Jeff Curto's Camera Position

Camera Position 213 : What’s your hashtag?

Sat, 15 May 2021 19:55:58 +0000

How do you consider yourself as a photographer in terms of the work you do? Is it important to tell your viewers how you define your work as being a particular kind or made with a particular camera, or does the work you make define you instead? If I make more images, like the one … Continue reading →

Camera Position 212 : Sources & Resources

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 21:55:05 +0000

This episode covers some practical details. I go over the places where you can listen to Camera Position and list a number of online resources for you to explore photography that go beyond the “usual suspects” of Instagram – Flickr – Facebook. – Sources – Where to Listen to Camera Position Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts … Continue reading →

Camera Position 211 : What not to do

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 21:42:49 +0000

"Whatever you do with your photography - don't ever do... "that" Our desire to learn quickly, be noticed in social media and not make any mistakes has led to some photography pundits saying things like the above with increasing frequency

Camera Postion 210 : The Calming Camera

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 21:58:44 +0000

I can’t think of a time in my life that has been more disconcerting than this last year. The pandemic and the disruption to our daily routine. We don’t work the same, we don’t socialize in the same way, we don’t go out or see friends or family. We are certainly in strange and uncertain … Continue reading →

Camera Position 209 : Your Own BackYard

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 19:43:53 +0000

During this pandemic time, we have been forced to trade in the allure of travel for the allure of the backyard. As I return to the podcast after a long absence, I explore the idea that you don’t need to go somewhere special to make special photographs. Instead, you need to go deeper wherever you … Continue reading →

Camera position 208 : Bringing Ourselves to the Photograph

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 18:09:54 +0000

By slowing down as we look at photographs – ours or someone else’s – we can more easily bring ourselves to the photograph, and by doing that, learn more about the medium and ourselves. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: My Instagram Feed – Follow me and I’ll follow back Sign up for the Workshops … Continue reading →

Camera Position 207 : On Warming Up

Tue, 09 Oct 2018 13:30:25 +0000

Musicians warm up before they make music, but what about visual artists? Do photographers need to warm up before they create photographs? I think yes, and with the help of a podcast listener, we posit some ideas for getting warmed up visually. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: University of Georgia’s Cortona Studies Abroad … Continue reading →

Camera Position 206 : The Artful Life

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:00:16 +0000

Some thoughts on living an artful life, led off by poet Mary Oliver’s “Instructions on Living a Life” Pay attention Be Astonished Tell about it. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Mary Oliver– The American poet at the Poetry Foundation Twyla Tharp – a brief video of some of Tharp’s choreography Samuel Beckett – … Continue reading →

Camera Position 205 : Your Life Is Your Art

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 13:00:40 +0000

Rather than trying to make art your life, work instead on trying to make every day of your life into art. “You just have to live and life will give you pictures.” -Henri Cartier Bresson Play Podcast:

Camera Position 204 : Always A Reward

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 13:00:24 +0000

The act of making photographs connects me to the world, to my medium and to myself. When I make photographs, there is always a reward. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Places you can find and listen to Camera Position: iTunes Podcasts Player FM Stitcher iHeart Radio Short Orange

Camera Position 203 : Your Eyes and The Lens

Mon, 21 May 2018 13:00:11 +0000

Many people think of a wide lens as a way to get farther away from a subject, but I think of a wide lens as a way for us to get closer… a wide lens is really a close-up lens, allowing us to create a dominant subject in the frame by emphasizing the difference in … Continue reading →

Camera Position 202 : Exploring The World And Ourselves

Tue, 01 May 2018 21:38:09 +0000

Podcast listener Tracy wrote: “Photography comes from the depths of who we are. It is not only an exploration of our world, it is also an exploration of ourselves.” This episode is a “part 2” of self-exploration and its relationship to our photography, utilizing a worksheet that you can download called “Passion and Mission” to … Continue reading →

Camera Position 201 : Digging Deeper

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 17:26:37 +0000

What is your story? What are you curious about? What do you care about? How can your photographs express those interests? Making stronger photographs often depends on digging deep to determine your passion and then translating those passions into images. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Morton Arboretum Photographic Society – Where I’ll be … Continue reading →

Camera Position 200 : Make Interesting Mistakes

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:30:13 +0000

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes and art is knowing which mistakes to keep. Instead of living in fear of “getting it wrong,” a better, more useful strategy is to keep moving – plowing through the things that don’t work and slowly refining the process to get to the things that resonate for you … Continue reading →

Camera Position 199 : Playing Like Yourself

Sat, 03 Mar 2018 14:30:51 +0000

“Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.” -Miles Davis One of the most consistent questions I get from students is this one: “how do I develop my own style?” Miles Davis helps with an answer. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Miles Davis Interview on YouTube … Continue reading →

Camera Position 198 : Losing and Finding Ourselves

Sun, 25 Feb 2018 01:51:16 +0000

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” – Thomas Merton How can we use the art we make with the camera to grow, learn and provide ourselves with a way of saying new things… to, as Merton says, “find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”? I’m asking … Continue reading →

Camera Position 197 : Let the Subject Take Precedence

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 12:00:21 +0000

When the subject takes precedence – when you point your camera at things that are the most interesting thing to you – you are on your way to developing a personal style – the sense that these subjects are the most important things and can only be pointed out in this way by you. “To … Continue reading →

Camera Position 196 : A Sense of Place

Thu, 11 May 2017 03:42:51 +0000

How do we go beyond a record of a place and begin to make photographs that convey a real sense of place? The objective is not just to show what your destination looks like, but rather to convey, in photographs, what it felt like to be there. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Exhibition: WANDERLUST: … Continue reading →

Camera Position 195 : The River of a Story

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 21:13:19 +0000

This episode is a little meditation on the importance of aligning ourselves with the messages around us, using Anne Lamott’s book Bird by Bird as inspiration. “The Gulf Stream will flow through a straw provided the straw is aligned to the Gulf Stream, and not at cross purposes with it.” -Anne Lamott Play Podcast: Links … Continue reading →

Camera Position 194 : Our Wish To Persist

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 14:30:38 +0000

“But the art in an artwork might not be located precisely where you thought it was. Perhaps it was just as much in the damage and decay as it was in the intact original. Perhaps it was in the gaps – in contemplating and rending those insults and injuries – that we find ourselves, by … Continue reading →

Camera Position 193 : Is It Art?

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 14:30:45 +0000

As photographers, we know that there is a fairly wide range of options available to us that change what was to what we show the world in our images. Every photograph is a composite of the choices we make as the person who eventually presents the image. Every photograph is an interpretation of the way … Continue reading →

Camera Position 192 : John Berger, Looking and Seeing

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 14:30:17 +0000

An early influence on my ways of thinking about photography on a deeper level was the great writer John Berger. A poet, novelist, artist screenwriter and more, Berger, born in 1926, and died just a few weeks ago, in January of 2017 at the age of 90. A read of Berger’s work gives great insight … Continue reading →

Camera Position 191 : Walt Whitman, Poetry and Photography

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 18:09:40 +0000

Walt Whitman’s poems in his opus Leaves of Grass mirror the actions of the photographer by beginning with facts and transforming those facts into ideas. I explore how both photography and Whitman’s poetry use simple language to convey complex ideas, giving any object or experience new importance by recording it on a previously blank page. Play Podcast: … Continue reading →

Camera Position 190 : Watching Photographers Photograph

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 21:53:46 +0000

“You can observe a lot just by watching.” – Yogi Berra I like to see photographers out in the world and watch them photograph. Observing how photographers photograph can be a great aid in helping us make better, more informed, more personal photographs. Play Podcast: There are still a few spaces left in 2 of … Continue reading →

Camera Position 189 : Cultivate The Itch, Not The Scratch

Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:30:22 +0000

What drives and motivates photographers to do the work they do? I think that our unifying motivation is curiosity – an unrelenting, never-ending curiosity – an “itch” to know more about something and to learn about that thing through photographing it. I was prompted to think about how we should cultivate the itch – our … Continue reading →

Camera Position 188 : You Are Worth The Time

Fri, 28 Oct 2016 12:05:04 +0000

Do you take time to be creative each day? The creative act is worth taking the time for. It’s worth making the time for. It’s what holds us up and keeps us going. Thousands upon thousands of creative people are forced to make the time to create. It’s worth it because of what we give … Continue reading →

Camera Position 187 : Always Make the Photograph

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:30:50 +0000

If you see a picture that you think you may have photographed before, take it. Both the subject and the photographer may have changed since the last time you photographed it. Regardless of the reason, you should always make the photograph. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: University of Georgia Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, … Continue reading →

Camera Position 186 : Objective and Subjective

Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:18:45 +0000

Among the many things that make photography such an interesting pursuit are its qualities of objectivity combined with subjectivity. In the end, photography is an objective medium with a subjective soul. Play Podcast: Sign up for the Workshops Mailing List – Planning is underway for the 2017 Italy Photography Workshops. Each one of these … Continue reading →

Camera Position 185 : God Is In The Details

Tue, 06 Sep 2016 13:30:55 +0000

In addition to the phrase “Less is More,” the great architect Mies Van der Rohe also had another saying that relates to making creative work, and that is “God Is In The Details,” suggesting that attention to each and every detail of your process, from conception to execution, is integral to making the best work … Continue reading →

