The Camera Cafe Show

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 s...

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 t...

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 pheno...

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 c...

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 environment...

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, th...

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, l...

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 pe...

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 photog...

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 femal...

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 fu...

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 Pre...

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 regi...

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", whe...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

What happens when you bring together not one, but the two Winners of the Amateur Photographer of the Year magazine 2024 awards!? You get a conversation filled with laughs, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it really feels like to have your work recognized in one of the most competitive photography contests out there! In this episode we chat with Lynn Fraser, the overall APOY 2024 w...

From Orangutans in the rainforests of Sumatra to Badgers on the streets of England — Ian Wood has seen it all through his lens. In this episode, we sit down with Conservation and Nature photographer Ian Wood, winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPOTY) People’s Choice Award, to talk about how his journey began in the jungles of Indonesia, his conservation work with the Orangutan Founda...

Legendary National Geographic photographer Bob Krist is back for Part 2! — and if you thought the first half was good, this one goes even deeper. We talk about what it was really like to live life constantly on the road for magazines — the adventure, the exhaustion, and the family sacrifices that rarely make it into the photos. Bob also opens up about finding his creative footing again after perso...

What does Authentic Travel Photography mean in the age of Instagram and filters? For Bob Krist, it was nearly 40 years of globetrotting with National Geographic and National Geographic Traveler — capturing authentic moments on film in more than 150 countries. In Part 1 of our conversation, Bob takes us back to the Golden days of Travel Photography: assignments that dropped him into big cities and...

We’re back with the second part of our conversation with award-winning Indigenous photojournalist Pat Kane — Algonquin Anishinaabe, a proud member of the Timiskaming First Nation and a tireless visual storyteller based in Yellowknife, Canada’s Northwest Territories, focusing on preserving cultures, communities, and our connection to place. In this second half, we dive into Pat’s National Geographi...

Today’s guest is a photographer whose work isn’t just beautiful — it’s vital, especially in a world where conservation isn’t just about nature, but also about us — our cultures, communities, and connection to place. Pat Kane is an Indigenous Algonquin Anishinaabe photojournalist based in Yellowknife, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, and a proud member of the Timiskaming First Nation. His powerfu...

Pete Scott didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a photographer — he never even went to art school. But over the last decade, he’s quietly built a stunning wildlife and landscape portfolio, capturing everything from owls to kingfishers to badgers to foxes to coastal starry night shots or even swallows in flight. In our talk, Pete shares how it all started — how a misty morning with a fox changed his...