Surely one of the greatest ironies of modern journalism is that, despite our insatiable appetite for images and visual news, there are mutterings that photojournalism is dead.
Our attention span has been reduced to a 30 second, picture-driven news flash; pictures of celebrities sell for tens of thousands; a publication’s reputation depends on the quality of it’s images; and the budget for advertising photography would pay most photojournalist’s salary several times over. Any yet still we think that photojournalism is dead?
It’s not a new concern. For many years people have been wrestling with the issues. And certainly the improvement in cameras, coupled with the rise of blogging and web technology, has meant that it is not just those who are Magnum-certified who can get out there and publish decent shots.
But I think it is wrong to say that the craft of photojournalism is dead. There will always be a place for quality photography, and for photojournalists who take great pride and care in their art. Indeed, our image-driven media environment should encourage budding photojournalists.
One of the most inspiring photojournalists I’ve come across is Marcus Bleasdale, who has spent 10 years documenting the situation in the Congo. His photos are phenomenally powerful. And although finding outlets for his work can’t be easy, he is so convinced by the value of the cause that he persists. Whoever sees his images cannot fail to be moved. Perhaps, in this time-starved society, where finding 10 minutes to sit down and read an article is a struggle, the power of photojournalism is even more relevant?