Camera Position 184 : Look At The Path, Not The Mountain

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 13:30:52 +0000

Whether it’s a stack of dishes in the sink, moving forward with your photography or climbing up a steep mountain, looking at the path that you’re traveling is usually the easiest way to the top. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Sign up for the Workshops Mailing List – Planning is underway for the 2017 … Continue reading →

Camera Position 183 : Conscious Photography

Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:30:10 +0000

The difference between a conscious and an unconscious photographer is that the conscious photographer produces better work by thinking more and photographing less. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Sign up for the Workshops Mailing List – Planning is underway for the 2017 Italy Photography Workshops

Camera Position 182 : The Art of the ‘Zine

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 13:30:48 +0000

In a few past episodes, we’ve looked at alternate ways to get your work in front of an audience, and here’s another one: ‘Zines. This “low-fi” type of publication is a great (and cheap) way of getting your work into others’ hands. I use my former student Michael Jarecki’s ‘Zine “Just Make Pictures” as an … Continue reading →

Camera Position 181 : Less Is More

Tue, 12 Jul 2016 13:30:06 +0000

The great architect Mies van der Rohe is famous for the phrase “Less is More” to describe his approach to simplifying his designs. That philosophy can be applied to photography as well, as it is often better to make fewer, but more thoughtful, images. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: The Mies van der Rohe … Continue reading →

Camera Position 180 : Mining the Data Set

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 13:30:22 +0000

From aperture and focal length to shutter speeds and focus points, our modern photographic tools give us a wealth of information about our photographs. We can use that information to learn about the way we approach photography and what strategies lead to our greatest successes. JUNE 28 Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Julieanne Kost’s … Continue reading →

Camera Position 179 : Embracing the Almost

Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:30:11 +0000

All of us make photographs that, for some reason, don’t quite work, even though we had high hopes for them. If we embrace those photographs that almost worked, but didn’t, we can find some tools to help us improve and grow. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Camera Position on Facebook – Share your images Camera … Continue reading →

Camera Position 178 : Everyday Creativity

Tue, 31 May 2016 13:30:35 +0000

When you face something you think you can’t possibly do and then go ahead and do it anyway creativity is the tool you use. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Using Virtual Copies in Lightroom – a great way to experiment Camera Position on Facebook – Share your images Camera Position on Flickr – Share … Continue reading →

Camera Position 177 : It’s Not a Pursuit, It’s a Medium

Thu, 19 May 2016 13:30:30 +0000

A lot of people who are “into” photography seem to think of the “doing” of photography as the end unto itself. While the mechanical act of making photographs can be pleasurable, I think of photography as a medium for self-examination, not a pursuit unto itself. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Camera Position on Facebook … Continue reading →

Camera Position 176 : 10 Rules Rules for Getting Started

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 20:44:23 +0000

The American abstract expressionist painter Richard Diebenkorn (1922 –1993) is noted not only for his great work, but also for his thoughts about the creative process. Diebenkorn’s “Notes to myself on beginning a painting” is a list of 10 things to think about as we begin any creative work – we can think of them … Continue reading →

Camera Position 175 : From One, Many

Wed, 13 Apr 2016 20:47:17 +0000

There’s an old adage in photography: “inside every 8×10” print, there is a really excellent 5×7” image waiting to be found.” That old saw is the foundation for an exercise that I’ve used for myself and in my classes over the years; take an image that you’ve made and search for alternate cropping choices that … Continue reading →

Camera Position 174 : The Lone Tree & The Logo

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 13:30:04 +0000

A listener asked where the logo for Camera Position came from, which gave me an impetus to talk about that photograph and the concept of the Lone Tree image – a compulsory photograph for nearly every photographer. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Camera Position on Facebook – Share your images Camera Position on Flickr … Continue reading →

Camera Position 173 : Position The Camera – Position The Viewer

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 13:30:08 +0000

When we position the camera, we are ultimately positioning the viewer of our photographs. We explore this idea using a 1757 painting by the Venetian Painter Canaletto, who often used a camera obscura to create his paintings. Thanks to Dirk Rösler and the folks at the Large Format Photography Forum for setting these wheels in … Continue reading →

Camera Position 172 : Get Your Ideas Out The Door

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:30:50 +0000

Everyone has ideas, but many people keep those ideas hidden inside. The creative person finds a way to get those ideas out the door in a way that allows them to breathe. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Camera Position on Facebook – Share your images Camera Position on Flickr – Share your images Jeff’s … Continue reading →

Camera Position 171 : Tone, Value and Mr. Bennett’s Button

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 14:30:57 +0000

“Anyone can print black – just put a piece of photo paper under the enlarger, turn the enlarger light on and leave it on. But light values… ahhh… light values… they are the soul of the black and white photograph. Not everyone can print white and have it sing.” So said one of my great … Continue reading →

Camera Position 170 : Camera Position Turns 10

Tue, 02 Feb 2016 14:30:49 +0000

Camera Position is ten years old! The first episode of Camera Position was published February 5, 2006 and it’s been a wonderful decade of learning about photography, my listeners and myself. A huge thank you to all of you listeners out there! I really appreciate your support and your participation in the Camera Position community. … Continue reading →

Camera Position 169 : Black and White Revisited

Tue, 19 Jan 2016 14:30:48 +0000

“How do I get started in learning black and white photography?” That was the question I got by the boatload after the podcast about B&W photography, so this episode is dedicated to articulating some resources for that pursuit, starting with some advice from one of the greats, Ansel Adams. Play Podcast: Links for this episode: … Continue reading →

Camera Position 168 : Edges

Tue, 22 Dec 2015 14:30:48 +0000

Edges – The edge of the frame, the edge of the subject, the edge of the world, the edge of a moment. Regardless of how we interpret it, the assignment of “Edges” can be a good one to expand our understanding of photography. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Camera Position on Facebook – Share … Continue reading →

Camera Position 167 : Learn Photography With Black and White

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 14:30:26 +0000

Can photography be better learned in black and white? That’s the question that I look at in this episode, as we look at line, shape, tone and texture as we see our world in black and white. Play Podcast: Links for this Episode: Camera Position on Facebook – Share your images Camera Position on Flickr … Continue reading →

Camera Position 166 : Sharing Your Story

Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:30:03 +0000

Photography is about storytelling. Sharing your images and the story that they create is one of the ultimate goals for most photographers. Fortunately, our contemporary world has some amazing tools and interesting ideas that can help us tell our stories with words and pictures. Play Podcast: Links to some ideas discussed on the podcast: Listener … Continue reading →

Camera Position 165 : Forget The Gear

Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:30:44 +0000

Today’s world of photography is so very confusing. Photographers are confronted with a barrage of advice about how to make good photographs and what gear you must have to make them. Of course, that advice has some value, but I think best way to learn is to actually go and make photographs because, as a … Continue reading →

Camera Position 164 : The Frame Is A Discipline

Tue, 27 Oct 2015 13:30:27 +0000

The great photographer Ernst Haas said, “”The frame of the camera is the photographer’s discipline. It can contain as much as it withholds, cut into or hold together images that detract or contribute to a given theme.” In this episode, I explore the idea that the frame of the camera is a discipline. Play Podcast … Continue reading →

Camera Position 163 : Photographer’s Bookshelf – Diana and Nikon

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:30:51 +0000

Using a quote from Janet Malcolm’s collections of essays about photography as a springboard, I talk about the relative truth of photographs and look back to our discussion about peripheral vision. Play Podcast Camera Position on Facebook – Share your images Camera Position on Flickr – Share your images Janet Malcolm’s Diana & Nikon on … Continue reading →

Camera Position 162 : Driving Your Peripheral Vision

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 13:30:08 +0000

As a driver, you use your peripheral vision all the time. So, too, with photography as you need to learn how to pay attention to what’s at the edge of your visual field in order to really see the world. Play Podcast Camera Position on Facebook – Share your images Camera Position on Flickr – … Continue reading →

Camera Position 161 : What’s Your Hobby?

