Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend an open discussion with Walter Astrada photojournalist at the headquarters of the Fotoarte School. I think that even in the days ahead I will assimilate much more each of the words he shared with the audience to it, was an inspiring experience.
could not write here all the things that stuck with me for this talk because it would become a post too long, already trying to sum will be extensive.
first thing that stands out in my catharsis the end of the talk was the demystification of the image that I could get to be a photojournalist, go! is not the same to read an interview, watch a documentary or a book that the experience of a chat unpretentious one of the best saying "This is my work, so I do, so I'm sorry, that's the environment around you I do ...". One of the things I did was very much something that Walter said, paraphrasing not remember that quote, "people expect that we photojournalists firefighters, nurses, orderlies ... but what most people do not know is that when shooting certain situations and there are people there helping or after a couple of pictures the situation is stopped or simply not There is nothing you can do to stop the situation and accomplish more by doing a picture to tell, at the end of all that is our job. "He gave us examples with several pictures quite striking. In one that is a wounded man completely covered in blood (is another outlet that is not on their website) told us the whole context, "see that young man next to this man? Do you see the blood on his shoes, jeans and in their hands? because this young man was helping this man at the time ... Do you see the position of the legs and the feet up? Why do think they're in that position? Began firing again! What was the first reaction of the young? release the man and run to protect what was my reaction? ran for cover ... all are human and it is a matter of basic instinct, is what we would all do at the time such a situation. "
Then he showed us another picture in which a man was being beaten by 8 men and which has given rise to the typical question "and did nothing to defend?" to what Walter said: "We were in the car, we see that 8 men are beating up another eight men would face do you? Would they? Look at me (By allusion to his thin build) I was not going to do, but what is not in the picture (this was the first shot) is that after a couple of shots the situation stopped and the men stopped beating, probably by the very presence of the cameras. But he also emphasized that just as often that can stop a situation, other times, they notice your presence and how do some photos, can do to kill someone, it all depends on the reaction that causes the first shot of the camera.
All this made me remember a story I read a few days ago on Kevin Carter and his famous photograph that won a Pulitzer with " girl "(actually it was a child) shown squatting on the sand and close to a vulture , that photo caused a stir, were labeled to be the Carter of the same vulture scavenger, was condemned for not do anything to "help" the baby but nobody explained anything else, no one thought of what happened after taking the photo, not noticed the bracelet station UN food he had in his wrist, which indicated he was receiving aid by the time you took the picture, no one knew until recently that the child was in the designated area to do their physiological needs and therefore the presence of vultures as a routine and that malnourished children did not die but at 18 years of age.
This leads to reflection, a photojournalist for more than telling the story. But for many images that have shaken the world would not know many atrocities taking place and that are committed in the most remote places. Many things being equal, the hunger is still present in many of the same places he was 10 years ago, many abuses are being committed in many countries but there is also much more awareness about these things, there is knowledge of these situations and every day more people struggling to try to change, and is the sum of conscience and the efforts that some day conquer the changes while not an easy job and it is likely that neither I, nor you who read me, get to see many of these situations resolved but that it could get solved someday, "call me a dreamer, But I ' m Not the Only One ":-)
short, in phrases, which I had fixed in the mind:
- Always treat each photo is the best photo
- always place you in a different place to rest.
- go unnoticed.
- above all is respect for the situation being photographed and the people involved.
- The situation that determined whether prima photographing the aesthetic or focus exclusively on the story.
- The camera is a tool to do your job, not a shield.
- The day that there is no emotional connection to what to photograph, that you care or affect anything then you should not take photographs.
- The awards do not guarantee jobs.
- Track and organized physical contacts and important data, by country or topic.
- Sometimes a single image can tell the whole story. Quality over quantity.
- Develop a sense of timing, it's definitely being in the right place at the right time.
- When making a documentary, engage with the subject, knowing from the inside and organize a list of shots that will help tell the story without more details, nothing less.
- Almost everything is done, the work of a photographer there for the work of another.
was a very professional talk but also showcased the human side of this excellent photojournalist, the rest of what we shared I will save as a memory of that afternoon when I knew what a photojournalist and I took off the yellow veil with many others have stigmatized in their arrogant ignorance, to which these professionals before you have to tip your hat to their courage and dedication.
Ultimately, if nobody will tell us how the story would change? and the power of the image is clear.
