Episode 23: Jay Farell, Nashville-based Author and Abandoned Buildings Photographer
Episode Description
Welcome to The Photography Pod, the podcast determined to bring you the World’s most inspirational photographers. For professional and enthusiast photographers everywhere.
In this episode we talk to Jay Farell, proclaimed author and explorer of abandoned buildings all over the US. Also, through photography, a friend of our own Steve Vaughan!
He shoots weddings and headshots too, but we found the topic of his book projects most fascinating and hope that you do too.
Jay explores those abandoned, decayed and sometimes dangerous buildings across the US, and captures incredibly atmospheric photos of them. His work shows a real link to community, which reminds us that these buildings are often derelict due to economic downturns in local communities.
He was incredible generous with his time, and talks us through a few of his road trips, including a 1000 mile return trip to get an extra light for the shot below. That’s the sort of dedication I can get behind!
You can read an extract from his most recent Route 66 Roadscapes book here: https://image5.photobiz.com/8905/20250408195854_479840.pdf
You can see the whole set here at Amazon
His writing is a brilliant combination of history of the places, and why they were abandoned, such as the Interstate causing many Route 66 communities to have no purpose or income. But his writing also gives you a sense of actually being there, in that environment. I will be ordering several of these!
All this after a slight departure where Steve, rightly, gives me a hard time about dropping my camera. Again!!
Jay is in the Facebook Group so you can ask any more questions in there!
All photos by Jay Farell,
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Meet your hosts
Nick Church
Nick is a wedding and commercial photography, filmmaker and educator based in Bristol, UK. Following a career in the Software Industry, Nick saw the light (literally) and made photography centre stage in 2018. Most recently Nick has become a regular speaker at The Photography & Video Show in the UK and is delighted to be part of The Photography Pod.
Nick's website : https://www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk/
Nick's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nickchurchphotography/
Outside photography, Nick and his partner Dawn have four boys and his other passions writing and performing music, cycling and motorcycling.
Steve Vaughan
Steve is a wedding photographer based in Oxfordshire and together with his partner in crime, Sam, they run Sam and Steve Photography. Steve was awarded Wedding Photographer of the Year by FujiFilm, Photography News and Loxley.
Steve’s website: https://www.samandstevephotography.com/
Steve’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samandstevephotography
Steve and Sam have 5 children between them, and Steve somehow manages to also have a busy role in training and sales within the pharmaceutical industry. Deciding they need yet more drama in their lives, Sam and Steve also both perform on stage.