Getting close to people
Written by duckrabbitDuring the photofilm training we’ve just wrapped in London we spent a lot of time talking about how you get a great interview. There’s no magic. Its just about you and the person, having a bit of time, having a connection and most of all trust.
For me the best interviews are when people tell you something they were not expecting to say.
I think Brenda Ann Kenneally expresses the route to trust really well in this post I found on Fotoevidence.
I establish trust in photography the way anyone starts and maintains a relationship. I show up. I am interested. I hope the other party is interested in me. I reveal as much or more about myself as I would want them to do of themselves. I am myself at all times, or I try to be. I am honest about what I do. I notice after years of doing what I do that people see that I am passionate and I work hard.
Author — duckrabbit
duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.
Discussion (4 Comments)
Good point well made.
So many people doing photography seem not to realize that what you record when you make pictures of people, is quite often a reflection of yourself.
So true and something I’m only starting to realise. When I started doing photo projects I worried that I was always too present in every situation – photographers often talk about making themselves invisible but I inevitably end up very much part of conversations, to the point that it can be difficult extricating myself from that and just making photos. I always felt that was a failing on my part, that it was a bad hangover from working as a reporter and always asking questions. Now I’m starting to appreciate that actually it can be a strength. Maybe it takes longer to get the better photos but I’m giving more of me and making myself feel more at ease with the documentary process – hopefully it puts them more at ease as a result
Ciara – as far as I’m concerned this whole invisibility thing ONLY happens after you’ve made all the connections with people. It is not something that happens instead of interaction, but entirely as a consequence of interaction. Invisibility is not something you adopt, but something you are granted by the subject. I’ve heard too many photogs saying “hey just ignore me”. When what should be being said is “hey please accept me”. And of course that begs the question “who are you that I should accept you?” You have to give a little! š
.
“Maybe it takes longer to get the better photos but Iām giving more of me and making myself feel more at ease with the documentary process ā hopefully it puts them more at ease as a result”
I’d say yes it probably does, this is a very humane way to work. Documentary is about some form of truth, the best that you can wrestle from your subject. That has to be undertaken on some basis of trust otherwise how can you possibly know that what you’re engaging with is not some charade.