How do you define photography and the impact of non-photographer based photography

Hosted by Daniel j Gregory

September 7, 2020

Episode Number:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | Pandora | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More

What the heck is this week's podcast about?

Episode 287

I often think of photography as an active verb. It is something that we do, see, and respond. It involves action on both the creator of the image and the viewer. We create photographs to see better, learn about the world and our place in it, and share those insights with others. Hopefully, people look at our photographs to have the same experiences as we did when we created them.


There is, however, a whole set of photography that is created without the photographer. Video and photos are created by surveillance systems and unattended cameras. These photographs and videos are used for evidence for the most part to show the actions recorded by these cameras without the influence of a photographer. As we get more and more of this type of information, this content’s context becomes critical to our understanding of these images. Unlike artistic photos that we accept to have the creator’s bias as part of the image, our expectations of this type of imagery should be that it is the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. However, because we can slice and dissect this type of content to our own needs, I think it essential that as photographers, we have conversations about what this can mean to our understanding of these types of images.


This week’s podcast takes a look at how we define photography in the context of who and how the image was created and the responsibility of photographers to help have meaning conversations about intent and context for how images and videos are made.
Please remember to keep safe and wear your mask!

Also, don’t forget that there are a couple of new workshops I am offering. Each workshop will run for 6-7 months and is limited to six participants. There is a foundation workshop about editing and workflow and an advanced workshop about finding more meaning in your work. You can get more information from the Workshops/Teaching menu above or using one of the links below.

Perceptive Photographer Foundation Workshop: The Developing Image

Perceptive Photographer Advanced Workshop: The Meaningful Image










Affiliate Links

This website may use affiliate links. This means when you purchase something through links marked as affiliate links (usually noted by a *), I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I personally use or have tested.

Gear used in the podcast

Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
Rode Podcast Mic
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Is an audience required for meaning, or just for momentum?

Feb 9, 2026 |

In Episode 570 of The Perceptive Photographer, I found myself circling a couple of questions: Is an audience required for meaning, or just for momentum? And if no one ever sees a photograph, does it still matter? (and the difference between sees and seen)

As photographers, we’re surrounded by feedback. Images are shared, measured, ranked, and quickly replaced by the next shot. It’s easy to absorb the idea that a photograph only becomes real once it’s been seen. But when I slow down and think about why I started making photographs in the first place, the audience was originally never part of that conversation (although is sneaks in now at times).

read more

Moments that make us stop

Feb 2, 2026 |

When was the last time a photograph or moment behind the camera lens truly made you stop and catch your breath? Not just a quick “oh, that’s nice,” but a real, lingering moment of connection? Well, that is the topic for the show today, which is episode 569, btw. podcastsIf you think about the images you see every day, there are so many of them. We’re living in an age of visual overload. It can be easy to become distant and sort of numb to the images. We walk past or scroll by without really seeing. I do it all the time. 

read more