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 13:30:53 +0000

What’s your hobby? As a recently retired person, it’s the question I often get as people try to figure out what I “do” with the time I used to spend “working.” In this episode, we look at the interconnected aspects of the things we like to do. Play Podcast Camera Position on Facebook – Share … Continue reading →

Camera Position 160 : Accept the Inner Critic

Thu, 03 Sep 2015 14:04:16 +0000

With creative work, there is often a gap between our ambitions and our ability to create work that meets our expectations. Fortunately, our “inner critic” is there to help us close the gap between our goals and the photographs we make. Play Podcast Infographic on the 4 steps of Critique as a PDF Camera Position … Continue reading →

Camera Position 159 : A Sense of Humanity

Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:30:58 +0000

Human values — those emotions, beliefs, traditions, and knowledge that we understand and share as human beings are an integral part of how we come to express ourselves in photography. In fact, it may be the essence of why we want to express ourselves with photography. Play Podcast Camera Position on Facebook – Share your … Continue reading →

Camera Position 158 : The Courage To Create

Tue, 04 Aug 2015 13:30:52 +0000

Rollo May (1909 – 1994) was an American existential psychologist and author. Among his books was The Courage to Create. In it, May lays out some ideas about art and creativity that have important implications for the creative person; photographers included. Play Podcast Jeff’s Podcast Facebook Page – for discussion of podcast topics The Courage … Continue reading →

Camera Position 157 : The Elements and Principles of Art

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 13:30:07 +0000

One of the four steps of achieving true critique of a work of art is analysis and doing that analysis requires applying the elements and principles of art. In this episode, we look at what those elements and principles are so we can employ them in true critique of our photographs. Play Podcast Links for … Continue reading →

Camera Position 156 : Critical Thinking is Creative Thinking

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 13:30:40 +0000

In the last couple of episodes of Camera Position, I talked about feedback on your work and the type of feedback you typically get contrasted against the type of feedback you want, which is true, genuine critique of your work. In truth, critique of any sort is based entirely on critical thinking or the objective … Continue reading →

Camera Position 155 : Feedback Part 2 – Critique

Tue, 23 Jun 2015 13:30:49 +0000

Feedback on our work usually comes in one of two forms: Reaction and Direction. Both are simple to do but don’t give us what we really want to help move our work forward. This second podcast of two parts looks at a third and much more useful type of feedback: Critique. This form of feedback … Continue reading →

Camera Position 154 : Feedback Part 1 – Reaction and Direction

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:30:58 +0000

Feedback is something that photographers always want. Regardless of their level of interest or expertise, photographers always want to hear what other people think about their work. Most of the time, though, we often get feedback that doesn’t match what we are looking for. This first episode of a two-part set of podcasts looks at … Continue reading →

Camera Position 153 : Celebrate Your Vision

Tue, 26 May 2015 13:30:35 +0000

The practice of photography shapes the way we view the world. No matter what level of involvement you have with the medium, seeing the world as a photographer enhances your vision, your life and your sense of self. Celebrate that! Play Podcast

Camera Position 152 : The Shape of Content

Tue, 12 May 2015 13:30:34 +0000

The book The Shape of Content, by Ben Shahn, is a collection of essays based on a series of six lectures given by Shahn, an important 20th century painter, at Harvard University in the 1950s. Through the book, we get a great sense of Shahn’s notions about how art can and should be learned and, … Continue reading →

Camera Position 151 : The Way of Zen

Tue, 28 Apr 2015 13:30:51 +0000

In his book The Way of Zen, Alan Watts explains two different, mutually important, ways of using our minds and therefore our creativity, which helps to explain the potential of perception in photography: “For we have two types of vision—central and peripheral, not unlike the spotlight and the floodlight.” In this episode, I look at … Continue reading →

Camera Position 150 : You Are Not The Viewer

Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:30:06 +0000

You’re the photographer, not the viewer of the photographs you make. Between the making of the image and the time that the image is put out into the world for viewing, that distinction is often lost, though it’s an important one to consider for both photographers and viewers alike. Play The Podcast:

Camera Position 149 : The Roots of Ideas

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 13:30:53 +0000

Every new idea is just a restatement of old ideas, or sometimes it’s several old ideas combined into a new one. Collecting ideas as you go along is a great way of mining new ways of thinking of things. I use an Idea Bank to hold my ideas so I can use them at a … Continue reading →

Camera Position 148 : Snowshoes and Photography

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 14:30:55 +0000

My first experience using snowshoes to explore the winter landscape gave me some insight into the process of learning new things and slowing down the process of looking and photographing. Check out my free e-book The Lakeshore in Winter – Filled with images and video of Lake Superior in winter or see the video Fire … Continue reading →

Camera Position 147 : A Personal Style

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 14:30:17 +0000

Each year, I take small groups of students to Italy for an intense week of photography and learning. Some destinations vary, but a constant is the workshop In Search of the Personal: Photographing Southern Tuscany, where my goal is to help my students tap into their personal way of seeing the world. This past summer, … Continue reading →

Camera Position 146 : Escape Velocity

Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:30:44 +0000

Watching a group of students just getting started in photography reminded me about how we reach “escape velocity” in photography. Their positive experience was based on time, concentration, idea and craft. Student Images: Links for this Episode: University of Georgia’s Cortona Studies Abroad Program UGA Cortona Student Flickr Pages. Anna Caitlin Coral Iris Jenna Joanne … Continue reading →

Camera Position 145 : Leave Home, Part 2

Mon, 19 Jan 2015 14:30:27 +0000

Leaving home can not only allow you to view your personal environment with new eyes, but the new experiences you find when you’re away can also help you see the world in a different way. Here I use some examples of how something that was not inherently about being “away” prompted me to experiment with … Continue reading →

Camera Position 144 : Leave Home

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:30:32 +0000

As a kid, returning from my summer vacation showed me my home in a different way. Trees were bigger and the house smelled both familiar and new. Leaving home and coming back again can be a great way to invigorate the way you see. When we return home after being away, home is still the … Continue reading →

Camera Position 143 : Sport Cooking

Tue, 02 Sep 2014 13:30:12 +0000

Years ago, I had a friend who was a professional chef. Sometimes, on his days off, he would come to my house and practice what he called “sport cooking” and I ended up applying the concept to my photography. Play Podcast

Camera Position 142 : Dolce far Niente, or Put The Camera Down

Tue, 19 Aug 2014 13:27:50 +0000

Be in the moment. In this episode, I encourage you to put your camera down, disconnect yourself from your devices and other distractions and embrace the Italian concept Dolce Far Niente; the sweetness of doing nothing. Play Podcast

Camera Position 141 : The Medium Is Not The Message

Tue, 05 Aug 2014 13:30:37 +0000

“The medium is the message” is a phrase coined by Marshall McLuhan meaning that the form of a medium embeds itself in the message, creating a symbiotic relationship by which the medium influences how the message is perceived. Content is king. Emphasizing content over visual flash encourages the viewer to respond intellectually and the idea … Continue reading →

Camera Position 140 : Editing & Sequencing

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 13:30:19 +0000

Content, sequence and structure matter. This episode looks at editing down your photographs to a cogent and clear set that tells your story most effectively and strengthen the work. We also look at the element of sequencing your images as an important element of helping you to create structure in your work. Whether you are … Continue reading →

Camera Position 139 : The Story Spine

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 13:30:40 +0000

The Story Spine is a wonderful method of conceptualizing a story. Initially conceived by playwright Kenn Adams, it’s a great tool for anyone who wants to tell a story effectively. The Story Spine is a template, but a loose one, with some open-ended statements that you can fill in to help you start to conceptualize … Continue reading →

Camera Position 138 : Telling a Story with Pictures

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 13:30:25 +0000

Photography excels at storytelling. While a single image can tell a story, we can tell much more complex stories with sets or series of images. If we set out to create those images with a story idea in mind, it’s much easier to have our stories make sense. This episode presents the essential elements of … Continue reading →

Camera Position 137 : An Update

Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:30:33 +0000

While Camera Position has been quiet for a while, a whole lot has been going on in my life as a photographer, a teacher and a traveler. This episode is an update on the past, the present and the future for Camera Position and for me. Play Podcast: Interactive iBooks by Jeff: Basic Photography – … Continue reading →

Camera Position 136 : Persistence of Vision – Olivia Parker and 40 Years of Moving Forward

Sat, 14 Jun 2014 02:34:03 +0000

Photographer Olivia Parker has been an influential and prolific photographer for more than 40 years. We look at Parker’s work, her background, her persistence and the way our networks can help inspire us and help us move us forward in our work. Play Podcast: Olivia Parker’s website: www.oliviaparker.com Olivia Parker Books: Weighing the Planets Under … Continue reading →

Camera Position 135 : Off The Wall #3 – The Digital Story

Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:31:26 +0000

In this episode, we take a third look at how we can get our work “off the wall” by creating digital stories. Using iMovie, Final Cut Pro, ProShow Gold or similar software to combine image, motion and audio, we can get our photographs in front of viewer’s eyes. I discuss content, tools and process with … Continue reading →

Camera Position 134 : Off The Wall #2 – iBooks

Mon, 25 Nov 2013 14:00:11 +0000

This episode offers a second look at how we can get our work “off the wall” by creating ebooks using iBooks Author to get our photographs under viewer’s eyes. You can download the free book The Lakeshore in Winter from the iBookstore using the link below. The Lakeshore in Winter – my free iBook on … Continue reading →

Camera Position 133 : Off The Wall #1 – MagCloud

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 14:00:26 +0000

As photographers, we translate our ideas into objects. In this episode, we look at how we can get our work “off the wall” by using the print on demand service MagCloud to get our photographs under viewer’s eyes. MagCloud – I’ve linked to the “Create” section here where you can find out how to make … Continue reading →

Camera Position 132 : I am a Translator

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 14:00:27 +0000

Learning photography is like learning a language. As we assimilate photographic vocabulary, nuance and the like, we wind up being interpreters or translators of our ideas, interpreting those ideas into objects. I’ve realized that as I progress, my interest in photography as an artistic practice is in the learning of more visual languages and in … Continue reading →

Camera Position 131 : The Hammer and The Nail

Tue, 10 Sep 2013 14:32:31 +0000

“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” is a phrase attributed to psychologist Abraham Maslow, but I’ve always thought it had application to photography and its practice, too. In this episode, I discuss how the small Panasonic GX-1 has energized my photography and brought me to new ways of seeing.

