Change or Be Left Behind!

Stephen Mayes

“Although some changes are painful, we have a rare and privileged opportunity to challenge the conventions that have limited the understanding of photography, and to create new models of visual storytelling.”

Stephen Mayes

“Toward a New Documentary Expression” in Aperture 214, p, 33

Stephen Mayes pushes me to think about how I share the story I am trying to tell. The story of Sweet Auburn is a story rooted in history that is being propelled into the future.  The question we must raise is, “Will we forget?”  Mayes argues that we have to tell powerful stories and place in the context of where our people are comfortable (Flickr, Vine, YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter, blogosphere).  This means that we can no longer wait for people to find us but rather we must take our message to the people and find our audience.  While Mayes is referencing photography his message transcends photography.  Mayes is saying to us that the world has changed; we have to find away to live into this change and allow this changing time to change us.

The wonderful privileged time I live in, as a storyteller is that I don’t have to wait for a publication or broadcaster to pick up my story.  I can use the tools at my fingertips to tell my story.  Not only can I use the tools at my fingertips but I can also tell more dynamic stories by using a multi / mixed media approach to storytelling.  Moreover if I have the time I can spend time on my story and tell a story over time and not reduce it to a sound bite or single news / documentary story.  I embrace the times and challenge that Mayes lays out.  The question for you and us is are we embracing the changing times in your industry(s)?  How are you changing what you do to take what you do to the people? How will you allow the way the world has changed – change you so that you can hear and be heard?

Stephen Mayeshttp://www.stephenmayes.co

Aperturehttp://www.aperture.org

Spending time With Martin Parr

Martin Parr

Atlanta shut down for approximately three days as we were weathering a winter storm.   While we were stuck inside my shooting schedule had to change.  I had planned to shoot all three days we were locked up.  I had to reschedule my shooting for after the storm so the question became what will I do during the storm?

One thing I am learning from is the study of great photographers.  To study their work inspires me.  To see them do what they do and talk about their work gives me ideas and makes me look at my work and the creative process in new and exciting ways.

During my time of being locked up I spent time with Martin Parr.  You can pick your mentors.  Where I may never meet Martin Parr nothing can stop me from spending hours looking at his images and scouring over Youtube and Vimeo videos that feature him and therefore he becomes a mentor.  I spent three solid days in my self designed Martin Parr workshp.  Spent hours looking at Martin Parr’s books:

Martin Parr: Home and Abroad

Home and Abroad

Marin Parr: The Non-Conformists
The Non-Conformists

Martin Parr: Life's a Beach
Life's A Beach

Of Parr's work these three (above) are my favorites with Martin Parr: The Non-Conformists being the one that is presently in my bag.  The life he brings to the mill town of Hebden Bridge is simply amazing.  He took five years to document this town.  Simply amazing work!

I watched twenty-five videos that featured him.  The one that I liked the most was:

No Worries: Martin Parr – FotoFreo 2012

You see Martin Parr going about his work.  He is cool, calm and collected when he does what he does.  He walks, is patient and spends time literally in the midst of those he is connecting with as he creates images.  This moves me to be more patient.  It isn’t about how many images I take per day but how many connections I make each day.  It is through seeing and connecting that the images will emerge.

Parr connects with the spirit of the people and the experience he is photographing.  I have to connect.  To get the story, to get the image, to capture the spirit it takes connection.  Parr understands the backstory to the story he is photographing.  He helps me see the key is not so much the bigger picture but rather the details. He says, “My job as a photographer is to turn those details into images that can communicate to a larger audience.” While not disregarding the bigger picture, it is those small details, those thing the average person would miss that the photographer must see.

To see him interact with those he was photographing and sometimes even coaching them “not to smile” was something that I don’t do when doing street photography.  Parr showed me the need to engage and talk with those I am photographing and not be afraid to set up the photo.  If the set up is true to the setting and you are using props that bring the image alive then use it.

Parr records what he calls “normal life.”  This was good for me to hear.  We can record “normal life” because life as lived is worthy of being recorded by the professional photographer.  This “vernacular” photography is worthy of what we do. Thanks Martin Parr for depositing in yet another way of seeing and creating.  Now off to shoot…..the storm has passed and I must go and create.  Who are your mentors?  Who are you listening to?  Whose is inspiring you to take your craft to a new level?