around 30,000 years ago the descendants of the Navajo and Apache tribes of New Mexico crossed the Bering Sea from Siberia and became nomadic tribes hunting freely in the fecund mountains and desert where the trendy town of Santa Fe now sits….
Europeans whose culture was far more "advanced" by the 16th century and were looking for "expansion", religious freedom and gold, rather quickly conquered with horses and guns… they killed and dispersed the indigenous tribes of the American West….precious few remain now on reservations and some sell "traditional" Indian handcrafts to the upscale tourists who now stroll the streets of Santa Fe…now Cowboy and Indian culture exist side by side happily trading with each other and both mostly forgetting the rather bloody and often sordid past…
Carlan Tapp (above right) has not forgotten….he documents the current plight of the Navajo tribe with the modern day incursion by the "white man" … this time armed with oil and gas rigs and dynamite often destroying the land and lives of modern day Native Americans …..Carlan is a Native American from the Wicomico tribe of Virginia, but has spent his life here in the Southwest using his camera as a weapon to fight back….his powerful black and white imagery is a testament to the once dominant culture of this region…
every existing world culture today has, at one time or another, "replaced" another existing culture….it is the way of mankind…a part of human nature that has moved us all "forward" ….in the "big picture", war and conquering has given us tools and science and "advances" that would not have happened otherwise…but men and women like Carlan who write, paint, and photograph also recognize the loss, the sadness and the poignant nature of what seem to be historical inevitabilities…
Carlan, Jerry Courvoisier (yes, Mike’s father) and i are now in Santa Fe teaching students how to think about photography…ways to use their cameras for something other than documenting their family vacation….photography as art, photography as reflection, and perhaps photography as a tool for social awareness….
i am curious where many of you "stand" with regard to photography as a "weapon"….there is a deep history in our craft of photographers who have devoted their lives to "saving the world"….what do you think??
since our species seems to move forward at a pace few of us can comprehend, does the work of Carlan and others have any effect, or are cultural events just pre-ordained and we all "saddle up and ride" ahead with no control of our fate???
DAVID
Thanks for your thoughts- I like the continuum that you painted: from “basics”/documentary to fulfillment/art. I would also add that a society that values its artists is less likely to revert back, less likely to suppress those basics, those life-essentials that are necessary to sustain fruitful, soul-supporting art. It’s another kind of “life cycle”.
thanks,
asher
Ross
Excellent works! But too many children in short essay for me.
All
I just wonder about photography as a weapon…
Some time ago in australia have been closed exhibition of Bill Henson . Because there was some pictures of naked teenagers.
http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/18/Bill_Henson/
of course in Poland (catholic country) many people was offended by the reason of children pornography. But we have many people who don’t see anything bad in that. I am one of this people.
I don’t know too many teenagers or children. For me there are just part of environment, like cars or pets. Sometimes they scare me sometimes they make me laugh.
I have the same when I look at this pictures. I just see young naked people. Nothing more. Nothing wrong.
Some people says that this photos are too erotic. Hmmmmm… If I remember my self as a 13 years boy I had first sex in my head and my face all the time.
I don’t know what relation was beetwen this guy and this childrens, but about that should worry judge.
I think this is great photography.
Of course I know we should protect our children before pedofils and if it could help even one of them they should close every exhibition with naked or dressed teenager at whole world.
What do you think about that?
for me first:
people see what they want to see.
For me even if i see some erotic situation it is like miki mouse’s wife. so what…
second;
we have big problem with children pornography, but shooting to pictures on walls nothing help.
Thirdly;
If we will censoring everything what naked and children’s we will destoy everything what natural between young and old. Now in europe many males afraid seaking with uknowing childrens even. Just talk or smile. Real fear.
For fourth;
pedophils have many ways to see children phornography, real children phornography. So, why they should looking for it at the art gallery?
so, what you think about that?
I don’t have children. For me children not exist. So maybe I’m wrong?
Maybe photography it is weapon against Innocence?
peace
Marcin;
Thanks for the comments. This is a first “rough” edit that I will be cutting down to 10-12. I put them all up so David (& anyone) can give their views etc. I will also be putting up another page of extra images soon.
I did focus quite heavily on the children though, as they seemed to me to be the most affected by the living conditions. I spent many days at the one camp and I noticed that the children relaxed and stopped showing off to me, their eyes seem to show their sadness. I have to admit I did wear my heart on my sleeve though….
