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The Camera Cafe Show

Move Your Photography

Brewing up inspiration for your photography journey! Love photography? So do we! The Camera Café Show brings you entertaining conversations with photographers from around the world, exploring the stories behind their pictures, careers and creative journeys.

From National Geographic legends and documentary photographers to wildlife, landscape and travel photographers, photojournalists, conservation photographers and emerging voices, host Tom Jacob talks with guests about photography, creativity, adventure, conservation and the unexpected paths that lead people behind the camera.

No lectures, no jargon — just fascinating stories, practical insights, plenty of humour, and the occasional detour that has absolutely nothing to do with photography. Grab your coffee, hit play, and join the conversation.

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  • 29 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 47 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S4 · E72
    May 31 · 1 hr 6 min

    Pascal Maitre: Photojournalism Beneath the Headlines

    Crossing the Afghanistan border in disguise at night was once just part of the job 🌍📸 In this episode I sit down with legendary French photojournalist Pascal Maitre — whose work over the last four decades has taken him to places such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan ,more than forty countries throughout Africa, and worked in South America, Russia, the Middle East, Latin America and numerous other regions over the last four decades. And over this +40 year career, his photography has appeared in major publications such as National Geographic, Geo, Paris Match and Stern. He has won multiple World Press Photo Awards, received the Visa d’Or d’Honneur for Lifetime Achievement at ‘Visa pour l’Image’, and today he is also a Canon Ambassador. From walking with the Mujahideen during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, to documenting dangerous daily life in Somalia, migration, conflict, energy poverty and the global charcoal crisis, Pascal shares incredible stories from a lifetime spent trying to photograph not just events… but the human reality underneath them. We talk about the older generation of photojournalism before the digital era, Kodachrome, fixers, trust, curiosity, and how photography — at its best — still depends on patience, time, and understanding people. Grab a coffee, settle in, and enjoy my conversation with Pascal Maitre. ***** 📸 See more of Pascal’s work: https://www.pascalmaitre.com/ ***** 🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration: https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

  • S4 · E71
    May 24 · 41 min

    David duChemin: Confessions Beyond the Rubber Chicken Guy (Part 2)

    Style is easy to imitate. Voice is something else entirely. In this second part of my conversation with David duChemin, we move deeper into creativity, artistic identity, social media, fear, and the challenge of making work that actually feels honest in a world full of comparison and noise. We talk about the difference between style and voice, the pressure to imitate what everyone else is doing, wildlife photography, curiosity, inspiration, and why sometimes the hardest thing creatively is simply learning to trust yourself. But just like in part one, this conversation never stays too serious for too long. Along the way there are still plenty of laughs, unexpected turns, stories about life, and moments that feel more like two people talking over pizza and wine than a traditional photography interview. Grab a coffee, settle in, and enjoy part two of my conversation with David duChemin. ***** 📸 See more of David’s photography, books, workshops, and writing: https://davidduchemin.com/ ***** 🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration: https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

  • S4 · E70
    May 17 · 38 min

    David duChemin: Confessions Beyond the Rubber Chicken Guy (Part 1)

    “Elvis has left the building…” — and somewhere after the stage lights went dark, a camera slowly took the place of the rabbit and the magician’s hat. In this first part of my conversation with David duChemin, we explore the unusual path that took him from performing comedy shows, juggling bananas, and entertaining crowds… to becoming one of photography’s most thoughtful voices on creativity, storytelling, and finding your own way of seeing the world. We talk about discovering photography as a teenager, building darkrooms in bathrooms, almost flunking out of English class before later becoming a bestselling author, and the moment a trip to Haiti completely changed the direction of his life. Along the way, this becomes a conversation about much more than photography — curiosity, reinvention, fear, creativity, travel, and how sometimes the paths that make the least sense in the moment end up shaping us the most. Stay tuned for part two next week, where we go even deeper into creativity, vision, fear, social media, and what it really means to find your own voice as a photographer. Grab a coffee, settle in, and enjoy part one of my conversation with David duChemin. ***** 📸 See more of David’s work, books, workshops, and writing: https://davidduchemin.com/ ***** 🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration: https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

  • S4 · E69
    May 10 · 37 min

    Chris Johns: Shaping How Millions See the World (Part 2)

    Former Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Chris Johns returns in part two of this conversation — taking us behind the scenes of how some of the world’s most powerful stories are shaped. If you haven’t listened to part one of my conversation with Chris yet, I’d really recommend going back and starting there first. It gives you the full picture of how this story unfolds. We pick up right where we left off, diving into stories from photographers in the field, what really happens behind the images we all know so well, and how those moments evolve into stories that reach millions of people. We also go deeper into what it means to lead one of the most influential publications in the world — how decisions are made, what Chris expected from photographers, and how storytelling can influence the way people understand global events. Along the way, there are moments of laughter, of reflection, but also plenty of humanity — from conversations about family and legacy to the inspiration of amazing people like Jane Goodall, and how storytelling continues across generations. Grab a coffee, settle in, and join us for part two of this conversation with Chris Johns. ***** 📸 See more of Chris’ work: https://thephotosociety.org/member/chris-johns/ ***** 🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration: https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

  • S4 · E68
    May 3 · 36 min

    Chris Johns: Shaping How Millions See the World (Part 1)

