Exercise: Hertford Photography Festival 2011 / John Levy Video

By Simon Bainbridge

I read Simon Bainbridge article on the 2011 Hereford Photography Festival - Work from five photographers - the result of deliberate sustained observation.
My first observation of the photos nothing much grabbed me, but then I read ...
'the ideas they are trying to communicate take prescience over aesthetic concerns'
I think personally I would always veer towards a picture looking nice as I may not be happy with the result otherwise.  But if the result is there then you do have a successful picture and so you will be pleased.

I think the picture I liked the least was 'Interrogations' by Donald Webber, awaiting confessions from criminals, their facial expressions prior to confessions in police custody.  This is something that would give me no enjoyment. I can appreciate his image and the timing of the shot.  You can see the person is uncomfortable and fidgeting on the chair and playing nervously with their hair, twisting it, and touching the face with the other hand.  You wonder what will become of them after their confession, you feel some sympathy for them.  The colour is very orange and I dont know if this has been enhanced or whether this is the lighting which I imagine it is.  The room is dingy, with bare walls and table - quite frightening.

Well, this photograph I was going to avoid I have actually ended up talking about - so - maybe thats a clever photo.  Its pulled me into discussion when I wanted to avoid and pass by.

I have been snared !



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Also View video ...

http://www.oca-student.com/node/100127

John Levy, founder of Foto8, talking about documentary in the art gallery.





I listened to the video of John Levy ( on the above link ),  he talked about documentary and how the premise for magazines is basically storytelling and the photos being a vehicle for this.

Issues such as non fiction reports, local issues, political and environmental.  Because of its wide appeal its difficult to put into one genre.

He says that its really what the intention of the photographer is, if he or she wants his photos to be a documentary, then this is hopefully how they will be seen.   He also says that he likes to bring in people that don't necessarily know they are producing documentary style work, local issues or storytelling.

Conflict related grey stories are not the only ones that have importance - quiet and emotional might be better.
All points of view getting closer to a story bring a point of view.  It doesn't matter who where or when.
Its better to have more points of view with more varied people to give different perspectives - and that can only be good.

I feel that what he is saying is that they are open to all works.  They don't have to be heavy articles with meaty photos.  Lighter subjects with well documented photographs can be just as successful and it make a good varied selection.  Its good to have alternatives. The variety makes for interest and he seems quite open in what he is looking at and also with his views on what Documentary is.  My feelings are that it is the photographer who wants to choose for the photos to be documentary, but the viewer also has a part to play in this process.