Surfing Liberia?

Photojournalist Glenna Gordon has a nice story about surfing in Liberia running on the BBC website but it barely scratches beneath the waves.

The Liberians are literally portrayed as shadows whilst the expat NGO workers step out into the light. Drawn to Liberia by the ‘the waves’.

Why?

Maybe its the BBC edit because Glenna has a great track record at capturing Liberian life.

This would have been much better as an audio slideshow. It’s just crying out for the crash of the waves and the stories of the young men who are riding them.

Audio engages us in a different way, it can move us much more powerfully, beyond spectacle, towards understanding. Photographers shouldn’t be afraid to learn the basics of audio, especially if they want to reach a wider audience. They could start by coming to our training in Bristol next month.