Episode 3: A conversation with Louis Bockner, a photojournalist from a small rural community

In this episode, I got to speak with an old friend of mine, Louis Bockner. He is a simple, grounded and thoughtful human who practices his values in real time. His love of photography has taken him to many countries, where he has opportunities to help local stories meet a wider audience or where he teaches locals how to tell their own stories, through powerful photography as a form of storytelling. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Louie Bockner and Argenta's essence 05:02 - The role of physical and mental effort in rural living 12:05 - Louie’s journey into photography and storytelling 20:48 - Inspiration to photograph: connection and storytelling 24:41 - Teaching photography as a way to empower local voices 26:04 - Documenting the 2024 Argenta wildfire and its stories 36:30 - Reflections on mortality and the value of time with loved ones 42:29 - Navigating global atrocities through community focus 50:39 - Inspirations from mentors, community figures, and family 54:49 - Living intentionally and the value of local, connected living 62:38 - The land and homesteading in Argenta’s forest landscape 64:03 - The comfort and rarity of staying rooted in one place Learn more about Louis' work: https://www.louisbockner.com To support this podcast, consider becoming a PATREON contributor by going to www.patreon.com/poembooth You can find me at www.zaynabmohammed.com & www.instagram.com/poemsbyzaynab