[Leica] Documentary photography - pj

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

It pains me to believe this - and write it - because I have enormous
admiration for good documentary photography. But...

First, for the purposes of this discussion let's separate daily photo
journalism - providing illustrations for the written word as presented in
newspapers and magazines, from documentary photography.

If someone wants to change the world, documentary photography sure isn't the
way to do it. Sure, Lewis Hine's photos helped bring about child labor
laws - almost 100 years ago. The WPA stuff? That wasn't documentary
photography, it was public relations photography, or to be even cruder about
it, propaganda photography. Those photographers were sent out, by the
federal government, with  specific orders to bring back heart wrenching
photos of poverty that would help pass New Deal legislation.

As for today's documentary photographers, do we really think that there is
anyone who buys a Salgado book, or goes to a Salgado exhibit, who isn't
already aware of the conditions he documents, and doesn't already share his
viewpoint? Who buys Eugene Richards' books but other photographers and
people who are already supportive of his political agenda? No one. Take a
look some time at sales figures for books of strong documentary photography
if you want to be depressed - there's a reason that people have to, in the
vast majority of cases, present prospective publishers with a finished
project and book mockup to get it published, and don't get advances the way
fiction and non-fiction authors do.

Last semester a student in my documentary photo class told me he was really
torn about whether to pursue documentary photography, or continue with his
original plan to get a master's degree in urban planning from MIT - to add
to his undergrad degree in that subject area. I asked him what he wanted to
do with his life..."Help change the world," he said, with a straight face.
(okay, he's young.;-) ) So what did I tell him...

I said that much as it pained me to say it, I would urge him to get the
MA...Want to change the world, I said, you'll have a better chance having a
real impact with an urban planning degree from MIT than you will being THE
documentary photographer of your era. Sad, but true.

B. D.

- ----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of George
Lottermoser
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 9:55 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Millimeters and Milliseconds


>If photojournalism has made a difference to one person, it has changed
>the
>world.  I know of many instances when a photograph has moved someone to
>do
>something to make a difference.

I believe that Lewis Hines' work brought conditions to public attention and
that
some changes occured because of it. I believe the same holds true for the
WPA
work. Documentary photography, film, and video certainly altered my life and
continues to each and every day.

George
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