472: Shaun Keenan - How Over-Tourism is Quietly Destroying Japan

About this episode

Matt Payne interviews Shaun Keenan about the impact of over-tourism on photography and local cultures in Japan.

In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne chats with Shaun Keenan, an American photographer living in Hokkaido, Japan. They dive deep into the issue of over tourism, especially its impact on beloved photo locations in Japan and worldwide, and discuss the ethical dilemmas photographers face when sharing these places. Shaun Keenan shares his personal journey from theater and filmmaking to photography, touches on the importance of respecting local cultures, and offers his thoughts on creative motivation, community, and finding meaning in photography beyond metrics or monetization. Throughout, both speakers emphasize the value of thoughtful, respectful engagement with the land, and the importance of leading with personal values rather than simply chasing viral fame or financial gain. The episode is rich with wisdom for anyone interested in sustainable creativity and responsible travel photography. Links and Resources: Shaun Keenan Shaun Keenan on YouTube Shaun’s Hokkaido Video Muench Workshops Natural Landscape Photography Awards Nature First Simon Booth Pete Leong Eiji Ohashi Michael Yamashita Support the show on Patreon

People in this episode

Host: Matt Payne

Guest: Shaun Keenan

Topics covered

• over-tourism
• photography ethics
• sustainable creativity
• responsible travel
• local cultures
• creative motivation

Keywords

• over-tourism
• photography
• Japan
• sustainable travel
• ethical dilemmas
• creative motivation
• local cultures

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Muench Workshops, Natural Landscape Photography Awards, Nature First

Places: Hokkaido, Japan

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