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Street Photography Magazine Podcast

Street Photography Magazine Podcast

James Choi: What Street Photographers Can Learn from an Independent Filmmaker

Jul 31, 2026 · 57 min · 11 segments

What can street photographers learn from an independent filmmaker? Quite a lot, it turns out. In this episode of the Street Photography Magazine Podcast, we sit down with filmmaker and professor James…

What can street photographers learn from an independent filmmaker? Quite a lot, it turns out. In this episode of the Street Photography Magazine Podcast, we sit down with filmmaker and professor James Choi, whose recent return to South Korea after nearly five decades inspired both a feature film and a striking body of street photography. Discovered through Trope Publishing, James brings a unique perspective to photography, one shaped by years of visual storytelling through cinema. We talked about how filmmaking and street photography overlap, why simplicity often leads to stronger work (and why keeping things simple can be a challenge), and how creative limitations can become your greatest advantage. Along the way, James shares thoughtful insights on: • Returning to his birthplace after 46 years • Photographing the feeling of a place rather than simply documenting it • Why authentic art requires vulnerability • How simplifying your gear and your process can help you grow faster • Lessons filmmakers and photographers can learn from one another • Independent film recommendations that every visual storyteller should see

What can street photographers learn from an independent filmmaker? Quite a lot, it turns out. In this episode of the Street Photography Magazine Podcast, we sit down with filmmaker and professor James…

Speakers: James ChoiGuestBob PattersonHostAshley RiffoHost

Top entities: James Choi×33 South Korea×23 Seoul×14 Street photography×4 Ricoh×4

Host Catch-up & Travel Talk1:22 – 3:44

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:22

I have not talked to Ashley in a while.

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:26

I've been traveling, she's been traveling.

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:27

So h- what's going on, Ashley? What's happening down there in Florida?

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:32

Uh, not too much.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:33

Doing good.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:34

Uh, getting ready for a trip to Argentina that is long overdue.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:37

So yeah, just busy, busy.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:41

[laughs]

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:41

Yeah.

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:42

Yeah, fun down there.

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:44

Don't, don't get the hantavirus while you're at it.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:48

Mm.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:48

Yes.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:49

My husband has long, uh, warned me about this virus-

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:52

Really?

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:52

... uh, since I've known him, actually, because it's always been a thing kind of where he's from.

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:56

Oh, I didn't know that.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:57

Um, yeah.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:59

So now it's, uh, if, if I was tired of hearing about it before, I'm about to get really tired of hearing about it.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

2:05

[laughs]

B

Bob PattersonHost

2:06

Oh, yeah.

B

Bob PattersonHost

2:06

Well, maybe it'll be over by the time you get down there.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

2:09

Hopefully.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

2:10

Hopefully it'll be over by the time this podcast comes out in a couple months.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

2:15

Unlikely, but we can hope.

