You want to look through the lens of your camera and change the world. You want to capture powerful moments in one click that will impact the minds of other people. Photographic images are one of the most popular tools used to advocate for social and environmental awareness. This can be as close to home as drug use, prostitution, or pollution or as far away as famine, war, and the plight of refugees and migrant workers. One well-known example of an activist photographer would be landscape photographer Ansel Adams, who trudged to Washington with stunning images of the American west to advocate protecting these areas. His images and testimony were instrumental in creating the National Park System and garnering specific protection for Yellowstone National Park. More recently Robert Glenn Ketchum's images of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge raised awareness of why this area should be protected. Nigel Barker's seal photographs advocates against seal clubbing. What is your cause and how can you use your camera to make the world a better place?
This book provides a comprehensive theory of, and history of, photography as activism. It also includes interviews with contemporary photographers. It is a call to action for young photographers to become activists, a primer of sorts, with advice for how to work with NGOs and non-profits, how to work safely in conflict zones and with suggestions for distribution on websites, blogs, and interactive agencies.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Includes Philosophy of Activism
Explanation of book
Chapter One: Activism: Practice and Process
Philosophy and Psychology
History: Early Activism
History: Early Conflict and War Photography
Social Reform and the Progressive Era
Farm Security Administration
Chapter Two: Moments in Time
Modern History
W. Eugene Smith
Mary Ellen Mark
Susan Meiselas
Donna Ferrato
British Activism: Chris Killip and Paul Graham
Stephen Shames
Sebastião Salgado
Chapter Three: Constructing a Better World
Photographer Profiles
Eugene Richards
Marcus Bleasdale
Tom Stoddart
Jonathan Torgovnik
Edward Kashi
Brent Stirton
Stephen Dupont
Walter Astrada
Appendix: Resources
Websites, Magazines & Galleries
Festivals & Events
Non-Profits & NGOs
Miscellaneous Projects
Foundations & Grants
Photographers & Artists
Biography
Michelle Bogre
"Michelle Bogre's volume on activist photography is a 'just right' introduction to this fascinating subject. The book has a high word-to-picture ratio for a 'photography' book, and is not about the technical side of the subject. . in plain language, Ms. Bogre defines 'activist photography,' a distinct subset of documentary photography in which the photographer often freely admits their work is not simply objective journalism.At just over 160 pages, this is not a thick book, though it covers a lot of ground tracing the history of activist photography from its very beginning to Matthew Brady, Jacob Riis, Lewis Hine, the FSA photographers, W. Eugene Smith, and on to today with a profile of Sabastiao Salgado and interviews with many of the best and brightest in this field."--BetterinBlackandWhite.com
"Bogre's honest, balanced survey is supported by high-quality photographs ranging from sepia-tone to full color. Resources for aspiring activist photographers include websites for galleries, artists, events, nonprofits, and foundations. Summing Up: Highly recommended" -- L. C. Duhon, The University of Toledo, CHOICE
