Sunday, March 9, 2008

CONCERNED PHOTOJOURNALISTS:RIIS AND JACOB


As photography continues its evolvement and advancement as an art, science and tool of information, many photographers, on the other hand, continue to search for a new purpose and meaning of their skill and artwork. Jacob Riis, a news photographer, used his camera not just to inform the public but also to expose the social ills of their society and was able to seek reforms that lead to necessary upliftment of the living condition of slum dwellers in New York in early 1900. Riis exposure to other side of reality – the reality of the oppressed and exploited New Yorkers helped him realized that he has an edge, among others, to inform the public about the abuses in sweatshops, child labor and slum dwellings. Hence, his photographic theme leads to a new genre of photography nowadays, i.e. photography of the struggling poor.
Another photographer, Lewis Hine, a trained sociologist and New York teacher, thread this kind of photography. He trained himself the use of Graflex camera and gave up teaching to devote full time to photography. Like Riis, Hine was also inspired by people’s heed for social reforms. He once said that there were two things he wanted to do. To wit, Hine said:”I wanted to show the things that had to be corrected. I wanted to show the things that had to be appreciated.” Thus, his photographs of immigrants at New York’s Ellis Island and their subsequent settling in tenements are his masterpieces of photo reporting.”
Both Riis and Hine, did not confined themselves to the question of “what” are the social conditions” of their society but rather dig beyond the said reality by unfolding the answers to “why” or reason/s of the existing condition and to the “how,” they’re going to help affect societal change. The exposure of photographers in the other side of reality –the oppressed and exploited majority people of New York played a major role in raising their social awareness and concern. They went to the places of the poor disguised as worker or beggar to be up close with slum dwellers and relate with sweatshop workers.
The social conditions that exist during the time of Riis and Hine still exist today. But sad to say, few photographers dare to take the road traveled by Riis and Hine. That is because this kind of photography is not lucrative and high paying job but rather it entails danger and hardship. Photographers or photojournalists who dare take this kind of noble profession risks their lives in fulfilling their duty. Many photojournalists covering people’s action such as pickets, rallies or demonstrations or covering war in Mindanao or military encounter with the New People’s Army were also beaten, harassed or killed. This sad fact is not only true during the dark days of martial law but even with so-called democratic governance of Gloria administration. To say the least, even an international organization of journalist cited the Philippines as most dangerous place for journalist and of course for photojournalists as well.
On Susan Sontag’s book on photography described Riis and Hines photographs as an “aid for understanding” (page111). They discover the beauty of the medium (photographs) in a different perspective.
But of course, like Riis and Hine, there are still photographers/photojournalists in our country who are devoted and believe that photography is an effective medium for social change and reforms in our country. By using the camera responsibly, photographers or photojournalists, people can be aware of the present and deteriorating condition of our people especially poor peasants and workers. Our pictures are surely a message itself but we are going to put a relevant caption on it, with an intention of deepening the message of the photographs, it will definitely be an effective tool of raising social consciousness of an individual. Personally, I am glad that non-government organization, people’s organization or religious organization included photo exhibits as one of the means in their conscious-raising program. Literacy-numeracy teachers (parateachers) used in teaching cultural minorities in the remote areas. Photos can educate people and deepen their commitment.
I believe that it is not only enough that photographer have knowledge or skill in photography. It is not how you aesthetically take pictures that determine the quality and beauty of picture but on the purpose and intention of taking those pictures. To be an effective agent of change, like Hine and Riis, photographer must know to whom he/she has to serve. And we can only do this by living among the people- the poor peasants and struggling workers. It is only by being with the people that we will be able to know their real condition, their deep longings and aspirations. And by being with them, we cannot only sympathize but empathize with them. The learnings we gather from them will give us another perspective in taking pictures and will deepen our understanding in their struggle. Hence, arm with new perspective, we are not just photographer or onlooker in their situation but active agent of social change.

2 comments:

Joe Manning said...

I am Joe Manning, an author and historian. I am conducting a nationally-known research project to track down and interview descendants of the child laborers that Lewis Hine photographed. I have been successful for about 80 children so far. My project has been featured on National Public Radio. You can see information about the Lewis Hine Project at www.morningsonmaplestreet.com/lewishine.html

agnesi said...

ang galing saludo ako sayo kasams hehe...ipagpatuloy mo ang pag kuha ng mga larawan doon din kasi nakikita ang kalagayan at kung ano ang nangyayari sa ating sanlibutan.maging personal man o pang kalahatan...magulo ba ang naisulat ko hehe...