DiscoverLes Voix de la Photo#139 [EN] Diane Smyth (British Journal of Photography) Editing, writing and teaching in contemporary photography
#139 [EN] Diane Smyth (British Journal of Photography) Editing, writing and teaching in contemporary photography

#139 [EN] Diane Smyth (British Journal of Photography) Editing, writing and teaching in contemporary photography

Update: 2025-11-12
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In this episode, we talk with Diane Smyth, editor at the British Journal of Photography and an established writer and lecturer based in London. Alongside her role at BJP, Diane contributes to major publications such as The Guardian, FT Weekend Magazine, Aperture, Foam, and Apollo. She also collaborates with Photoworks, where she has contributed as an editor and writer. Diane teaches history and theory of photography at the London College of Communication and has curated exhibitions for The Photographers’ Gallery and the Lianzhou Foto Festival.

With Diane, we discuss her career path, her editorial practice, and how she approaches working with photographers. She also shares her thoughts on the shifts in photography over the past fifteen years, and offers advice for photographers, writers, and editors who want to better understand the editorial world.

Enjoy the episode!


01:30 – Diane Smyth’s academic background: from literature to photography

05:45 – Joining the British Journal of Photography

11:10 – What it means to be an editor: working with photographers and shaping stories

15:40 – Collaborating with Photoworks: editing projects and contributing as a writer

17:20 – Writing across formats: magazines, catalogues, and books

22:50 – Editing at BJP today: curating issues and defining editorial directions

28:15 – Teaching at London College of Communication: guiding new generations of photographers

34:00 – How photography has shifted in the last 10–15 years

44:30 – Balancing roles: editor, writer, lecturer

49:50 – Advice for aspiring editors, writers, and photographers


British Journal of Photography's website: https://www.1854.photography/

Diane's Intagram account: https://www.instagram.com/dismy/?hl=fr


Link to my questionnaire to help you reflect on your artistic career: https://bit.ly/carriereartistique

Lien vers mon questionnaire pour vous aider à faire un point sur votre projet de livre : https://bit.ly/LVDLPlivrephoto


My website: https://marinelefort.fr/


To subscribe to the podcast newsletter: https://bit.ly/lesvoixdelaphotonewsletter

Podcast website: https://lesvoixdelaphoto.fr/

You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @lesvoixdelaphoto


Les Voix de la Photo is a podcast produced and hosted by Marine Lefort.


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#139 [EN] Diane Smyth (British Journal of Photography) Editing, writing and teaching in contemporary photography

#139 [EN] Diane Smyth (British Journal of Photography) Editing, writing and teaching in contemporary photography