PODCAST · arts
On Taking Pictures
by Bill Wadman and Jeffery Saddoris
Every week, Jeffery Saddoris and Bill Wadman take on the art, science, and philosophy of photography and explore how they play out behind the camera in the process of making images. Insider insights for the novice, shop talk for the professional, and opinionated discussion for the interested observer of the field's trends and legacy. Hosted by Bill Wadman & Jeffery Saddoris.
Episodes
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381: Quiet Moments
Bill and Jeffery discuss a new Blade Runner photography book, reflect on Pollock's art and creative process, explore the role of purpose in creativity, and dive into AI tools for photography. They feature photographer Jeff Cowan and ponder the value of 'doing nothing' in a creative life. SV105401...
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380: Make The Next One Better
Bill and Jeffery gripe about Apple's new pricing and gear decisions, then get into Norman Rockwell's staged reference photography after a Vermont museum trip, and wander through social media algorithms, creative burnout, and letting go and moving onto the next project, before wrapping with...
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379: Artifacts Of Time And Place
Bill and Jeffery grumble about Apple's Mac mini and Mac Studio price increases and Jeffery’s love for the Supernote Manta, then spend most of the episode remembering photographer Jay Maisel, touring stories and photos from his cavernous bank-building archive and debating what makes a photographic...
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378: X-Wing not the X-1
Bill and Jeffery dig into where creative legitimacy actually comes from now that gatekeepers like ASMP and Magnum have lost their grip, and talk about why they stopped chasing metrics and just make the show for its own sake. They also swap stories about a QR-code standoff at the Air and Space...
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377: Touching The Backstop
Bill and Jeffery talk through a buggy macOS beta, a $10 thrift-store flatbed scanner, and the endless search for a good digital asset manager, then get into why they both might be pulling back from Instagram and just taking photos for themselves again. They also swap stories about vintage audio...
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376: Shrink-wrapped In Anxiety
Bill and Jeffery ramble from brushes with celebrities and growing up before the internet to a deep dive into old Mold-A-Rama toy machines, vanishing physical media, and why modern life feels so overwhelming, before wrapping up with this week's featured photographer, Arthur Elgort. Freedom Train...
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375: Don’t Get Sucked Into The Battle
Episode 375 opens with a personal reflection on the death of photographer William Coupon, a friend Bill made through the show years ago, and a broader conversation on grief and mentorship. Bill also describes vibe-coding a custom Mac app with Claude Code to automate uploading episodes and…
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374: Iterating on Noise
Ansel Adams in AI color? Yuck! Do we ever get past the fear of complete failure and should we? Color grading footage and getting lost. Montana native Robert Osborn is our Photographer of the Week. Danziger response to the AI Ansel Adams print Degas “Woman seat beside a vase of flowers” Bill’s...
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373: Uncertainty Within An Envelope
How to teach an old dog new tricks by learning new skills, tools, and processes. Also some discussion of first stage movie making and William Gottlieb as our Photographer of the Week. Jacob Collier Berklee Commencement Speech William P Gottlieb on Wikipedia
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372: Mental Proprioception
Big long conversation about change and mental health, then a trip down a used camera rabbit hole. Emma Summerton is our Photographer of the Week. “Bowling Alone” John Stewart talking about AI PotW – Emma Summerton Sandra Huller in Vanity Fair
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371: Moon Joy
Jeffery & Bill are back to discuss the amazing pictures from Artemis II and the cameras they used, as well as whether doing something without it trying to be great is doing it at all. Lillian Bassman, who has a show at The Met in NYC right now, is our Photographer of the Week. Lunar Eclipse from...
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370: Detritus of Life
Is it worth going backwards in order to go forward? Finding yourself again in things you thought were in your past. Pioneering documentary photographer Alice Seeley Harris is our Photographer of the Week. “Conjuration” by Pepper Adams “Blame it on my Youth” played by Keith Jarrett Trio Ze Frank...
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369: Digital Entitlement
We're back!! At least every once in a while when we feel like it. This time to discuss Bill fixing the battery door of his beloved Pentax, how changing technology is effecting the reasons why we make things, and whether anyone has a good reason to buy a new camera anymore. Helen Levitt is our...
