Focus Stacked Podcast

FSP - EP 14: Liberating Yourself with Artist, Designer & Educator Carol Record

In this powerful episode, photographer, designer, and game creator Carol Record sits down with host Jim Reiman to explore how photography has become both a refuge and a tool for healing. Carol opens up about using the camera to process the trauma of her youth and the intense experience of her COVID-19 hospitalization—ultimately helping her reconnect with her true self. Carol also shares the story behind Lumen, a photography vocabulary game she designed specifically for photo educators, blending her passion for learning and creative play. The conversation closes with Carol’s latest explorations in spirituality through dance and intentional camera movement (ICM)—a practice that lets her embody and express the unseen layers of experience. It’s a deeply personal and inspiring look at how art, education, and movement can intersect to transform the way we see the world—and ourselves. Links & ExtrasExplore * Carol's Portfolio: https://www.carolrecord.com/portfolio/ * Purchase Lumen: https://www.blackwaterbucs.com/ * Follow Focus Stacked on Instagram: @focusstackedpodcast * Focus Stacked Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/FocusStackedPodcast

FSP - EP 13: Part of the Process with Multimedia Conceptual Artist Rodrecas “Drék” Davis

Host Jim Reiman welcomes Rodrecas “Drék” Davis—professor, multidisciplinary artist, and Head of the Department of Visual & Performing Arts at Grambling State University—to explore how photography fits into his broader creative practice. For Drék, the camera functions as a private refuge: a way to step back, breathe, and capture fleeting impressions before any heavy conceptual lifting begins. Those photographic moments then feed his collage and assemblage work—the arena where he dissects history, politics, and pop culture and reassembles them through an African-American lens.In this episode, Drék unpacks the therapeutic value of shooting for himself, shares how found images morph into layered installations, and reflects on guiding students to balance technical skill with unflinching personal inquiry. If you’ve ever wondered how disparate media can fuse into one cohesive voice—or how process itself can be a form of self-care—this conversation is for you. Hit play, settle in, and let’s peel back the layers of Drék Davis’s multifaceted approach. Links & Extras Explore Drék’s portfolio: https://www.akaprofessordavis.com/ Follow Focus Stacked on Instagram: @focusstackedpodcast Watch/Listen on Youtube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts! #FocusStackedPodcast #RodrecasDavis #MultimediaArt #CollageArt #Assemblage #AfricanAmericanArt #CreativeProcess #PhotographyPodcast

FSP - EP 12: Algorithmic Alchemy with AI Conceptual Artist Todd Dobbs

Host Jim Reiman traces Todd’s path from traditional photographer to boundary-pushing conceptual artist, probing how generative tools can act as both collaborator and critic. Todd explains the prompt-hacking methods he uses to expose cultural biases in today’s most popular image generators, then reveals what happens when algorithms confidently “remember” events that never existed. You’ll hear why he prints Ai generations as cyanotypes of artificial houseplants, what he discovered when he asked AI for portraits of “Typical Americans,” and how all of this reshapes questions of authorship, ethics, and photographic history. Whether you’re skeptical of AI, thrilled by it, or simply curious about the future of lens-based art, this candid conversation unpacks the promises and pitfalls of inviting algorithms into the studio. Links & extras • Explore Todd Dobbs’s work: https://todd-dobbs.studio/ [https://todd-dobbs.studio/] • Support Focus Stacked on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/FocusStackedPodcast [https://www.patreon.com/c/FocusStackedPodcast] • Listen on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts. If Todd’s experiments spark ideas, concerns, or conversations—drop a comment below. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss a deep dive into the creative process. Thanks for tuning in!

FSP - EP 11: Guided by Curiosity with Photographer & Educator Jennifer Robison

Welcome back to Focus Stacked, the podcast that peels back the layers of creativity with today’s most inventive image-makers. In Episode 11—“Guided by Curiosity”—host Jim Reiman sits down with prolific photographer, educator, and relentless experimenter Jennifer Robison to uncover how a stubborn “what-if?” reflex sparks projects as varied as mixed-media prints adorned with real insects and an immersive, life-size “doll” house installation. Jennifer explains how keeping the creative door wide open invites unexpected opportunities and shares teaching insights that turn curiosity into a lifelong engine for art. 🔗 Connect with Jennifer RobisonPortfolio: https://www.jrobison.com/ Instagram: @jrobison_318 💡 Support Focus StackedSubmit questions for future guests and help cover our streaming costs for just $3/month: https://www.patreon.com/c/FocusStackedPodcast If this chat sparks a new idea, hit Subscribe, tap the bell, and share the episode with a fellow creative. Thanks for tuning in—stay curious and keep your creative layers Focus Stacked!

FSP - EP 10: Love & Business with John & Poppy Kelly of JP Portrait  Studio

Running a portrait studio for two decades takes more than sharp lenses and good lighting—it takes vision, grit, and a partnership built on trust. In this episode of Focus Stacked Podcast, host Jim Reiman sits down with husband‑and‑wife duo John and Poppy Kelly of JP Portrait Studio to unpack 20 years of lessons learned at the helm of a thriving family business.Whether you’re dreaming of opening your own studio, looking to refine your business model, or just love hearing how creative couples make it all work, this conversation is packed with actionable tips and heartfelt inspiration.🔗 Check out JP Portrait Studio's portfolio: https://www.jpportraitstudio.com/📸 Photographers, want to be a guest? Sign up on the form in the channel description.💡 Support the show & become a Focus Friend on Patreon! / focusstackedpodcast 👇 Listen / Watch & SubscribeHit that LIKE button if you find value here, SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into photographic creativity, and tap the bell so you never miss an episode.