I am trying to break your heart (part seven)

In the past I’ve been mildly critical of some of Media Storm’s productions, pretty much peerless in production values though they are.

They always look and sound great but sometimes they spend too much time gazing into the beautifully lit features of a photographers face, as opposed to examining their photographs, and sometimes the voices of those affected by the issues under examination are missing.

This time they’ve got it right.

Condition critical: voices from Eastern Congo does exactly what it says on the tin.

Bang. Bang.

Its a fist in the face of ignorance, and bang, another one.

That said I wish there were more color shots because I’m starting to believe that Africa is a black and white continent, with black and white people, who live black and white lives.

I also wish that once in a blue moon the camera would be held by a black African.

These photos were taken by a Belgium man, the brilliant C?©dric Gerbehaye, whose nations history of rape and pillage in the Congo is one of unspeakable shame.

Its a question for another post but there can only logically be two reasons why the hand on the photojournalists camera is disproportionately white (at least those getting paid the most).

1.Black people by genetic default take rubbish pictures.

2.Historically the creative industries have been institutionally racist.

1. doesn’t deserve attention.

2.we’re not allowed to discuss.

Anyone who tells you its 3. ‘more complex then that’, are lying to themselves. Actually its just about opportunity. Things are changing for the better but not, I suspect, for the majority of African photographers.

In the meantime this one’s for the people of Eastern Congo.¬† May one day their children grow up with the freedom and finance to take their own pictures and tell their own stories; in the meantime they should be grateful for what you are about to receive: