Ch 9 --- What Motivates Photojournalists
Adam Ferguson describes not only his motivation, but the motivation of the photojournalists we works with as "curiousity...All engaging in a very different level, in very different stories...all curious about the world want to say something about the world in which we value The international conflicts that pull in such curiousity also come with much danger. Such as the story of Gad Gross-- who was a student of another photojournalist that had gone to war torn Iraq to cover Shi'ite and Kurdish uprisings.
Stephanie Sinclair, Too Young To Wed
Sinclair already had a interest in following the stories of young women and girls before this particular organization came to be. She had been documenting girls that had purposely set themselves on fire in these third world countries. Upon looking deeper into this phenomenon she was "Horrified to learn that child marriage was common in communities around the world" From here, she was determined to travel to these places to spread the stories of these girls to inspire change and end the related issues tied to child marriage. Her work is similar to that of Lewis Hine, who amongst the many parallels to Sinclair, simply fought for the wellness of children with photography.
The issue of homelessness is not one that is unknown. But it is seemingly easily forgotten. The Invisible people organization documents the stories of people living on the streets mostly in video format. Founded by Mark Horvath, he makes sure these people don't remain invisible. He's motivated by the need to change this issue, but also empathy as he's been homeless before too. "I not only feel their pain, I truly know their pain. I lived their pain. " Felix Masi, the Kenyan journalist struck me as someone quite similar to Mark as his subjects share the plight he experienced once. His focus on his community and to share everyday struggle in poverty of those people greatly motivates him.
My own motivations are selfish versions of the motivations of the photojournalists I studied. If I were to really find some sort of similarity, the curiousity that drives Ferguson's work is what also makes me look at the world as an adventure. But my curiousity at this time to open up my own eyes, not so much to tell the stories of others. Sinclair's motivation for change comes from a selfless place, it's something that would literally better the world. My motivation for change is mostly to change myself first, change my envirtonment and then be able to possible change other lives. Lastly, Marks motive of empathy and giving a voice to the voiceless is something that wasn't exactly on my motivation map. As I look at my own map I find it reflects greatly where I am in my life. I'm very in my own world and focused inwardly on my inspirations and aspirations.
Image by Jaylan Ramos
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