What if the stories we tell ourselves are the very thing that keep us moving? In this episode of Bad Photographers, Griff gets real about the lies we use to survive the creative grind, not to deceive others, but to convince ourselves we’re capable long enough to step into the moment.
We start in the quiet collapse of 2020, the grounded flights, frozen campaigns, and the blurry days when creative identity felt like it evaporated overnight. But everything shifts when Griff finds unexpected fuel in The Last Dance, and the psychological games Michael Jordan played on himself to perform at the highest level.
From there, the episode dives into how photographers use the same mental tricks in their own careers — including a story about documentary photographer César Rodríguez, whose career is lined with awards and high-risk reporting. Early on, César stretched the truth just enough to step into an opportunity he wasn’t sure he was ready for. Not out of deception, but out of belief that he could rise to the moment. And he did. Today, he’s a Picture of the Year International winner, a 2024 Paris Photo–Aperture photobook finalist, a 2025 Alexia Foundation Grant runner-up, a Hefat hostile-environment–trained photojournalist, and a MoMA-recognized photobook author — proof that sometimes the story you tell yourself is the bridge to the career you’re meant for.
Chapters
00:00 The Art of Self-Deception
02:01 Navigating the Pandemic's Impact
04:20 Michael Jordan's Mindset
06:38 Borrowing Belief and Overcoming Doubt
08:49 Making It Personal
Takeaways
If you’ve ever felt unprepared, underqualified, or stuck inside your own head, this episode is your permission slip.A conversation about impostor syndrome, creative psychology, documentary work, and the quiet mind games that help us keep going.
Listen in. Lie a little. Become a lot.
Bad Photog's Website: bad-photographers.com
Instagram: @badphotographers
Cesar's Website: cesarrodriguezb.com
In this episode of The Bad Photographers Podcast, we sit down with Bennie J. Davis III—the Air Force photographer behind one of the most dramatic and widely recognized air show jet-crash photos ever captured. Bennie walks us through the day that changed everything: the moments leading up to the Thunderbirds jet crash, what he saw through the viewfinder, and how a split second of instinct turned into an iconic aviation image that would spark investigations, questions of photo ownership, and a career-defining wave of public attention.
This conversation dives deep into the world of military photography, including the pressure of documenting high-risk aviation events, the fallout of a leaked military photograph, and the emotional toll of capturing traumatic moments. Bennie shares candid insights about the technical preparation required to photograph fast-moving aircraft, the responsibility of documenting incidents for public accountability, and the psychological weight that follows photographers long after the moment is over.
We also explore the broader impact of this photograph—how attribution, public perception, and recognition from senior military leadership shaped Bennie’s path, and why open conversations about trauma, mental health, and resilience in photography are essential for the next generation.
Whether you’re interested in aviation, Air Force history, crash investigations, photography under pressure, or the human story behind an image, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the most unforgettable moments ever captured at an air show.
🔑 Key Takeaways
Bennie J. Davis III is a photographer and public servant with more than 30 years of experience.
He photographed a dramatic air show jet crash, producing one of the most recognized ejection images in aviation.
Preparedness and understanding your camera settings are critical in high-pressure environments.
Military photographers face unique challenges around documentation, ownership, and protocol.
A single image can trigger investigations and unexpected career consequences.
The blend of luck, timing, and skill often defines iconic aviation images.
Mentorship and maturity are crucial for long-term success in high-stakes photography.
Understanding aviation mechanics helps photographers anticipate dangerous situations.
Traumatic events leave lasting psychological effects—an important part of the conversation in military and news photography.
The impact of a photograph can reach far beyond the moment it’s captured, shaping careers and public perception.
🎙️ Chapters
00:00 — Introduction: Bad Photographers x Bennie J. Davis III
02:57 — Bennie’s Start in Photography
05:54 — The Day of the Air Show
08:46 — Inside the Air Traffic Control Tower
11:53 — When the Incident Began
14:56 — Capturing the Jet Crash Moment
17:40 — Aftermath, Reactions & Investigation
24:06 — Breaking Down the Incident
34:26 — Navigating Air Force Protocols
49:26 — Understanding the Aviation Mishap
52:32 — Trauma, Memory & Growth
54:41 — Revisiting the Kyle Incident
58:43 — How One Photo Transformed a Career
01:00:49 — Carrying the Weight of Experience
01:04:39 — Vulnerability & Lessons Learned
01:11:40 — Risk, Responsibility & the Photographer’s Dilemma
Additional Things to check out
Instagram: www.instagram.com/badphotographers‘
Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds’ Netflix Review: Stream It Or Skip It?
Video Shows F-16 Thunderbird Crash in California - Newsweek
1982 Thunderbirds Indian Springs diamond crash - Wikipedia
Keywords
military photography, Thunderbirds crash, air show incident, jet crash photo, aviation mishap, pilot ejection, Air Force photographer, Air Force investigation, behind the photo, iconic aviation image, military trauma, photography under pressure, documenting aviation incidents, mental health in photography, combat camera, public perception, crash documentation, photographer interview
Ever stopped to breathe and ask yourself what all those years behind the lens really meant? In this episode of Bad Photographers, Griff steps out of uniform and into the quite after-action. After 20 years with the Air Force, hundreds of assignments, and thousands of shutter‑clicks, he’s doing something rare: looking back.
He’ll share a single moment from his career, one that didn’t look like a win at the time but changed everything. It’s a story of pressure, pride, ego…and a humbling reminder that when you think you know enough… you probably don’t know shit.
This isn’t a hero’s tale. It’s not a perfectionist’s highlight reel. It’s an honest reflection on what we build, what we lose, and what remains. If you’ve ever felt stuck, burnt out, or too worn to care.... press play. Maybe this time, the most valuable shot won’t be the one you took. It will be the one that makes you stop.
Take a seat. Keep your shutter open. This conversation might just change how you see your path.
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Website: Coming Soon!
Welcome to Bad Photographers — the podcast where your hosts, Chris Griffin and Janiqua Robinson, drag the myths, melt the egos, and shine a very questionable light on the world of photography.
Every episode cracks open the stuff nobody wants to say out loud: the behind-the-scenes chaos, the bad habits we all pretend we don’t have, and the moments that made us who we are (even if they shouldn’t have). We’re talking photo therapy with a twist, deep-dive reporting on the debates everyone argues about in group chats, and the strange, brilliant, messy corners of this craft that make us love it anyway.
This isn’t a masterclass. It’s not a gentle critique. It’s a seat at the table with two working photographers who’ve seen too much, argued too often, and still show up with cameras in our hands because we can’t help ourselves.
If you’re here for honesty, humor, hard truths, and the stories that only surface when the mics are on and the guard is down..... you’re in the right place.
Welcome to the show.
We’re all bad photographers here.