Photography and Loss of Sight, with Pete Eckert

B&H Photography Podcast

Jill Waterman

Podcast, Photography, Arts, Visual Arts, Bh, Photo

4.6 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 7 April 2022

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Artist Pete Eckert began to lose his sight at age twenty-seven. That’s the time he began to study photography. In a few years, Eckert would be completely blind, but his photography practice continued, and numerous exhibitions and high-profile assignments later, he is still creating unique and personal images―and we are fortunate to welcome him to the B&H Photography Podcast. We start our conversation learning a bit about how Eckert lost his sight and then dive right into discussing the ways he learned photography, the modifications he made to his gear, including his Mamiya medium format camera, and the manner in which he works, whether in studio, streets, or nature. Eckert is clear that his photography is not meant to pass for or mimic photography by a sighted person but to create images that tell his story and communicate his perceptions. One glance at his long-exposure, impressionistic images should make that clear.

After a break, we talk with Eckert about his commercial photography assignments, and we learn how he created work for Volkswagen, Swarovski, and Playboy magazine, and how he produces commercial assignments compared to his personal work. We also discuss the value of photography competitions, the groundbreaking “Sight Unseen” photography exhibit, and why Eckert’s photography was featured on an episode of the television police drama NCIS. Join us for this fascinating conversation.

Guest: Pete Eckert

Above photograph © Pete Eckert

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the B&H Photography Podcast.
0:04.0	For over 40 years, B&H has been the professional source for photography, video, audio, and
0:08.9	more.
0:09.9	For your favorite gear, news, and reviews, visit us at bnh.com or download the B&H app to
0:15.4	your iPhone or Android device.
0:17.6	Now here's your host, Alan White.
0:21.7	Greetings and welcome to the B&H Photography Podcast.
0:24.5	Today, John and I will be talking about a subject that crosses the minds of most of us,
0:29.3	especially photographers, and that's the loss of one site.
0:32.7	We're going to start our conversation with photographer Pete Eckert, who in fact is
0:36.6	blind, and learn about his workflow process and his career.
0:40.1	Pete is a California photographer who has shot for Google, Volkswagen, Swarovski, and
0:45.1	Playboy magazine.
0:46.6	His photos were used in the TV show NCIS and on postage stamps for the United Nations.
0:52.2	His work has appeared in countless exhibitions in the US and around the world, and we're
0:56.3	delighted to have him on the show today.
0:59.3	Welcome to the B&H Photography Podcast, Pete.
1:01.5	Good to be here.
1:03.5	It's good to have you on the show.
1:05.6	I think it's a fascinating topic.
1:08.5	Let's start.
1:09.5	Can you tell us how your photos came to be used on the popular police TV show NCIS?
	...

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