Jeffery Saddoris Podcast Archive
by Jeffery Saddoris
The Jeffery Saddoris Podcast Archive is a collection of interviews, conversations, and explorations spanning more than fifteen years of work — shows include Process Driven, Deep Natter, In Between, Q&A at Faded & Blurred, and more. You'll find conversations and ideas about photography, creativity, making, and paying attention. These episodes were recorded between 2010 and 2023 and represent a body of work that shaped everything that followed. Some of it has aged well. All of it was made with care. The archive is no longer updated, but the threads running through it lead directly to what I’m making now.
Episodes
-
Modern Master of Mood: Gregory Crewdson
NOTE: This is the audio track from my video review, which I encourage you to watch on YouTube or read on Substack. In a new book from Prestel, simply titled Gregory Crewdson, editor Walter Moser — the head of the department of photography at the ALBERTINA in Vienna — has curated a selection of...
-
Deep Natter: Artificial Isolation
In this episode, without knowing it, Sean and I each posted something about AI this week and we thought it might be fun to sit down and compare notes. We also talk about the growing problem of loneliness that exists on both sides of the Atlantic and a few of the things we’ve each been thinking...
-
Deep Natter: A Copy of a Copy
In this episode, Maarten Rots joins me from the Netherlands for a terrific conversation talking about a recent salon group show he was in and the importance of saying yes to putting our work out into the world. Plus, I pitch him an idea for a potential new zine project and we even talk a little…
more -
Deep Natter: A Healthy Self-Centeredness
I want to let you know that this is the last regular episode with Sean and me for the foreseeable future. There will be more episodes of Deep Natter in the future with a variety of different co-hosts sitting in, like Jon Wilkening from the last episode, and I’m sure there will be more with Sean…
more -
Deep Natter: Letting the Field Go Fallow
In this episode, I'm joined by Jon Wilkening who, after a disappointing trip out West, walked away from the creative side of his life to refocus on his family. Now, three years later, the itch to create has started to come back, though he’s not exactly sure what that might look like. CONNECT WITH...
-
Deep Natter: There’s Got To Be Balance
In this episode, Sean and I are talking about balance—specifically the balance between work and happiness and doing the work you love versus doing the work that pays the bills. Plus, we talk about stepping outside of our respective comfort zones to produce work that’s just as challenging for us…
more -
Deep Natter: They Painted the Whole Town Blue
In this episode, Maarten Rots joins me from a village in the south of Spain where he’s been working on photos for the next issue of his magazine March & Rock. He’s also been reflecting on a decade as a photographer and we talk about some of the changes in how he approaches his work and what he…
more -
Between the Accolades (w/Bill Wadman)
Last week, I sat down for a conversation with Bill Wadman that was released in this feed as well as the On Taking Pictures feed, which hadn’t been updated since 2018. The response to the episode was, well, unexpected to say the least. We’ve gotten a ton of feedback and I can’t tell you how much…
more -
Going Back To Move Forward (w/Bill Wadman)
In 2012, Bill Wadman and I recorded the first episode of On Taking Pictures and for the next 324 weeks, we never missed an episode. Even though Bill and I don’t talk every week like we used to, whenever we do, it’s like picking up the conversation where we left off. If you’ve never listened to an...
-
Deep Natter: Don’t Play It Too Safe
Before we get started, I want to let you know that we’re making some changes to the show. In addition to bringing back Process Driven, these conversations with Sean will go to monthly, rather than twice a month and my goal is to bring in a different co-host for at least one additional episode per...
-
Deep Natter: A Purer Definition of Art
In this episode, we’re picking up at the tail end of a conversation Sean and I were having about money and value and how that relates to art and it reminded Sean of an interview he was listening to with Steven Fry, which helps to set the tone for the rest of the show. Pay particular attention to...
-
Deep Natter: What Would You Make For You?
In this episode, we’re talking about making the work that means the most to us as the maker and how sometimes, we need to take a step back in order to see it. We also talk about a terrific new documentary about the visual effects wizards at Industrial Light & Magic. LINKS Tom Jones Tiny Desk...
-
Deep Natter: Resetting the Algorithm
In this episode, we’re continuing to talk about living a creative life without allowing the algorithm dictate what you see and, more importantly, what you make. We also talk about the often repetitive nature of storytelling in cinema and cite a few exceptions. LINKS Casey Neistat AIAIAI…
more -
Deep Natter: What Do You Want to Say?
In this episode, Sean and I are talking about the importance of finding your own creative voice and producing the work you want to see in the world, regardless of what you think an audience wants to see from you. LINKS Radiolab This American Life Serial Adnan Syed is Free My paintings Marshall...
