she continues to deepen her exploration of memory, spirituality, and the traces of loved ones we carry with us.

Tune in to this episode to:

• Hear about Ruth’s creative evolution from painting to photography and her journey toward artistic authenticity.
• Explore the narratives behind her projects Excerpts/I Imagined It Empty and Engravings, inspired by her home in the Catskill Mountains.
• Reflect on themes of loss, family legacy, and the meaningful moments of shared existence captured in her photographs.

Don’t forget to:

• Subscribe to our channel for more insights from artists who bring unique perspectives to photography.
• Like and share this episode to celebrate the transformative power of memory and art.
• Follow us on social media for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

EPISODE LINKS
Ruth’s Website: Ruth Lauer Manenti

OUTLINE
0:00 - Most Replayed
1:02 - Ruth’s Background and the Early Influence of Family
8:33 - Discovering Photography and Leaving Painting
15:24 - Art as a Lifeline and Therapeutic Practice
22:02 - Embracing Emptiness in Art and Life
30:00 - Excerpts/I Imagined It Empty — Capturing Memories of Her Mother
40:11 - Photographing the Beauty of the Everyday
50:17 - Reflections on Family, Legacy, and Time
1:02:27 - How Ruth Hopes Her Art Impacts Viewers
1:11:08 - The Vulnerability of Sharing Personal Work
1:39:05 - Creating Art as a Continuum of Family and Memory

SOCIAL

• Twitter: /UrbanautPodcast
• Facebook: /TheUrbanautPodcast
• Instagram: /TheUrbanautPodcast
• Support on Patreon: /TheUrbanautPodcast

#RuthLauerManenti #TheUrbanautPodcast #Photography #CatskillMountains #IImaginedItEmpty #ArtisticProcess #MemoryAndLegacy #urbanautica

🎙️ Welcome to Ep. #46 of The Urbanaut Podcast, presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com. In this captivating episode, we sit down with the brilliant Canadian photographer Scott Conarroe, whose large-format landscape photography has redefined how we view the intersection of infrastructure, mobility, and the environment.

About Our Guest: Scott Conarroe

Scott Conarroe is known for his expansive projects “By Rail" and "By Sea", which document North American landscapes shaped by human infrastructure. His work, often photographed at twilight or dawn, evokes a sense of nostalgia while addressing contemporary issues such as climate change and globalization. With his masterful use of time and perspective, Scott’s photography transcends simple documentation, serving as visual time capsules that reflect on the past, present, and future of our built environments. His photographs have been exhibited in prestigious galleries around the world, and his projects continue to influence the discourse on landscape aesthetics in contemporary photography.

Tune in to this episode to:

* Explore Scott's unique approach to photography, focusing on observation, process, and how infrastructure defines landscapes.

* Learn about his "By Rail" and "By Sea" projects and how they chronicle the historical and cultural significance of North American railways and coastlines.

* Delve into Scott’s philosophy on the power of long-exposure photography and the importance of being present in the moment.

Don't forget to:

* Subscribe to our channel for more deep dives into the world of art and photography.

* Like and share this episode to support artists and photographers who are reshaping the way we see the world.

* Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes content and updates on upcoming episodes.

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Coming Up...

2:45 - Introduction and Approach to Photography

4:17 - Transition from Printmaking to Photography

6:04 - Connection Between Photography and Early Interests in Skateboarding and Skiing

12:40 - Revelation on Time and Process in Long-Exposure Photography

20:36 - Photographing Twilight and Dawn: Natural and Artificial Light

25:13 - Philosophy of Process Over Product

28:36 - Beginning of the "By Rail" Project

31:28 - Work on "By Rail" and "By Sea": Human Infrastructure and the Environment

38:19 - Capturing the Layering of Infrastructure in North America

48:08 - Discoveries Through Photography: The More You Look, the More You See

1:12:14 - Curatorial Influence and Trusting Others’ Interpretations

1:20:11 - Balanced Approach to Life and Art: Loving Detachment

1:24:14 - Fatherhood’s Influence on Artistic Practice

1:38:19 - Evolution of Scott’s Work: A New Chapter Emerging

1:48:04 - Advice for Aspiring Image Makers and Scott’s Younger Self

EPISODE LINKS:

Scott’s Website: [scottconarroe.com](http://scottconarroe.com)

Scott’s Instagram: [@scottconarroe](https://www.instagram.com/scottconarroe)

SOCIAL:

* Twitter: /UrbanautPodcast

* Facebook: /TheUrbanautPodcast

* Instagram: /TheUrbanautPodcast

* Support on Patreon: /TheUrbanautPodcast

#ScottConarroe #TheUrbanautPodcast #LandscapePhotography #ByRail #BySea #NorthAmericanInfrastructure #VisualTimeCapsule #ArtisticProcess #EnvironmentalPhotography #urbanautica #stevebisson #PatrickLeeHubbard