About Camera Position

Camera Position is a podcast about the visual and creative processes in photography, not the technical. My intention is to explore the “why” of photography from the point of view of the creative photographer.

Passion for subject, experience and image all wind together in these short commentaries about camera-based images and my life as a photographer.

In addition to the listening options below, the podcasts are also available on my YouTube Channel.

Jeff Curto's Camera Position
Jeff Curto's Camera Position
Jeff Curto

Photography podcasts that deal with the why of photography over the how and discuss the essential qualities of the medium from the point of view of the creative photographer.

22 thoughts on “About Camera Position”

  1. Hello Mr Curto,

    I really like your podcast, and learn a lot from it. I really appreciate what you are doing. The thing that really sets your podcast apart from others is that you show really great pictures from other great photographers and tell a lot about them (Weston, Lartigue, etc). It really opens a whole new world for me (I’m a computer scientist).

    Recently I picked up photographing again. Something I really liked as a teenager. Now everything is changed, and digital photography even brought it back to my current profession (or at least the technical side of it). Currently I’m trying to find what it is that I want to show people. Currently I like to take macros of common things like spider-webs, leafs, the tap, and try to show the sort of hidden beauty. I must say as a father of two little kids thats also very practical, because it doesn’t take a lot of preparation.

    I’d like to thank you for everything.

    Regards,

    Maas

    PS. There is a Jacques Henri Lartigue exhibition close to where I live. Planning to visit it.

  2. Thanks, Maas…. I really appreciate your comments. I’m also very jealous of the Lartigue show… drop back and give a little review if you’ve got a few minutes to spare!

    -Jeff

  3. Jeff, I need to say “me too!” to Maas’ comment. I really appreciate hearing comments and thoughts from someone in academeia. Podcasts have opened up a whole new way of learning and I’m glad that people like you are willing to put it out there. I hope that you continue to find podcasting rewarding. I, and many others like me will be listening.
    Thank you for your time, energy and effort. Good Work!
    Cynthia

  4. Thanks, Cynthia!

    Great to have you here and listening and… commenting! I love to hear from folks “out there” who are finding the content useful.

    Thanks for your support!

    -Jeff

  5. Your comment on the man in the green tie, that to me explains a lot about B&W use. I realize that sometime I convert to B&W just because the color is just sort of dumb, flat, what ever. Now I know why.
    I am originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, just a few miles from you. I now live in a very small town in Texas. Your podcast has been a great help to me in leaning how to make a photograph versus how to work a camera.
    I will ask what no one has ever asked, will you do more digital.
    Thanks
    John Badgerow

  6. Hi, John;

    Thanks for your comment and for “gettin’ it” on the color/B&W bits… it’s all got its place, right?

    In a similar way, film and digital have their places, too. The two photographs I featured in Camera Position #61 were each shot differently. The peach was film that was scanned and the apple was a digital capture. I think that’s really the way photography is now… it’s about the idea and the tools are just the pieces we use to capture the ideas.

    I haven’t made a darkroom print in years and I have to admit that I miss it a bit, but not that much. I love this hybrid technology we now have, mainly because it offers so much control. My big deal with film is that it allows me to do things that I just can’t do with digital (can’t do without spending a big pile o’ cash or making some compromises in quality or creative process anyway).

    Thanks for listening!

    -Jeff

  7. Hi Jeff,

    Having only fairly recently discovered this world of podcasts, and even more recently discovered yours, I can only say two things:

    1. Thanks for sharing your very stimulating insights
    2. Slow down, I only manage to listen to your podcasts while going to and from work in the car. 60+ podcasts is a big backlog to work through!

    By the way, and this’ll make you jealous I expect. I’m an english ex-pat, living in Trieste, Italy

    Ciao,

    Mike

  8. Hi, Mike;

    Thanks for your really kind post.

    Thanks for the “slow down” suggestion! Most people want me to make ’em fast and furious…. I’d rather make ’em “slow and good.”

    You keep listenin’ and I’ll keep thinkin’…

    -Jeff

    (and yeah.. I *am* jealous… Trieste is beautiful!)

  9. Well… I’m from Brazil and a newcomer in the world of photography.

    I’m a true fan of your podcast, the amount of information from the artistic point of view of photography is something that we (well.. at least I) can’t find, even in photography classes, and i know that will take time to fully understand and internalize this information. But of course, your podcast is keeping me up highly motivated, It’s fun to think how long time I’m listening you, its makes me think that I almost know you.

    Thanks a lot for your work and time. it’s priceless.

    Bye.

