Richard Sharum On 600 Deaths And His New Book 'American Homicide', E132

The MOOD Podcast hosts Richard Sharum, an acclaimed documentary photographer, to discuss his career and forthcoming book 'American Homicide.' Sharum has documented 600 deaths across multiple projects including 'Campesino Cuba,' 'Spina Americana,' and his new work on homicide squads and prisons. The conversation spans his personal journey from a mixed-race, low-income Texas childhood through a formative incident at age 16 when police framed him, to major projects like his cancer ward photography that raised over $1 million. Key themes include photography as an act of empathy, the distinction between 'team mirror' (self-reflection) versus 'team window' (looking outward), and the personal cost of documentary work. Sharum discusses specific creative decisions: why his proudest photos often hide the photographer, his rejection of objectivity in favor of jazz-like intuition, and his controversial choice to include childhood photos of both victims and murderers in the same book. The episode covers his relationship with the photo industry, his criticism that it has abandoned the general public, and practical insights into how documentary photographers actually earn money. Other topics include his experience with a Magnum editor rejecting 45 of 50 Cuba photographs, a period of depression that halted his shooting, his refusal to attend Paris Photo, and his philosophy that 'the image is the receipt, not the experience.' The discussion also touches on Hurricane Katrina documentation, cancer as a social equalizer, and his upcoming 'American Avenue' project (2028). Sharum is positioned as direct and uncompromising about the sacrifices required for meaningful documentary work, offering advice to students considering the field.

Verdict: A substantive conversation with a serious documentary photographer offering genuine insight into the craft and personal cost of the work, likely to engage photography enthusiasts and those interested in ethical representation.

Arts rubric

• Insight into the work 4/5 20%

  Sharum discusses specific creative philosophy (mirror vs. window, photography as jazz, image as receipt) and reveals concrete decisions about his work, though the show notes don't detail how deeply these are explored in conversation.

• Expertise and access 5/5 20%

  Richard Sharum is a published documentary photographer with multiple books, Magnum connections, and 600 deaths documented—direct access to a practitioner with genuine authority in the field.

• Sparks curiosity 4/5 15%

  The premise of embedding with homicide squads, the ethical complexity of the book's structure, and Sharum's uncompromising philosophy create strong intrigue about both the work and the artist.

• Substance 3/5 15%

  Show notes list many topics and anecdotes (cancer ward, Katrina, Magnum rejection, depression) suggesting substantive discussion, but without hearing the episode it's unclear how deeply each is explored or if padding exists.

• Delivers on its title 4/5 15%

  Title promises discussion of 'American Homicide' and what 600 deaths cost; show notes confirm both the book and personal/professional costs are covered, though the balance between them is unclear.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  At 1h 51m covering a career arc, multiple projects, and philosophy, the pacing seems reasonable but the length suggests potential for both depth and padding that cannot be assessed from notes alone.

How we score Arts

Worth it if you care about documentary photography, ethics in representation, or want to understand the real sacrifices behind impactful visual storytelling.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.