Solidarity, Images and Confraternities
In September 2006, in an article, I highlighted how the future of Photojournalism was threatened: “…at the very moment when the grand mass of photojournalism was happening at Visa pour l’Image (France), intoning its annual hymn of cantatas to the glory of photojournalists, the precarious state of the profession heeds the violins of the Titanic”. Nine years have elapsed. The presumed Titanic has not sunk. The faithful grow in number, as said by Albert Camus, correspondent of a posthumous “Combat”, who carry the weight of their commitment, as Sisyphus his rock, to the summit of their intimate convictions.
Jean-Francois Leroy, founder and director of the festival Visa pour l’Image – has proven a fierce resistance against all compromise. At the price of certain exclusions like this years’ foreseeable (temporary?) “excommunication” of World Press Photo, for editorial and ethical anathema. With his tight knit team, he has led all the combats in defending the quality of a photojournalism more than ever indispensable to the lecture of our world in constant ebullition, from Damascus to Bodrum in Turkey or in Hungary.
Because it is, once again, the shock-value image of Aylan Shenu drowned and washed up on a beach in Bodrum that reinforces and gives cruel reason to this professional gathering. No photographer present here can deny the relevance, the emotion, the humility of the young photographer Nilüfer Demir of the Turkish agency DHA, author of this new icon of the too-commoditized mass-exoduses in horror: “Perhaps the world was waiting for an image that could change things, move things. Maybe my photo was the ignition needed. And without doing it on purpose, I have contributed by being in the right place at the right time. I just did my job.” “At the right place, at the right time” according to the golden rule of the profession. Applied by all colleagues here exposed, who sign at the bottom of each of their daily or weekly publications the imperative need for a photojournalism without any renunciation whatsoever.
Yet still one must have the means to practice this difficult profession, to fight against the economic and social fragility plaguing its damaged editorial and humanistic heart. A wise and necessary report from the SCAM (French copyright defense organism), “Photojournalist: a sacrificed profession ” gives insight into the crisis the profession is crossing. Kingpin of the investigation, Béatrice de Mondenard showcases concrete examples of positive research in order to end the many ravages of a devastated economy.
So that the 200,000 visitors expected in the multiple exhibition halls can say with the 2800 journalists from 58 countries, including 950 photographers, ” I have seen and met with happy Sisypheans ».
Happy to carry in essential images the weight of humanity moving forward.
Alain Mingam , President of Photo AFD Award
Read more (in french only) :
http://www.liberation.fr/societe/2015/09/03/cette-photo-ne-peut-qu-interpeller-notre-lachete_1374877
http://geopolis.francetvinfo.fr/photo-du-corps-dun-petit-refugie-syrien-un-aiguillon-dans-notre-conscience-7772
http://polkamagazine.com/20/le-mur/ alain-mingam-pour-l-afd/1047
http://www.franceinter.fr/emission-116-rue-albert-londres-alain-mingam
http://www.liberation.fr/monde/2015/09/03/une-image-un-tournant_1375335
