The Camera Cafe Show

Former Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Chris Johns returns in part two of this conversation — taking us behind the scenes of how some of the world’s most powerful stories are shaped. If you haven’t listened to part one of my conversation with Chris yet, I’d really recommend going back and starting there first. It gives you the full picture of how this story unfolds.

We pick up right where we left off, diving into stories fro...

Former Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Chris Johns joins the show to share how storytelling, photography, and life experience come together to shape how millions of people see the world.

In this first part of our conversation, Chris takes us back to where it all began — from growing up on a small farm in Oregon to discovering photography almost by accident, and how those early experiences set the foundation for a lifetime in...

Sometimes, a story doesn’t just stay a story — sometimes, something actually changes.

Wildlife photographer Ian Wood returns to our Show with powerful updates following our first conversation. After winning the People’s Choice Award at Wildlife Photographer of the Year with his now well-known badger image, Ian has continued to push the story forward — recently winning the documentary category at the British Wildlife Photography Awa...

Not all wildlife photos are majestic — some are delightfully ridiculous! 

Wildlife photographer and Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards co-founder Paul Joynson-Hicks takes us into the story behind one of the most unique photography competitions in the world — one that celebrates the funny, unexpected, and very human side of animals in the wild. From its beginnings in 2015 to becoming a global phenomenon with thousands of entries eac...

What happens to a community long after a nuclear test is over?

Documentary photographer and National Geographic Explorer Chinky Shukla takes us into the villages of India where the story didn’t end when the nuclear bombs were detonated. Through her long-term projects in Jadugoda and Pokhran, she documents the lives of people living close to uranium mines and nuclear test sites — places where the consequences of history continue to ...

Slow down. The story is already there.

Photographer, writer, and National Geographic Explorer Arati Kumar-Rao joins us for a conversation about listening, slow storytelling, and documenting a world in transition. Named one of the BBC’s 100 Most Influential and Inspiring Women in 2023, her work has been published internationally, exploring the fragile relationship between people and the environments they inhabit.

We discuss her long...

Some photos take a lifetime to get. Others almost melt your shoes!

In Part 2 of this conversation with former National Geographic staff photographer Robert “Bob” Madden, we dive straight into the stories behind the photographs.

From documenting an erupting volcano in Hawaii to capturing what may be one of the last images of the Kauai ʻōʻō bird, and photographing in the Amazon with the Yanomami, this episode spans decades of travel ...

Some assignments take you around the world on small roads. Others land you on a highway with your plane.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, former National Geographic Staff photographer Robert “Bob” Madden takes us back to his beginnings, the golden era of the magazine and into the stories behind two remarkable images — including his famous Guatemala earthquake bush-plane crash photograph, later selected as one of National Ge...

What does it mean to Hold Love through a Camera? In this moving episode, documentary photographer Nancy Borowick shares the story behind The Family Imprint and how photography helped her stay close during loss.

We talk about photography as presence, as armor, and as a way to stay close during life’s most fragile moments. Nancy reflects on trust, ethics, grief, and how storytelling can transform personal loss into something that res...

Wondering if your pictures are trying to tell you a secret? You’re in the right place! In the conclusion of our special two-part series, we follow Sarah Leen into her "new chapter." After making history at National Geographic, Sarah returned to her first love: the direct, creative process of working with photographers.

We explore the fascinating world of photo book editing and how she helps photographers decode the "hieroglyphics" ...

From Sneaky Rebel to National Geographic Trailblazer! This is the start of a special two-part series with the amazing Sarah Leen, a woman whose name is synonymous with the iconic yellow border of National Geographic.

In this first part, we trace Sarah’s historic journey: from being a "rebellious" student to becoming the first female College Photographer of the Year and, eventually, the first female Director of Photography in the ma...

This is Part 2 of our special series with Pete Souza, the former Official White House Photographer for Presidents Reagan and Obama. In case you missed it, listen to Part 1 first! 

In this second part, we talk about the personal and physical side of the job, how Pete spend those eight years living alongside his blackberry 24/7 and being a fly on the wall in the White house. We talk about amazing fun, but brutal at times travel sched...

We begin a special two-part series with Pete Souza, the former Official White House Photographer who holds one of the most unique resumes in history. In Part 1, we trace his journey right back to the beginning, starting with his early days working for Kansas newspapers, how he broke into photojournalism, and the unexpected opportunity that led to his first stint in the White House, documenting President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.

...

Behind the Curtains of World Press Photo and its 70 Anniversary!

This week we go behind the scenes with Joumana El Zein Khoury, Executive Director of the World Press Photo Foundation, to discuss the past, present, and future of photojournalism and the foundation. This year marks WPP's monumental 70th Anniversary, and Joumana reveals the major changes she implemented with her team, including a regional judging model that now sees 80...

Multiple award winner Lee-Ann Olwage from South Africa joins us today to discuss her incredible journey from film set decorator to winning in the Sony World Photography Awards and World Press Photo. Her powerful approach is rooted in collaborative storytelling, giving marginalized voices agency and celebrating their identity on the African continent.

We dive into her project "#BlackDragMagic", where she collaborated with amazing dr...

What is the secret to 15 years of trust and slow, ethical work inside the Hutterite communities?

Canadian photographer Tim Smith shows us exactly how he built the deep, long-term relationships that define his career. Tim spent years immersed in these communal, traditional societies across the Canadian Prairies, perfecting a slow-work philosophy that allows him to portray their lives with the depth and nuance they deserve. His imag...

What's harder to photograph: adrenaline-fueled Kid Jockeys in Indonesia, or the silent, restricted streets of North Korea? Today, we sit down with Belgian documentary photographer Alain Schroeder, traveling around the globe, looking for the next thing that piques his interest. He is honored for his amazing work with a long list of awards, including multiple World Press Photo awards, Picture of The Year, Travel Photographer of the Y...

Can a single photographer help feed 9 billion people? In the second and final part of our chat with National Geographic legend Jim Richardson, we follow his lens into the biggest stories of his career.

We talk about the massive challenge of food and farming, the urgent crisis of water scarcity, and why he keeps finding community and wildness on the remote islands of Scotland. 

Jim shares his best, no-nonsense advice on how a photog...

When a young farm kid from Kansas picks up a pawn-shop camera, you don’t immediately picture him becoming one of National Geographic’s most respected photographers. But that’s exactly what happened to Jim Richardson, whose career has now spanned more than 35 years, over 50 National Geographic and Traveler magazine stories, on countless journeys across the globe.

In this first part of our two-part conversation, Jim takes us back to...