It's September 20th, 2009, and this is the Candid Frame.

Today's guest is Richard Newman, who in his role as a photographer, writer, and educator,

has had his hand on the pulse of all things photographic for over 25 years.

Though he had his beginnings in television,

it's his work with still photography for which he has become known,

particularly for his work documenting the tragic story of the Valdez oil spill in Alaska.

In his various roles, including National Education Coordinator for Calumet Photographic,

Richard brings great insight into the changing face of photography, from digital production

to multimedia, which makes him a wonderful addition to the candid frame collection of photographers.

So sit back and enjoy our conversation with Richard Newman.

Well, good afternoon, and I'm really excited about having a chance to talk to you here.

Let's start off with your beginnings as a photographer, because I know you played a variety

different roles as a photographer as an educator, as a writer, but how did it all begin for you?

It's, you know, it's funny because it's complete full circle for me right now because it started

as playing music and playing music for 10 years

and deciding that I didn't want to play music anymore.

And I was always interested in photography through the whole period, but music got in, you know,

got in away a little bit and getting out of school, got in the way a little bit and all that.

And I got an opportunity to go to New York in 1980 an apprentice for a year at a really

tremendous studio and left there and decided I was either going to stay in New York or

move to Los Angeles or go to national.

And I went to Chau Priya for Thai food and never had anything like it before in my life and figured this was the place I was going to live.

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