Comments on: Duckrabbit’s Benjamin Chesterton on the Blindfolded Photographer

By: Getty Grants For A Good Laugh | duckrabbit - we produce photofilms

Getty Grants For A Good Laugh | duckrabbit - we produce photofilms — Sun, 01 May 2011 16:31:03 +0000

[...] back I wrote on Nieman Storyboard about how Luigi and VII were selling a story on their website which stated that it had not rained [...]

By: Duckrabbit’s Benjamin Chesterton on the Blindfolded Photographer – Nieman Storyboard – A project of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard – Pavel Gospodinov Photography

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:25:15 +0000

[...] Duckrabbit’s Benjamin Chesterton on the Blindfolded Photographer – Nieman Storyboard – A p…. [...]

By: Inspiration: Benjamin Chesterton « // Flow Media //

Inspiration: Benjamin Chesterton « // Flow Media // — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:37:38 +0000

[...] for Feature Audio Slideshow for Best of Photojournalism 2010. An interesting must read is for sure ‘The blindfolded photographer’ raising some important questions. Comments are [...]

By: How we tell a story…tells alot about who we are « Wild. Precious. Life

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:23:04 +0000

[...] How we tell a story…tells alot about who we are March 23, 2010 tags: article, benjamin chesterton, photo essay, photojournalism by livelystone Duckrabbit’s Benjamin Chesterton on the Blindfolded Photographer [...]

By: Hacking the tall poppy « Banjaxed

Hacking the tall poppy « Banjaxed — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:17:09 +0000

[...] to mere facts might detract from his broader point, which he expounds on at length in a post at Nieman Storyboard: he’s suspicious of our ability to tell the stories of others, and would rather see them tell [...]

By: Eliza Gregory

Eliza Gregory — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:49:05 +0000

Benjamin,

Beautifully written. This is a fantastic piece. I loved it.

eliza

By: Benjamin Chesterton

Benjamin Chesterton — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:26:05 +0000

Yes it’s true at times we seem to celebrate photography that is technically brilliant but lacks any real depth. Something that is probably only apparent to those that understand the context. BUT that is only half the story.

There is a tonnes of great photography, with real depth out there. The web has offered an explosion of possibility and I think we should all be genuinely excited about the role photography will play in expanding our understanding of the world.

What I do think is that we owe it to the people in the pictures to at least debate ‘where we stand’ when we take the shots.

By: A Developing Story roundup | www.amusingourselves.com

A Developing Story roundup | www.amusingourselves.com — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:10:09 +0000

[...] March 20, 2010 Benjamin talks to Harvard’s Neiman journalism school about our project – A Developing [...]

By: Rob Godden

Rob Godden — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:31:01 +0000

[This comment has been due to its length. --Ed.]

A necessary debate. Benjamin touches on issues that are difficult for many to deal with, but for the sake of accurate communications need to be. Photojournalists take the image as a point of departure – they ‘witness’ for us – you must look even if you want to turn away. From here change will logically cascade as guilt and pity move the audience to act. NGOs take injustice as a point of departure – they provide ‘evidence’ – you are convinced by their argument even in the face of so many competing needs. From here change will logically cascade as you reflect on who you are in the world and decide to act.

What has this left us with? Photos as tired, stereo-typical graphics, artistic canvases of a dissected world, obtuse angles and nameless icons. A world delineated by disaster and death, where people are issues and cases, black and white receptacles to carry a cause. Where our engagement, ‘activism’, is a click of the mouse or the signing of a direct debit.

This voiceless, disengaged approach is dying. Has been for a while.

Technology will see to it. A cheap mobile phone with a camera will gradually allow more to speak for themselves. As will participatory methodologies and ideas of agency and active participation. So to will a world more explored, a world that many will not recognise from the photos dished up by photojournalists, and evidence produced by NGOs.

Rob Godden
The Rights Exposure Project

By: Stan Banos

Stan Banos — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:07:13 +0000

Your “blind for the day” metaphor is an apt one, especially in these days when sensationalism rules- which means it’s ultimately more about the recipient of the information than the person(s)or incident being reported on.

Actually hearing from those pictured can go a long way towards actually “giving voice to the voiceless.”

The foreigner sees only what he knows- African Proverb