Miss this city. 2011, heading back there.
Street Photography
Yes, I think it should be obvious, but others seem to miss the point. I just read yet another invitation to join a documentary project (with low to zero likelihood of getting paid) that covers homelessness, unemployment, and hopelessness. How uplifting!
The question is, why? What will happen with this content? How will it be edited? Where will it be distributed? What purpose will it serve?
A question that I regularly ask myself, especially when arranging to get access to sensitive or hard to reach subjects, is, “what is in it for them?” Why should that subject spare the time, and make the effort, to step in front of my camera and answer a bunch of questions? Unless I can articulate that to them effectively, and sincerely, I may just stay away.
The follow-up question is, “what is in it for the audience?” Once I have finished shooting, completed the editing, added a soundtrack, titles, web site and so on, what then? Why should an audience watch what I created? Will they find it entertaining? Educational? Uplifting? Depressing as hell?
So many times I come across projects that are not fully thought out. Sure, they aim to shoot a particular subject but the reason why is clearly not figured out. OK, so the need to “raise awareness” of a particular situation is the most common answer. But who really cares?
The same goes for grants and funding. I am surprised that grants and funds are given out to many projects on the basis of a proposal, which may frequently include a purpose to “raise awareness.” Again, who really cares? Who will see the finished work? What difference will it make? I advocate for a change to the grant/funding process based on performance measures. Give 50% of a grant up front to cover costs, with the remainder being payable according to the measured value of the work that was produced. Such an approach might also help a photographer/film-maker focus more on why he/she wants to shoot a particular topic.
With a plethora of self-proclaimed photojournalists and film-makers in the world, many of whom are clogging up the internet with absolute crap, the professionals can do a better job of standing out by being very clear about the purpose and desired impact of their next project.
You need to understand French to get the full benefit of this, but the video/film itself tells a good part of the story (as it should!)
