Photographing Japan's Spiritual Landscapes | Ulana Switucha

About this episode

Matt Payne interviews photographer Ulana Switucha about her minimalist landscape photography and her project on Torii gates in Japan.

In episode 474 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne chats with photographer Ulana Switucha about her deeply intentional, minimalist landscape photography and her decade-long project photographing Torii gates across Japan’s spiritual and geographic landscapes. Ulana Switucha shares how living in Asia and practicing long exposure photography has shaped her contemplative approach, blending meditation, yoga philosophy, and presence in nature. The episode covers her photographic journey from childhood, her involvement in documentary street photography projects, the creative process behind her new book, and the technical and emotional challenges of sequencing and publishing a cohesive body of work. Listeners get tips on curating projects, insight into Japan’s geography and spiritual traditions, and recommendations for other inspiring photographers to follow. Links and Resources: Ulana Switucha Ulana Switucha’s Book, Torii Muench Workshops Support the show on Patreon Michael Kenna Photography Olivier Robert Photography Kino Seido Yukari Chikura Gui Christ Mark Kogel Austin Bell Matt Payne's Book, The Colorado Way

People in this episode

Host: Matt Payne

Guest: Ulana Switucha

Topics covered

• landscape photography
• Japan
• spirituality
• minimalism
• creative process
• documentary photography

Keywords

• landscape photography
• Torii gates
• Japan
• minimalism
• long exposure
• yoga philosophy
• documentary photography

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Muench Workshops

Books & works: Torii, The Colorado Way

More episodes of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen - A Photography Podcast

• Artful Aerial Photography & Mining Truth | Scott McCook · July 20, 2026 · 37 min
• Create Photographs Fearlessly | Rick Bebbington · July 13, 2026 · 1h 7m
• Making Extraordinary Photographs in Ordinary Places | Garrett Hess · July 6, 2026 · 1h 10m
• The Journey of the Emerging Professional Photographer | Ben Maze & Murray Livingston · June 29, 2026 · 1h 21m
• Exploring the World of Photography Neuroarts | Nichole Vild · June 22, 2026 · 52 min
• Follow Your Photography Passion to Wild Heights | Jason Bradley · June 15, 2026 · 1h 0m