Camera Position 130 : Babies, Pointing and Photography

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:30:23 +0000

Not long ago, I saw an article by Nicholas Day on Slate.com about babies and pointing. The article discussed how babies point at things to help them create meaning in their world and to share their experiences with someone else. It immediately made me think of what photographers do. We use our cameras to point; … Continue reading →

Camera Position 129 : Finding Meaning in Details

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:23:10 +0000

I’ve long loved the detail image; the photograph that shows just a snippet of the larger world. In this episode, I look at an image of mine that has that sense of detail and also look at the historical referent of images by Ansel Adams that brought me to that place. Think about the way … Continue reading →

Camera Position 128 : Carol Golemboski’s Psychometry App

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:12:09 +0000

Photographer Carol Golemboski has taken the idea of an electronic book – or any sort of electronic presentation of photography, farther than any I’ve yet seen. Her iPad app Psychometry combines images, text, video, interactive panoramas, extensive background on how the images were produced, a virtual darkroom experience and myriad other amazing details. It is … Continue reading →

Camera Position 127 : Monochrome Followup

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:30:56 +0000

I had lots and lots of great ideas from podcast listeners about Camera Position 125, “Thinking in Monochrome.” Several listeners suggested a digital tool that I’d not thought of before and that was to set the camera for B&W, but to also set “Raw + JPEG” as the file format. Other listeners talked about the … Continue reading →

Camera Position 126 : Arno Says “Stay On The Bus”

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:30:11 +0000

We all try to spend time with photographs by photographers whose work we admire. We spend time trying to figure out how to emulate their work, then produce work that is similar in style to what they do. But here is the rub; our problem is that once we get to a point where those … Continue reading →

Camera Position 125 : Thinking in Monochrome

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:00:55 +0000

I grew up making black and white photographs. It’s what I love the most about photography and the way I have long thought about the photographic image. But the digital revolution has spawned a dilemma; the digital camera sees in color, and I have to shift my mind to think in black and white. I’m … Continue reading →

Camera Position 124 : Light and Shadow

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:00:04 +0000

The word “photography” comes from a combination of two Greek words; “photos” (light) and “graphos” (writing or marking). So, “photography” means to “write with light” and light has a counterpart, shadow, something for light to play off of. I’m giving Camera Position listeners an “assignment” to work with these two fundamental building blocks of photography. … Continue reading →

Camera Position 123 : Print The Small Stuff

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:00:29 +0000

When’s the last time you printed a photograph of your best friend, your child or your parents? Now that the holiday season is concluded, we all likely have a lot of photographs of friends and family and places we visited. Make sure you spend some time printing those photographs of the things that matter to … Continue reading →

Camera Position 122 : Craft Is Not Content

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:00:36 +0000

Photographer Jerry Uelsmann once said something like, “while you can memorize the dictionary, it doesn’t mean you have anything to say afterwards.” The idea of course is that craft is not content. While the mechanics of photography can be a point of refuge for many image makers, photography’s power exists in an image’s message.Ansel Adams … Continue reading →

Camera Position 121 : The Raw and The (over)Cooked?

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:19:53 +0000

At what point do photographers manipulate their images? Does it happen when we choose a camera, lens and field of view or does it happen afterwards, in post-production? When it comes to manipulating your photographs, is there such a thing as “too much”? This episode of Camera Position looks at one photographer’s confession of “over … Continue reading →

Camera Position 120 : Visual Acoustics

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:30:34 +0000

As the greatest photographer of Modernist architecture, Julius Shulman’s images stand as icons of the architectural boom in mid-20th Century America. This podcast is a quick and enthusiastic review of a wonderful movie entitled Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman, which is available as a DVD or as streaming video at the locations linked … Continue reading →

Camera Position 119 : The Power of the Single Photograph

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:30:28 +0000

A photographic project is a wonderful thing, but a single image is powerful too in a wide variety of ways. Single photographs can be fulfilling all by themselves and they can also be harbingers of bodies of work yet to come. JM Colberg’s Conscientious Blog Post: The Single Photograph Jeff’s Italy Photography Workshops: Full for … Continue reading →

Camera Position 118 : (Back)Story Matters

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:03:25 +0000

How much do you know about the subjects you photograph? Granted, you may just be encountering them for the first time when you first make pictures, but for a body of work, knowing the “backstory” about a subject and what makes it significant can be an important part of investing yourself in the image.

Camera Position 117 : Photographer’s Bookshelf – “The Color Of Hay”

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:00:41 +0000

In their book The Color of Hay, photographer Kathleen Laraia McLaughlin and her author husband H. Woods McLaughlin take us to a little known part of the world and show it to us with extraordinary grace and care. Many of my photo book recommendations have been old classics, but this one is what you might … Continue reading →

Camera Position 116 : Turn It Upside-Down!

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:30:38 +0000

Turn it upside-down! Turning your photographs upside-down is a great way to help you evaluate the composition of your photographs by helping to remove the importance of the subject of the photograph and concentrate more on its structure.

Camera Position 115 : The Self-Assignment

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:00:40 +0000

Although I have been giving assignments to students for years and years, I sometimes forget that I can give myself an assignment, too. So, this summer, I gave myself the task of photographing a stretch of lakeshore 150 feet long and 10 feet in either direction from where the water meets the land. It was … Continue reading →

Camera Position 114 : Feed Your Eyes

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:17:05 +0000

Feeding yourself with as many photographs as you can possibly see is one of the great ways to stay fresh in photography. The more you see, the more full your visual history becomes and the more you can take with you to make your own new statements about the world. Links for this podcast: Greg … Continue reading →

Camera Position 113 : Tension and Resolution with Ludwig Van

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:55:45 +0000

What happens when you give your viewer some visual tension? What does that visual tension feel like when it gets resolved in the viewer’s mind? By having a quick listen to an edited version of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, we get a sense of what it means to create tension in your work. I worked with … Continue reading →

Camera Position 112 : Chance Favors the Prepared Mind

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:00:24 +0000

“Chance favors the prepared mind.” This great quotation by the important 19th century chemist Louis Pasteur is a springboard for some thoughts on preparedness for photography, both physically and intellectually. In the podcast, I mention the great Alinari Archives in Florence, Italy and its online resource of amazing images of one of my favorite places … Continue reading →

Camera Position 111 : A Real Time for Things

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:00:38 +0000

A pair of emails from podcast listeners provided the impetus for this episode and its brief discussion of “a real time for things.” Kristian wrote, “But when looking back at the time (especially after a by a PhD degree and two years of intensive R&D work) I realize the most important thing to learn, is … Continue reading →

Camera Position 110 : Mary Virginia Swanson – Part 5: Story & Narrative

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:00:06 +0000

In my fifth and final piece of conversation with Mary Virginia Swanson, we talk about the relative importance of story and narrative in photographic work. Mary Virginia Swanson’s website Publish Your Photography Book – a book about making books from M.V. Swanson and Darius Himes Todd Hido – Pier 24 in San Francisco – at … Continue reading →

Camera Position 109 : Mary Virginia Swanson – Part 4: Public Art, Galleries & Image Size

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:00:58 +0000

The 4th part of my conversation with Mary Virginia Swanson, where we discuss public art, galleries and work for the wall, image size and the life of images that aren’t meant for traditional display. Links to resources mentioned on this podcast: Mary Virginia Swanson’s website Martha Madigan Chuck Close – Magnolia Editions Tapestries Susan kae … Continue reading →

Camera Position 108 : Mary Virginia Swanson – Part 3: Craft, Publishing & Folios

Mon, 28 May 2012 13:30:08 +0000

I continue my conversation with Mary Virginia Swanson, covering the importance of photographic craft, the world of print-on-demand publishing and how folios of photographs fit into the mix. Galleries mentioned in the podcast: Clampart Yossi Milo Gallery Yancey Richardson Gallery Fraenkel Gallery The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (repository of the Hallmark Photographic Collection) Mary Virginia … Continue reading →

Camera Position 107 : Mary Virginia Swanson – Part 2: Books, Blogs & Salons

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:20 +0000

In part 2 of my conversation with Mary Virginia Swanson, we talk about the rise of the small group Salon, various online presences in the photo world and the importance of books. For some context for this part of the conversation, see Part 1 of this interview. See below for a large number of links … Continue reading →

Camera Position 106 : Mary Virginia Swanson – Part 1

Thu, 17 May 2012 16:21:35 +0000

I recently had the good fortune to interview my longtime friend Mary Virginia Swanson, one of the most important photography consultants working today. This episode is the first in a series of posts that will cover that interview. Mary Virginia Swanson’s website: www.mvswanson.com & her blog Paul Strand’s White Fence (mentioned in the podcast) … Continue reading →

Camera Position 105 : Stay Ready

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:22:18 +0000

“Always stay ready so you never have to get ready.” So said the great modern artist Constantin Brancusi, whose statement seems to be about both being ready with our equipment and materials and also about being ready emotionally for the creative act. Constantin Brancusi in the Guggenheim’s collection Ed McCullough, sculptor and my great teacher … Continue reading →

