Category: Photojournalism

In Libya, Scott Nelson on Photographing the Rebellion – NYTimes.com

On the Ground in Libya

The photographer Scott Nelson has been moved by the welcome he has received by the Libyans he has encountered.

via Lens Blog: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/on-the-ground-in-libya/

Scott Nelson and Ed Ou photographers on assignment for The New York Times, crossed into Libya from Egypt on Tuesday, with a Times reporter, Kareem Fahim. Along with the staff photographer Tyler Hicks they have been reporting from eastern Libya. On Friday morning, James Estrin interviewed Mr. Nelson by e-mail.

February 26, 2011
Noor partners with Nikon for free workshops – BJP

The Amsterdam-based photo agency Noor is offering, through a partnership with Nikon, a five-day workshop for aspiring Eastern European documentary photographers with veterans Stanley Greene, Philip Blenkinsop and Pep Bonet

Link: Noor partners with Nikon for free workshops – British Journal of Photography

February 26, 2011
David Griffin Joins Washington Post As Visuals Editor

David Griffin Joins Washington Post As Visuals Editor

February 23, 2011
“Picture Head”, a response from Donald Weber | dvafoto

In essence, it’s time we recognize our solipsistic viewpoint of only one way to record and document what we deem “photojournalism.” For far too long we have been held hostage by our own stringent rules, guidelines, methodologies and processes of making and distributing what was supposedly photojournalism. To discount Wolf’s work as anything less then what we all do is a rather fearful and, as quoting Lippman, a “democratic defect” in the pursuit of what really should be an egalitarian form of documentation. We cannot thrust upon the public or ourselves an outline of a “proper way.”

Link: “Picture Head”, a response from Donald Weber | dvafoto

February 19, 2011
Samuel Bollendorff joins the agency VU | La Lettre de la Photographie

Samuel Bollendorff joins the agency VU | La Lettre de la Photographie

February 16, 2011
The Online Photographer: Dispatches from Egypt: Peter Turnley in Cairo

Dispatches from Egypt: Peter Turnley in Cairo

The turning point in the Egyptian Revolution, Tahrir Square, Cairo, February 11th–13th Exclusive to The Online Photographer Words and Photographs by Peter Turnley I’ve witnessed and photographed many of the most important moments of geopolitical change of

via The Online Photographer: http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2011/02/peter-turnley-in-cairo.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2FZSjz+%28The+Online+Photographer%29

I’ve witnessed and photographed many of the most important moments of geopolitical change of the past thirty years: the fall of Berlin Wall, the Velvet Revolution in Prague, the overthrow of Ceausescu in Romania, the end of communism and the breakup of the Soviet Union, and the Tiananmen Square uprising and military crackdown in China to name the most important ones. After following daily from afar the uprising in Egypt, and being inspired by the wonderful and courageous photographs made by many of my colleagues who were already there, I decided last Wednesday to board a plane for Cairo. I was well aware of the potential dangers for journalists covering this story.

February 15, 2011
Dispatches from Tahrir Square – British Journal of Photography

Two autocratic regimes have fallen in just two months, attracting dozens of photographers to report from the dangerous frontline. But, for some of these photojournalists, this story is just the beginning

Link: Dispatches from Tahrir Square – British Journal of Photography

February 15, 2011
Epilogue: The judges reflect on the WBD entries – The Society for News Design

Epilogue: The judges reflect on the WBD entries

Now that the winner has been announced, the judges reflect on what they have seen over this long weekend in Syracuse.

via The Society for News Design – SND: http://www.snd.org/2011/02/overview/

Amid all our positive observations, we became concerned about the state of photojournalism in the pages we saw. We missed emotional photographs. Glossy magazines and newsprint pages with vast, luxurious expanses of space were largely devoid of powerful photojournalism.

The lack of strong, documentary images puzzled us. We wondered if this has something to do with reduced investment. The industry has lost so many positions for picture editors and others, and yet great photographs can’t be made without time, care and commitment. Perhaps in places where the work is being done, print space to showcase it is no longer available.

