National Geographic organized its annual seminar on a Thursday in January, by invitation only. It is always a good opportunity to run into photographers.
First, Vince Musi’s introduction. This photographer runs the show both here and at the annual June Look3 Festival in Charlottesville. A great speaker, his presentations are cut like sharp diamonds. If he spoke French, I’d hire him to speak in Perpignan!
This year we had an amazing demonstration by Abelardo Morell and his black box camera. A procedure I don’t know well, but really appreciated. Several days later, Morell sent me an email telling me that he wants to take pictures where Atget worked in Paris and needed my help. More later!
Then a presentation by Hany Farid. Incredible! This researcher hunts for photo manipulation. Scientifically, analyzing the pixels, extrapolating the jpeg compressions, calculating light sources, he makes ultra-complicated equations accessible and humorous. His demonstration of the picture of Lee Harvey Oswald in his garden, often criticized as being a vulgar manipulation because of the difference in shadows between the nose and the gun. With a 3D model, a calculation of the sun’s angle, the picture is not retouched! I suggest visiting his website, extraordinary! http://hanyfarid.org
The afternoon began with Lynsey Addario, and her nearly unbearable story about Afghan women. Violent, raw pictures, a real punch in the face!
The guest of honor this year? Don McCullin. Wow! What a thrill… the photographer signed so many amazing pictures. Chypre, Ireland, Vietnam, Biafra… Showing for nearly 15 minutes, an amazing lesson. Then came a discussion with Peter Fetterman. The photographer is fantastic. The man too. What humility, the audience was subjugated. During his presentation, four standing ovations! For me, a first. A scoop? You might just run into Don in Perpignan, in September…
Jean-François Leroy
Directeur Visa pour l’Image, Perpignan
