The Paris Chong Show

Mitch Stringer, Photographer and Fellow Podcaster Talks MLB, Travel and Photo Books

Paris Chong welcomes photographer and fellow podcaster, Mitch Stringer! The episode kicks off with a fun story about how the two met in New York City at the Leica 100-year anniversary event—a chaotic yet memorable block party where Mitch briefly served as the opening act for a swarming crowd, immediately followed by Jason Momoa. They quickly dive into their shared experience as podcast hosts, discussing the journey of building an audience, with Mitch having reached over 55 episodes and Paris's show now transitioning to a monthly format. Mitch Stringer, a Leica enthusiast and professional photographer based in Baltimore, details his life behind the lens, highlighting his diverse gear choices: Sony for the fast-paced action of Major League Baseball and his Leicas (Q3, SL3, M11) for his artistic passion projects in portraiture, street, and travel photography. The conversation shifts to the ultimate artistic goal of having a published work. Mitch, who has already published a book on Cuba, shares insights from his experience and talks about his next project: a book dedicated to African wildlife. The chat expands to cover Mitch’s extensive travel, including an upcoming two-week trip across Morocco focused on capturing the people, history, and architecture—a stark contrast to his wife's preference for less adventurous sightseeing in places like Italy and rural England. They also touch on the lighter side of life with candid talk about Mitch's three children and multiple pets, the addictive nature of Instagram, and humorous, relatable moments of aging, like receiving a startling promotion from a crematory. The episode concludes with a nod to acclaimed photographers like Greg Gorman and Art Wolf, whose work continues to inspire Mitch's photographic vision. Show Notes: www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/mitch-stringer-photographer-and-fellow-podcaster-talks-mlb-travel-and-art-books Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:16 Meet Mitch Stringer 01:08 Leica Party Origin Story 02:45 Podcast Guests and Instagram 07:18 Podcast Metrics and Media Roots 12:15 Baseball Photography and Gear 15:42 Travel Tales and Photo Books 23:22 Dogs and Loss 24:30 Cremation Mail Shock 25:59 AAA and Keeping It Together 26:37 Next Book African Wildlife 29:21 Mentors and Great Portraits 32:17 Zoom Face Critique and Tattoos 37:30 Advice for Young Photographers 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

Sad Stories and Happy Stories | Show Clip

Paris Chong and Ray Barbee bond over the bittersweet reality of post-pandemic travel, despite their busy schedules. Paris shares her upcoming plans to travel to Athens, Greece, and then to Wetzler for an international gallerist meeting, admitting that she actually prefers staying home with her dog and kid. Ray Barbee echoes this sentiment, agreeing that the pandemic "spoiled" them both, making them realize how much they enjoy being home, even while acknowledging the exciting opportunities that travel provides. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Ray Barbee https://youtu.be/RNds97LPlq8 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #podcast #photography #travel

Comfortable to Uncomfortable Confusion | Show Clip

Legendary skateboarder Ray Barbee describes the two distinct periods of "confusion" in his early career: the "comfortably confused" phase of success, sponsorships, and traveling the world, and the "uncomfortably confused" phase that followed, where the unwanted adoration and celebrity status left him feeling deeply unfulfilled and conflicted. He shares how this emotional struggle, combined with realizing the world's injustices, led him to a personal journey of seeking truth, ultimately finding a spiritual understanding that there is something bigger than himself. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Ray Barbee https://youtu.be/RNds97LPlq8 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #skateboarding #podcast #raybarbee

How Skateboarding Led Me to Guitar | Show Clip

Ray Barbee tells the engaging story of how he got his first skateboard, which was a hand-me-down from his friend Danny's dad, who grew up in the 70s park era of skateboarding. He describes the board—a vast improvement over the "banana boards" he'd seen—as the key that unlocked a new culture for him. This new board gave Ray and Danny the confidence to approach the "cool kids," who were skaters and surfers, at school. Accepted into this "brotherhood," Ray's journey as a skater took off, eventually leading to his professional career. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Ray Barbee https://youtu.be/RNds97LPlq8 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #skateboarding #guitar #podcast

Bedroom Snacks to London Life | Show Clip

Paris Chong recounts her dramatic personal transformation, revealing how she went from a self-described phase of "fat eating Ho Hos and Dolls in my bedroom watching MTV" one minute, to suddenly "living in London" and feeling "in love, and having fun" the next. She and her guest, Ray Barbee, share a moment of laughter and reflection on the sudden, significant shifts that can happen in life, setting the stage for a broader conversation about music, passion, and personal history. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Ray Barbee https://youtu.be/RNds97LPlq8 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #london #mtv #celebrity