-
Deep Natter: We Don't Know What We Don't Know
In this episode, Sean and I are talking about what we can do when it’s time to take a step back to regroup and/or refocus, either on our own or with the help of a professional. Plus, this is the last weekly episode of Deep Natter for a while as each of us takes time to get other projects…
more -
Deep Natter: The World's Not Over Yet
Full disclosure, there are parts of this episode where Sean and I get a little heavy. There are simply so many things going on in the world that it can sometimes feel overwhelming, leaving us really struggling with what to do and wondering which way to turn. We also talk about the renewed…
more -
Deep Natter: A Sober Level of Self-Confidence
Failure is something that virtually every creative has faced at some point. In this episode, Sean and I unpack some of the differences between real and perceived failure, and some ways we can respond to each of them without simply giving up. We also talk about the importance of trusting our…
more -
Deep Natter: It's Not a Limitation of Talent
In this episode, Sean and I are talking about pivoting when a project just isn’t taking off or going in the direction we want it to. Sean also shares some thoughts on revisiting and possibly even updating a past project, inspired in part by conversations he’s had with people in his photographic...
-
Deep Natter: Digging in as Deeply as Possible
In this episode, Sean and I geek out a little over lighting and talk a bit about how shallow depth of field can often be the low hanging fruit in photography. We also talk about a few examples of our favorite film editing that refuses to simply hold the audience by the hand to explain everything...
-
Deep Natter: That’s the Work
In this episode, on the back of Sean’s recent meetup in London, we’re talking about the social energy it often requires for introverts to engage with other people and the toll simply being out in the world can sometimes take. We also talk about the importance of producing work that allows an...
-
Deep Natter: The Thing About the Work
In this episode, I’m joined by large format landscape photographer Ben Horne and we’re talking about some of the challenges and considerations around creating products for an audience and why print still and maybe always will be better than looking at work on a screen. LINKS Daniel Milnor:...
-
Deep Natter: A Different Kind of Creative
In this episode, Sean finds out he’s got scammers posing as him online and we have a fascinating conversation about a new AI called MidJourney that has artists and photographers scrambling to figure out how and why to use it. LINKS Kitboga Jim Browning Scott Detwiler MidJourney AI Crow images...
-
Deep Natter: Discovering All the Time
In this episode, Sean gives me some valuable advice for starting my own YouTube channel, which leads into a terrific discussion around the importance of identifying what motivates us to make. Plus, we gush a little about Justin Hawkins. LINKS Shot Deck Joey L Annie Leibovitz photographing Keith...
-
Deep Natter: Sometimes You Just Know
In this episode, Friend of the Show Maarten Rots joins me from his mobile studio in the Netherlands to talk about how a space can have an affect on what kind of work we produce in it. We also talk about the difficulty in breaking out of creative habits and the challenge of when to take our work…
more -
Deep Natter: A Collaboration with Technology
In this episode, Sean and I are talking about how some of the evolutions in technology will impact the way we make art and, in some cases, blur the line of creativity between humans and machines. We also trade links to some of the things each of us has found interesting over the past week or so....
-
Deep Natter: Go with the Questions
In this episode, Sean and I have an honest and, at times, revealing discussion around how comparing our work to others can often lead to creative paralysis. We also talk about the importance of finding an accountability buddy who can give us the support and feedback we need—whether it’s positive…
more -
Deep Natter: You Only Have the Journey
We’re a little all over the place in this episode, from Kate Bush and Stranger Things to Top Gun: Maverick, to the importance of the creative journey and how sharing the what and the how often yields greater fruit than simply playing our processes close to the vest. LINKS Henry Thomas’ ET…
more -
Deep Natter: A Smooth Trajectory to Brilliant
Do you ever get the feeling that the world is falling apart? Me too, but in this episode, Sean and I discuss how feelings aren’t facts and just because the bad stuff is often easier to believe doesn’t make it true. Plus, we talk about expectations and how needing to know the outcome of a project...
-
Deep Natter: A Terrible Artistic Model
In this episode, Sean is back and shares some of his thoughts and takeaways from his recent creative retreat in Tuscany. Also, I finally finished The Last of Us 2, which we’ve wanted to talk about literally for years. I think it’s safe to say that for each of us, not only was it an incredible...
-
Deep Natter: Everything’s an Experiment
Last week, I was joined by Maarten Rots for a terrific conversation around his approach to creativity. As is often the case when talking about the creative process, there’s always more to unpack so I asked Maarten if he’d be willing to come back to continue the conversation. In this episode…
more -
Deep Natter: You Can Always Try Again
This is episode 50 of Deep Natter and today we’ve got a little treat for you. If you’re a regular listener, you’ve undoubtedly heard the name Maarten Rots. He’s someone that Sean and I have mentioned a number of times on the show, usually in reference to how creative he is. Back in 2020, Sean…
more -
Deep Natter: Structured But Simple
Last week, I was talking to Maarten Rots—who you’ve heard us mention several times on the show—and I was asking him how he manages to stay so creative. His answer not only surprised me, but it inspired me to adopt a similar approach to my own creativity in an experiment for the month of June....
-
Deep Natter: Feelings Aren’t Facts
A few days ago, I came across a post that painted a pretty grim portrait of our collective futures—and here’s the thing…I wasn’t surprised by it at all. If I’m being honest, it’s something that I often feel anyway. When I brought it up to Sean, he was quick to point out that the way we feel is...
