The tweet said: Archive of audio & video interviews with 40 plus white photographers & one person of color
Written by duckrabbitduckrabbit followed it thinking that can’t be true, right?
PERSPECTIVE ON THIS (from the comment section):
Iamnotasuperstarphotographer:
“Good to see better gender representation though…
I am very happy to see that the glass ceiling is being put under pressure for the benefit of women. Any progress is good progress and I hope to see more great stories from a more diverse set of ideological perspectives.
As a person of “color”, I had long given up being accepted by the industry before I even tried to get in. I refused to produce stereotypical work of the suffering of non-white’s and the establishment was just not interested in listening to the need to show a different perspective – different stories.
A photographer (working with a large US agency now) once said to me “I do not want to see young black kids hanging out in their estates … I want to see what they really do… like mugging old pensioners”. This was within an educational establishment – a Masters degree – in a teaching capacity!!!
I told people that I would say were part of ‘the establishment’ what I had experienced, yet nothing was done to help me, defend me or condemn the racist comments. If I cannot be supported fighting the racist parts of an industry, what chance of a career in it?
It seemed like they just could not compute – as if to say look at what we do for people of “color” who suffer – how can this be true? How can we be racist? That is just not possible…
(I hate that term “color” as white is also a colour the last time I looked it up in a dictionary)
At the very least, this increase of gender equality forces the men to think better – look at Paolo Woods’ work in Iran and Africa – it is great stuff. I saw it in Arles this year and I though why not in Perpignan?
Maybe because Woods did not show any suffering minorities… just people living their lives the best they can given the situations they were born in.
Am I surprised at the level racial stereotyping that I have encountered? I was at first but not really anymore. Look at the sheer amount of “shanty town” stories out there…
Do I have a chance in this world of photojournalism? No way… it is tough enough for the really talented let alone for someone who is a woman and even worse, a ‘person of color’.
What am I expected to feel when I see images of ‘coloured people’ suffering for the economic gain of the few?
Do I think this is a big reason why PJ’ism is suffering? Yes. Most reasonable people in society are not racist or sexist and can see what is happening.
Do I think doing something that represents a different ideology can bring back audiences … absolutely… but not from the establishment.”
Author — duckrabbit
duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.
Discussion (2 Comments)
Better gender representation though…
I am very happy to see that the glass ceiling is being put under pressure for women. Any progress is good progress and I hope to see more great stories from a more diverse ideological perspective.
As a person of “color”, I had long given up being accepted by the industry before I even tried to get in. I refused to produce stereotypical work of suffering by a non-white and the establishment was just not interested in listening.
A photographer (working with a large agency now) once said to me “I do not want to see young black kids in hanging out in their estates… i want to see what they really do… like mugging old pensioners”. This was within an educational establishment in a teaching capacity!!!
I told people that were part of the establishment but nothing was said. Nobody defended me and everyone was too scared to rock the boat. It seemed like they just could not compute – as if to say look at what we do for people of “color” who suffer – how can this be true?
(I hate that term “color” as white is also a colour the last time I looked it up in a dictionary)
At the very least, this increase of gender equality forces the men to think better – look at Paolo Woods’ work in Iran and Africa – it is great stuff. I saw it in Arles this year and I though why not in Perpignan?
Maybe because Woods did not show any suffering minorities… just people living their lives the best they can given the situations they were born in.
Am I surprised at the level racial stereotyping that I have encountered? I was at first but not really anymore. Look at the sheer amount of “shanty town” stories out there…
Do I think this is a big reason why PJ’ism is suffering? Yes.
Do I think doing something that represents a different ideology can bring back audiences… absolutely.