A Nachtwey intern speaks to the duckrabbit
Written by David WhiteI imagine most of you will be aware of the brouhaha (what a great word) concerning the ad for an unpaid intern to help James Nachtwey. That little ad has caused quite a stir, and rightly so imo. The one thing missing from the debate (how I wish it were more like a debate than a drunken pub argument…at least it is here) has been the voice of an ex Nachtwey intern.
Well, what do you know. Look what I’ve pulled out of the duckrabbit hat (stove pipe, in case you’re asking)..
I approached Josh Birnbaum, who I saw had interned for James. I asked for his take on things, and here it is. It would be good to
continue the debate in a sensible and moderated manner here. You will not be able to pretend to be Gilles Peress and have a pop, so don’t bother.
I would like to thank Josh for bothering to respond to my request and for allowing the publication of his words here. Oh…and check out his work…quality.
From Josh:
“I only worked at James Nachtwey’s Studio for five weeks between quarters at school. I was only asked to work three days a week. It was very flexible and I didn’t even work full days sometimes. Thus, I had time to do other work and freelance assignments. I lived with a friend, so I didn’t have to pay rent or utilities. All I had to be able to afford was food and transportation for five weeks. So, it was viable financially because I work for the rest of the year. If any one of those factors had changed, though, I wouldn’t have been able to swing it. But it was totally worth it. I learned tons about running a photography studio, dealing with clients, archiving, toning, printing—and more importantly I got to spend time with Jim, which enabled me to see what a dedicated and compassionate human being he is.
I don’t agree with not paying interns for their work. I only did it because I had saved money, minimized my costs and it was for a very short time. All my other four internships (and a fifth I will do in summer of 2010) were paid, full-time positions that lasted three to four months.
I saw the recent advertisement. I think they are asking a lot. I would probably not do it myself.”
Discussion (5 Comments)
It’s a tough call. Let’s face it, the experience gained by working with James would be amazing. The problem is that everyone needs to eat. Josh had a nest egg to rely back on, but how many can say they have that?
For me the whole intern thing is a young man/womans game. If you don’t mind sleeping on someones couch, have zero outgoings on a monthly basis and can do it, go for it. I’d jump at the chance, pity about al those bloody outgoings…
The man has literally saved lives, directly and indirectly. The more venomous criticisms- I just don’t understand. No one’s perfect, but having set a higher standard, he should follow through, pay a small stipend, and make it more available to those who can’t possibly afford what may well be the opportunity of a lifetime.
Nachtwey is a legend, and rightly so. He’s also human, not perfect.
While there should always be room for discussion about unpaid labor, the anonymous personal attacks resulting from this issue are ridiculous.
Steve McCurry posted a similar ad a couple years back. I don’t remember it getting this heated.
@Stan
“…pay a small stipend, and make it more available to those who can’t possibly afford what may well be the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Absolutely. It’s about opportunity. Do unpaid stipends close off opportunities of this sort to poor and working-class kids? Very often. I see it all the time at my university.
Would a small stipend make it possible for a poor or working-class kid to take similar internships? Very often, yes. Once again, I see it every semester.
As I’ve said before, this isn’t just a Nachtwey problem or a photo industry problem. I see it happening everywhere from the corporate world to NGOs. But the fact that it happens all over the show is no excuse.
Unpaid internships reinforce privilege. That small stipend that Stan mentioned would help to level the playing field.
I’m sure you could learn a lot on one of these internships, as long as the photographer put the effort in too.
But having no pay for internships definitely excludes people without means. When I was at uni 10 years ago, internships were unheard of apart from those for MPs. Now I see them appearing more and more on media job bulletins….I think some newspapers and magazines see them as a way to get staff on the cheap. In the UK I think you either need to be well off or to have family in London to have any chance of doing one…as a northerner without those advantages there’s no way I could have contemplated it, early on in my career or now.
There’s been quite a debate here about unpaid internships recently.
As a recent BBC report puts it: “As soon as they [interns] are expected to be at work at specific times or to complete specific work, they are no longer volunteers but employees and some employment legislation will apply, such as the minimum wage.”