  10. Hi, Jeff!

    I’ve been listening to your podcast for about 8 or 9 months now and just finished the fall 2008 sessions of History of Photography podcast as well. Your work is not only beautiful, it’s inspirational. I also echo the comments made above in that you have taught me a significant portion of what I know about the artistic side of photography (is there really another side? –just kidding!). Keep up the good work!

    While I’d love to have new ‘casts from you more often, I’d rather have the quality you always put into them and have them less frequently. I’m sure that some of your listeners grow may grow impatient because they may forget that you also teach and have your own photographic work to do as well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, insights, passion, and inspiration.

    I know you have influenced my work and I have, in turn, spread the word about “Camera Position” to everyone I meet who has even a slight interest in photography.

    Again, many thanks for the education!

    ~Bryant (aka DBJohnson/Dean Bryant Johnson)

  11. Bryant!

    What a great comment! Thanks so much for your words of support… it means a lot to me.

    I’m delighted to have been a part of your photo education… honored, in fact.

    All best and keep listening!

    -Jeff

  12. I’m listening to Camera Position for several months. Well, this is one of the best podcast about photography. Your podcasts travel with me to Spain, Italy, Greece, and other countries. Thank You very much for a great content. I like creative approach to photography as a medium. There is also a small thing I’d like to stress – the language of your podcast is clear and easy to understand for those, who are not english-language origin (although I’ not an expert :-)). It’s much easier to concentrate on a subject if you don’t have to fight with pronunciation.
    Thanks a lot
    Konrad

  13. Hi Jeff,

    Absolutely the best photography podcast I have listened to latelely. I am a amateur photographer with a great passion about the artistic pursuits involving photography. You have provided an excellent resouce to keep me motivated and given a new approach to the whole process. No other photographic podcast I had heard to discuss the non-technical aspects of photography which forms the basics of good picture taking and improving yourself as a photographer.

    I do have a specific question. Apart from learning from practice, looking at works of others, reading books – how do I start myself in this area of practicing photography as an art form. I mean how do I go about presenting my work, getting recognised as an artist, getting my work critiqed and getting feedback. I do not have any prior history in fine arts. What do you think about websites like flickr, smugmug where people share photographs with each other? Is there any website mainly devoted to creative photography that does not deal with mainstream photography, where someone more than an amateur can critique my images and provide feedback.

  14. Gurbir;

    Thanks so much for your comment….

    I’ve got great news! Starting with episode #73 of Camera Position, I’m more or less answering your question… how to get started and where to go next. I’m doing this with the “Photographer’s Roadmap” series of podcasts about project planning. With a bit of work on your part, you’ll find answers to the questions about presenting your work, etc.

    I have to admit that I’m not all that big a fan of Flickr, et al. I think the real issue for me is that, with a few exceptions, the people “critiquing” and otherwise passing judgement on the photographs posted there are other photographers, and most of them have the same background (which is to say that they are largely self-taught and know what they know through experience, rather than through review and affirmation by recognized experts). It’s not that the advice that they give is useless, but that it’s fairly one-dimensional (“nice composition!”).

    So… stay tuned to Camera Position… my plan is to help you answer those questions about how to get from “here” to “there.”

    -Jeff

  15. Hi Jeff,
    I found your podcast just recently and find it absolutely great. I had a mayor dry spell these last months and I think you helped me out of it with the “Is beauty enough?” podcast. I had heard before that I should photograph what I love, but you presented the idea in such a way that I kept it in mind. The next morning, I took a picture of what I love (my boyfriend’s back) and it is probably the first good picture I have taken in months.
    Consequently, I decided to start listening to all the older episodes: Today I found your one-hour-class about creativity! That’s so great! please continue recording your classes!
    I am writing from Germany: you can reach far with your podcast :-)).
    Thanks a lot!
    Dana

  16. Thanks, Dana… I appreciate that you are out there listening!

    Like the old author’s advice, “write what you know,” photographing what you know and love brings the process to bear on the things that are important to you.

    Best of luck!

    -Jeff

  17. Jeff, I love your podcasts! I am seeing duplicate downloads of the same episodes over and over again however and wonder if anyone else is seeing this? It’s only happening to your podcasts; the others I subscribe to work just fine. Thanks for the wonderful information you make available!

  18. Bill, I’m also getting duplicate downloads of Camera Position in iTunes. I have no idea what could be causing it. It has happened many times. Sometimes only the newest episode is duplicated, sometimes multiple episodes are duplicated.

    Jeff, thank you for great podcast.

  19. I always considered design, no matter in what medium to be a real tallent.
    If you feel art is not just lines and circles then you have to express it.

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A Podcast About the Creative Side of Photography