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368: Everything Has Limits
Jeffery and Bill discuss the Dan Winters episode of the Disney/Hulu series ‘Photographer’ and how maker’s relationships with their partners and families allows them to do what they do. Adventure photographer Krystle Wright is our Photographer of the Week. 'Photographer' on Hulu Dorothy Simpson...
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367: Offended By Extension
Should you react to changes in the industry by going on defense or offense? And what does offense in this context mean. TIF vs PSD vs PSB and more. Ken Nahoum is our Photographer of the Week. Jerry Ghionis websitePlaton's portrait of Richard SerraDavid Seidner show at ICPGuy bought an Imacon...
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366: A Big Fluffy Thing
Change the variables you control when that's what's holding you back. Also, how to have your portfolio stand out and fit in to the preconceived notions of your viewers all at the same time. Bastiaan Woudt is our Photographer of the Week. Canva Acquires Affinity Rebecca Ferguson photos by @juankr...
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365: It Feels Different
Something feels different for Jeffery and it's a good thing, something feels different for Bill and it's not a good thing. Tony Notarberardino is our Photographer of the Week. Attention!: The power of simple decisions in a distracted world Jony Ive on Steve Jobs focus Bill's picture of Cisco…
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364: I Don’t Think It’s Gonna Work
Is Instagram still about photography? Even if it is, are they photographs of real life anymore or is AI imagery just the next step toward the fantasy the world seemingly wants. Bill got little Godox Lux Junior flash, but is still not sold. Jack Delano is our Photographer of the Week. EU…
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363: Not In My Vocabulary
Jeffery is copying his art to photographs and Bill has found a new online color editor which he's playing with while learning to accept and grow from critique. Todd Schick is our Photographer of the Week. San Francisco Art Institute bought by Laurene Powell Jobs Color.io Jacob Collier interview...
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362: Motion Is The Hapiness
Turns out Jacob Collier is an amazing musician even if he doesn't label his tracks. Jeffery and Bill discuss figuring out other people's process and how sometimes it's more fun not to know. Jo Ann Callis is our Photographer of the Week. LOGIC SESSION BREAKDOWN: "Bridge Over Troubled Water"…
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361: Didn't Have Enough Power
AI video is here, but who is it good for? Reviews are mixed for the new Fuji x100VI. When does change make sense and when to leave well enough lone? Marion Post Wolcott is our Photographer of the Week. Why “Shot on Iphone” Commercials Look So Good! Fuji X100VI – PetaPixel Fuji X100VI –...
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360: Toiled Away In Quiet Desperation
Circus Models and Slot Cars lead Jeffery and Bill into discussing the skill of overcoming indecision and the emotional ownership of the things you make. Classic 20th century photograph Norman Parkinson is Photographer of the Week. Slot Mods article Slot Mods Man Dodging a Kettle - Know Your Meme...
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359: Consistency is Hard
Jeffery and Bill discuss the new documentary "The Greatest Night in Pop" on Netflix, photographing art, and pictures of themselves at 21. 20th century German photographer Herbert List is our Photographer of the Week. The Greatest Night in Pop The Photography Behind Earthrise U2 Songs of Surrender...
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358: Inverse of Social Media
Sitting on the knife's edge of needing people around and also wanting to be alone. Plus how do you make friends in your 50's. Bill finally got his knives sharpened and made some friends along the way. Gerald Cyrus is our Photographer of the Week. LinoType Documentary Murder of Kitty Genovese…
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357: Knife Burrito
Jeffery and Bill take a look at the feedback loop between confidence or competence. Also Bill's kitchen knives sharpening adventure Part One. Fashion photographer Cody Rasmussen is Photographer of the Week. Del Re Grinding Truck John's Sharpening Service Zefrank "The Innovation Wave" NYT Rat...
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356: Archaeological Remnants
A big folder of family photos to Bill leads him and Jeffery to discuss family history. We also go deep on the concept of a workspace and what it takes to make a good one. Plus we take a gander at a NYTimes piece which considers culture dead. Karl Bissinger is Photographer of the Week. Vintage...