February 15, 2011
Vietnam-era journalists see new dangers today

During the Vietnam War, there were no “embeds,” journalists implanted with well-armed troops, like those who cover wars today from Iraq to Afghanistan. But neither were there snipers, police or troops targeting journalists — who are being killed today at a far greater rate

Link: wn_020711a.html

February 14, 2011
PDN » Photojournalist Giles Duley Gravely Injured in Afghanistan

Photojournalist Giles Duley Gravely Injured in Afghanistan | PDNPulse

The New York Times has just reported that British freelance photographer Giles Duley lost both legs and an arm after stepping on an improvised explosive in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. The incident occurred February 7 while Duley was on a foot pa

via PDNPulse: http://pdnpulse.com/2011/02/photojournalist-giles-duley-gravely-injured-in-afghanistan.html

I have stayed away from much of the online discussion of the use of camera phones and apps in photojournalism largely because I have not wanted to be seen as an advocate for their use and because I have wanted to avoid any appearance of endorsing any particular product or technique — which I absolutely do not. It was never my intention for these photos to be seen only in the context of the tool by which they were made.

Having said that, I will always stand behind these photographs and am confident in my decision that this was the right tool to tell this particular story.

Any discussion about the validity of these images comes down to two basic fundamentals: aesthetics and content.

February 11, 2011
What Not to Bring to Tahrir Square: Stephen Farrell Learns to Pack a Smaller Camera Kit – NYTimes.com

It is rare that the most important piece of equipment in your bag is the bag itself, even more rare for that bag to be a black plastic trash sack slung over your shoulder as you walk past pro-government thugs on a bridge over the River Nile. The trash bag’s purpose, of course, is to conceal your large nylon camera bag, which is likely to get you grabbed off the street by the aforementioned thugs.

Link: What Not to Bring to Tahrir Square: Stephen Farrell Learns to Pack a Smaller Camera Kit – NYTimes.com

February 9, 2011
What is a newspaper photograph? – Picture Editor : Mike Davis

In the professional photography realm, newspaper photographers tend to fall in the middle to lower levels of quality – though there are some incredibly talented newspaper photographers.

Link: What is a newspaper photograph? – Blog – Picture Editor : Photography Consultant : Mentor : Mike Davis

February 8, 2011
Chris Hondros on the Madness in Tahrir Square — BagNews

Chris Hondros on the Madness in Tahrir Square – Reading The Pictures

The only way I can describe the situation today is that it was totally old school, just people with rocks, sticks and fists. It felt almost historical. It was probably more like how the American Revolution was fought. Or a fight in 683 BC. Just thousan

via Reading The Pictures: http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2011/02/chris-hondros-on-the-madness-in-tahrir-square/

I had a chance to talk to Getty photographer, Chris Hondros, on the phone from Cairo in the early evening yesterday, several hours after he escaped from the absolute chaos in the central square. Below is a my transcript of his comments accompanying this slideshow of photos he took, the images published at several major news sites:

February 3, 2011
We're Just Sayin: To Photography, and Photographers

To Photography, and Photographers

I’m in Amsterdam, participating in the jury process for this year’s World Press Photo awards, probably the Premier awards in the field of ph…

Link: http://werejustsayin.blogspot.com/2011/02/to-photography-and-photographers.html

As they started to get aboard, I realized there would probably not be room, but that made no real sense to me, as I was working for TIME, and did absolutely NOT want to lose this scoop to the others there. They represented the main news organizations, Henri Huet of AP, Kent Potter of UPI, Larry Burrows from LIFE, and Keisaburo Shimamoto from Newsweek. Between them something like 35 years of experience in Viet Nam. So I kept trying to harangue the VN Army major who’d been tasked with taking care of the journalists. And the clearer it became that I might not get on that bird, the more worked up my pleas.

