Beyond the Frame

Beyond the Frame is a free photography newsletter covering the work, the thinking behind it, and the stories that rarely make it into the final edit.

Each edition draws on more than two decades of editorial and documentary photography – assignments for newspapers, magazines, and NGOs across South and South-East Asia, the Himalayas, and beyond. The writing moves between behind-the-scenes accounts of specific shoots, close readings of other photographers’ work, reflections on craft, and whatever else seems worth the attention of someone who takes photography seriously.

The newsletter is written for photographers at every level, for picture editors and commissioners, and for anyone interested in what documentary photography actually involves – not just the images, but the decisions, the access, the failures, and the moments that don’t get published.

I'm Gavin Gough, an editorial and documentary photographer based between Switzerland and Thailand. I founded the Bangkok Photo School and have led photo workshops across eight countries in Asia. Beyond the Frame exists because photography deserves more considered attention than social media allows.

What readers say

“Entertaining and educational – the gold standard in photography Substack.”
– Monica Lord

“It blends useful technical information from a pro photographer with a humanitarian’s compassion for the people and their stories on the other end of the lens.”
– Norman Sanders

“Always insightful, inspirational, and informative.”
– Daniel Torres

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All editions are free to read. Paid subscriptions exist for readers who wish to support the work directly. Click Subscribe to see options and benefits.