I’m not sure whether there will be any camps left by Xmas, because the repatriations were starting when I was last there. But I feel it will be an interesting project to document the festive season in the camps in this highly religious country (approx 90% Catholic). Even if they have left I will still return as part of a long term project.
Cheers
David thanks!!!! to be always here.
Do u think i need to improve it?
how can i understand when an essay is done, help me to understand when an essay could be finished.
i send u a link where u can have a look at all the photos for the right editing of it…
http://www.cristinafaramo.com/essay1_/
http://www.cristinafaramo.com/essay1/
kissess :-)
cristina
All – thanks for the comments , I have been avoiding putting out the homelands work ( of which you,ve seen a small Slice ) for reasons best left to myself – but I moved up to The Northern Territory to do this sort of work – It really is the only topic of consequence in Australia at the moment , It’s a story of race , belonging , land , loss and redemption – there will be no conclusion to the question Australians ask -Do I belong here or do I belong TO here?
untill theres social progress made in the inland and Northern homelands.
Most of the work you saw was shot on assignment or just after ( See Stay annother day ), I just make it my business to go to these places , shoot and publish – I try to find pictures of hope , resolve and dignity in places where there is’nt a lot of it going around as the usual ways of shooting wernt working Pictures stored under the metaphorical Bed are really of no use , they have to get out so I will try and get some more out there for you all to have a look at
.
As for Megan – she’s an old friend of mine and her story is something is something she should tell, she’s a great person and great and passionate photographer, I’ve invited her to join, so It’s up to her.
MARCIN – Children are essential to success , have enough of them and you have no choice but to be a success .
DAH – Love to have you over Uncle – there’s a lot of shooters over here who could do with a dose of Yr Magic.
BB – Thanks mate
MARCIN
Everything you say about photographing children is rationale and logical.
However, there is a wide variety of people everywhere, including a diverse range of parental attitudes towards this issue.
Sally Mann creates beautiful works of art photographing her children, often nude. There were certainly those who criticized her for this, but see her work via the link in the right sidebar of this page and judge for yourself whether it’s art or pornography. Also, these are her children… if she had photographed someone else’s children, that would be a very different matter.
While I understand the logic of your point of view, I know that if someone came up to my kids, ages 8 and 10, at (for example) a swimming pool and started photographing them in their swim suits, I would be right up in that person’s face FAST. If that person first approached me or my wife, I would have to have a long discussion and still might not permit them to photograph if I was not convinced that their intent was noble. Perhaps teens are better able to give consent/assent, hopefully with a parent’s approval.
Regardless of all the logic you lay out, I think parental instincts will always dominate.
cheers,
asher
Christina, I think you created some wonderful images and just need to continue shooting there. It seems you are really early into the story and you just need to keep shooting. Thus far, I think the relationship you have created with your subjects is strong and tender and it shows. There is a closeness physically and more importantly emotionally that I see and I think you should keep running with it. The light is nice as well, soft like silk.
I am not a fan of #4 and truthfully I am not sure about #9 which means that it did not impact me. The idea behind #11 is there but I wonder how much meaningful body language we are losing with the wall blocking her.
Just my thoughts.. keep it up.
What do you think? How do you feel the story is coming? What are you struggling with?
Sending happy 90th birthday wishes to Nelson Mandela with the words of DAH
“I am optimistic by nature….but, at the same time , who among us does not see us at “war” on so many fronts…
we all must “fight” to get back our precious environment..
we are all at “war” with mis-guided and corrupt governments….
we “battle” ignorance on every front…”
camera as a weapon? maybe a weapon of love.
weapon is a tough word I think, got a lot of negative conotations.
a camera as a tool to change the world, or our perceptions of it, that sounds Buddhist.
I wonder if Buddha made some photographs, if they could change the world.
I wonder if Buddha made some photographs, if they could change the world.
———————-
First: I have tried many times today, but am I the only one to not be able to open Cristina Faramo’s link?
Talking about Buddha and strong language, I think it is quite adequate to use such word as weapon, when mentionning art and going against the grain of daily life. Such words should never be given the only design to be co-opted solely by wrong-headed, violent characters.
And after all are to be found already in much non-violent literature and peace-seeking credos to make a point or define a struggle. Ie. Non-violence was a weapon for Gandhi.
Yet, it is not so much to decide or define one’s weapon that makes the difference, it’s what you do with it, how you use it, and how sharp your aim.
