The Collapse of the American Dream - Photography as Witness: Bryan Schutmaat, E104

Bryan Schutmaat is a photographer, publisher, and quiet poet of the American West. Known for books such as Grays the Mountain Sends, Good Goddamn, and Sons of the Living, Bryan’s work explores the uneasy tension between land and people, myth and memory, endurance and hope. He is also co-founder of Trespasser Books, a small but powerful imprint shaping the future of modern photobooks.
In This Conversation We Explore
Why photography feels so lonely and how community changes everything
Building meaningful creative connections in a solitary craft
The making of Sons of the Living and the stories behind the images
Navigating narrative, ambiguity, and emotional truth in photography
Why photobooks still matter and how sequencing shapes meaning
The philosophy behind Trespasser and independent publishing
Curiosity, discipline, and the struggle to stay creatively alive
The American dream, the American West, and the reality between them
How to make work that does something rather than pretending it does
The inner journey of becoming an artist with a distinct point of view
Follow Bryan and his incredible work:
Website: www.bryanschutmaat.co
Instagram: @bryanschutmaat
This episode is sponsored by Strata Editions - use discount code 'MOOD' for 10% discount on their store - visit strata-editions.com to shop and see their collections.
_______________________________________
Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation!
Support the show
_________________________________
Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can listen and watch full extended and ad-free episodes in my community - The MOOD Insiders - where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as meet with the community on book club weekly events, special guest features, bonus content, open forum access, free resources and so much more.
Join The Community - extended episodes & bonus features
https://www.mattjacob.co/insiders
The App That Transformed My Art & Mind
https://wakingup.sjv.io/c/7738181/3958771/54965
Website:
https://themoodpodcast.com
Socials:
IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay