The Camera Cafe Show

Sarah Leen: Decoding the Secret Language of Images (Part 1)

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 magazine's 125-year history. 
We dive into the reality of the freelance life, shooting 16 stories across the globe from Siberia to Mali, and the "tough lessons" learned on her first assignments. Sarah shares her philosophy on being a "problem solver" rather than a "problem maker," her love for the physical page, and why she eventually decided to step down from the top office to return to the creative "jigsaw puzzle" of editing. 
Coming next week: Stay tuned for Part 2, where we follow Sarah into her life after the magazine, focusing on the art of photo books editing, her mission with being a mentor at amazing workshops and some good laughs of course too!
*****📸 See more of Sarah's work:https://www.sarahleen.com/*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

Pete Souza: The White House Quiet Observer (Part 2)

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 schedules, flights on board of Air Force One playing cards with President Obama, stories behind some of his most iconic photographs, and the profound moments for a photographers eye that reveal the President's true character. Stick around until the end as we follow Pete as he leaves the White House bubble, becoming a best-selling author and public voice using his images on social media now to compare two very different administrations.
Grab that coffee, settle in, and let's go behind the scenes of history one last time!*****📸 See more of Pete Souza:https://www.petesouza.com/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

Pete Souza: The White House Quiet Observer (Part 1)

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.
Pete shares great stories from the Reagan years (yes, even about Michael Jackson) and we follow his career up to the assignment that put him in the path of a young, then still unknown Senator named Barack Obama.
Next week in Part 2, we dive into the emotional reality of documenting the world's most powerful man every day, we get some full stories behind iconic pictures, and follow Pete as he transitions from White House observer to a best-selling author and outspoken advocate.*****📸 See more of Pete Souza:https://www.petesouza.com/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

Joumana El Zein Khoury: World Press Photo 70th Anniversary

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% of winners being local photographers.
We pull back the curtain on how WPP actually works: how to apply and get your image seen, how the judging rounds are done, how the Joop Swart Masterclass was revamped to give mentees a sustainable survival toolkit, the immense challenge of maintaining trust in an age of generative AI and the major celebrations for the 70th Anniversary.
This is an inspiring, and fun at times of course, talk about the immense responsibility of curating the world’s most powerful visual stories.
Grab that coffee, settle in, and let's go behind the scenes of the World Press Photo Foundation with the wonderful Joumana El Zein Khoury.*****📸 See more of World Press Photo:https://www.worldpressphoto.org/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

Lee-Ann Olwage: An Ode to Celebration and African Identity

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 drag artists to champion the queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans community and confront the daily threat of violence in South African townships. We also discuss her uplifting series, "The Right to Play," which visualizes the dreams of young girls in Kenya avoiding FGM and child marriage by proudly setting their sights on becoming lawyers and pilots, and her newest documentation of the "State Ballet of Georgia". 
Don't miss this profound conversation on ethics, purpose, and the language of the image—and stick around to hear the wonderful moment her assistant got a marriage proposal while surrounded by amazing drag queens! Enjoy it.*****📸 See more of Lee-Ann’s work:https://www.leeannolwage.com/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

Tim Smith: Hutterites — Framing Beautiful Communal Life

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 images have appeared in major magazines, including National Geographic, and his work has been exhibited in many countries to date.
In this warm and honest talk, we dive into the challenges of that commitment. Tim opens up about why he now questions the pressure of the "all-in" photojournalism lifestyle and the essential need to prioritize family life. Hear about his wonderful crazy new project “Chaff”, the secret joy of eating supper in a combine during harvest, listen to some wonderful stories about the amazing Hutterite communities, where we talk about emotional moments or have a good laugh too of course.
Hit play for a masterclass in wonderful patient and empathetic documentary work. Enjoy it!*****📸 See more of Tim’s work:https://www.timsmithphotography.ca/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

Alain Schroeder: How To Find Great Stories?

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 Year, Visa pour l’image, Siena or Nikon Press Photo Awards, to name just a few, with of course countless major exhibitions around the world.
Alain walks us through his incredible career shift—from covering 500 magazine sports covers, starting his own photo agency to dedicating his life to deep personal stories. We dive into the chaos of the Kid Jockeys in Sumbawa, the unique challenges of shooting Kim City in North Korea, and the resilient Grandma Divers (Haenyeo) of South Korea. 
Tune in for a powerful, fun conversation with great advice on what separates an award-winning picture from an ordinary one, how to get your work seen these days, and how to stay creatively fresh after decades in the business. Enjoy it!
*****📸 See more of Alain’s work:https://alainschroeder.myportfolio.com/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com
 

Jim Richardson: Small-town Roots to Global Adventures (Part 2)

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 photographer can still pursue a long-form, meaningful story today, proving that a great photo is always worth the time it takes to capture it. 
Tune in for another fun and inspiring masterclass in purpose-driven photography. Enjoy it!*****📸 See more of Jim’s work:https://www.jimrichardsonphotography.com/
*****🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration:https://www.thecameracafeshow.com