I guess every weapon comes with a target, but a weapon aimed wrongly at a target, or badly chosen for a target might as well be made of marshmallow. In many cases, a camera ends up a bit too much on the soft side to hit its target decisively enough to be called a weapon. Then you have also valuable work, docu, essay and whatnot, but that’s no weaponry, IMO.
Back to Buddha, I always thought the Boddisatva vow fits the act photography so aptly: Joyful participation in the sorrows of the world.
All is said, no?
Herve, had the same problem with Christina’s link until I updated both my browser and flash player … there is such a wonderful lyrical quality to her work that I love …
… Christina, sorry to talk as if you are not here because i know you are :)) You have much heart and soul in your work … shine on :))
there can be truth within a marshmallow.
Sorry everyone… I came to this thread late and just haven’t had time to read all of the posts, so I hope I’m not repeating something that’s already been said… My thought is that a camera is a tool, but just as hammers or screwdrivers can be, and so many times have been, used as weapons, so can the camera. If a tool is used to hurt someone, it is a weapon. Photographers can use their cameras as a tool to help a group of people against some injustice and at the same time they are using their cameras as weapons to hurt the people committing the injustice. So far my cameras have just been tools…
Patricia–
Doesn’t look like I’m going to make it to Woodstock. I’m sure it would have been a great time, and it would have been lovely to meet you. Maybe someday. We are however going to take a day trip this Sunday to the Orange County Fair! Should be some good photo ops there. I hear they have the worlds smallest horse… Can’t wait to see what you come up with at the Ulster County Fair!
Also, I think it’s some kind of Freudian Slip, but every single time I type the word “woodstock,” I start typing “weedstock!”
Spencer
Sorry Wood(weed?)stock won’t work for you and Mike, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy seeing the world’s smallest horse! We’ll meet another time..
Patricia
Hello all been away for a few days, so catching up a bit… New work to share just putting it together…
“Weapon”…. maybe “tool” is better suited (ooh! Matron!)…
Anyways, a very powerful tool that CAN make (or help make) change… photography facilitating the growing protests against the Vietnam war for example. I understand Rafal’s disillusion, life is shit for most people out there, and this is simply because of corruption and greed. After spending some time in the Philippines I was staggered to understand that this is the second most dangerous country (outside of a war zone for a journalist). I believe 58 deaths since the the current administration took charge in 2001. This does tell us that the powers that be are concerned at the power of journalism. Secondly I was also going to comment of Nachtwey’s TED speech, but I see Neil already made this point.
CHRISTINA:
Really enjoyed looking at your work. What a sensitive feeling you create. Was a little unsure about #4 esp. with the image after it on the same theme. But really can’t fault the rest. Really beautiful stuff. Well done!
Back soon!…..
HELLO ALL….
it is late and i must sleep….but, at some point i have to give you the full Cathy Scholl report…but, she can give her report first…
anyway, in a nutshell, this was just one of the truly amazing things that has happened here…so many real time real life reunions with so many of you…it started with Rafal in Korea, Norway Mag event, went to Look3 and then Paris and so many other smaller meetings with so many of you…it is just flat out fun for all of us…
ok, off to bed…
cheers, david
…Hello Again!
OK got it together to share some latest work…
We spent some time in Macau a week back. I had planned to put together a short feature story on the place, as this Special Administrative Region of China (next to Hong Kong) is booming. Under Portuguese rule until Dec ’99, Macau is the only place in China where you can gamble, and has recently seen huge investment from the US in developing the “Cotai Strip” which will basically be the “Vegas of the East.”
Anyways things went kind of tits up at the start. Was burnt out, tricky access and the weather was appalling. So decided to say fuck it! Turned it on its head and went out to shoot whatever with no plan, deadlines, fixed schedule etc… More “loosey goosey” as I once heard David say. (Never heard that before as a Brit! Did he make it up!?)…
Had Floyd’s Comfortably Numb buzzing round my head as I wandered the streets so decided to put some of the the images down with this in soundslides for a bit of fun. Will eventually edit down to 10 or so, but enjoyed putting the images to the music… And hey you can always turn you monitor off and listen to a great track for a couple of mins!!!
http://www.jameschance.com/macau
Cheers,
James
PS: Where do we stand with using copyrighted music on slideshows? It is an infringement. How seriously should we take this?
david,
few weeks ago, before leaving for a vacation, i posted a link to some of my photographic work.
do you have the chance to look at it and give some opinions?