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355: A World of Noise
In a world where we're overrun with images already, some people are gunning to give machines copyright, but to what end? Also some Q&A about recommendations and process. Fashion Photographer Deborah Turbeville is our Photographer of the Week. Stephen Thaler AI article Jeffery Film Rec: "In The…
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354: Effort as Currency
How do you hold onto inspiration and remind yourself later? Your process is the result of your experiences. Perhaps it's better to lean into how you work rather than force yourself into someone else's system. A great AI rebuttal on the NYTimes and South African photographer Peter Magubane is our...
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353: We Need Another You
Some thoughts on last week's in-person episode leads Jeffery and Bill to discuss how copying is never a perfect copy and why that's a good thing. A recent conversation about AI imagery from the NYTimes is discussed and we answer a listener question about physical controls for Lightroom. Alain...
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352: There's Always Value In The Effort
Join Jeffery and Bill on a walk down the National Mall in DC as they discuss the Dorthea Lange and Rothko shows at the National Gallery and cut to the quick on the meaning of life, this time, in person! French Vietnam War photographer Catherine Leroy is Photographer of the Week. Dorthea Lange at...
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351 : Don’t Cater To The Camera
Bill spends hours digging midi data out of a 17 year old file to open up a box that already had a bow on it. Also, should you cater to the camera or let the camera cater to you? All this and 80's-90's fashion photographer David Seidner is our Photographer of the Week. CakeWalk by BandLab Tony…
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350 : Creative Closure
Bill regales Jeffery with stories from his "Sleep No More" experience this past weekend. Which of course leads the two of them into discussing communications within an organization and deciding when you're old enough to just be yourself, regardless of what other people think. The recently passed...
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349 : Save The Clocktower
Does the way we learned to use the tools we use hold us back when those tools inevitably change under our feet? The Apple TV+ series "The Supermodels" teaches us a lesson on the value of a good subject and the role of collaboration as tool for improvement. At the end Bill throws in some musings…
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348: We Turn Over The Soil
Memories, nostalgia, and where to draw the line. How our representations of ourselves on the internet change over time and how we define what it is we are to the outside world and how you can't control how they see you. Ben Lowy is our photographer of the week. Led Zepelin IV cover photo found…
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347: Untied String
Listen to us zag into a technical episode where we discuss Apple's new M3 processors, Adobe's new noise reduction system in Lightroom, how good the new 24MP iPhone photos are, the cool technology that led to a new Beatles song in 2023, and where to start in a lighting kit. British photographer...
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346: Chase the Creative Dragon
A conversation of the impact of your mood on your work, especially photography leads to us diving back into our brains in an attempt to rewrite the memories of our past through photographs. Architectural photographer and meme-master Simon Devitt is our Photographer of the Week. Marina Abramovic...
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345: I’m Beholden to No One
Bill is back from Paris so it's time for some deep thoughts on fear, pain, and the present. Plus a story about getting lost in a French library that could have been a Star Wars matte painting. Korean photographer Cho Gi-Seok is photographer of the week. USB-C craziness on iPhone 15 Pro Louis XIV...
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344: I See What You Mean
Bill's headed to Paris on a jet plane, so we've got a short one for you today. The recent story of the demise of Moog synths (again) gets us talking about brands and gear and whether the tools being made with art and intention effects the results you get from those tools. Skate and music...
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343: The Difference Is What Makes It Yours
We start by discussing retro lens recreations, take a ride on a bus, and then decide that ending at a different place than your goal is often the whole point. Miniature set photographer Marius Sperlich is our Photographer of the Week. Nonikkor lenses Julie London Album Cover Bill’s recreation of...
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342: It's Not The Photography
Jeffery learns that Bill doesn’t play games, enjoy Halloween, or watch comedy, so they spend some time unpacking all of that that. I guess they’re not playing Jeffery’s Dreamcast together. The Manet/Degas show at The Met is discussed and a bit of Camera Corner because Bill played with an M10 and...