February 3, 2011
The Future of Documentary Photography – A Picture's Worth | PhotoShelter

This week we sponsored a panel discussion on the future of documentary photography, produced by the photographers of Luceo Images in conjunction with their Altered States gallery exhibition. The panel included photojournalist James Estrin of the New York Times LENS Blog, TIME Magazine Deputy Photo Editor Paul Moakley, director of CLAMPART Brian Paul Clamp, and Bess Greenberg of 25CPW.

The conversation focused heavily on seizing new opportunities as a visual journalist and creating a sustainable living as a photographer. The panelists indicated that there’s no “magic bullet” here. However, they each shared some extremely thought-provoking insights and inspiring words, well worth your time and consideration.

Link: The Future of Documentary Photography – A Picture’s Worth | PhotoShelter

January 24, 2011
Is Photojournalism A Thing Of The Past? | The New Republic

Yesterday’s Heroes

Can we rescue great photojournalism?
Photojournalists are yesterday’s heroes. True, there are still some big names out there, among them Gilles Peress and Sabastiao Salgado. But the significance of their work is unclear. Do they shape political or social

via The New Republic: http://www.tnr.com/article/the-picture/81733/photojournalism-cartier-bresson-capa

Photojournalists are yesterday’s heroes. True, there are still some big names out there, among them Gilles Peress and Sabastiao Salgado. But the significance of their work is unclear. Do they shape political or social opinion through their images? Or are they mostly regarded as imaginative artists who just happen to be drawn to tough, newsworthy subjects? Few photographers are any longer seen as providing definitive information about some national or international trouble spot, at least very few who are what used to be called professionals.

January 23, 2011
500 Photographers: Photographer #207: Pep Bonet

Photographer #207: Pep Bonet

Pep Bonet, 1974, Spain, is a photojournalist who has won various awards throughout the years. He has covered many stories throughout Africa,…

Link: http://500photographers.blogspot.com/2011/01/photographer-207-pep-bonet.html

Pep Bonet, 1974, Spain, is a photojournalist who has won various awards throughout the years. He works on film using Kodak Tri-x 400 and Kodak 100vs slides. He has covered many stories throughout Africa, amongst which are Somalia, Darfur, Angola and Ethiopia.

January 19, 2011
David Alan Harvey comments on behalf of the Magnum Cultural Foundation | duckrabbit

David Alan Harvey comments on behalf of the Magnum Cultural Foundation — duckrabbit

I thank him for being open and he invited questions so massive respect for that. I hope this is not…

via duckrabbit: http://duckrabbit.info/blog/2011/01/david-alan-harveys-first-comment-on-the-duckrabbit-blog/

Also a bit confused about how some think Larry needs to respond or spend his personal time. For example, why can’t Larry go a a Magnum business meeting, take his wife to dinner, have a beer at the local pub, talk or not talk about Afghanistan, and still be very responsible with funds donated by believers in his craft so proven over so many years? I think no matter how many stones one wants to uncover, the motives of Larry Towell are going to come up clean.

January 17, 2011
Four women want to give a face to Congo rape victims | Emphas.is Blog

Sarah Elliott, Benedicte Kurzen, Ying Ang, and Agnes Dherbeys have in common that they are all young, women and photojournalists. Two of them, Elliott and Kurzen, are based in Africa, in Nairobi and Johannesburg respectively. The two others, Ang and Dherbeys, have never been there. Yet all four of them have come together around an ambitious project to remind the world about the horrors of systematic rape in Eastern Congo.

Link: Four women want to give a face to Congo rape victims | Emphas.is Blog

January 17, 2011
New Job – unbidden

This Friday marks my last day at the Tribune. It’s been a great five years working in an industry I have loved and enjoyed working in since my first job in 1993 rolling film and cleaning processors at the Journal Star in Lincoln.

In these tough times for newspapers no one has asked me why I’m leaving.

Link: New Job – unbidden

January 5, 2011