As i wrote before, it’s an essay on people from a home for the elderly, photos i took many years ago.
here is the link
http://www.eatmorebeef.org
cheers
guido
CRISTINA
I really respond to the sensitivity of #9, the image of the ball in the doorway..I’d love to see more photos of the physical shelter taken in this way to create another level of intimacy, the presence of the personal in a place which is only acting as home..
Cristina,
I think only you can know when an essay is finished. Does it show what you wanted to show, does it close the story, does it fit the original plan you had for it?
James that is nice work from Macau see you have the DAH colour magic. I need to leqarn that. Good tune too.
Damon
ERICA,
I just saw your e-mail last night. I have had to away from home for the past 3 days on business and found your mail when I got back. Although I would love to, this week-end will be tough to go to Cleveland as we have friends over this evening and we have about 15 kids coming over tomorrow for my son’s birthday….so I hope to see you in another occasion… Still thinking about the print… Might wait to see what your latest work will look like. Hope you have scanned and will share with us some initial direction when ready. I was hoping to shoot more this week than what I was able to do in light of this business trip. I plan to edit this morning some work I did the week before and see what others think. Have fun in Cleveland with the family I presume. Cheers,
Eric
James Chance
Many interesting and evocative images in your Macao shoot. I was quite imprressed. And I will be curious to see how you distill them down into a tighter edit… what kind of slant and focus that will give them… although for the most part I like the set as it is, maybe I would drop a few… looks almost like the start of a book to me.
Incidentally, I found your pictures much more interesting than the music. Do you ever listen to Cantopop? And as for borrowing music for slide shows… if you were a professional musician, you might feel just as protective of your creations as photographers do… and yet some musicians are deliberately disseminating their stuff free on the web. In my rather provincial small town, there has been a good deal of pressure on people who perform in clubs and in public venues, even just semi-pros, to pay royalties every time they do someone else’s song in a live performance.
Cheers,
DAVID and ALL,
After David’s initial feedback on my boxing work couple of weeks ago, I have reflected upon what I wanted to show and say about boxing and went back to shoot to the gym, tried to get a bit more loose and instinctive… Who knows if you all will see this and appreciate the direction but anyway, let me share with you where this is going…. But, before that, let me tell you what attracted me to boxing… Initially, I had never been close to a ring, went to a boxing gym for the first time ever just over one month ago and rapidly, was fascinated by the atmosphere at the gym, the athletes, the sweat, the physicality, the combination of brutality and fraternity among the kids… You can watch them and they are really like wild animals, fast, “in your face”, always moving around…modern gladiators or tigers ready to jump…To visualize this aspect of boxing that initially attracted me, I have done one essay that I named “Eye of the Tiger”…obvious reference to a movie that we are all familiar with but it clearly captures what I had in mind….Now, after going a few more times to the gym and reflecting a bit more in depth, I did another essay that I called “crucifixion”… First, I found in boxing a clear connection to some deeper meaning, notion of sacrifice so present in all religions…there is the unbelievable pain, the brutality, the religious rituals when the athletes are about to go on the ring for the fight. There is also notion of sacrifice that these athletes go through simply to be fit, relentlessly train everyday of the week…Sadly, there is also the sacrifice of a generation as well…These kids are full of hope and rage but reality kicks in…the majority of them will not make it, end up in some jail for a period of time and live a tough life in a ghetto where this is little opportunity for them..,somehwta of a modern “Calvary” that they have to go through….wrong cards were delt to them from the get-go… This second “crucifixion” essay still needs work…I tried to use a more instinctive way of shooting, get real close so that the pain, the existential tiredness is more evident…I tried a few more symbolic pictures…need more of these but only had a few days to shoot so look at it as “work in progress”.
Clearly David (and others), I am curious to see if this is heading into an interesting direction for you. The great things about this boxing work that I have started is that I see being able to shoot many different essays in the weeks/ months to come. Beyond what I have already shot, I have realized that there are a lot of interesting father and sons relationsships into boxing….many of these young boxers have come to boxing because their father was a boxer…most did not have a successful professional career but they have transfered the hope to their son….maybe “he” will succeed… I also still plan to get out of the gym and into their lives. It has been difficult to get this started and I am making some progress there so stay tuned…
Anyay, long enough post for now… Hope some of you have a chance to look at the work and tell me what you think.