-
Deep Natter: The Technique is Invisible
In this episode, Sean and I are talking about moving forward on new projects and how for each of us, the success of those projects relies heavily not on simple tricks but in a deeper connection to technique and narrative. We also talk about dealing with the perceived failure anytime we venture…
more -
Deep Natter: Sometimes There’s Nothing
In this episode, Sean and I are using a discussion around the visual effects of The Batman as a springboard to talk about tools. We also unpack some of the differences in how we approach the research and selection process and how for each of us, a big part of any purchase revolves around worth…
more -
Deep Natter: Everything’s a Thumbnail
I few nights ago, I got to go see Jacob Collier, who I was introduced to by Sean. If you’ve never heard of him or heard his music, he’s an absolute genius who is able to play pop, jazz, classical, you name it, and his fans include Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, and Hans Zimmer. In this episode,...
-
Deep Natter: On Your Own Terms
In this episode, we’re talking about changing up the how and the why of what we do creatively by getting away from chasing likes and follows and putting more energy into creating community and engagement. Plus, a voice message from a listener inspires a conversation around a specific kind of art....
-
Deep Natter: Just Show Me Beautiful Stuff
Let me ask you something. Do process and technique really matter? I mean in the grand scheme of making art, does it matter what tools or what techniques an artist uses to create their work as long as the end product is compelling or pleasing to look at or moves us in some way? Well, in this...
-
Process Driven: Nikon Ambassador Joe McNally
Terms like “icon” and “legend” get thrown around pretty casually these days, but in the case of photographer Joe McNally, they are not only absolutely appropriate but also well-deserved. He’s shot for some of the most prestigious magazines and clients in the world, including TIME, Newsweek, LIFE,...
-
Deep Natter: Who Are You?
How would you describe yourself? What are you interested in, not in terms of taking pictures or painting or writing, but what subjects really light you up? That’s what Sean and I are talking about in this episode. Plus, we dive a little deeper into the Enneagram and take a look at how we’re…
more -
Deep Natter: The Habit of Introspection
This episode might seem like a bit of a departure, but I don’t really think that it is. Sean and I started out talking about the Morning Pages challenge from last week’s episode, which then led us down a rabbit hole into a larger discussion around science and God and how the search for truth is...
-
Deep Natter: You Have To Sift
Recently, the closing of my former web host inspired Sean and I to take a step back from our respective websites — and it’s allowed each of us to see the work we do and, maybe more interestingly, the work we share in a different light. Also, Sean reveals an exciting new direction that his life…
more -
Deep Natter: Do Websites Still Matter?
In this episode, Sean and I are discussing the role of the personal website in an age of dwindling attention spans and the rise of social media. Is the Squarespace site or the Wordpress blog still as important and relevant as it once was or have people left the websites behind in favor of…
more -
Deep Natter: The Audience is Wrong
In this episode, what happens when one of your favorite artists puts out work that you don’t really like? Do you dismiss it as a creative misstep or do you try to look at it from a different perspective, trusting that they knew exactly what they wanted to release and not “getting it” is on you…
more -
Deep Natter: There Is No Bar
In this episode, Sean and I talk about expectations around the things we make and the imaginary bars we set for ourselves which are often not only beyond our control but, in the grand scheme of things, they’re just not accurate measures of our worth. Plus how would you react if your next project...
-
Deep Natter: Calculated Moves
In this episode, a conversation about gear leads to a discussion around some of the challenges of working with brands or services while still maintaining your creative integrity. We also talk about some of the musicians who have recently sold their back catalogs for enormous sums of money and…
more -
Deep Natter: It's Only Fear
In this episode, we’re talking about control and fear, both in terms of how they are related to one an other and how they can individually and collectively keep us from putting out new work. LINKS Tascam Mixcast 4 Sean’s Fiona Lark Video Patrice O’Neal The War of Art CONNECT WITH SEAN Website:...
-
Deep Natter: Finding The Thing That Lights You Up
In this episode, a discussion around birthdays leads to a deeper dive into how limitations can often take our work into unexpected directions. We also talk about mindfulness and Sean offers some powerful advice on how we can be more present not just in our work, but also in our day-to-day lives....
-
Deep Natter: You Want to be You
One of the themes we keep coming back to on this show is the idea of being seen or heard, and I think for both Sean and myself, that desire is core to who we are as humans. I think that’s one of the reasons social media has become such a big part of the human experience. In this episode, we’re...
-
Deep Natter: I’m Not That Verbose
A couple weeks ago, we asked what you’d like to see in a new photo community and in this episode we’re talking about some of your responses and sharing a few of our own. We also dip back into an ongoing discussion around real life creative communities and Sean shares the story of a recent evening...
About this show
The Jeffery Saddoris Podcast Archive is a collection of interviews, conversations, and explorations spanning more than fifteen years of work — shows include Process Driven, Deep Natter, In Between, Q&A at Faded & Blurred, and more. You'll find conversations and ideas about photography, creativity, making, and paying attention. These episodes were recorded between 2010 and 2023 and represent a body of work that shaped everything that followed. Some of it has aged well. All of it was made with care. The archive is no longer updated, but the threads running through it lead directly to what I’m making now.
Hosted by
Jeffery Saddoris