🎙️ Welcome to Episode #66 of The Urbanaut Podcast!

Presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com, this episode features the brilliant Adam Friedberg, a New York-based photographer known for his deeply observational work capturing urban spaces, architectural elements, and the changing cityscape.

About Our Guest: Adam Friedberg

Adam Friedberg’s photography explores the intersection of architecture, space, and absence, often focusing on overlooked environments like empty lots, single-story buildings, and hidden urban details. His career spans from assisting top commercial photographers in the 90s to becoming a highly regarded artist with a distinct voice in architectural and documentary photography. Friedberg’s work balances technical precision with a meditative approach to image-making, inviting viewers to reconsider their surroundings.

Tune in to this episode to:

- Discover how a Tibetan monk's advice set Adam on his creative journey.
- Hear the wild story of how he crashed a fashion photography studio and landed his first job.
- Explore the philosophy behind his work—why he focuses on "a thing or not a thing".
- Learn about his major projects, including Empty Lots, Single Story, and Urban Jungle.
- Gain insights into photography as a trade vs. art form, the evolution of New York, and the tension between commercial and personal work.

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Coming Up…

1:01 - Introduction & Guest Background

2:59 - Academia, Philosophy, and the CIA Connection

6:30 - The Tibetan Monk’s Advice That Changed Everything

7:20 - Accidental Entry into Photography

9:27 - Learning Photography Through Immersion

12:22 - The Reality of Assisting in High-End Fashion Photography

16:00 - The Grueling Pace of Commercial Photography in the 90s

29:03 - The Shift from Fashion to Personal Work

32:06 - Finding a New Direction in Architectural Photography

49:14 - The Concept of “A Thing or Not a Thing” in Photography

51:19 - Major Photography Projects & The Evolution of His Work

57:14 - The Influence of Books and Prints on Photography

1:11:52 - The Role of Imperfection & Photography as a Trade vs. Art Form

1:15:02 - The Challenge of Documenting a Changing City

1:19:24 - Why He Refuses to Crop His Photos

1:41:13 - Final Thoughts & The Nature of Seeing

Don't forget to:

- Subscribe to our channel for more conversations with artists and photographers.
- Like & Share this episode if you enjoy deep-dive discussions on photography and creative practice.
- Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

EPISODE LINKS:

Adam Friedberg’s Work: www.adamfriedberg.com | Instagram: @adam_friedberg

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Hashtags:

#AdamFriedberg #TheUrbanautPodcast #Photography #UrbanPhotography #Architecture #NewYork #ArtisticExploration #Urbanautica #PhotographyPodcast #VisualNarrative #Cityscapes