    Former Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Chris Johns joins the show to share how storytelling, photography, and life experience come together to shape how millions of people see the world. In this first part of our conversation, Chris takes us back to where it all began — from growing up on a small farm in Oregon to discovering photography almost by accident, and how those early experiences set the foundation for a lifetime in visual storytelling. We also talk about his early years working in newspapers, what it taught him to photograph every single day, and how those fast-paced environments helped shape his eye before stepping into the world of National Geographic. Along the way, there are stories of long-term assignments, time spent in the field, and the kind of moments — both serious and light — that come with building a life around photography. We also touch on a love for fast cars, a bit of a wild streak in his younger years, his time as president of the Future Farmers of America, and his work as a staff photographer across Africa, where encounters with figures like Nelson Mandela left a lasting impression on how he sees the world today— not just as a photographer, but as a person. Grab a coffee, settle in, and join us for part 1 of this wonderful conversation with Chris Johns. ***** 📸 See more of Chris’ work: https://thephotosociety.org/member/chris-johns/ ***** 🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration: https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

  • S4 · E67
    April 19 · 35 min

    Ian Wood: A New Hope for Badgers

    Sometimes, a story doesn’t just stay a story — sometimes, something actually changes. Wildlife photographer Ian Wood returns to our Show with powerful updates following our first conversation. After winning the People’s Choice Award at Wildlife Photographer of the Year with his now well-known badger image, Ian has continued to push the story forward — recently winning the documentary category at the British Wildlife Photography Awards with a six-image series focused on the badger cull in England. But this conversation goes beyond photography. We talk about what has happened in the months since — the major positive shift around the badger cull in the UK, the still ongoing discussions around fox hunting, and what it feels like to see something you’ve invested time, energy, and emotion into finally begin to move in a different direction. We also talk about the process behind building a documentary series, the importance of thinking in ideas rather than just images, and how photography can sometimes become a way to keep important conversations alive. Along the way, there are also the small moments — swallows returning in spring, building hides, lentil loaves and the simple joy of being out in nature. Grab a coffee, settle in, and join us for this wonderful conversation with Ian Wood. 📸 See more of Ian’s work: https://www.agoodplace.co.uk/ 🎙️ Listen to our previous conversation with Ian Wood: https://thecameracafeshow.com/ianwood 🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration: https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

  • S4 · E66
    April 5 · 55 min

    Paul Joynson-Hicks: The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

    Not all wildlife photos are majestic — some are delightfully ridiculous! Wildlife photographer and Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards co-founder Paul Joynson-Hicks takes us into the story behind one of the most unique photography competitions in the world — one that celebrates the funny, unexpected, and very human side of animals in the wild. From its beginnings in 2015 to becoming a global phenomenon with thousands of entries each year, we explore how humor can open the door to conservation in a way that feels light, engaging, and accessible to everyone. We also talk about Paul’s life in Tanzania, where he has spent more than three decades working as a wildlife photographer and guide, sharing his passion for Africa with people from all over the world. From goat racing, raising money for conservation, being awarded an MBE and making people smile through photography, this conversation moves between storytelling, laughter, and the simple joy of seeing the world a little differently. Grab a coffee, settle in, and join us for this delightfully ridiculous conversation with Paul Joynson-Hicks. ***** 📸 See more of Paul’s work: https://www.joynsonhicks.com/ 😂 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards: https://www.comedywildlifephoto.com/ 🎤 Watch the TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/tom_sullam_the_award_for_best_comedy_wildlife_photo_goes_to ***** 🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration: https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

  • S4 · E65
    March 15 · 42 min

    Chinky Shukla: When Buddha Stopped Smiling

    What happens to a community long after a nuclear test is over? Documentary photographer and National Geographic Explorer Chinky Shukla takes us into the villages of India where the story didn’t end when the nuclear bombs were detonated. Through her long-term projects in Jadugoda and Pokhran, she documents the lives of people living close to uranium mines and nuclear test sites — places where the consequences of history continue to shape everyday life. We also talk about her journey into photography, her background growing up in Delhi, nominations for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, Joop Swart Masterclass and the hopeful side of her work: photography workshops with children in Pokhran who are learning to tell their own stories through the camera. We talk about train travel across India, cooking, and the small everyday moments that remind us that even in the most serious stories, life — and sometimes laughter — continues. Grab a coffee, settle in, and join us for this wonderful conversation with Chinky Shukla. ***** 📸 See more of Chinky's work: https://www.chinkyshukla.in/ **** 🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration: https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

  • S4 · E64
    March 8 · 1 hr 4 min

    Arati Kumar-Rao: Listening in the Marginlands

    Slow down. The story is already there. Photographer, writer, and National Geographic Explorer Arati Kumar-Rao joins us for a conversation about listening, slow storytelling, and documenting a world in transition. Named one of the BBC’s 100 Most Influential and Inspiring Women in 2023, her work has been published internationally, exploring the fragile relationship between people and the environments they inhabit. We discuss her long-term project Marginlands and the stories she has documented across India — from the Thar Desert all the way to the Sundarbans — where disappearing groundwater, habitat loss, and environmental change reshape both landscapes and the lives of people and wildlife alike. Along the way, we talk about her journey from corporate life into photography, why patience matters more than speed, and how meaningful storytelling often begins long before the camera is raised. This conversation marks the first of three upcoming talks with remarkable Indian female storytellers, each bringing a different perspective on photography and storytelling. So, grab a coffee, slow things down for a moment, and join us — the kettle’s on, and the story’s waiting! ***** 📸 See more of Arati's work: https://www.aratikumarrao.com/ ***** 🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration: https://www.thecameracafeshow.com

Showing 21–29 of 29 episodes