Cheers,
Eric
I was going to comment here, but got going a little so posted to my blog.
http://www.picturestoryblog.com/2008/07/saving-the-worl.html
In short, yes it is a natural reaction to want to use your photography as a “weapon” for change.
How effective is it? well that is another question all together.
In another vein entirely, the following:
http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/slideshow/11931
is part of an idea I’ve had for a while. I havent really concentrated on it, but I’ve been adding to it slowly. I think some of you have seen it already, so dont be surprised by some of the same old same old. It is the same old, same old, but then again, most of life is the same old same old.
ERICA…
will you be in New York towards the end of august??? i do hope we can meet soonest…i have some thoughts on book publishers for you…
ALL….
i am packing the car now for the drive from Santa Fe to Frisco, Colorado….i think Mike and i are looking at a 9 hour drive through some spectacular country…in any case, i will be “off” and not able to catch up with all the new links and work until tomorrow….
i have my coffee in a “to go” cup, music turned up and we are rolling rolling….blue sky country…peaceful…wild wild west…gotta love it….
back soonest…
cheers, david
there can be truth within a marshmallow.
——————————
Absolutely. As a suger freak, and without going too forrest Gumpy, I ‘d be the last to deny that…. :-)
But really, in photography, my point at least, we find out if the camera was really a weapon after, not before. Hence, David’s allusion to Gordon Parks title, as the body of work was evident.
DAVID
Frisco? your birth town? As you told me you planned to be by month’s end? If I can help in anything, or/andI you have time for a cup or mug of something, my number is 415-6212177. I sure would love that, as you may guess.
TO ALL-
Forgot to post the link to my new work. Go to Boxing and you will see the two essays there….
http://www.ericespinosa.com/main.php
Cheers,
Eric
Christina,
what a beautiful essay! And I partly agree with Jonathan: go ahead with it!!
Maybe it is because just so few situations are pictured (no sleeping, no eating, no washing, …) , but we both seem to have the impression, looking at the images, that you just scratched the surface … For me it feels like sort of a teaser, not the whole thing. And I crave to see the whole thing! Yet another book I would buy right away…! I am filling up my shelves just by being in this blog :)
Some of the images I feel like sticking out, a little alone. #3 for example. Either it needs another picture to go with or … hmmm …
And another thing that came to my mind right away and I do not know if it is your intention:
(I do not know what a Women’s recovery house is, but I THINK it is a place women can find refuge with their children when they do have trouble at home)
The first and last picture seem to be chosen on purpose to illustrate the coming and going, the opening and closing of your essay.
But… the woman is coming with a child and leaving alone. That is a pretty strong message. Is it the correct message?
It was the first thing after “wow, what wonderful pictures!” that came to my mind, and I am just not sure if that is intentional. Maybe you can just fill me in here.
Chapeau!
ALL…
“Flat out fun” sums it up nicely for now.
I’m off to shoot a rodeo and will write more about David in Santa Fe asap.
Hey, Cathy, you owe us a roDAHo report as well…. ;-)
Eric, your firt close-up shot, majestic in its manliness, with the 2 boxers is a great entry into your essay, then I feel you back off a bit, distance wise, what gripped us, becomes more descriptive (we decipher more than we enter the image), yet lacking a narrative that situates both location and social settings. I certainly wished for the furtiveness of eye contacts, here and there, that draw us into the image, the story, the people, the soul of it all. Also, aren’t you a bit following a few of your influences too closely (Webb, David’s)?
Concerning David’s question…
I’am trying to find a red string to answer – my head is a little chaotic today. Sorry.
DAH:
“i am curious where many of you “stand” with regard to photography as a “weapon”….there is a deep history in our craft of photographers who have devoted their lives to “saving the world”….what do you think??”
I think that there are always people who do seek a deeper sense in what they do. Often this is not a matter of choice but of deep need – something where they do not feel like having a choice. These people will probably try to use the tools they know best to get the message out. And photographers will use the camera… Simply put.
Adding to that I assume that there is a higher percentage of people aware of what it going on “outside” in the world among journalists and documentary photographers, due to the fact that … they are out there if they choose. Some choose beforehand, some choose as they see and some… do not choose.
To put it shortly, I think that if you are young and idealistic and have the notion that if only people would see&understand they would act differently (= better), than the idea of becoming a journalist of words or of pictures is not all that way far off.
If I think it works?
Hmmm… yes, actually I do. Take a negative example: the 3rd Reich here in Germany. It was hugely a propaganda thing. Using pictures and words to evoce emotions and make actions follow. Of course there were other things going with it, but … If you took the images out, it would not have been that powerful.