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341: Overcoming The Initial Inertia
Cutting up your plans into small enough pieces that they no longer stop you from getting going. Plus a little bit about the new iPhone 15 Pro. Homework for the week is to watch the 2017 film “Columbus”. Marvin Newman, who died this week at 95, is once again out photographer of the week. Olivia...
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340: Hope Marketing Doesn’t Work
Jeffery and Bill discuss finding the process that works best for you and how keeping your brain guessing can often help. They also tackle a few listener questions. Lee Miller is our Photographer of the Week. Bernie Taupin on WTF Ken Mogi on Ikigai venn diagram The Bikeriders trailer Kate Winslet…
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339: Just Jump Into The Water
Jeffery and Bill discuss the Japanese concept of Ikigai and how the more you ignore your inability the more your inability will become your ability. Early 20th century showgirl photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston is our Photographer of the Week. Ikigai Phil Hartman Wicked Coney Island Polar Bear...
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338: Is The LED Still Lit?
Has making art ceased to be special? And might that be a consequence of external and internal forces? Any time spent making is better than time wasted not. Victoria Will is out Photographer of the Week. Jill Greenberg on John McCain Wes Anderson – Grand Budapest Hotel BTS PosterLad OTP #43 –...
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337: My Whole Life Is A Year of Sabbatical
Bill got back from summer vacation and doesn’t feel restored. So he and Jeffery spend some time discussing how to switch off. Skater and artist Ed Templeton is our photographer of the week. The Shark is Broken Daniel Milnor – Shifter: Question and Answer 54 Matthew Lesko Ed Templeton
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336: There Has To Be A Mythology
How do we distinguish between things we make for us and things we make for money? That, submarines references, and a fairly deep dive into Bill's old Drabbles project are discussed. Squaring the Circle documentary Andy Warhol’s Factory of Truth on Cautionary Tales podcast Proto Drabble of Heather...
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335: The Lesson In This Season of My Life
What’s Jeffery working on lately? If not, why not? Also, does everyone think they’re a fraud deep down and just keep it to themselves? Christian Witkin is our Photographer of the Week. Jeffery Saddoris Substack Chemtrail Conspiracy Theory Christian Witkin Portfolio Christian Witkin Instagram Post
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334: Nature of the MrBeast
Movies, PSH, fan theories, and oh yeah, only the dialectic pull of simultaneously not wanting to undersell or oversell yourself. We also get into the reasons for making art and how how all these AI LLM are kind of missing the point. Steve Schapiro is our Photographer of the Week. Tommy Westphall...
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333: Answering The Call
Jeffery and Bill dive deep on the idea of community and new perspectives on old things. Including the Canon 5D from 2005 that Bill bought recently on a whim. Victor Skrebneski is the photographer of the week. Van Wilder Soft White Underbelly Poorest Region of America – What It Really Looks Like...
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332: You Did That Wrong, Make It Right
What starts with a conversation about Bill’s new skateboard, and righting the sins of childhood leads us to discuss overcoming fear and mental paralysis. We also get a bit into the Adobe license news, the portraits of the King Charles, and Jeffery’s ideal trail bike. King Charles Official…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Every week, Jeffery Saddoris and Bill Wadman take on the art, science, and philosophy of photography and explore how they play out behind the camera in the process of making images. Insider insights for the novice, shop talk for the professional, and opinionated discussion for the interested observer of the field's trends and legacy. Hosted by Bill Wadman & Jeffery Saddoris.
HOSTED BY
Bill Wadman and Jeffery Saddoris
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does On Taking Pictures have?
On Taking Pictures currently has 368 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is On Taking Pictures about?
Every week, Jeffery Saddoris and Bill Wadman take on the art, science, and philosophy of photography and explore how they play out behind the camera in the process of making images. Insider insights for the novice, shop talk for the professional, and opinionated discussion for the interested...
How often does On Taking Pictures release new episodes?
On Taking Pictures publishes regularly with 368 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to On Taking Pictures?
You can listen to On Taking Pictures on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts On Taking Pictures?
On Taking Pictures is created and hosted by Bill Wadman and Jeffery Saddoris.
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