Camera Position 104 : Don’t Check the Checkboxes

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:00:21 +0000

Learning to do photography well isn’t about checking a series of checkboxes about “how to do” the medium. Instead, it’s more about figuring out what to do with those basic principles of photography and then go out and make photographs using those basic ideas. It’s the “why” not the “how.” There are still some spots … Continue reading →

Camera Position 103 : The Importance of Exploration

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:05:11 +0000

How important is exploration to the creative process? The great author John Steinbeck thought it was supremely important: “This I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.” Exploration of the world around us is an important part of photography. Steinbeck was talking about going … Continue reading →

Camera Position 102 : Creative Process in Stages

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:01:50 +0000

The creative process can be broken down into four distinct processes, most of which we can foster in ourselves. We look at preparation, incubation, illumination and implementation and see where our world of image making intersects with these stages. Intriguingly, the things that we think of as “creative” are really bookended by more pragmatic aspects … Continue reading →

Camera Position 101 : Creativity “Defined”

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:00:04 +0000

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” that’s what Socrates said. By looking at our past and both remembering and forgetting its lessons, we can begin to answer those questions about who we are, where we want our photography to take us and how we want to get there. Socrates Camera Position App Jeff’s Italy … Continue reading →

Camera Position 100 : Conferring Significance

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:29:21 +0000

When we make a picture of something, we elevate the importance of that subject merely by the act of paying attention to it with our camera. This basic idea is one my most closely held photographic beliefs. It doesn’t matter how insignificant the subject may appear to be; the camera’s lens and our point of … Continue reading →

Camera Position 99 : Harder Seeing

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:00:30 +0000

Photographer Robert Frank said, “It is always an instantaneous reaction to oneself that produces a photograph.” Reading that quote in a wonderful essay by noted photographer and art historian Gretchen Garner, I also noted her idea that photographers respond to the world with gestures that are different from those that painters use. As Garner puts … Continue reading →

Camera Position 98 : Passion & Direction

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:00:07 +0000

Passion for the medium is, in the end, the thing that keeps us going. This episode of Camera Position discusses passion and its strange bedfellow, direction. Thanks to photographer and friend Al DaValle for providing some inspiration for this podcast in the form of an email. Al DaValle’s website Al DaValle in LensWork Extended Jeff’s … Continue reading →

Camera Position 97 : Pictures From The Exhibition

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:16:53 +0000

The Gallery Photographica Exhibition, which opened March 3 at the Michelle O’Connor Gallery in San Francisco is showing some really excellent photographs. While I can’t highlight all the great photographs that are in the show, I wanted to comment on a few of the photographs that really impacted me as I selected the work. I … Continue reading →

Camera Position 96 : Three Prizewinners

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 03:59:48 +0000

This episode examines the three “prizewinner” photographs for the Gallery Photographica exhibition and competition. Photographs by Micah Garen, Diane Fox & Edie Fogel are highlighted and examined. Gallery Photographica Micah Garen website Diane Fox website Edie Fogel website Jeff’s Italy Photography Workshops – photograph & learn in Tuscany and Venice this summer!

Camera Position 95 : The Juror’s Experience

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:11:41 +0000

This episode introduces a small set of podcasts about my recent experience of being the juror for the 2012 San Francisco International Photography Competition and Exhibition. I discuss the process a juror goes through when evaluating images for a competition. Gallery Photographica – website for the 2012 San Francisco International Photography Competition and Exhibition. Find … Continue reading →

Camera Position 94 : How To Do vs. What To Do

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:19:30 +0000

There is a difference between knowing “how” to do something vs. knowing “what” to do. In this episode we talk about the difference between mechanics and inspiration and how to know the difference. Masters of Photography – a great resource for seeing excellent photography Lenswork Online – now available in an online subscription model Camera … Continue reading →

Camera Position 93 : Symbolism & Metaphor

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:30:49 +0000

Camera Position is back! After a too-long hiatus, I’m back with a great series of ideas about the creative side of photography. In this episode, metaphor and symbol and the way they can enhance our photographs.

Camera Position 92 : A Gallery for Fine Photography in New Orleans

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:38:45 +0000

In this episode, Camera Position takes a field trip! A great visit to A Gallery for Fine Photography in New Orleans, Louisiana and a great conversation with gallery owner Joshua Mann Pailet links up the idea of collecting photographs with a consummate collector. Links for this episode: Tulane University Marching Band A Gallery … Continue reading →

Camera Position 91 : Living With Art

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:45:31 +0000

Living with art… if we were wanting to be writers, we’d read books and we’d collect work by our favorite authors. As photographers, living with work by artists we admire is an important part of living the artful life. This podcast talks about how important it is for us to collect photographs we love and … Continue reading →

Camera Position 90 : Inertia & Inspiration

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 23:06:37 +0000

Sometimes inertia gets the best of us and inertia was responsible for Camera Position’s absence these last few months. And photography can be like that, as well. This is the story of how one picture helped get me moving on a beautiful day in Rome and that same picture helped get me moving on talking … Continue reading →

Camera Position 89 : Camera Position & Camera Distance

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:30:44 +0000

Camera position and camera distance… are they the same thing? As we position the camera, are we also thinking about how we position ourselves relative to the subject? By looking at work by August Sander, the Bechers, Andreas Gursky, Tina Barney and Jessica Todd Harper, we examine ideas about how we distance ourselves from a … Continue reading →

Camera Position 88 : Desert Island Photographs – Part 2

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:46:54 +0000

In this, the second of a two-part “desert island photograph” project, we cover more Camera Position listeners describing that one image that they’d take with them for visual sustenance if they were stranded on a desert island. Links for this episode: Don Hong-Oai – A History of Photography “Summer School” podcast Cartier-Bresson at Magnum Edward … Continue reading →

Camera Position 87 : Desert Island Photographs – Part 1

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:44:46 +0000

Back in Camera Position #83, I asked Camera Position listeners to pick their one “desert island photograph;” that one image that they’d take with them for visual sustenance if they were stranded on a desert island. This episode shares the first few of those responses; others will follow in the next episode. Thanks to those … Continue reading →

Camera Position 86 : Italy Photo Workshops – Photographing and Editing in Rome & Tuscany

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:30:44 +0000

One of my goals for my workshops is to help the participants learn how to cope with the volume of images that they are making and to edit their images so that the group of photographs becomes their own. This podcast is a partial response to my friend Brooks Jensen using his podcast platform to … Continue reading →

Camera Position 85 : A Bazillion Photographs

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:30:05 +0000

In a world populated by billions and billions of images, with more being made every second, how do we find a path for ourselves as image makers? We look at the dilemma of quantity and quality in this episode. Links for this Podcast Alec Soth interview on the Big Red & Shiny Blog Alec Soth’s … Continue reading →

Camera Position 84 : Interesting Visual Friends

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:20:13 +0000

Nurturing a set of “interesting visual friends” is one of the ways we can help create an environment of creativity around us. We can do that by networking both in the virtual space of today’s social networking tools and in the real world space of spending time with other photographers. This podcast episode talks about … Continue reading →

Camera Position 83 : What’s On Your Desert Island?

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:30:20 +0000

If you were stranded on a desert island, what one photograph would you bring along to sustain you visually? I’m soliciting Camera Position listeners’ “Desert Island Photographs” and asking them to send me the one photograph they think would keep them visually “fed.” Listen to the podcast to find out how to play along. Eugene … Continue reading →

Camera Position 82 : Beauty Begs to be Recorded

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:49:26 +0000

“Many times beauty begs to be recorded and it is only later that its position in the overall order of things becomes apparent.” So said podcast listener Bryant Johnson, a sentence that made me think about how we photograph and the ways that we can produce work just by looking and responding. After our time … Continue reading →

Camera Position 81 : Project Planning Roadmap – DAM!

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:29:10 +0000

In our final “Project Planning Roadmap” podcast, we talk about DAM – Digital Asset Management – trying to get a handle on what these software packages can do for you. Rating, sorting, grouping, keywording and adjusting your images is what applications like Apple Aperture and Adobe Lightroom are all about. If you’re using them, you … Continue reading →

Camera Position 80 : Project Planning Roadmap – A Place For Your Stuff!

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:33:56 +0000

A place for your all your stuff! The next part of planning and producing a project has to do with managing your content. Where do you store it? How do you get at it? Can you find it when you need it? We take a look at these issues in this episode. Links for this … Continue reading →

Camera Position 79 : A Workshop Overview

Sun, 31 May 2009 14:57:02 +0000

Taking a quick break from our project planning roadmap series, this episode of Camera Position spends some time looking at a few of the wonderful photographs produced by participants in my first-ever photography workshop in Tuscany, Italy. This podcast episode looks at two images from each of the participants. The rest of their great projects … Continue reading →

Camera Position 78 : Project Planning Roadmap – Audience & Distribution

Mon, 18 May 2009 04:25:39 +0000

Who is your audience and how will they best see the work? Audience and Distribution considers not only who is interested in the work you’re producing, but also to consider how they can access the work you’re creating. Links for this podcast: Books from Blurb.com Portfolio reviews at Photo Lucida

Camera Position 77 : Project Planning Roadmap – Production: Needs, Habits & Goals

Tue, 12 May 2009 03:41:45 +0000

Now that we have an idea for a project and a mission for what that project will do and for whom, we have to start making some images and actually creating the body of work. This episode deals with our needs, our habits and our goals, all aspects of project time managment.