But you just have to switch on the tv or go through a magazine… Pictures work. They could therefore just as well work for the “right” thing.
I believe that if you make pictures that masses understand and if you can make these masses move than you can achieve something.
Another aspect:
In December 2006 I was in Berlin to see an exhibition at the Newton-place (sorry, forgot the name). Apart from the Henry Newton exhibition, there were huge amounts of work from Nachtway and LaChapelle in an exhibition called “Men, War & Peace”. They probably needed this name to justify this photographer-combination …
While walking through the rooms I overheard an angry man in his late 40s saying, that he could not stand these war-pictures any more, that they were everywhere and just making him sick, because there was no way of avoiding them. He then rushed out and probably did not notice the effect of his words, because it generated a huge discussion in the room, as if he deared to say something everybody else THOUGHT but would not mention. 5 minutes later the Nachtwey rooms were empty. I just wish I have had a video camera for this. It was amazing! But I think it shows what is happening at the moment. There is just this huge saturation of pictures of torment and it lies in the nature of people that they do not want to feel pain. Like moths they go to the place where there is light.
What I want to say whith these clumsy words is that maybe we should go out there and put some extra-lights on?!
Just a thought.
Peace!
Sorry: Nachtwey, of course, not Nachtway…
I have not slept – I should not write :)
Found a nice little corner to shoot something different. There’s a social club next to home I had never been to. I’ll be going to play bingo there in a bit. They have skittles alley and everything. It’s pretty old. People seem friendly to odd foreigners. The bar has more wood in it than anything I’ve ever seen in Cardiff. The place is massive, yet completely hidden.
Young Tom, updated my flashplayer, cleant my browzer files and cookies, and still no C. Faramo link. No problems with other links. Wassup, friends, can anyone help, beyond that? Thanks
Helmut Newton.
Gosh…
Herve,
Firefox3?
Herve
You are not alone. I too would love to see Christina’s work, but numerous tries have failed to produce anything other than a dark blank page. I have the latest Flash plug-in, etc. But then, Lightstalkers has also been crashing my system right and left for the last several weeks, I’ve never been able to see any of Panos’s recent stuff… but James Chance’s Macao slide show comes through perfectly. I have the feeling some photographers are using net software that is so up-to-date and complicated that it requires constant system upgrades to access it. They may assume that since it works on their system, it’ll work on everybody’s… or at least everybody that matters. Now I suppose I’m a fossil and a has-been (or never-was?), but I’ve built a number of websites for people in the past, and I know it is possible to keep thing really simple and still do what they are supposed to do, if you want to. So I throw this out to folks in general, just as a suggestion… if you want a wide audience to see your work, then please try to put it in an easily accessible format that doesn’t require the very latest software to view or take forever to download. If you only want a very select audience to see it, then of course ignore this suggestion.
Cheers,
I don’t like to think of my camera as a weapon. I like to think of it as a camera. Sorry, but your idea reminds me of the recent Reza video I saw where for 55 minutes he blathers on about his camera being a weapon against those who perpetuate war. Give me a break! If I wanted a weapon, I would have joined the army. I like to take pictures, and if doing so can help people along the way, then so be it. If not, I’m still going to take pictures. I don’t know, but sometimes people just need to shut up and shoot (I mean that in the nicest way).
As a point of interest, the “land bridge” crossing idea of the Navajo is merely a theory and has never been proven. It is an interesting theory though, because it in effect makes the Navajo mere settlers, instead of indigenous. Who knows, maybe they also displaced older, more ancient groups of people when they arrived from Siberia?
right then all.
got ‘home’ and packed of beates dad.. lovely time was had.. an amazing man of such contentment that he is missed as if missing a heartbeat.
anyway… i’ve been drinking**..
and i have the chance to reply properly now..
my first page post got me thinking deeper than i had time to express..
edward curtis.. photographs and the use of photographs.. and so on .. and on.
here is a metaphor.
a photograph is a bullet.
the method of delivery is the gun.. the weapon.
a photograph left under a mattress in a shoe-box is not a weapon… it’s a bullet lost under the floorboards.
stick a bullet in a gun and the damage it does can be directed – but only by the persons who hold the method of delivery.
i have a great deal of admiration for people who choose to concentrate on suffering in their practice… it’s somewhere i have wandered before i decided to photograph people in celebration..
