Was it ever different?
Written by duckrabbitWhat really dismays me — the Afghan war crying out for context as far as big media is concerned — is how three major organizations could send out three of the best photographers in the business and, within the space of just over two weeks, proudly publish nearly the same photo-story.
Who else but Bag News Notes. Read it.
Author — duckrabbit
duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.
Discussion (8 Comments)
If it wasn’t for the fact that Nachtwey’s work is in black and white then these photos would be pretty much interchangeable between the various essays. You could even slip in the Life cover mentioned in the Bag News comments and people might not even notice: http://ow.ly/3FYrb
Waste of effort and money. Would be better to use the time of these experienced photographers to train up a few local guys, provide them with kit, etc. and then ask them to send stuff back over extended time periods.
Perhaps the newspapers are merely pandering to public demand by giving them these easily digestible and unchallenging images.
Bang on. Infact the photographer Reza has done exactly that. He set up an agency … but did any of the magazines notice?
I wonder why the agencies have not payed attention?
With all due respect to the three fine photographers featured, the work presented is hardly cutting edge. Probably a name thing – “Nachtwey does Afghanistan” etc.
All the more reason for not “sticking up” for the public by giving them what they THINK they want 😉
Cheap and cheerful falling – like it!
Is what the public actually want – this derivative macho stuff?
Our new friend Eva posted this link too on the “hot” post. How about sending a woman or getting a local to shoot, or even braver, send the photog out with a brief to find another angle, or even braver, get the photog to mail low res stuff halfway through and push for something else if it all looks the same (gulp.. suggesting photogs work to someone else’s brief?!!??!!! I must be losing it 🙁 )
“Was it ever different?”
Don’t know.. but it CAN be different:
http://www.monikabulaj.net/eng/?p=543
Monika Bulaj, winner of the Aftermath Project Grant 2010, is doing it in a different way, unembedded, indepth..
Thanks for this Eve. We are a big fan of the Aftermath and have often featured it. About time we did again? Any chance of a post (cheeky smile).
duckrabbit.. I don’t think I have the authorship/knowledge to do that.. but thanks..
“I don’t think I have the authorship/knowledge to do that.”
Since when has a lack of authorship/knowledge been a barrier to journalism 😉