James ChoiPersonFilm producer
99%33 mentions
South KoreaCountryCountry in East Asia
97%23 mentions
SeoulCityCapital of South Korea
94%14 mentions
Street photographyEntityVisual art genre
92%4 mentions
RicohCompanyElectronics company
90%4 mentions
ChicagoCityCity in Illinois
88%8 mentions
ArgentinaCountryCountry in South America
85%4 mentions
KoreanLanguageSpoken language
83%7 mentions
HollywoodAdministrative AreaNeighborhood in Los Angeles, California
81%5 mentions
Indie filmEntity
78%1 mention
DePaul UniversityCollege or UniversityPrivate university in Chicago, Illinois
76%6 mentions
Richard PryorPersonAmerican comedian and actor
74%1 mention
InstagramSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
72%4 mentions
BusanCityCity in South Korea
69%2 mentions
FloridaAdministrative AreaUS state
67%2 mentions
SirâtMovie2025 film
63%4 mentions
Yasujirō OzuPersonJapanese filmmaker
63%4 mentions
Sundance Film FestivalTourist AttractionFilm festival
63%3 mentions
OrthohantavirusEntity
58%1 mention
JapanCountryCountry in East Asia
55%2 mentions
TikTokSoftware ApplicationWebsite
55%2 mentions
MinimalismEntityArt movement
51%1 mention
Ricoh GR digital camerasProduct ModelDigital camera
49%1 mention
MarkiplierPersonAmerican YouTuber and filmmaker
47%1 mention
BoliviaCountryCountry in South America
44%3 mentions
AsiaContinentContinent
42%3 mentions
EnglishEntitySpoken language
40%2 mentions
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
38%1 mention
South by SouthwestTourist AttractionFilm festival
35%1 mention
AfricaContinentContinent
32%1 mention
African AmericansEntityEthnic group
32%1 mention
VietnamCountryCountry in Asia
28%1 mention
BeijingCityCapital of China
25%1 mention
ChinaCountryCountry in East Asia
25%1 mention
Law School Admission TestEntityAdmissions test
22%1 mention
Taylor SwiftPersonAmerican singer-songwriter
19%2 mentions
AustinCityCity in Texas
17%2 mentions
Los AngelesCityCity in California
14%1 mention
TexasAdministrative AreaUS state
14%1 mention
Abbas KiarostamiPersonIranian film director and screenwriter
6%1 mention
Apichatpong WeerasethakulPersonThai filmmaker and film producer
6%1 mention
EuropeContinentContinent
6%1 mention
IranCountryCountry in the Middle East
6%1 mention
ThailandCountryCountry in Asia
6%1 mention

ImmigrationCulture > Cultural Heritage
Film FestivalsEntertainment
Independent FilmArts > Film
Photography
FilmArts
Student ExperienceEducation > Higher Education > University Life
FilmmakingArts > Film > Independent Film
University LifeEducation > Higher Education
Film DistributionEntertainment > Film Festivals
Cultural IdentityEducation > Higher Education > University Life > Student Experience
Cultural HeritageCulture
Street PhotographyPhotography
Education
Entertainment
Culture
Arts
Visual StorytellingArts > Film > Independent Film > Filmmaking
Personal ExperienceCulture > Cultural Heritage > Immigration
Family ConnectionsCulture > Cultural Heritage > Immigration > Personal Experience
Visual ArtPhotography > Street Photography
Artistic ExpressionPhotography > Street Photography > Visual Art
Cultural RepresentationPhotography > Street Photography > Visual Art > Artistic Expression
Independent FilmmakingEntertainment > Film Festivals > Film Distribution
Audience EngagementEntertainment > Film Festivals > Film Distribution > Independent Filmmaking
Higher EducationEducation

Host Catch-up & Travel Talk1:22 – 3:44

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:22

I have not talked to Ashley in a while.

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:26

I've been traveling, she's been traveling.

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:27

So h- what's going on, Ashley? What's happening down there in Florida?

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:32

Uh, not too much.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:33

Doing good.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:34

Uh, getting ready for a trip to Argentina that is long overdue.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:37

So yeah, just busy, busy.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:41

[laughs]

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:41

Yeah.

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:42

Yeah, fun down there.

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:44

Don't, don't get the hantavirus while you're at it.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:48

Mm.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:48

Yes.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:49

My husband has long, uh, warned me about this virus-

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:52

Really?

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:52

... uh, since I've known him, actually, because it's always been a thing kind of where he's from.

B

Bob PattersonHost

1:56

Oh, I didn't know that.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:57

Um, yeah.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

1:59

So now it's, uh, if, if I was tired of hearing about it before, I'm about to get really tired of hearing about it.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

2:05

[laughs]

B

Bob PattersonHost

2:06

Oh, yeah.

B

Bob PattersonHost

2:06

Well, maybe it'll be over by the time you get down there.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

2:09

Hopefully.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

2:10

Hopefully it'll be over by the time this podcast comes out in a couple months.

A

Ashley RiffoHost

2:15

Unlikely, but we can hope.

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