i have even more admiration for people who control the use of the work they produce, since they are the altruistic ones who truly understand the power they hold in the humble bullets they create.
people have already referred to nachtweys TED speech, and this is the point i would normally do so..
or did i just do that?
erm. okay.
the reason i had a problem with the semantics, (photography.. weapon), is well covered now.. perhaps more eloquently by others than myself.
i’ll say.. – photography is not a weapon, nor a changer of perceptions or a force which is causing this celebrity obsessed ‘west-on’ hemisphere to become ambivalent to the worlds woes…
photography is photography.. the subjective pursuit of, (nowadays), most people to record what they care about.. what interests them.. what turns them on.. everyone like to ‘show their bag’ and photography does the job.
and so a photograph is a humble bullet and i do not think it is a worthy weapon when compared to the vast ‘arsenal’ at the desposal of those power mongers whom humble snappers would have change… a photograph as the metaphorical stone which david (supposedly) threw at Goliath is not an impossible happening.. but it is EXTREMELY rare.
in an age where political parties seem to ‘indoctrinate’ members and campaign trails have more in common with brainwashing programs than presenting policy, it’s important to concider just HOW photography is used for good and bad… the method of delivery being the weapon and the photograph being the humble bullet.
my mentioning curtis and his native american work was not perhaps pertinant to the work DAH is introducing here.. more that i find it important in context of the war(s) which are now being faught.. the extent to which the media is being controlled is not only on the field of battle.. with restrictions.. it has also been used a political tool to present the good and the bad.. even the ugly.. the case for war… the case for prisoner abuse.. the case for withdrawl.
interesting to note that in the case of prisoner abuse in iraq the perpetrators actually condemned themselves unknowingly with the ‘bullets’ they created… and i’ll warrant that no photographer in NYC on 9/11 would have wished their work to contribute to the feeling which bought about the current wars, (war?) being fought.
T he
W ar
A gainst
T errorism
bullets of subjective truth bought about change in the indian famine of the 50′s.. the african famine of the 80′s.. turned the tide in vietnam..
in bygone days where their calibre was not understood the authors of these works could relax in the knowledge the photos were used for good.
unless, like curtis, your passion for the subject caused you too loose sight of the bigger picture.
what is a more powerful weapon than a single photographers efforts today is PR.. those awful two letters which can conceal a wealth of corruption, hoodwinking and subterfuge. psudo-marketing which directs popular thought bland out problems, harden populations and even divisively gain support for (ahem) *illegal* wars.
i have only had contact with music PR’s.. people who would sell any kind of music if it paid… and actually i could find one to sell the noise emitted from my arse as a ‘ring-tone’ if i gave them some cash.
i can only imagine the kind of PR and marketing employed by political parties and the kind of ‘music’ they are selling to us.
which is why i think intelligent photographers control their output.. direct it’s flow.. agencies are now plentiful and the work of the big un’s like vII and magnum, (‘classic’ is my favorite), has never been more important.
photography is a powerful as ever.. fat little armor piercing bullets which can slam through even the heaviest oak doors of perception.
of course people become hardened to photographs.. however everyone see’s their first shocking photo, everyone reads their first environmental essay and we all have an issue with which we empathize… recognize.. be it tibet, palastine, afghanistan.. n. ireland… for whatever reason – we care, we see our woes in well exhibited photographs and we change.. relate.. empathise.
everyone see’s their first corpse photo.. be it a death caused by famine, war crime or natural causes.. it will always effect.. we do not collectively pass on our hardened views to our kids.. it will alway be of use to take such images… it is always of greater use to show them .. control them..
images change perception.. still or moving.. whatever.. they are manipulated in delivery today, with the inter-web, more than ever..
if you believe the 9/11 conspiracy film ‘loose change’ (check google video), then check out the bbc ‘conspiracy file – wtc7′ (check google video)
the dialogue and interviews used in both could easily be text.
same footage.. different story.
fox news.
al jazira.
interesting to see buddhism mentioned.
the best way to get want we want and need is to help others get what they want and need.. food.. peace.. coverage..
the same religion also talks about the duality of all things..
there cannot be injustice without justice.. pain without comfort.. love without hate.
if in the end all we do is photograph our personal vision.. our little slice of generation x, y or whatever comes next, then that has a value far greater than we might realize.
choose what caliber you want to shoot.. and don’t forget to choose your weapon.. as these days you have a better choice of delivery system than ever.
cameras.. photography.. weapons?
i don’t think so personally.
it is the way it is delivered which can cause the devastating effect.. and we live in a time where that is as important as the photograph itself.
the mind behind the use of a photo is the decider of it’s meaning,
all we can do is take our little photos and build our little stories and try above all to control where and when the photos are used.. who’s words accompany them.. and what their brief might be.
we’ll not stop photographing, and ‘they’ will not stop propagandizing if we let them.
lets face it – we all care.. all want to help.. on this blog we’re here to offer that much and in doing so present ourselves.
it has always been that way and if there has ever been a time to now show the full force of what we’re capable of it’s NOW.