Camera Position 76 : Project Planning Roadmap – Passion & Mission

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:59:46 +0000

Taking passion and combining it with purpose gives you a direction in your work. This episode talks about taking the list of 20 things that are important and using that passion to build a mission for your photography. Passion & Mission PDF

Camera Position 75 : Project Planning Roadmap – What Do You Care About?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:33:49 +0000

What do you care about? What things are really important to you as a person in the world? The next step in the project planning roadmap is to make a list of at least 20 things that are really important to you. We’ll use this list in the next episode of Camera Position,

Camera Position 74 : Project Planning Roadmap – New Idea Germination and “Hard & Soft”

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:26:31 +0000

The second part of the Photographer’s Project Planning Roadmap series looks at idea germination; how do you find new ideas and nurture them? Download the Hard & Soft exercise PDF

Camera Position 73 : The Project Planning Roadmap – An Introduction

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:01:57 +0000

Defining and planning a project is one of the most useful ways to build a body of work, learn about yourself and learn about your personal response to photography. With this podcast, we start a series of Camera Position episodes that will create and follow a project planning roadmap for photographers.

Camera Position 72 – Photographer’s Bookshelf #5

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:37:06 +0000

Photographer’s Bookshelf #5 highlights a stunning and interesting reprinting of Robert Frank’s important 1959 book “The Americans,” a must-have for your photographic book collection. Also, a reminder about registration for the Tuscany Workshop May 16 to 23, 2009 – the registration deadline is Friday, February 6 – register now! Robert Frank’s The Americans at Amazon … Continue reading →

Camera Position Special Edition : Tuscany Workshop Announcement

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:39:20 +0000

I am very pleased to announce that I will be leading a workshop to Tuscany this May. In Search of the Personal: Photographing Tuscany with Jeff Curto Saturday, May 16 to Saturday, May 23, 2009 For more information, visit www.photographitaly.com Enjoy a photographic journey where you will experience many aspects of Tuscany’s remarkable culture, landscape … Continue reading →

Camera Position 71 : How To Get Really Good at Photography

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:21:07 +0000

How to get really good at photography! Finally, the secret is revealed. Turns out, it’s not all that hard… just live a life in the world. And make pictures. Tractor, Sycamore Steam Fest, 2008 and Spring Grapevine, Tuscany, 2008 Photographs by Jeff Curto (click for a larger view) Books mentioned in the podcast: Photography in … Continue reading →

Camera Position 70 : Go With the Gestalt (part 2)

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:56:15 +0000

Part two of our examination of the concepts of Gestalt in composition. Gestalt is a psychology of visual communication that helps explain how the mind works to make sense of the visual world. This episode talks about “similarity” and “proximity.” Photographs by Jeff Curto (click for a larger view)

Camera Position 69 : Go With the Gestalt (part 1)

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:08:43 +0000

We examine the concepts of Gestalt as they relates to composition. Gestalt is a psychology of visual communication that helps explain how the mind works to make sense of the visual world. This episode talks about “Closure” and “Continuance.” Photographs by Jeff Curto

Camera Position 68 : Zoom With Your Feet!

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:35:57 +0000

Zoom with your feet! Zoom lenses can interfere with the creative process by letting you get lazy with where you’re positioning your camera. Switching to a “prime” lens of a single focal length can help your composition and your thought process. We also look at “The Poor Man’s Tripod” – a simple device for helping … Continue reading →

Camera Position 67 : The Mind as Camera

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:48:59 +0000

Photographers must love the act of photographing; the mechanics of making a picture. But, before that, they have to love the simple act of seeing the world around them. Some pictures are best made without a camera. Lunch – Still Life with Tomato & Basil Salad – Photograph by Jeff Curto “The camera is an … Continue reading →

Camera Position 66 : Memory and the Photograph

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:13:19 +0000

Human memory is a curious thing; sometimes it’s spot-on perfect, other times it’s altered by the passage of time. Photographs are a way that we can extend or enhance our memories and this episode is about a way that my memory was both rewarded and tested in the Italian mountain village of Scanno.

Camera Position 65 : What Are You Lookin’ At? How do you Know?

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:40:15 +0000

Photography is about doing, but it’s also about thinking… looking, seeing, appreciating. It’s possible to learn more about photography just by doing it, but it’s a lot easier when you pay attention to how others do it. This episode of Camera Position discusses the ideas of connoisseurship; the art of how we come to know … Continue reading →

Camera Position 64 : Old Tools

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:43:49 +0000

Those of us who work with traditional photographic tools sometimes wonder… will those things disappear in the face of the digital revolution? Will we be stuck in the middle of an island with no way to produce images? We consider those ideas in this episode. Links for this episode: B&H Photo – Great source for … Continue reading →

Camera Position 63 : Beauty and Background

Wed, 07 May 2008 06:09:25 +0000

What is an “arts background”? Whether we know it or not, I think we all have one. Having a background in creativity is about synthesizing things that we already know and combining them with new things that we learn to come up with wholly new ideas. Venice, Sunrise – Photograph by Jeff Curto (click for … Continue reading →

Camera Position 62 : Is Beauty Enough?

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:25:12 +0000

Is beauty enough in a photograph? It’s an odd concept in photography, especially in today’s visual world where so many photographers seem to ignore it. Or… are they ignoring it? We take a look. Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo, 2007 Photograph by Jeff Curto (click to enlarge) Links for this Episode: Robert Adams’ Beauty in … Continue reading →

The Camera in The Cathedral: Camera Position goes Historical

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:31:03 +0000

The Camera in The Cathedral: A Brief History of Photography of the Natural World In a bit of “podcast cross-pollination,” I’m presenting an episode of my history of photography podcast here on Camera Position. If you’ve heard the Photo History podcast of this same topic, you’ve heard this podcast, but for those Camera Position listeners … Continue reading →

Camera Position 61 : Summer Peaches on a Winter’s Day

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:14:08 +0000

A cold winter’s day prompted me to work on a warm-day photograph, then to make a cold-day photograph. Also, we celebrate Camera Position’s 2nd birthday and talk briefly about the Photocast Network and the Focus Ring podcast. Peach, Toscana, 2007 & Snow Apple, 2008; Photographs by Jeff Curto (click images for larger views) Links for … Continue reading →

Camera Position 60 : Back to Basics – Composition

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:16:21 +0000

Camera Position goes back to basics with an overview of the essentials of photographic composition, including the Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines, Framing and Balance. Also, a mention of the work of photographer Ron Diorio. Tractored Out – photograph by Dorothea Lange Links for this episode: Slides for this episode of Camera Position Camera Position … Continue reading →

Camera Position 59 : Evidence of Hands on Stone

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 06:39:21 +0000

After an insanely busy fall, I’m back in front of the podcast mic, talking about photography. In this episode of Camera Position, we go to the Midwest Society of Photographic Education conference in Flint, Michigan, where I presented a 40 minute talk about my photographs of Italy. This episode of camera position is that presentation, … Continue reading →

Camera Position 58 – Pictures of an Exhibition

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:12:35 +0000

Getting your work out there… how do you do it? We take a look at some responses to an exhibition I just had at the University of La Verne in California and see how that might fit into how you can show your work. Irene Carlson Gallery of Photography – University of La Verne, La … Continue reading →

Camera Position 57 : Photographer’s Bookshelf #4

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:46:49 +0000

Can you become a selfless photographer and reach a state of Zen with your camera? Fourth in an irregular series of “books for photographers’ bookshelves” is Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel, where Herrigel’s works towards the “perfect shot.” Replace “bow” with “camera,” “arrow” with “shutter” and “target” with “photograph” and you … Continue reading →

Camera Position 56 : The Parable of the Sheep

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:29:46 +0000

Abruzzo Sheep – Photograph by Jeff Curto (click for a larger view) Photographers should always use the right tool for the job, right? But what if you’re stuck with the wrong tool in the right situation? You just wing it, that’s what, and sometimes something interesting happens. That was the case with me this summer … Continue reading →

Camera Position 55 : Does Size Matter?

