Since my introduction into associate lecturing at UCLAN in November 2009 I have found that my desire and determination to learn as much as I can about the medium of photography has played an crucial role in how effectively I write assignments, plan critiques and deliver lectures. In order to teach others about contemporary photography in a fresh and imaginative way one should not only be a creative practitioner of the medium, but also have an innate interest and understanding of culture, history, social issues and technology (to name but only a few).

In an attempt to form some kind of narrative structure to this photography blog, I thought I’d share a short video of Taryn Simon speaking at Ted Talks that I showed students of the BA (Hons) International Journalism course earlier today. We were discussing how we can develop our ideas from concept into practice when I remembered watching this fantastic talk by Taryn Simon. During her Ted Talk, she presents her startling take on photography; to reveal worlds and people we would never see otherwise. In ‘An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar’ (2007) she documents otherworldly locations typically kept secret from the public. With a large-format camera and a knack for talking her way into forbidden zones, Taryn Simon photographed portions of the American infrastructure inaccessible to it’s inhabitants. Her second project, the haunting ’The Innocents’ (2003), features a series of portraits of men convicted for crimes they did not commit.

Both projects feature some astounding photography and are highly thought-provoking in terms of approach, research and delivery. It’s certainly a talk I would recommend to anyone who is interested in learning more about photography and the world we live in. There are a number of photographers who have spoken about their work at Ted Talks, including Edward Burtynsky discussing manufactured landscapes and James Nachtwey presenting his searing photographs of war.

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Tags: Inspiration,Thoughts,Teaching,UCLAN

Watch ‘Street Photography: Documenting The Human Condition’ by Chris Weeks on Vimeo.

I’ve spent a considerable amount of time thinking about how I can improve my photography blog over these past few days. I came to the conclusion that this blog should not only showcase my new photographic work, but be a place where I can share the things that inspire me and, hopefully, inspire you. An important factor in the development of any creative practice is a willingness to critically engage and appreciate the work of other artists. I mentioned in my blog post last month (Photography Served & The Béhance Network) that there are some fantastic artists who are producing truly inspirational work and so I thought it was about time to share and discuss what really inspires me.

Earlier today I had my first lecture teaching photojournalism to third year BA (Hons) International Journalism students at UCLAN and I really wanted to stress the importance of purism when working within that genre of photography.

Truthfulness, objectivity and fairness are values that give the photojournalism profession credibility and respect. The role of a photojournalist shouldn’t be to create an aesthetic reality, but to document reality aesthetically. Professional photojournalists are not only social historians with a camera, they are also highly competent technicians who must keep up to date with changing technology and the ethical considerations associated with that technology. There are certain principles that should remain constant despite technological advances. The guiding principle for any manipulations to a documentary photograph should always be it’s content. If the content or intent of the image is drastically altered (for example, the removal of people or objects) then the manipulation should not occur.

One of my favourite documentaries that discusses the ethical and moral manner in which we approach documentary photography is ‘Street Photography: Documenting The Human Condition’ by the American photographer Chris Weeks. If your interested in seeing how contemporary street photographers work or if you’d like to learn more about the history of the genre then I highly recommend that you watch it.

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Tags: Chris Weeks,Documentary,Inspiration,Purism,Street Photography,Vimeo