“Above all, I know that life for a photographer cannot be a matter of indifference”
- Robert Frank
(**red wine)
ERIC…
Great work, both essays. I’ll write more when time allows.
ps…I think I now know what you meant by telling DAH “be nice to Cathy.” :))
HERVE…
I am posting about meeting DAH right now.
I’ve been without internet during the time you two met so I may have missed it….
I know you posted some photos but did you write about your experience with David? I’m interested…
ALL…
DAH visits Santa Fe…(a brief report)
The first words that come to mind…
A GRACIOUS HOST who includes everyone and makes them feel comfortable.
In Santa Fe the people who already knew David were thrilled to see him back in town and the ones who met him for the first time were blown away…(myself included.) As one of his students told me “I’m even more impressed with him as a person than as a photographer.”
David’s certainly no slacker. He taught a weeklong workshop with 24 students, showed his work for the public, threw great parties, posted to the blog, shot a bit for his book, organized a slideshow for the workshops staff to show their work…which he critiqued…and that’s not half of it! Always thinking about the blog “family,” even in the midst of a party he’s coming up with ideas for his next blog post.
In a nutshell…DAVID CARES.
In case this is sounding too “kissass” for some (how could it be otherwise?) let me tell you one funny story…
Last night David had a party after the Workshops final slide shows and banquet. Thomas, a lovely man who runs Eves Ranch, a Western movie set that is used for photo shoots presented David with a great “cowboy-ish” hat. David was wearing the hat, arm around Thomas, also talking to several of his students and at the same time I happen to have my camera and am photographing the new hat. Without taking his attention off ANYTHING else he is doing David is checking my exposure, which he is not happy with (no flash, one lamp in the room) and critiquing the photos I am taking of him as I’m shooting, working with me until he is satisfied!!! :)) …all the while enjoying the party.
In otherwords…DAH is ALWAYS paying attention and no matter how much fun is being had he is ALWAYS serious about photography and helping photographers.
WE are all fortunate to have found him, whether in person or online. Happy to have had a dose of “David live.” I highly recommend it!
I’ll try to post a couple of those David and Thomas photos manana.
CATHY
I do agree, I think DAVID ALAN HARVEY is one of the most generous men around!!!!!!!
David – were all those words Franks or yours? either way theres truth there.
BOB , SIDNEY, AUDREY – Thanks for your words and thoughts , made me have a little think about what I am doing here in my own little patch ( Not so Little if you saw my Fuel bill)
Crying Baby – can’t stay long – but heres a link to more of the work I’ve been doing out in the homelands Past and Present
http://www.digitalrailroad.net/glenn/Production/PhotoGroupView.aspx?pbid=4&msa=1&pgid=17747005
Stella Margaret needs her Daddy , Bye all and thanks
glen..
i’ll credit ‘red wine’ with most of what i wrote last night ..
great work – you are shooting in serious volume.. would be interested to hear how you tackle editing it all down into a cohesive story.. what are your plans for the work?
DAVID – Mate I have no bloody Idea , Most of the pictures have been shot separately on news and feature stories,independant of each other so I don’t quite know how I would construct any sort of Narrative – if there is one it might be my own journey through the lands – but that would seem a bit naff – the reason I have most of the work at my fingertips at the moment is that I’m submitting to an Australian Photo journal just to road test it and then get my site up – If anything I’d see it as more a body of work than an essay.
I suppose I go out to these places on such a regular basis is all ” If a Tree falls in the forest etc etc,” the communities are isolated and hard to get to,I’m fortunate to have a few edirors who are interested and suportive so it all goes a long way, I’m from a small desert town in and I suppose it;s all a part of me somehow.
Love your pint photo BTW – Blokes holding beers is an unavoidable part of taking pictures in my part of the world.
* only the last line was franks..