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:01:17 +0000

Montepulciano, Toscana, 1998 – Photograph by Jeff Curto Yes, it’s the age old question… does size matter? Does the size of the prints we make change how we view the images? Have you ever made a large print of your work? Here’s an image that I recently had The Print Lab print to a very … Continue reading →

Camera Position 54 : Photograph like a Child

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:22:50 +0000

Summer’s lazy days put me in the mind of childhood and a recent encounter with some ideas by Pablo Picasso and some photographs by French photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue (1894-1986) made me think about how important a childlike sense of wonder is to photographers. Picasso said: “All children are artists. The problem is how to … Continue reading →

Camera Position 53 : Realizing the Image

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 00:37:56 +0000

An image isn’t finished until it starts to feel like what you saw. Here is a brief look at the way I approached the post-production (what we used to call “darkroom work”) of this recent image from Gubbio, a marvelously medieval town in northern Umbria, Italy. The differences are subtle, but the idea is to … Continue reading →

Camera Position 52 : Tossing Your Preconceptions

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:02:51 +0000

Preconceived notions about what you’re going to photograph can keep you from finding good images that you may have missed. This episode of Camera Position examines how I nearly fell into that trap in Gubbio, a beautiful town in Italy’s Umbria province. Images of La Festa Dei Ceri, Gubbio, Umbria by Jeff Curto click images … Continue reading →

Camera Position 51 : Travel Gear

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:56:11 +0000

Traveling with a camera involves planning. A lot of folks have asked me about traveling with the large format camera, and in this episode of Camera Postiion, I detail the gear that I take on the road. Links for this podcast: Deardorff History Page Harrison Film Pup Tent Pentax Digital Spot Meter

Camera Position 50 : Messages From Your Website

Wed, 16 May 2007 14:32:37 +0000

What does your website say about who you are as a photographer? Does your site clearly define your goals or do you use your site’s pages as a dumping ground for every photograph you’ve ever made? In this episode of Camera Position, I look at the way in which web pages can tell us whether … Continue reading →

Camera Position 49 : Know Thy Subject

Mon, 07 May 2007 07:37:42 +0000

In order to make photographs that are meaningful, it really helps to know your subject in intimate detail. In this episode, I talk about subject research, and about how knowing your subject can be one of the best paths to good photographs. Gubbio, Umbria – Photograph by Jeff Curto Links for this episode: Alec Soth … Continue reading →

Camera Position 48 : Getting “Unstuck”

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 22:13:31 +0000

What do you do when you get “stuck” photographically? Here are a few ideas about how to find your way out of “Photographer’s Block,” with some references to how other photographers handle the problem. Photograph by Jeff Curto (left) and David Quigg (right) Photograph by Suzanne Szucs (left) and Nicholas Nixon (right) Click images and … Continue reading →

Camera Position 47 : Focus/Defocus/Refocus

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:52:15 +0000

In this episode, I talk about shallow depth of field as a creative tool and its use by several photographers who are using it in inventive and interesting ways. I also look at how focusing yourself on a project can help you be more creative. Photographs by Jeff Curto – Jeff Curto’s Website Photographs by … Continue reading →

Camera Position 46 : Passion & Profession

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 19:39:08 +0000

This episode of Camera Position is about combining passion with profession. We need to photograph what we love, but we also can’t lead an insular life; we need to be out there, casting our lines into the river of photographic experiences. This week, March 15 to 18, is the Society for Photographic Education conference in … Continue reading →

Camera Position 45 : Back in the Zone

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 08:48:31 +0000

In this second part of the Zone System overview, we look at a few more specifics about how the Zone System works and is implemented. Don’t forget to download the PDF handouts! Click any image below for a larger view. The first part of the Zone System overview was in Camera Position #43 Download part … Continue reading →

Camera Position 44 : Photographer’s Bookshelf #3

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:23:43 +0000

This episode of Camera Position is the third entry in an irregular series of suggestions for the serious photographer’s bookshelf. This time, the selection is “On Photography,” an important – and occasionally somewhat difficult – book of photographic criticism and thought from writer Susan Sontag. Click on images above for a larger view Links for … Continue reading →

Camera Position 43 : There’s Creativity in The Zone

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 07:00:30 +0000

Creative photography benefits from mastering technical content. This first installment of a discussion of The Zone System of exposure will help you stop worrying about whether the photograph will “work out” so you can concentrate on being creative. In the photographs below, the highlighted side of the ball (left image) was “placed” on Zone VIII … Continue reading →

Camera Position 42 : Color Pioneers

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:31:01 +0000

Another exploration of color in photography and the way it has been used by two of the great masters of color, WIlliam Eggleston and Stephen Shore. Also, I mention Adobe’s fabulously fun and useful online application “Kuler.” Photograph by William Eggleston (above) (click images for larger views) Photograph by Stephen Shore (below) Links for this … Continue reading →

Camera Position 41 : Color Me Back!

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 03:03:24 +0000

I’m back! After a month-long hiatus, I’m back with a podcast about color. Using a Christmas present of a book of Pete Turner’s photographs that have been used on jazz album covers as a springboard, we talk about color, color relationships and how color works in the photographic world. Links for this episode: Pete Turner’s … Continue reading →

Camera Position 40 : Leftover Hash

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 09:14:31 +0000

Lens choice, tripods, negative and positive space, image sequence and selection of a small group of images… it’s a “holiday leftovers ” group of ideas and thoughts for this episode of Camera Position. Above photographs by Jeff Curto Links for this episode: Images referenced in this episode of Camera Position Ralph Gibson’s Website College of … Continue reading →

Camera Position 39 : Your Mission & Your Audience

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 17:05:21 +0000

Mission statements don’t have to be about dull, corporate stuff… they can also be about the creative process and act as a compass to point you in the right direction. Your photographic mission statement can be about your audience, your passions and your goals. Example and blank “audience circles” (click for larger images) Links relevent … Continue reading →

Camera Position 38 : It’s About Time

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:00:22 +0000

It’s about time. It’s about time to talk about time in photography and time as it relates to how photographs function. Using photographs by Garry Winogrand and Tokihiro Sato, we examine two different approaches to dealing with time in the photograph. Photographs by Garry Winogrand (left) and Tokihiro Sato (right) Click images for a larger … Continue reading →

Camera Position 37 : Hey! Crop it Out!

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:00:59 +0000

Photographers are not creators, they are editors. Unlike the painter, who starts with a blank canvas, we start with the whole world and our job is to remove all the “stuff” that doesn’t make our picture better; to pare down to the essence of the image. Ideally, we do this with the camera’s viewfinder, but … Continue reading →

Camera Position 36 : Who’s Lookin’ At You?

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 08:10:35 +0000

Who is in your critical circle? Who looks at your work to help you define what is good and what “works”? Do you do it yourself? Can you trust yourself to be a good critic of your own work? This episode examines the idea of being your own best friend and your own best enemy. … Continue reading →

Camera Position 35 : Bookshelf #2

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 07:44:21 +0000

Another in an irregular series of suggestions for the photographic bookshelf. My selection this time is the Aperture monograph of the work of Ralph Eugene Meatyard, but you may substitute that one book that made you realize new and different things about your medium; that changed your ideas about what photography could be. I also … Continue reading →

Camera Position 34 : Sequencing

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:41:00 +0000

The order in which we see images changes how we perceive them. In this episode, we look at how sequencing photographs can take one set of images and change the message they convey. Sequence 1 – Click Image for a larger view photographs by Jeff Curto Sequence 1 – Click Image for a larger view … Continue reading →

Camera Position 33.3 : I’m Guest-Hosting “Tips From The Top Floor”

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 04:46:22 +0000

This brief “Thirty-Three-and-a-Third” epsisode of camera position is just a quick “pointer” to my guest-host appearance on Chris Marquardt’s “Tips From The Top Floor” podcast. I hope you’ll check it out. Click my “Liguria, 2003” image above for a larger view.

Camera Position 33 : What’s on Your Bookshelf?

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 17:06:30 +0000

See this book at Amazon This episode is the first in an irregular series that explores important photography books that should be in every photographer’s book collection. The first book is The Daybooks of Edward Weston, Weston’s remarkable series of journal entries about his life in photography. Also on today’s episode: Find great photo podcasts … Continue reading →

Camera Position 32 : Gallery Talk

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 23:46:16 +0000

This week, we go into the “field” to a gallery talk I gave at an exhibition of my work. My comments give some background on my 17-year photographic exploration of Italy and the show, “Evidence of Hands, The Mediated Landscape of Italy.” Click for images from the “slideshow” I used at the presentation Click for … Continue reading →

Camera Position 31 : Editing as Creative Process

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 07:09:04 +0000

How many images does it take to say what you want to say? Editing your work to create a group of images that projects a coherent voice is an important part of the photographic process. Honest and unmerciful editors have the most effective stories. Santa Fe Center for Photography – home of the Creative Edge … Continue reading →

Camera Position 30 : After The Shutter Closes

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 07:00:10 +0000

Once we get back to the darkroom-digital or chemical-how do we maximize the vision and idea we had when we were in the field making the photograph? We explore the post-production side of the creative process using a photograph of Civita di Bagnoreggio. Click on the images for a larger view Civita di Bagnoreggio, Umbria, … Continue reading →

Camera Position 29 : Where Are You From?

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 11:49:44 +0000

Where do creative ideas come from? How do we figure out what’s the most interesting thing to photograph? Using the photographs and ideas of photographer and writer Wright Morris (1910-1998), I explore the notion of mining your past and your passions to find your subject.

Camera Position 28 : Which Came First?

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 06:00:49 +0000

– – –– Photographs by Philip Trager – click images for a larger view When we choose a subject, sometimes we need to choose the right machine to record that subject. This episode uses the work of photographer Philip Trager to show how subject can influence the tools that we use.

Camera Position 27 : The Mind & The Machine

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 03:15:06 +0000

Click image for a larger view Whether we like it or not, photography has technology at its base. Sometimes, changing up the equipment we use can allow us to change the way we look at the world in a significant way. This episode uses a triptych image I made in using smaller-than-my-normal 4×5 camera and … Continue reading →

Camera Position 26 : Weston & The Edges

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:29:14 +0000

The edges of the frame change everything about how we see a photograph. One of the great masters of the use of the photographic frame edge was Edward Weston, and today we look at his remarkable ability to show us “just enough” of the subject. The podcast briefly touches on gestalt theory for the visual … Continue reading →

Camera Position 25 : Pick a Pair of Portraits

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 05:13:41 +0000

For the last 16 years, I’ve been photographing structures and the landscape in Italy. Over the last two years, though, I’ve tried my hand at portraits and have learned some things about photography, my interests and the power of the large-format camera. This podcast features two versions of a portrait of a 97-year-old Italian man. … Continue reading →

Camera Position 24 : Looking & Looking Back – Stieglitz & “The Steerage”

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:02:53 +0000

As I’ve worked with one of my newest photographs, I’ve noted a loose relationship Alfred Stieglitz’ “The Steerage” from 1907. It reminded me that photographers need to be aware of the image makers who have gone before them and helped them see. Now, I’m not saying that my photograph is the same as Stieglitz’ masterpiece, … Continue reading →

Camera Position 23 : Take a Left Turn

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 18:35:12 +0000

Photographs by Jeff Curto Sometimes, when you think that there is a photographic subject in front of you, you can’t see the picture you want to make. In this episode, I talk about taking a left turn, both to find a photograph and to provide a catalyst for even more images. I also take a … Continue reading →

Camera Position 22 : Getting Back Your Box of Crayons

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 05:53:16 +0000

This episode of Camera Position is a bit different from previous episodes. First off, it is a lot longer. Weighing in at a little over an hour, it is a podcast of a presentation I made recently at the MacSpecialist store in Villa Park, Illinois. I had been invited to come and speak to a … Continue reading →

Camera Position 21 : Caravaggio and the Road to Rome

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 06:24:09 +0000

As I return to Camera Position after a month-long hiatus, I give you a few minutes with one of my favorite paintings, “The Calling of St. Matthew” by Caravaggio. Caravaggio’s sense of light and moment of “exposure,” were extraordinarily “photographic.” See a larger version of the image with this link Yes, I’d planned on trying … Continue reading →

Camera Position 20 : The View Through

Wed, 31 May 2006 18:36:43 +0000

The visual device of a "view through" from one place to another is a fairly common one in photography, and one that I tend to use often. This episode explores a variety of ways of using the idea of framing a subject to emphasize a sense of space and place.

Camera Position 19 : When Less Really Is More

Tue, 23 May 2006 19:14:28 +0000

When a photographer finds a beautiful scene, there is often a temptation to put everything he sees in the photograph, even if the image that results isn’t all that interesting. Here, Ansel Adams and Paul Caponigro show us how showing less shows us more. As a side note, if you are listening to and enjoying … Continue reading →

Camera Position 18 : A Dull Picture of A Useful Object

Wed, 17 May 2006 06:18:15 +0000

Here is an absolutely dull photograph of an absolutely dull (and ugly!) piece of cardboard that is one of the most indispensible pieces of equipment in my camera bag. Temporarily diverting Camera Position from the examination of fine photographs, I look at a tool I use to help me make better images. By using this … Continue reading →

Camera Position 17 : The Instant and the Machine

Sun, 14 May 2006 07:20:24 +0000

The idea of photography that depends on the exact moment of exposure for success didn’t originate with Cartier-Bresson, but he certainly made the most of that perfect instant. Bresson’s idea of “the decisive moment” is examined this week, along with the idea of how photographers always have to grapple with the intersection between idea and … Continue reading →

Camera Position 16 : The Game Of Inches

Sat, 06 May 2006 05:24:20 +0000

Sometimes, photography is the proverbial "game of inches."

Camera Position 15 : Moving Camera Position & Moving Your Boundaries

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 19:38:29 +0000

I’ve moved my Camera Position! I’ve abandoned Apple’s “easy but limited” iWeb software and moved over to a WordPress blog. Hopefully, the majority of listeners have made the switch with no problems. There is a new RSS subscription feed (see first post at the top of the page to see the new information). If you’re … Continue reading →

Camera Position 14 : Strand’s “Family” Revisited

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 23:10:13 +0000

In Camera Position #8, we looked at Paul Strand’s “The Family, Luzzara, Italy, 1953”. Listener Don Bricker wrote in to note that there are, in fact, two different images of this photograph. The idea that Strand “directed” this image by changing the content in an important way should be considered when we think about how … Continue reading →

Camera Position 13 : Time and the Subject

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 07:10:01 +0000

Photographers sometimes have a hard time separating their own emotional response they have to a subject from the image that they make of that subject. It’s up to us as imagemakers not only to respond to the subject and the way we feel about it, but also to remember that our viewers can only rely … Continue reading →

Camera Position 12 : Motivation and Inspiration

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:44:49 +0000

Why do we do what we do as photographers? Where does our motivation come from? Why do some subjects interest us more than others? Episode number 12 of Camera Position briefly traces my 16-year examination of Italy’s culture, architecture and landscape and looks at where we find our inspiration as image makers. Trastevere, Roma, 1990 … Continue reading →

Camera Position 11 : Weston and the Other 29

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 19:30:43 +0000

It took Edward Weston 29 prior attempts to get to the point where he made his well-known “Pepper #30” photograph. Musicians have to practice their scales, and so do photographers, trying a variety of attempts at conveying the essence of their subjects before hitting on the one that works the best. Weston’s strategy of looking … Continue reading →

Camera Position 10 : A Story Without Words

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 08:38:46 +0000

Photographers have to be aware of the fact that viewers of their images can’t know the whole story of how a photograph came to be. The image has to rely on its own visual authority to get the message across. Using this photograph of Sant’ Antimo, a 12th Century Romanesque abbey in rural Tuscany, I … Continue reading →

Camera Position 09 : Composition and Idea

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 11:59:42 +0000

The idea you want to communicate in a photograph is in direct relation to the way in which you choose to make that photograph. A photograph of Bernini’s beautiful Baroque fountain, situated in front of the Pantheon, is used to examine how composition and idea play off of one another. Fontana, Piazza della Rotunda, Roma, … Continue reading →

Camera Position 08 : Strand’s “The Family”

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 11:29:10 +0000

Paul Strand’s masterful 1953 portrait “The Family” acts as a backdrop for some thoughts on how interaction between the photographer and subject and among the subjects themselves creates visual and emotional interest in a photograph. The Family, Luzzara, Italy, 1953 Photograph by Paul Strand

Camera Position 07 : Light, Idea and Emotion

Fri, 03 Mar 2006 10:49:28 +0000

Ultimately, a photograph comes down to a common element: Light. Using two photographs of a vineyard, this podcast explores the quality, direction and visual impact of light. Vineyard, Umbria, 2001 Photographs by Jeff Curto

Camera Position 06 : Left, Right, Up, Down

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 11:53:09 +0000

Eugene Atget’s photograph of conical shrubs in Saint Cloud provides the visual resource for a discussion of how careful camera placement can affect a photograph. Saint Cloud, 1921 Photograph by Eugene Atget A great resource on Atget on Artsy

Camera Position 05 : Movement and Time

Sat, 18 Feb 2006 21:58:06 +0000

With a photograph of pecore (sheep) as an example, Camera Position #5 examines the way movement and time affect a photographic image. In many ways, every photograph is about the past and about the passage of time. Pecore, Tuscany, 1994 Photograph by Jeff Curto

Camera Position 04 : Patience and Seeing

Sat, 11 Feb 2006 12:06:55 +0000

Using a photograph of Venice, Camera Position #4 explores the idea of how sometimes what you think you want in a photograph isn’t the most interesting thing there. Sometimes the subject is right in front of you; you just have to be patient enough to find it. Calle del Forno, Venice, 1990 Photograph by Jeff … Continue reading →

Camera Position 03 : Paul Caponigro’s Two Leaves

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 12:17:55 +0000

Camera Position #3 features a discussion about one of my all-time favorite photographs by one of my all-time favorite photographers, Paul Caponigro. The photograph, “Two Leaves, Brewster, NY, 1963” is discussed alongside some images that were made at the same time, giving us some sense of how a photographer finds and “works” a subject. Two … Continue reading →

Camera Position 02 : Light in Montepulciano

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 11:01:56 +0000

Camera Position #2 is about a photograph I made in 1997 of the Tempio di San Biagio, a beautiful Renaissance church just outside the walls of the Tuscan hilltown of Montepulciano. It’s all about the light and waiting for that light to be right. Montepulciano, Tuscany, 1997 Photograph by Jeff Curto

Camera Position 01 : An Introduction through an Italian window

Sun, 05 Feb 2006 10:39:03 +0000

This introductory podcast explains what I want to try to accomplish with this Camera Position and what I will be talking about as the shows progress. Camera Position is a podcast about the art of creative photography, featuring the work of noted fine art photographer Jeff Curto. This episode features a photograph made in the … Continue reading →